When this confidential dialogue had gone thus far, glasses were

placed round, and every gentleman ordered what he liked best, before

the public-house shut up. The gentleman in blue, and the man in

orange, who were the chief exquisites of the party, ordered 'cold shrub

and water,' but with the others, gin-and- water, sweet, appeared to be

the favourite beverage. Sam called the greengrocer a 'desp'rate willin,'

and ordered a large bowl of punch - two circumstances which seemed

to raise him very much in the opinion of the selections.

Gentlemen,' said the man in blue, with an air of the most

consummate dandyism, 'I'll give you the ladies; come.'

'Hear, hear!' said Sam. 'The young mississes.'

Here there was a loud cry of 'Order,' and Mr John Smauker, as the

gentleman who had introduced Mr Weller into that company, begged

to inform him that the word he had just made use of, was

unparliamentary.

'Which word was that 'ere, Sir?' inquired Sam. 'Mississes, Sir,' replied

Mr John Smauker, with an alarming frown. 'We don't recognise such

distinctions here.'

Oh, wery good,' said Sam; 'then I'll amend the obserwation and call

em the dear creeturs, if Blazes vill allow me.'

Some doubt appeared to exist in the mind of the gentleman in the

green-foil smalls, whether the chairman could be legally appealed to,

as 'Blazes,' but as the company seemed more disposed to stand upon

their own rights than his, the question was not raised. The man with

the cocked hat breathed short, and looked long at Sam, but

apparently thought it as well to say nothing, in case he should get the

worst of it. After a short silence, a gentleman in an embroidered coat

reaching down to his heels, and a waistcoat of the same which kept

one half of his legs warm, stirred his gin-and-water with great energy,

and putting himself upon his feet, all at once by a violent effort, said

he was desirous of offering a few remarks to the company, whereupon

the person in the cocked hat had no doubt that the company would be

very happy to hear any remarks that the man in the long coat might

wish to offer.

I feel a great delicacy, gentlemen, in coming for'ard,' said the man in

the long coat, 'having the misforchune to be a coachman, and being

only admitted as a honorary member of these agreeable swarrys, but I

do feel myself bound, gentlemen - drove into a corner, if I may use the

expression - to make known an afflicting circumstance which has

come to my knowledge; which has happened I may say within the

soap of my everyday contemplation. Gentlemen, our friend Mr

The Pickwick Papers