422 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF
1
" I'm afraid I shall hurt you, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick.
"Never mind me, Sir," replied Sam. "Lend him a hand, Mr. Vinkle, Sir. Steady, Sir, steady ; that's the time o' day."
As Sam spoke, Mr. Pickwick, by exertions almost supernatural in a gentleman of his years and weight, contrived to get upon Sam's hack ; and Sam gently raising himself up, and Mr. Pickwick holding on fast by the top of the wall, while Mr. Winkle clasped him tight by the legs, they contrived by these means to bring his spectacles just above the level of the coping.
" My dear," said Mr. Pickwick, looking over the wall, and catching sight of Arabella, on the other side, " Don't be frightened, my dear, 'tis only me."
- Oh pray go away, Mr. Pickwick," said Arabella. " Tell them all
to go away, I am so dreadfully frightened. Dear, dear Mr. Pickwick, don't stop there. You'll fall down and kill yourself, I know you will."
- ' Now pray don't alarm yourself, my dear," said Mr. Pickwick,
soothingly. " There is not the least cause for fear, I assure you. Stand firm, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, looking down.
" All right, Sir," replied Mr. Weller. " Don't be longer than you can conweniently help, Sir. You're rayther heavy."
- ' Only another moment, Sam," replied Mr. Pickwick. ^
" I merely wdshed you to know, my dear, that I should not have allowed my young friend to see you in this clandestine way, if the situation in which you are placed had left him any alternative ; and lest the impropriety of this step should cause you any uneasiness, my love, it may be a satisfaction to you, to know that I am present : that's all, my dear."
" Indeed, Mr. Pickwick, I am very much obliged to you for your kindness and consideration," replied Arabella, drying her tears with her handkerchief. She would probably have said much more, had not Mr. Pickwick's head disappeared with great swiftness, in consequence of a false step on Sam's shoulder, which brought him suddenly to the ground. He was up again in an instant, however ; and bidding Mr. Winkle make haste and get the interview over, ran out into the lane to keep watch, with all the courage and ardour of a youth. Mr. Win- kle himself, inspired by the occasion, was on the wall in a moment, merely pausing to request Sam to be careful of his master.
- ' I'll take care on him, Sir," replied Sam. " Leave him to me."
" Where is he ? What's he doing, Sam ?" inquired Mr. Winkle. •
- ' Bless his old gaiters," rejoined Sam, looking out at the garden-
door. " He's a keepin' guard in the lane vith that 'ere dark lantern like a amiable Guy Fawkes. I never see such a fine creetur in my days. Blessed if I don't think his heart must ha' been born five-and- twenty year arter his body, at least ! "
Mr. Winkle stayed not to hear the encomium upon his friend. He had dropped from the wall ; thrown himself at Arabella's feet ; and by this time was pleading the sincerity of his passion with an eloquence worthy even of Mr. Pickwick himself.
While these things were going on in the open air, an elderly gentle*
