the occasion. Mrs. Sanders then appeared, leading in Master Bardell.

At sight of her child, Mrs. Bardell started; suddenly recollecting

herself, she kissed him in a frantic manner; then relapsing into a state

of hysterical imbecility, the good lady requested to be informed where

she was. In reply to this, Mrs. Cluppins and Mrs. Sanders turned their

heads away and wept, while Messrs. Dodson and Fogg entreated the

plaintiff to compose herself. Serjeant Buzfuz rubbed his eyes very hard

with a large white handkerchief, and gave an appealing look towards

the jury, while the judge was visibly affected, and several of the

beholders tried to cough down their emotion.

Very good notion that indeed,' whispered Perker to Mr Pickwick.

Capital fellows those Dodson and Fogg; excellent ideas of effect, my

dear Sir, excellent.'

As Perker spoke, Mrs. Bardell began to recover by slow degrees, while

Mrs. Cluppins, after a careful survey of Master Bardell's buttons and

the button-holes to which they severally belonged, placed him on the

floor of the court in front of his mother - a commanding position in

which he could not fail to awaken the full commiseration and

sympathy of both judge and jury. This was not done without

considerable opposition, and many tears, on the part of the young

gentleman himself, who had certain inward misgivings that the

placing him within the full glare of the judge's eye was only a formal

prelude to his being immediately ordered away for instant execution,

or for transportation beyond the seas, during the whole term of his

natural life, at the very least.

Bardell and Pickwick,' cried the gentleman in black, calling on the

case, which stood first on the list.

'I am for the plaintiff, my Lord,' said Mr Serjeant Buzfuz.

Who is with you, Brother Buzfuz?' said the judge. Mr Skimpin bowed,

to intimate that he was.

I appear for the defendant, my Lord,' said Mr Serjeant Snubbin.

Anybody with you, Brother Snubbin?' inquired the court.

Mr Phunky, my Lord,' replied Serjeant Snubbin.

Serjeant Buzfuz and Mr Skimpin for the plaintiff,' said the judge,

writing down the names in his note-book, and reading as he wrote;

'for the defendant, Serjeant Snubbin and Mr Monkey.'

Beg your Lordship's pardon, Phunky.'

The Pickwick Papers