Come,' said Mr Pickwick, whose momentary anger was not quite proof

against Bob's immovable self-possession, 'pray let us have no more of

this absurdity.'

'No, no,' replied Bob, once more exchanging hats with Mr Weller; 'I

didn't mean to do it, only I got so enlivened with the ride that I

couldn't help it.'

Think of the look of the thing,' expostulated Mr Pickwick; 'have some

regard to appearances.'

'Oh, certainly,' said Bob, 'it's not the sort of thing at all. All over,

governor.'

Satisfied with this assurance, Mr Pickwick once more drew his head

into the chaise and pulled up the glass; but he had scarcely resumed

the conversation which Mr Bob Sawyer had interrupted, when he was

somewhat startled by the apparition of a small dark body, of an

oblong form, on the outside of the window, which gave sundry taps

against it, as if impatient of admission.

What's this?'exclaimed Mr Pickwick.

It looks like a case-bottle;' remarked Ben Allen, eyeing the object in

question through his spectacles with some interest; 'I rather think it

belongs to Bob.'

The impression was perfectly accurate; for Mr Bob Sawyer, having

attached the case-bottle to the end of the walking-stick, was battering

the window with it, in token of his wish, that his friends inside would

partake of its contents, in all good-fellowship and harmony.

What's to be done?' said Mr Pickwick, looking at the bottle. 'This

proceeding is more absurd than the other.'

I think it would be best to take it in,' replied Mr Ben Allen; 'it would

serve him right to take it in and keep it, wouldn't it?'

It would,' said Mr Pickwick; 'shall I?'

I think it the most proper course we could possibly adopt,' replied

Ben.

This advice quite coinciding with his own opinion, Mr Pickwick gently

let down the window and disengaged the bottle from the stick; upon

which the latter was drawn up, and Mr Bob Sawyer was heard to

laugh heartily.

The Pickwick Papers