'Why, Mrs. Rogers, ma'am,' said Mrs. Bardell, 'you've neverbeen introduced, I declare! Mr. Raddle, ma'am; Mrs. Cluppins,ma'am; Mrs. Raddle, ma'am.'

'Which is Mrs. Cluppins's sister,' suggested Mrs. Sanders.

'Oh, indeed!' said Mrs. Rogers graciously; for she was thelodger, and her servant was in waiting, so she was more graciousthan intimate, in right of her position. 'Oh, indeed!'

Mrs. Raddle smiled sweetly, Mr. Raddle bowed, and Mrs.Cluppins said, 'she was sure she was very happy to have anopportunity of being known to a lady which she had heerd somuch in favour of, as Mrs. Rogers.' A compliment which thelast-named lady acknowledged with graceful condescension.

'Well, Mr. Raddle,' said Mrs. Bardell; 'I'm sure you ought tofeel very much honoured at you and Tommy being the onlygentlemen to escort so many ladies all the way to the Spaniards,at Hampstead. Don't you think he ought, Mrs. Rogers, ma'am?''Oh, certainly, ma'am,' replied Mrs. Rogers; after whom all theother ladies responded, 'Oh, certainly.'

'Of course I feel it, ma'am,' said Mr. Raddle, rubbing hishands, and evincing a slight tendency to brighten up a little.'Indeed, to tell you the truth, I said, as we was a-coming along inthe cabrioily--'

At the recapitulation of the word which awakened so manypainful recollections, Mrs. Raddle applied her handkerchief to hereyes again, and uttered a half-suppressed scream; so that Mrs.Bardell frowned upon Mr. Raddle, to intimate that he had betternot say anything more, and desired Mrs. Rogers's servant, withan air, to 'put the wine on.'

This was the signal for displaying the hidden treasures of thecloset, which comprised sundry plates of oranges and biscuits,and a bottle of old crusted port--that at one-and-nine--withanother of the celebrated East India sherry at fourteen-pence,which were all produced in honour of the lodger, and affordedunlimited satisfaction to everybody. After great consternationhad been excited in the mind of Mrs. Cluppins, by an attempt onthe part of Tommy to recount how he had been cross-examinedregarding the cupboard then in action (which was fortunatelynipped in the bud by his imbibing half a glass of the old crusted'the wrong way,' and thereby endangering his life for someseconds), the party walked forth in quest of a Hampstead stage.This was soon found, and in a couple of hours they all arrivedsafely in the Spaniards Tea-gardens, where the luckless Mr.Raddle's very first act nearly occasioned his good lady a relapse;it being neither more nor less than to order tea for seven, whereas(as the ladies one and all remarked), what could have been easierthan for Tommy to have drank out of anybody's cup--or everybody's,if that was all--when the waiter wasn't looking,which would have saved one head of tea, and the tea just as good!

However, there was no help for it, and the tea-tray came, withseven cups and saucers, and bread-and-butter on the same scale.Mrs. Bardell was unanimously voted into the chair, and Mrs.Rogers being stationed on her right hand, and Mrs. Raddle onher left, the meal proceeded with great merriment and success.

'How sweet the country is, to be sure!' sighed Mrs. Rogers;'I almost wish I lived in it always.'

'Oh, you wouldn't like that, ma'am,' replied Mrs. Bardell,rather hastily; for it was not at all advisable, with reference to thelodgings, to encourage such notions; 'you wouldn't like it, ma'am.'

'Oh! I should think you was a deal too lively and sought after,to be content with the country, ma'am,' said little Mrs. Cluppins.

'Perhaps I am, ma'am. Perhaps I am,' sighed the first-floor lodger.

'For lone people as have got nobody to care for them, or takecare of them, or as have been hurt in their mind, or that kind ofthing,' observed Mr. Raddle, plucking up a little cheerfulness,and looking round, 'the country is all very well. The country fora wounded spirit, they say.'

Now, of all things in the world that the unfortunate man couldhave said, any would have been preferable to this. Of courseMrs. Bardell burst into tears, and requested to be led from thetable instantly; upon which the affectionate child began to crytoo, most dismally.

'Would anybody believe, ma'am,' exclaimed Mrs. Raddle,turning fiercely to the first-floor lodger, 'that a woman could bemarried to such a unmanly creetur, which can tamper with awoman's feelings as he does, every hour in the day, ma'am?'

'My dear,' remonstrated Mr. Raddle, 'I didn't mean anything,my dear.'

'You didn't mean!' repeated Mrs. Raddle, with great scorn andcontempt. 'Go away. I can't bear the sight on you, you brute.'

'You must not flurry yourself, Mary Ann,' interposed Mrs.Cluppins. 'You really must consider yourself, my dear, which younever do. Now go away, Raddle, there's a good soul, or you'llonly aggravate her.'

'You had better take your tea by yourself, Sir, indeed,' saidMrs. Rogers, again applying the smelling-bottle.

Mrs. Sanders, who, according to custom, was very busy withthe bread-and-butter, expressed the same opinion, and Mr. Raddlequietly retired.

After this, there was a great hoisting up of Master Bardell, whowas rather a large size for hugging, into his mother's arms, inwhich operation he got his boots in the tea-board, and occasionedsome confusion among the cups and saucers. But that descriptionof fainting fits, which is contagious among ladies, seldom lastslong; so when he had been well kissed, and a little cried over,Mrs. Bardell recovered, set him down again, wondering how shecould have been so foolish, and poured out some more tea.

It was at this moment, that the sound of approaching wheelswas heard, and that the ladies, looking up, saw a hackney-coachstop at the garden gate.

'More company!' said Mrs. Sanders.

'It's a gentleman,' said Mrs. Raddle.

'Well, if it ain't Mr. Jackson, the young man from Dodson andFogg's!' cried Mrs. Bardell. 'Why, gracious! Surely Mr. Pickwickcan't have paid the damages.'

'Or hoffered marriage!' said Mrs. Cluppins.

'Dear me, how slow the gentleman is,'exclaimed Mrs. Rogers.'Why doesn't he make haste!'

As the lady spoke these words, Mr. Jackson turned from thecoach where he had been addressing some observations to ashabby man in black leggings, who had just emerged from thevehicle with a thick ash stick in his hand, and made his way tothe place where the ladies were seated; winding his hair roundthe brim of his hat, as he came along.'Is anything the matter? Has anything taken place, Mr.Jackson?' said Mrs. Bardell eagerly.

'Nothing whatever, ma'am,' replied Mr. Jackson. 'How de do,ladies? I have to ask pardon, ladies, for intruding--but the law,ladies--the law.' With this apology Mr. Jackson smiled, made acomprehensive bow, and gave his hair another wind. Mrs.Rogers whispered Mrs. Raddle that he was really an elegantyoung man.

'I called in Goswell Street,' resumed Mr. Jackson, 'and hearingthat you were here, from the slavey, took a coach and came on.Our people want you down in the city directly, Mrs. Bardell.'

'Lor!' ejaculated that lady, starting at the sudden nature ofthe communication.

'Yes,' said Mr. Jackson, biting his lip. 'It's very important andpressing business, which can't be postponed on any account.Indeed, Dodson expressly said so to me, and so did Fogg. I'vekept the coach on purpose for you to go back in.'

'How very strange!' exclaimed Mrs. Bardell.

The ladies agreed that it WAS very strange, but wereunanimously of opinion that it must be very important, or Dodson& Fogg would never have sent; and further, that the businessbeing urgent, she ought to repair to Dodson & Fogg's withoutany delay.

There was a certain degree of pride and importance aboutbeing wanted by one's lawyers in such a monstrous hurry, thatwas by no means displeasing to Mrs. Bardell, especially as itmight be reasonably supposed to enhance her consequence in theeyes of the first-floor lodger. She simpered a little, affectedextreme vexation and hesitation, and at last arrived at theconclusion that she supposed she must go.

'But won't you refresh yourself after your walk, Mr. Jackson?'said Mrs. Bardell persuasively.

'Why, really there ain't much time to lose,' replied Jackson;'and I've got a friend here,' he continued, looking towards theman with the ash stick.

'Oh, ask your friend to come here, Sir,' said Mrs. Bardell.'Pray ask your friend here, Sir.'

'Why, thank'ee, I'd rather not,' said Mr. Jackson, with someembarrassment of manner. 'He's not much used to ladies' society,and it makes him bashful. If you'll order the waiter to deliver himanything short, he won't drink it off at once, won't he!--onlytry him!' Mr. Jackson's fingers wandered playfully round his noseat this portion of his discourse, to warn his hearers that he wasspeaking ironically.

The waiter was at once despatched to the bashful gentleman,and the bashful gentleman took something; Mr. Jackson alsotook something, and the ladies took something, for hospitality'ssake. Mr. Jackson then said he was afraid it was time to go;upon which, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Cluppins, and Tommy (who itwas arranged should accompany Mrs. Bardell, leaving the othersto Mr. Raddle's protection), got into the coach.

'Isaac,' said Jackson, as Mrs. Bardell prepared to get in,looking up at the man with the ash stick, who was seated on thebox, smoking a cigar.

'Well?'

'This is Mrs. Bardell.'

'Oh, I know'd that long ago,' said the man.

Mrs. Bardell got in, Mr. Jackson got in after her, and awaythey drove. Mrs. Bardell could not help ruminating on whatMr. Jackson's friend had said. Shrewd creatures, those lawyers.Lord bless us, how they find people out!

'Sad thing about these costs of our people's, ain't it,' saidJackson, when Mrs. Cluppins and Mrs. Sanders had fallenasleep; 'your bill of costs, I mean.'

'I'm very sorry they can't get them,' replied Mrs. Bardell. 'Butif you law gentlemen do these things on speculation, why youmust get a loss now and then, you know.'

'You gave them a COGNOVIT for the amount of your costs, afterthe trial, I'm told!' said Jackson.

'Yes. Just as a matter of form,' replied Mrs. Bardell.

'Certainly,' replied Jackson drily. 'Quite a matter of form. Quite.'

On they drove, and Mrs. Bardell fell asleep. She was awakened,after some time, by the stopping of the coach.

'Bless us!' said the lady .'Are we at Freeman's Court?'

'We're not going quite so far,' replied Jackson. 'Have thegoodness to step out.'

Mrs. Bardell, not yet thoroughly awake, complied. It was acurious place: a large wall, with a gate in the middle, and a gas-light burning inside.

'Now, ladies,' cried the man with the ash stick, looking intothe coach, and shaking Mrs. Sanders to wake her, 'Come!'Rousing her friend, Mrs. Sanders alighted. Mrs. Bardell, leaningon Jackson's arm, and leading Tommy by the hand, had alreadyentered the porch. They followed.

The room they turned into was even more odd-looking thanthe porch. Such a number of men standing about! And theystared so!

'What place is this?' inquired Mrs. Bardell, pausing.

'Only one of our public offices,' replied Jackson, hurrying herthrough a door, and looking round to see that the other womenwere following. 'Look sharp, Isaac!'

'Safe and sound,' replied the man with the ash stick. The doorswung heavily after them, and they descended a small flight of steps.

'Here we are at last. All right and tight, Mrs. Bardell!' saidJackson, looking exultingly round.

'What do you mean?' said Mrs. Bardell, with a palpitating heart.

'Just this,' replied Jackson, drawing her a little on one side;'don't be frightened, Mrs. Bardell. There never was a moredelicate man than Dodson, ma'am, or a more humane man thanFogg. It was their duty in the way of business, to take you inexecution for them costs; but they were anxious to spare yourfeelings as much as they could. What a comfort it must be, toyou, to think how it's been done! This is the Fleet, ma'am. Wishyou good-night, Mrs. Bardell. Good-night, Tommy!'

As Jackson hurried away in company with the man with theash stick another man, with a key in his hand, who had beenlooking on, led the bewildered female to a second short flight ofsteps leading to a doorway. Mrs. Bardell screamed violently;Tommy roared; Mrs. Cluppins shrunk within herself; and Mrs.Sanders made off, without more ado. For there stood the injuredMr. Pickwick, taking his nightly allowance of air; and beside himleant Samuel Weller, who, seeing Mrs. Bardell, took his hat offwith mock reverence, while his master turned indignantly on his heel.

'Don't bother the woman,' said the turnkey to Weller; 'she'sjust come in.'

'A prisoner!' said Sam, quickly replacing his hat. 'Who's theplaintives? What for? Speak up, old feller.'

'Dodson and Fogg,' replied the man; 'execution on COGNOVITfor costs.'

'Here, Job, Job!' shouted Sam, dashing into the passage. 'Runto Mr. Perker's, Job. I want him directly. I see some good in this.Here's a game. Hooray! vere's the gov'nor?'

But there was no reply to these inquiries, for Job had startedfuriously off, the instant he received his commission, and Mrs.Bardell had fainted in real downright earnest.

CHAPTER XLVIIIS CHIEFLY DEVOTED TO MATTERS OF BUSINESS, ANDTHE TEMPORAL ADVANTAGE OF DODSON AND FOGG--Mr. WINKLE REAPPEARS UNDER EXTRAORDINARYCIRCUMSTANCES--Mr. PICKWICK'S BENEVOLENCE PROVESSTRONGER THAN HIS OBSTINACY

Title: The Pickwick Papers
Author: Charles Dickens
Viewed 230348 times

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