rundle to Mr. Winkle; a proposal to
"take wine with him," as it is called, Winkle had a bottle all to himself
on the box seat, which, no doubt, attracted the reticent Trundle. The
two gentlemen not only took wine together, but had "a glass round, ladies
and all." But we should note that Trundle phrase, the almost too humble
form: "Will you permit me the pleasure, Sir." It looks as though Trundle
were "an ass," as it is called. The fact remains, however, that
Trundle's single speech was: "Will you permit me to have the pleasure,
Sir?"

After a few days' interval, when Mr. Pickwick and party found their way
to Manor Farm, there were games _galore_, and at the "round one,"
Isabella and Trundle, we are told, "went partners," so all was going on
well. The Squire had been nearly brought up to the point. It is painful
to come to the conclusion, but Isabella's admirer, though a country
gentlemen, was nothing of a sportsman, and rather a poor creature. When
Mr. Pickwick and his followers were up early and out at the rook
shooting, we find no Trundle. He was lying a-bed, no doubt. Stranger
still, when the whole party went in for a day to Muggleton for the
cricket match, Trundle was the only one who stayed behind. He remained
with the ladies, for a purpose, no doubt; still, ladies don't like this
sort of thing. The evening came. "Isabella and Emily strolled out with
Mr. Trundle." I have an idea that on this very day matters came to a
crisis in that quarter. Everything favoured--all the men were away--he
may have seized the opportunity to "propose." At all events, we are
significantly told that at the supper "Isabella Wardle devoted herself
_exclusively_ to Mr. Trundle." Pointed enough, surely. We may be
fortified in this view by finding that on the return of the party, all
dead drunk, at one in the morning, on Trundle was specially cast the
degrading menial duty of carrying Wardle to bed--his future father-in-
law.

Did Boz dislike this man all this while, or did he feel that he could do
nothing with him in the story? It is certain, however, that in the talks
at Bury over the Bardell action, the Boarding School adventure, &c., we
never hear the sound of Trundle's voice. He is effaced. He makes no
remark on anything.

One of Boz's most daring pantomime changes, is the sudden arrival of old
Wardle at Bury, when Mr. Pickwick was released from the cupboard--and
sandwich bags--in Miss Tomkins' school. The door w