Mr Snodgrass, having concluded his ablutions, took a survey of the

room, while standing with his back to the fire, sipping his cherry

brandy with heartfelt satisfaction. He describes it as a large

apartment, with a red brick floor and a capacious chimney; the ceiling

garnished with hams, sides of bacon, and ropes of onions. The walls

were decorated with several hunting-whips, two or three bridles, a

saddle, and an old rusty blunderbuss, with an inscription below it,

intimating that it was 'Loaded' - as it had been, on the same authority,

for half a century at least. An old eight-day clock, of solemn and

sedate demeanour, ticked gravely in one corner; and a silver watch, of

equal antiquity, dangled from one of the many hooks which

ornamented the dresser.

Ready?' said the old gentleman inquiringly, when his guests had been

washed, mended, brushed, and brandied.

'Quite,' replied Mr Pickwick.

'Come along, then;' and the party having traversed several dark

passages, and being joined by Mr Tupman, who had lingered behind

to snatch a kiss from Emma, for which he had been duly rewarded

with sundry pushings and scratchings, arrived at the parlour door.

Welcome,' said their hospitable host, throwing it open and stepping

forward to announce them, 'welcome, gentlemen, to Manor Farm.'

The Pickwick Papers