, good, playful dear!" And,
without more ado, she flung her arms round Mr. Pickwick's neck.

"Bless my soul!" cried the astonished Mr. Pickwick. "Mrs. Bardell, my
good woman! Dear me, what a situation! Pray consider if anybody should
come!"

"Oh, let them come!" exclaimed Mrs. Bardell frantically. "I'll never
leave you, dear, kind soul!" And she clung the tighter.

"Mercy upon me," said Mr. Pickwick, struggling; "I hear somebody coming
upstairs! Don't, there's a good creature, don't!" But Mrs. Bardell had
fainted in his arms, and before he could gain time to deposit her on a
chair, Master Bardell entered the room, followed by Mr. Pickwick's
friends Mr. Tupman, Mr. Winkle, and Mr. Snodgrass.

"What is the matter?" said the three Pickwickians.

"I don't know!" replied Mr. Pickwick; while the ever gallant Mr. Tupman
led Mrs. Bardell, who said she was better, downstairs. "I cannot
conceive what has been the matter with the woman. I merely told her of
my intention of keeping a manservant, when she fell into an
extraordinary paroxysm. Very remarkable thing."

"Very," said his three friends.

"There's a man in the passage now," said Mr. Tupman.

"It's the man I've sent for from the Borough," said Mr. Pickwick. "Have
the goodness to call him up."

Mr. Samuel Weller forthwith presented himself, having previously
deposited his old white hat on the landing outside.

"Ta'nt a wery good 'un to look at," said Sam, "but it's an astonishin'
'un to wear. And afore the brim went it was a wery handsome tile."

"Now, with regard to the matter on which I sent for you," said Mr.
Pickwick.

"That's the pint, sir; out vith it, as the father said to the child ven
he swallowed a farden."

"We want to know, in the first place," said Mr. Pickwick, "whether you
are discontented with your present situation?"

"Afore I answers that 'ere question," replied Mr. Weller, "_I_ should
like to know whether you're a-goin' to purwide me vith a better."

Mr. Pickwick smiled benevolently as he said: "I have half made up my
mind to engage you myself."

"Have you though?" said Sam. "Wages?"

"Twelve pounds a year."

"Clothes?"

"Two suits."

"Work?"

"To attend upon me, and travel about with me and these gentlemen here."

"Take the bill down," said Sam emphatically. "I'm let to a single
gentleman, and the terms is agreed upon. If the clothes fit me half as
well as the place, they'll do."

_II.--Bardell vs. Pickwick_

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