Mr Snodgrass, who had only waited for a hearing, at once recounted

how he had been placed in his then distressing predicament; how the

fear of giving rise to domestic dissensions had alone prompted him to

avoid Mr Wardle on his entrance; how he merely meant to depart by

another door, but, finding it locked, had been compelled to stay

against his will. It was a painful situation to be placed in; but he now

regretted it the less, inasmuch as it afforded him an opportunity of

acknowledging, before their mutual friends, that he loved Mr Wardle's

daughter deeply and sincerely; that he was proud to avow that the

feeling was mutual; and that if thousands of miles were placed

between them, or oceans rolled their waters, he could never for an

instant forget those happy days, when first - et cetera, et cetera.

Having delivered himself to this effect, Mr Snodgrass bowed again,

looked into the crown of his hat, and stepped towards the door.

'Stop!' shouted Wardle. 'Why, in the name of all that's - '

Inflammable,' mildly suggested Mr Pickwick, who thought something

worse was coming.

Well - that's inflammable,' said Wardle, adopting the substitute;

couldn't you say all this to me in the first instance?'

Or confide in me?' added Mr Pickwick.

Dear, dear,' said Arabella, taking up the defence, 'what is the use of

asking all that now, especially when you know you had set your

covetous old heart on a richer son-in-law, and are so wild and fierce

besides, that everybody is afraid of you, except me? Shake hands with

him, and order him some dinner, for goodness gracious' sake, for he

looks half starved; and pray have your wine up at once, for you'll not

be tolerable until you have taken two bottles at least.'

The worthy old gentleman pulled Arabella's ear, kissed her without

the smallest scruple, kissed his daughter also with great affection,

and shook Mr Snodgrass warmly by the hand.

She is right on one point at all events,' said the old gentleman

cheerfully. 'Ring for the wine!'

The wine came, and Perker came upstairs at the same moment. Mr

Snodgrass had dinner at a side table, and, when he had despatched

it, drew his chair next Emily, without the smallest opposition on the

old gentleman's part.

The evening was excellent. Little Mr Perker came out wonderfully, told

various comic stories, and sang a serious song which was almost as

The Pickwick Papers