How did the intelligence reach you?' asked Mr Pickwick.

Oh, it came to my girls, of course,'replied Wardle. 'Arabella wrote, the

day before yesterday, to say she had made a stolen match without her

husband's father's consent, and so you had gone down to get it when

his refusing it couldn't prevent the match, and all the rest of it. I

thought it a very good time to say something serious to my girls; so I

said what a dreadful thing it was that children should marry without

their parents' consent, and so forth; but, bless your hearts, I couldn't

make the least impression upon them. They thought it such a much

more dreadful thing that there should have been a wedding without

bridesmaids, that I might as well have preached to Joe himself.' Here

the old gentleman stopped to laugh; and having done so to his heart's

content, presently resumed -

But this is not the best of it, it seems. This is only half the love-

making and plotting that have been going forward. We have been

walking on mines for the last six months, and they're sprung at last.'

What do you mean?' exclaimed Mr Pickwick, turning pale; 'no other

secret marriage, I hope?'

No, no,' replied old Wardle; 'not so bad as that; no.'

What then?' inquired Mr Pickwick; 'am I interested in it?'

Shall I answer that question, Perker?' said Wardle.

If you don't commit yourself by doing so, my dear Sir.'

Well then, you are,' said Wardle.

How?' asked Mr Pickwick anxiously. 'In what way?'

Really,' replied Wardle, 'you're such a fiery sort of a young fellow that

I am almost afraid to tell you; but, however, if Perker will sit between

us to prevent mischief, I'll venture.'

Having closed the room door, and fortified himself with another

application to Perker's snuff-box, the old gentleman proceeded with

his great disclosure in these words -

The fact is, that my daughter Bella - Bella, who married young

Trundle, you know.'

'Yes, yes, we know,' said Mr Pickwick impatiently.

The Pickwick Papers