window until nearly the whole of his waistcoat was outside it, was at

length enabled to catch a glimpse of his facetious friend.

Mr Bob Sawyer was seated, not in the dickey, but on the roof of the

chaise, with his legs as far asunder as they would conveniently go,

wearing Mr Samuel Weller's hat on one side of his head, and bearing,

in one hand, a most enormous sandwich, while, in the other, he

supported a goodly-sized case-bottle, to both of which he applied

himself with intense relish, varying the monotony of the occupation by

an occasional howl, or the interchange of some lively badinage with

any passing stranger. The crimson flag was carefully tied in an erect

position to the rail of the dickey; and Mr Samuel Weller, decorated

with Bob Sawyer's hat, was seated in the centre thereof, discussing a

twin sandwich, with an animated countenance, the expression of

which betokened his entire and perfect approval of the whole

arrangement.

This was enough to irritate a gentleman with Mr Pickwick's sense of

propriety, but it was not the whole extent of the aggravation, for a

stage-coach full, inside and out, was meeting them at the moment,

and the astonishment of the passengers was very palpably evinced.

The congratulations of an Irish family, too, who were keeping up with

the chaise, and begging all the time, were of rather a boisterous

description, especially those of its male head, who appeared to

consider the display as part and parcel of some political or other

procession of triumph.

Mr Sawyer!' cried Mr Pickwick, in a state of great excitement, 'Mr

Sawyer, Sir!'

Hollo!' responded that gentleman, looking over the side of the chaise

with all the coolness in life.

Are you mad, sir?' demanded Mr Pickwick.

Not a bit of it,' replied Bob; 'only cheerful.'

Cheerful, sir!' ejaculated Mr Pickwick. 'Take down that scandalous

red handkerchief, I beg. I insist, Sir. Sam, take it down.'

Before Sam could interpose, Mr Bob Sawyer gracefully struck his

colours, and having put them in his pocket, nodded in a courteous

manner to Mr Pickwick, wiped the mouth of the case- bottle, and

applied it to his own, thereby informing him, without any unnecessary

waste of words, that he devoted that draught to wishing him all

manner of happiness and prosperity. Having done this, Bob replaced

the cork with great care, and looking benignantly down on Mr

Pickwick, took a large bite out of the sandwich, and smiled.

The Pickwick Papers