(

Immense cheering.) The soft sex to a man - he begged pardon, to a

female - rallied round the young waterman, and turned with disgust

from the drinker of spirits (cheers). The Brick Lane Branch brothers

were watermen (cheers and laughter). That room was their boat; that

audience were the maidens; and he (Mr Anthony Humm), however

unworthily, was 'first oars' (unbounded applause).

'Wot does he mean by the soft sex, Sammy?' inquired Mr Weller, in a

whisper.

The womin,' said Sam, in the same tone.

He ain't far out there, Sammy,' replied Mr Weller; 'they MUST be a

soft sex - a wery soft sex, indeed - if they let themselves be gammoned

by such fellers as him.'

Any further observations from the indignant old gentleman were cut

short by the announcement of the song, which Mr Anthony Humm

gave out two lines at a time, for the information of such of his hearers

as were unacquainted with the legend. While it was being sung, the

little man with the drab shorts disappeared; he returned immediately

on its conclusion, and whispered Mr Anthony Humm, with a face of

the deepest importance. 'My friends,' said Mr Humm, holding up his

hand in a deprecatory manner, to bespeak the silence of such of the

stout old ladies as were yet a line or two behind; 'my friends, a

delegate from the Dorking Branch of our society, Brother Stiggins,

attends below.'

Out came the pocket-handkerchiefs again, in greater force than ever;

for Mr Stiggins was excessively popular among the female

constituency of Brick Lane.

He may approach, I think,' said Mr Humm, looking round him, with a

fat smile. 'Brother Tadger, let him come forth and greet us.'

The little man in the drab shorts who answered to the name of

Brother Tadger, bustled down the ladder with great speed, and was

immediately afterwards heard tumbling up with the Reverend Mr

Stiggins.

He's a-comin', Sammy,' whispered Mr Weller, purple in the

countenance with suppressed laughter.

'Don't say nothin' to me,' replied Sam, 'for I can't bear it. He's close to

the door. I hear him a-knockin' his head again the lath and plaster

now.'

The Pickwick Papers