THE PICKWICK CLUB. 371
CHAPTER XXXIV.
IN WHICH MR. PICKWICK THINKS HE HAD BETTER GO TO BATH ;
AND GOES ACCORDINGLY.
" But surely, my dear Sir," said little Perker, as he stood in oMr. Pickwick's apartment on the morning- after the trial — '< Surely you don't really mean — really and seriously now, and irritation apart — that you won't pay these costs and damages ?"
" Not one halfpenny/' said Mr. Pickwick, firmly ; " not one half- penny."
" Hooroar for the principle, as the money-lender said ven he vouldn*t renew the bill," observed Mr. Weller, who was clearing away the break- fast things.
- < Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, " have the goodness to step down
stairs."
- ' Cert'nly, Sir," replied Mr. Weller ; and acting on Mr. Pickwick's
gentle hint, Sam retired.
" No, Perker," said Mr. Pickwick, with great seriousness of manner,
- my friends here, have endeavoured to dissuade me fi*om this determi-
nation, but without avail. I shall employ myself as usual, until the oppo- site party have the power of issuing a legal process of execution against me ; and if they are vile enough to avail themselves of it, and to arrest my person, I shall yield myself up with perfect cheerfulness and con- tent of heart. When can they do this?"
" They can issue execution, my dear Sir, for the amount of the da- mages and taxed costs, next term," replied Perker, "just two months hence, my dear Sir."
" Very good," said Mr. Pickwick. " Until that time, my dear fel* low, let me hear no more of the matter. And now," continued Mr. Pickwick, looking round on his friends with a good-humoured smile, and a sparkle in the eye which no spectacles could dim or conceal, " the only question is. Where shall we go to next?"
Mr. Tupman and Mr. Snodgrass were too much affected by their friend's heroism to offer any reply. Mr. Winkle had not yet suffi- ciently recovered the recollection of his evidence at the trial, to make any observation on any subject, so Mr. Pickwick paused in vain.
" Well," said that gentleman, " if you leave me to suggest our des- tination, I say Bath. I think none of us have ever been there."
Nobody had ; and as the proposition was warmly seconded by Perker, who considered it extremely probable that if Mr. Pickwick saw a little change and gaiety he would be inclined to think better of his determi- nation, and worse of a debtor's prison, it was carried unanimously : and Sam was at once dispatched to the White Horse Cellar, to take five places by the half-past seven o'clock coach, next morning.
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