Martin!' said the old lady, when the fly stopped at the door of Mr

Robert Sawyer, late Nockemorf.

Well?' said Martin.

Ask the lad to step out, and mind the horse.'

I'm going to mind the horse myself,' said Martin, laying his whip on

the roof of the fly.

I can't permit it, on any account,' said the old lady; 'your testimony

will be very important, and I must take you into the house with me.

You must not stir from my side during the whole interview. Do you

hear?'

I hear,' replied Martin.

Well; what are you stopping for?'

Nothing,' replied Martin. So saying, the surly man leisurely descended

from the wheel, on which he had been poising himself on the tops of

the toes of his right foot, and having summoned the boy in the gray

livery, opened the coach door, flung down the steps, and thrusting in

a hand enveloped in a dark wash-leather glove, pulled out the old lady

with as much unconcern in his manner as if she were a bandbox.

Dear me!' exclaimed the old lady. 'I am so flurried, now I have got

here, Martin, that I'm all in a tremble.'

Mr Martin coughed behind the dark wash-leather gloves, but

expressed no sympathy; so the old lady, composing herself, trotted up

Mr Bob Sawyer's steps, and Mr Martin followed. Immediately on the

old lady's entering the shop, Mr Benjamin Allen and Mr Bob Sawyer,

who had been putting the spirits-and- water out of sight, and

upsetting nauseous drugs to take off the smell of the tobacco smoke,

issued hastily forth in a transport of pleasure and affection.

My dear aunt,' exclaimed Mr Ben Allen, 'how kind of you to look in

upon us! Mr Sawyer, aunt; my friend Mr Bob Sawyer whom I have

spoken to you about, regarding - you know, aunt.' And here Mr Ben

Allen, who was not at the moment extraordinarily sober, added the

word 'Arabella,' in what was meant to be a whisper, but which was an

especially audible and distinct tone of speech which nobody could

avoid hearing, if anybody were so disposed.

'My dear Benjamin,' said the old lady, struggling with a great

shortness of breath, and trembling from head to foot, 'don't be

The Pickwick Papers