It was quite dark when Mr Pickwick roused himself sufficiently to look

out of the window. The straggling cottages by the road- side, the dingy

hue of every object visible, the murky atmosphere, the paths of

cinders and brick-dust, the deep-red glow of furnace fires in the

distance, the volumes of dense smoke issuing heavily forth from high

toppling chimneys, blackening and obscuring everything around; the

glare of distant lights, the ponderous wagons which toiled along the

road, laden with clashing rods of iron, or piled with heavy goods - all

betokened their rapid approach to the great working town of

Birmingham.

As they rattled through the narrow thoroughfares leading to the heart

of the turmoil, the sights and sounds of earnest occupation struck

more forcibly on the senses. The streets were thronged with working

people. The hum of labour resounded from every house; lights

gleamed from the long casement windows in the attic storeys, and the

whirl of wheels and noise of machinery shook the trembling walls. The

fires, whose lurid, sullen light had been visible for miles, blazed

fiercely up, in the great works and factories of the town. The din of

hammers, the rushing of steam, and the dead heavy clanking of

engines, was the harsh music which arose from every quarter. The

postboy was driving briskly through the open streets, and past the

handsome and well-lighted shops that intervene between the outskirts

of the town and the Old Royal Hotel, before Mr Pickwick had begun to

consider the very difficult and delicate nature of the commission

which had carried him thither.

The delicate nature of this commission, and the difficulty of executing

it in a satisfactory manner, were by no means lessened by the

voluntary companionship of Mr Bob Sawyer. Truth to tell, Mr Pickwick

felt that his presence on the occasion, however considerate and

gratifying, was by no means an honour he would willingly have

sought; in fact, he would cheerfully have given a reasonable sum of

money to have had Mr Bob Sawyer removed to any place at not less

than fifty miles' distance, without delay.

Mr Pickwick had never held any personal communication with Mr

Winkle, senior, although he had once or twice corresponded with him

by letter, and returned satisfactory answers to his inquiries

concerning the moral character and behaviour of his son; he felt

nervously sensible that to wait upon him, for the first time, attended

by Bob Sawyer and Ben Allen, both slightly fuddled, was not the most

ingenious and likely means that could have been hit upon to

prepossess him in his favour.

However,' said Mr Pickwick, endeavouring to reassure himself, 'I must

do the best I can. I must see him to-night, for I faithfully promised to

do so. If they persist in accompanying me, I must make the interview

The Pickwick Papers