420 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF
garden an hour later, next evening. Sam understood this perfectly well, and Arabella, bestowing upon him one of her sweetest smiles, tripped gracefully away, leaving Mr. Weller in a state of very great admiration of her charms, both personal and mental.
Having descended in safety from the wall, and not forgotten to de- vote a few moments to his own particular business in the same depart- ment, Mr. Weller then made the best of his May back to the Bush, where his prolonged absence had occasioned much speculation and some alarm.
^ *' We must be careful," said Mr. Pickwick, after listening atten- tively to Sam's tale, " not for our own sakes, but for that of the young lady. We must be very cautious."
" We/" said Mr. Winkle, with marked emphasis.
Mr. Pickwick's momentary look of indignation at the tone of this remark, subsided into his characteristic expression of benevolence, as lie replied —
" We, Sir ! I shall accompany you."
" You ! " said Mr. Winkle.
" I," replied Mr. Pickwick, mildly. " In affording you this inter- vieWj the young lady has taken a natural, perhaps, but still a very im- prudent step. If I am present at the meeting — a mutual friend, who is old enough to be the father of both parties — the voice of calumny can never be raised against her, hereafter."
Mr. Pickwick's eyes lightened with honest exultation at his own foresight, as he spoke thus. Mr. Winkle was touched at this little trait of his delicate respect for the young protegee of his friend, and took his hand with a feeling of regard akin to veneration,
" You shall go" said Mr. Winkle.
- I will," said Mr. Pickwick. *' Sam, have my great-coat and shawl
ready, and order a conveyance to be at the door to-morrow evening, rather earlier than is absolutely necessary, in order that we may be in good time."
Mr. Weller touched his hat, as an earnest of his obedience, and with- drew to make all needful preparations for the expedition.
The coach was punctual to the time appointed ; and Mr. Weller, after duly installing Mr. Pickwick and Mr. Winkle inside, took his seat on the box by the driver. They alighted, as had been agreed on, about a quarter of a mile from the place of rendezvous, and desiring the coach- man to await their return, proceeded the remaining distance on foot.
It was at this stage of the undertaking that Mr. Pickwick, with many smiles and various other indications of great self satisfaction, produced from one of his coat pockets a dark lantern, with which he had specially provided himself for the occasion, and the great mechani- cal beauty of which, he proceeded to explain to Mr. Winkle, as they walked along, to the no small surprise of the few stragglers they met.
" I should have been the better for something of this kind, in my last garden expedition, at night ; eh, Sam ? " said Mr. Pickwick, look- ing good-humouredly round at his follower, who was trudging behind.
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