It was a kind of festive occasion, and the parties were attired

accordingly. Mr Weller's tops were newly cleaned, and his dress was

arranged with peculiar care; the mottled-faced gentleman wore at his

button-hole a full-sized dahlia with several leaves; and the coats of his

two friends were adorned with nosegays of laurel and other

evergreens. All three were habited in strict holiday costume; that is to

say, they were wrapped up to the chins, and wore as many clothes as

possible, which is, and has been, a stage-coachman's idea of full dress

ever since stage- coaches were invented.

Mr Pell was waiting at the usual place of meeting at the appointed

time; even he wore a pair of gloves and a clean shirt, much frayed at

the collar and wristbands by frequent washings.

A quarter to two,' said Pell, looking at the parlour clock. 'If we are

with Mr Flasher at a quarter past, we shall just hit the best time.'

What should you say to a drop o' beer, gen'l'm'n?' suggested the

mottled-faced man. 'And a little bit o' cold beef,' said the second

coachman.

'Or a oyster,' added the third, who was a hoarse gentleman, supported

by very round legs.

Hear, hear!' said Pell; 'to congratulate Mr Weller, on his coming into

possession of his property, eh? Ha! ha!'

I'm quite agreeable, gen'l'm'n,' answered Mr Weller. 'Sammy, pull the

bell.'

Sammy complied; and the porter, cold beef, and oysters being

promptly produced, the lunch was done ample justice to. Where

everybody took so active a part, it is almost invidious to make a

distinction; but if one individual evinced greater powers than another,

it was the coachman with the hoarse voice, who took an imperial pint

of vinegar with his oysters, without betraying the least emotion.

Mr Pell, Sir,' said the elder Mr Weller, stirring a glass of brandy-and-

water, of which one was placed before every gentleman when the

oyster shells were removed - 'Mr Pell, Sir, it wos my intention to have

proposed the funs on this occasion, but Samivel has vispered to me - '

Here Mr Samuel Weller, who had silently eaten his oysters with

tranquil smiles, cried, 'Hear!' in a very loud voice.

'Has vispered to me,' resumed his father, 'that it vould be better to

dewote the liquor to vishin' you success and prosperity, and thankin'

The Pickwick Papers