strengthening description. To all of these, Mr Benjamin Allen replied

that he meant no disrespect to his aunt, or anybody there, but if it

were all the same to them, and they would allow him to have his own

way, he would rather have the pleasure of hating his sister till death,

and after it.

At length, when this determination had been announced half a

hundred times, the old lady suddenly bridling up and looking very

majestic, wished to know what she had done that no respect was to be

paid to her years or station, and that she should be obliged to beg and

pray, in that way, of her own nephew, whom she remembered about

five-and-twenty years before he was born, and whom she had known,

personally, when he hadn't a tooth in his head; to say nothing of her

presence on the first occasion of his having his hair cut, and

assistance at numerous other times and ceremonies during his

babyhood, of sufficient importance to found a claim upon his

affection, obedience, and sympathies, for ever.

While the good lady was bestowing this objurgation on Mr Ben Allen,

Bob Sawyer and Mr Pickwick had retired in close conversation to the

inner room, where Mr Sawyer was observed to apply himself several

times to the mouth of a black bottle, under the influence of which, his

features gradually assumed a cheerful and even jovial expression. And

at last he emerged from the room, bottle in hand, and, remarking that

he was very sorry to say he had been making a fool of himself, begged

to propose the health and happiness of Mr and Mrs. Winkle, whose

felicity, so far from envying, he would be the first to congratulate them

upon. Hearing this, Mr Ben Allen suddenly arose from his chair, and,

seizing the black bottle, drank the toast so heartily, that, the liquor

being strong, he became nearly as black in the face as the bottle.

Finally, the black bottle went round till it was empty, and there was so

much shaking of hands and interchanging of compliments, that even

the metal-visaged Mr Martin condescended to smile.

'And now,' said Bob Sawyer, rubbing his hands, 'we'll have a jolly

night.'

I am sorry,' said Mr Pickwick, 'that I must return to my inn. I have

not been accustomed to fatigue lately, and my journey has tired me

exceedingly.'

'You'll take some tea, Mr Pickwick?' said the old lady, with irresistible

sweetness.

'Thank you, I would rather not,' replied that gentleman. The truth is,

that the old lady's evidently increasing admiration was Mr Pickwick's

principal inducement for going away. He thought of Mrs. Bardell; and

every glance of the old lady's eyes threw him into a cold perspiration.

The Pickwick Papers