The Pickwick Papers


google search for The Pickwick Papers

Return to Master Book Index.

Page
512 513 514 515 516

Quick Jump
1 198 396 594 792

were warming behind the fender; and the guests themselves were  
warming before it: the chief and most important of whom appeared to  
be a stoutish gentleman in a bright crimson coat with long tails,  
vividly red breeches, and a cocked hat, who was standing with his  
back to the fire, and had apparently just entered, for besides retaining  
his cocked hat on his head, he carried in his hand a high stick, such  
as gentlemen of his profession usually elevate in a sloping position  
over the roofs of carriages.  
'Smauker, my lad, your fin,' said the gentleman with the cocked hat.  
Mr Smauker dovetailed the top joint of his right-hand little finger into  
that of the gentleman with the cocked hat, and said he was charmed  
to see him looking so well.  
'
Well, they tell me I am looking pretty blooming,' said the man with the  
cocked hat, 'and it's a wonder, too. I've been following our old woman  
about, two hours a day, for the last fortnight; and if a constant  
contemplation of the manner in which she hooks-and-eyes that  
infernal lavender- coloured old gown of hers behind, isn't enough to  
throw anybody into a low state of despondency for life, stop my  
quarter's salary.'  
At this, the assembled selections laughed very heartily; and one  
gentleman in a yellow waistcoat, with a coach-trimming border,  
whispered a neighbour in green-foil smalls, that Tuckle was in spirits  
to-night.  
'
By the bye,' said Mr Tuckle, 'Smauker, my boy, you - ' The remainder  
of the sentence was forwarded into Mr John Smauker's ear, by  
whisper.  
'Oh, dear me, I quite forgot,' said Mr John Smauker. 'Gentlemen, my  
friend Mr Weller.'  
'Sorry to keep the fire off you, Weller,' said Mr Tuckle, with a familiar  
nod. 'Hope you're not cold, Weller.'  
'
Not by no means, Blazes,' replied Sam. 'It 'ud be a wery chilly subject  
as felt cold wen you stood opposite. You'd save coals if they put you  
behind the fender in the waitin'-room at a public office, you would.'  
As this retort appeared to convey rather a personal allusion to Mr  
Tuckle's crimson livery, that gentleman looked majestic for a few  
seconds, but gradually edging away from the fire, broke into a forced  
smile, and said it wasn't bad.  


Page
512 513 514 515 516

Quick Jump
1 198 396 594 792