st and
coolest perusal, and by discussing the subject afterwards with me, in
the tone and spirit in which alone it ought to be discussed? You may
judge of the importance of your decision to your son, and his intense
anxiety upon the subject, by my waiting upon you, without any previous
warning, at so late an hour; and,' added Mr. Pickwick, glancing slightly
at his two companions--'and under such unfavourable circumstances.'

With this prelude, Mr. Pickwick placed four closely-written sides of
extra superfine wire-wove penitence in the hands of the astounded Mr.
Winkle, senior. Then reseating himself in his chair, he watched his
looks and manner: anxiously, it is true, but with the open front of
a gentleman who feels he has taken no part which he need excuse or
palliate. The old wharfinger turned the letter over, looked at the
front, back, and sides, made a microscopic examination of the fat little
boy on the seal, raised his eyes to Mr. Pickwick's face, and then,
seating himself on the high stool, and drawing the lamp closer to
him, broke the wax, unfolded the epistle, and lifting it to the light,
prepared to read. Just at this moment, Mr. Bob Sawyer, whose wit had
lain dormant for some minutes, placed his hands on his knees, and made
a face after the portraits of the late Mr. Grimaldi, as clown. It so
happened that Mr. Winkle, senior, instead of being deeply engaged in
reading the letter, as Mr. Bob Sawyer thought, chanced to be looking
over the top of it at no less a person than Mr. Bob Sawyer himself;
rightly conjecturing that the face aforesaid was made in ridicule
and derision of his own person, he fixed his eyes on Bob with such
expressive sternness, that the late Mr. Grimaldi's lineaments gradually
resolved themselves into a very fine expression of humility and
confusion.

'Did you speak, Sir?' inquired Mr. Winkle, senior, after an awful
silence.

'No, sir,' replied Bob, With no remains of the clown about him, save and
except the extreme redness of his cheeks.

'You are sure you did not, sir?' said Mr. Winkle, senior.

'Oh dear, yes, sir, quite,' replied Bob.

'I thought you did, Sir,' replied the old gentleman, with indignant
emphasis. 'Perhaps you LOOKED at me, sir?'

'Oh, no! sir, not at all,' replied Bob, with extreme civility.

'I am very glad to hear it, sir,' said Mr. Winkle, senior. Having
frowned upon the abashed Bob with great magnificence, the old gentleman
again brought the letter to the lig