'Delightful young man, his Lordship,' said the Master of the

Ceremonies.

So I should think,' rejoined Mr Pickwick drily.

The dancing having commenced, the necessary introductions having

been made, and all preliminaries arranged, Angelo Bantam rejoined

Mr Pickwick, and led him into the card-room.

Just at the very moment of their entrance, the Dowager Lady

Snuphanuph and two other ladies of an ancient and whist-like

appearance, were hovering over an unoccupied card-table; and they

no sooner set eyes upon Mr Pickwick under the convoy of Angelo

Bantam, than they exchanged glances with each other, seeing that he

was precisely the very person they wanted, to make up the rubber.

My dear Bantam,' said the Dowager Lady Snuphanuph coaxingly,

find us some nice creature to make up this table; there's a good soul.'

Mr Pickwick happened to be looking another way at the moment, so

her Ladyship nodded her head towards him, and frowned expressively.

My friend Mr Pickwick, my Lady, will be most happy, I am sure,

remarkably so,' said the M.C., taking the hint. 'Mr Pickwick, Lady

Snuphanuph - Mrs. Colonel Wugsby - Miss Bolo.'

Mr Pickwick bowed to each of the ladies, and, finding escape

impossible, cut. Mr Pickwick and Miss Bolo against Lady Snuphanuph

and Mrs. Colonel Wugsby. As the trump card was turned up, at the

commencement of the second deal, two young ladies hurried into the

room, and took their stations on either side of Mrs. Colonel Wugsby's

chair, where they waited patiently until the hand was over.

Now, Jane,' said Mrs. Colonel Wugsby, turning to one of the girls,

what is it?' 'I came to ask, ma, whether I might dance with the

youngest Mr Crawley,' whispered the prettier and younger of the two.

'Good God, Jane, how can you think of such things?' replied the

mamma indignantly. 'Haven't you repeatedly heard that his father has

eight hundred a year, which dies with him? I am ashamed of you. Not

on any account.'

'Ma,' whispered the other, who was much older than her sister, and

very insipid and artificial, 'Lord Mutanhed has been introduced to me.

I said I thought I wasn't engaged, ma.'

You're a sweet pet, my love,' replied Mrs. Colonel Wugsby, tapping her

daughter's cheek with her fan, 'and are always to be trusted. He's

immensely rich, my dear. Bless you!' With these words Mrs. Colonel

The Pickwick Papers