How common the saying,' continued the dismal man, '‘The morning's

too fine to last.’ How well might it be applied to our everyday

existence. God! what would I forfeit to have the days of my childhood

restored, or to be able to forget them for ever!'

You have seen much trouble, sir,' said Mr Pickwick compassionately.

'I have,' said the dismal man hurriedly; 'I have. More than those who

see me now would believe possible.' He paused for an instant, and

then said abruptly -

Did it ever strike you, on such a morning as this, that drowning

would be happiness and peace?'

'God bless me, no!' replied Mr Pickwick, edging a little from the

balustrade, as the possibility of the dismal man's tipping him over, by

way of experiment, occurred to him rather forcibly.

I have thought so, often,' said the dismal man, without noticing the

action. 'The calm, cool water seems to me to murmur an invitation to

repose and rest. A bound, a splash, a brief struggle; there is an eddy

for an instant, it gradually subsides into a gentle ripple; the waters

have closed above your head, and the world has closed upon your

miseries and misfortunes for ever.' The sunken eye of the dismal man

flashed brightly as he spoke, but the momentary excitement quickly

subsided; and he turned calmly away, as he said -

There - enough of that. I wish to see you on another subject. You

invited me to read that paper, the night before last, and listened

attentively while I did so.' 'I did,' replied Mr Pickwick; 'and I certainly

thought - '

'I asked for no opinion,' said the dismal man, interrupting him, 'and I

want none. You are travelling for amusement and instruction.

Suppose I forward you a curious manuscript - observe, not curious

because wild or improbable, but curious as a leaf from the romance of

real life - would you communicate it to the club, of which you have

spoken so frequently?'

Certainly,' replied Mr Pickwick, 'if you wished it; and it would be

entered on their transactions.' 'You shall have it,' replied the dismal

man. 'Your address;' and, Mr Pickwick having communicated their

probable route, the dismal man carefully noted it down in a greasy

pocket-book, and, resisting Mr Pickwick's pressing invitation to

breakfast, left that gentleman at his inn, and walked slowly away.

Mr Pickwick found that his three companions had risen, and were

waiting his arrival to commence breakfast, which was ready laid in

The Pickwick Papers