It may seem wery strange talkin' to me about these here affairs, miss,'

said Sam, with great vehemence; 'but all I can say is, that I'm not only

ready but villin' to do anythin' as'll make matters agreeable; and if

chuckin' either o' them sawboneses out o' winder 'ull do it, I'm the

man.' As Sam Weller said this, he tucked up his wristbands, at the

imminent hazard of falling off the wall in so doing, to intimate his

readiness to set to work immediately.

Flattering as these professions of good feeling were, Arabella resolutely

declined (most unaccountably, as Sam thought) to avail herself of

them. For some time she strenuously refused to grant Mr Winkle the

interview Sam had so pathetically requested; but at length, when the

conversation threatened to be interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of

a third party, she hurriedly gave him to understand, with many

professions of gratitude, that it was barely possible she might be in

the garden an hour later, next evening. Sam understood this perfectly

well; and Arabella, bestowing upon him one of her sweetest smiles,

tripped gracefully away, leaving Mr Weller in a state of very great

admiration of her charms, both personal and mental.

Having descended in safety from the wall, and not forgotten to devote

a few moments to his own particular business in the same

department, Mr Weller then made the best of his way back to the

Bush, where his prolonged absence had occasioned much speculation

and some alarm.

'We must be careful,' said Mr Pickwick, after listening attentively to

Sam's tale, 'not for our sakes, but for that of the young lady. We must

be very cautious.'

'WE!' said Mr Winkle, with marked emphasis.

Mr Pickwick's momentary look of indignation at the tone of this

remark, subsided into his characteristic expression of benevolence, as

he replied -

WE, Sir! I shall accompany you.'

You!' said Mr Winkle.

I,' replied Mr Pickwick mildly. 'In affording you this interview, the

young lady has taken a natural, perhaps, but still a very imprudent

step. If I am present at the meeting - a mutual friend, who is old

enough to be the father of both parties - the voice of calumny can

never be raised against her hereafter.'

Mr Pickwick's eyes lightened with honest exultation at his own

foresight, as he spoke thus. Mr Winkle was touched by this little trait

The Pickwick Papers