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Chapter 8

Word Count: 4407    |    Released on: 18/11/2017

yof the gentler sex, and the solicitude and anxiety theyevinced in his behalf, were all favourable to the growthand development of those sof

g kindred in their nature,something congenial in their souls, something mysteriouslysympathetic in their bosoms, was evident. Her name was the firstthat rose to Mr. Tupman's lips as he lay wounded on the grass;and her hysteric laughter was the first sound that fell upon his earwhen he was supported to the house. But had her agitation arisenfrom an amiabl

abella and Emily had

nging at theside door, enjoying the pleasantness of the hour, and the delightsof a flirtation, on first principles, with certain unwieldy animalsattached to the farm; and there sat

n my flowers,' sai

said Mr. Tupman, in

e evening air,' urged the s

n, rising; 'it will do me

ich the left arm of theyouth was placed, an

jessamine, and creeping plants―one of those sweet retreat

lay in onecorner, and was about to leave the arbour. Mr

ill somepebbles which had accidentally found their way

said Mr. Tupman,

Rachael, blushing as red

quent Pickwickian―'I

ls, they say,' murmur

everseen who resembled you? Where else could I hope to find so rare acombination of excellence and beauty? Where els

r head. 'Men are such dece

,' ejaculated Mr. Tup

nt to devote his whole existence to yourhappiness―who lives but in your eyes―who

individual be fou

d,' said the ardent M

d ere the lady was awareof his intention, Mr

an, rise,'

herpassive hand, and the watering-pot fell to the ground a

averted head, 'I canhardly speak the words;

nced always do. He jumped up, and, throwinghis arm round the neck of the spinster aunt, imprinted upon herlips numerous kisses, which after a due show of struggling andresistance, she received so passively

ng into the arbour, butwithout the slightest expression on his face that the most expertphysiognomist cou

of the fat boy'scountenance, the more convinced he became that he either did notknow, or did not understand, any

dy, sir,' was t

e, sir?' inquired Mr. Tup

replied th

rd again; but there was not awink

inster aunt, and walkedtowards the

g of what has happ

said the sp

Mr. Tupman turned sharply round. No; itcould not have been the fat boy; t

en fast asleep,' w

st doubt of it,' repl

th laughe

nce, had not beenfast asleep. He was awake

Wardledevoted herself exclusively to Mr. Trundle; the spinster'sattentions were reserved for Mr. Tupman; an

nterns inevery direction by which they could be supposed likely to havetravelled home? or should they―Hark! there they were. Whatcould have made them so late? A strange voice

discernible cause or pretencewhatsoever; old Mr. Wardle, with a highly-inflamed countenance,was grasping the hand of a strange gentleman mutteringprotestations of eternal friendship; Mr. Winkle, supporting himselfby the eight-day clock, was feebly invoking destruction upon th

matter?' inquired

Pickwick. 'We―we're―allright.―I say,

My dears, here's myfriend Mr. Jingle―Mr. Pickwic

th Mr. Snodgrass, sir?' inqu

ger. 'Cricketdinner―glorious party―capital songs

on.' (Somehow or other, it never is the wine,in these cases.)'Hadn't they better g

o bed,' said Mr

Pickwick stoutly; and hewent on smiling as

iton the floor, and insanely casting his spectacles into the m

;in which condition he was borne to his apartment by two younggiants under the personal superintendence of the fat boy, to whoseprotecting care Mr. Snodgrass shortly afterwards confided his ownperson, Mr. Pickwick accepted the proffered arm of Mr. Tupmanand quietly disappeared, smiling more than ever; an

ejaculated both

y grave: he wasabout a bottle and a half ahead

whispered the spinste

, too!' whisper

y,' observed th

of his anecdotes was only to beexceeded by the extent of his politeness. Mr. Tupman felt that asJingle's popularity increased, he (Tupman) retired further into theshade. His laughter was forced―his merriment feign

promote the hilarity of the breakfast-table. So successful werehis efforts, that even the deaf old lady insisted on having one ortwo of his best jokes retailed through the trumpet; and even

bedroom door, a close black satinbonnet, a warm cotton shawl, and a thick stick with a capacioushandle; and the old lady, having put on the bonnet and shawl ather leisure, would lean one hand on the stick and the other on

ation from the accustomed form, she wasnot a little surprised on this particular morning to see the fat boy,instead of leaving the arbour, walk a

f of herloose coin. She would have cried for assistance, but age andinfirmity had long ago deprived her of the power of screaming;she, therefore, watched his motions with feeli

and stopped to hear more. There were three reasons forhis doing so. In the first place, he was idle and curious; secondly,he was by

' shouted

d mistress to you, Joe. You have invariably been treated verykindly. Y

eal to the fat boy's m

as he replied emphati

t to do now?' said the o

your flesh creep,

de; and as the old lady did not precisely understand theprocess by w

k I see in this ver

ired t

he old lady, alarmed at the sol

leman―him as had hi

hugg

one of the ser

roared the fat boy,

of my gra

er than

o had thought thisthe extreme limit of human at

and having concluded hissurvey, shout

ld lady, in a shrill

ael,' roared

da'a

ave by way of assent,communicated a bla

ady. A grin stole overthe fat boy's features

uld have betrayed his close vicinity to the summer-house. Helistened attentively. Fragments of angry sentences such as,'Without my permission!'―'At her time of life'―'Miserable old'ooman l

ans disagreeable to the fair object of his attack; andhe had more than a strong suspicion that she possessed that mostdesirable of all requisites, a small independence. The imperativenecessity of ousting his rival by some means or other, flashedquickly upon him, and he immediately resolved to adopt certainproceedi

entioned, approached the house. Fortune seemed determined tofavour his design. Mr. Tupman and the rest of the gentlemen leftthe g

oast wa

our door was partial

d; she looked up andsmiled. Hesitation form

is lips mysteriously, wal

ted earnestness,'forgive intrusion―short acq

stonished by theunexpected apparition and

dumpling face―round eyes―rascal!' Here he shook his heade

eph, sir?' said the lady, maki

theold lady―old lady furious―wild―raving―arbour―Tupman―

spinster aunt, 'if you co

e to warn you of your danger―tender myservices―prevent the hubbub. Never mind―think

oor spinster, bursting into tea

,' said Mr. Jingle p

say!' exclaimed the spinster a

it,' replied Mr

the spinster aunt atthis suggestion. Mr. Jing

d boy―lovelywoman―fat boy horsewhipped―you

his ill-timed discovery was delightful to the spinster's feelin

we know not. She blushedslightly, an

eyes on thespinster aunt's face for a couple of minute

oice. 'May I show my gratitude for your kind interference, byinq

r. Jingle, with ano

f the niece of the creature who―but no; he ismy friend; I will not expose his vices. Miss Wardle―farewell!' Atthe conclusion of this address, the m

er aunt emphatically. 'Youhave made a

'Never!' and, by way of showing that he had no desire to bequestioned

I implore you, if there isany dreadful mys

on the aunt's face―'can Isee―lovely creature

flicting emotions fora few seconds, and then sa

indignation. (Mr. Jingle's doubts were resolved. She h

jaculated the

l―black eyes

e was

ealousy, itwas this identical niece. The colour rushed over her face and neck,and she tossed her head in silence with

'em,' sai

l,' said

ch his

I w

s whi

I w

it next he

et h

l flatt

et h

er every possi

et h

he'll c

unt. 'He cut me; will he!' andshe t

nvince yoursel

I w

show you

I w

ot have him

Nev

take someb

'Y

ou s

s thereafter; and rose the accepted lover of the spinsteraunt―con

tcould hardly believe her eyes. Mr. Tracy Tupman was establishedat Emily's side, ogling, whispering, and smiling, in opp

.―He hadheard the story from his mother. 'Damn that

unt. 'Dear Mr. Jingle was notdeceiv

to our readersthis apparently unaccountable altera

g in a side path; one was rather short and stout; theother tall and slim.

I do it?' h

r myself―you mustrepeat the part to-mo

chael stil

ion―afraid of her brother―says there's no help for it―onlya

y mes

gards―unalterable affection.

love―sayhow hard I find it to dissemble―say anything that's kind: but addhow sensible I am of the necessity

l. Anyth

for the time when I maycall her mine, a

certainly. A

mest thanks for yourdisinterested kindness; and forgive me if I have ever, even inthought, done y

suddenly recollecting something, and said―'By the bye―can'tspare

Mr. Tupman, in the fulness of

all over then―no mo

's hand, and hedropped it piece by piece into

said Mr. Jingl

ink,' said

a syl

a whi

ather rude, than otherwise,to the aun

are,' said Mr.

id Mr. Jingle internally;

and evenings next ensuing. On the fourth, thehost was in high spirits, for he had sa

erwise. So was not Mr. Snodgrass, for he had grown jealous ofMr. Tupman. So was the old lady, for she had been winning atwhist. S

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