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