dear sir," said the cautious little man, "perhaps if
you _could_--I don't mean to say it's indispensable--but if you
_could_ manage to kiss one of 'em it would produce a very great
impression on the crowd."

"Wouldn't it have as good an effect if the proposer or seconder did
that?" said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey.

"Why, I am afraid it wouldn't," replied the agent; "if it were done by
yourself, my dear sir, I think it would make you very popular."

"Very well," said the Honourable Samuel Slumkey, with a resigned air,
"then it must be done. That's all."

"Arrange the procession," cried the twenty committee men.

Amidst the cheers of the assembled throng, the band, and the
constables, and the committee men, and the voters, and the horsemen,
and the carriages took their places--each of the two-horse vehicles
being closely packed with as many gentlemen as could manage to stand
upright in it; and that assigned to Mr. Perker containing Mr.
Pickwick, Mr. Tupman, Mr. Snodgrass, and about half-a-dozen of the
committee beside.

There was a moment of awful suspense as the procession waited for the
Honourable Samuel Slumkey to step into his carriage. Suddenly the
crowd set up a great cheering.

"He has come out," said little Mr. Perker, greatly excited; the more
so as their position did not enable them to see what was going
forward.

Another cheer, much louder.

"He has shaken hands with the men," cried the little agent.

Another cheer, far more vehement.

"He has patted the babies on the head," said Mr. Perker, trembling
with anxiety.

A roar of applause that rent the air.

"He has kissed one of 'em!" exclaimed the delighted little man.

A second roar.

"He has kissed another," gasped the excited manager.

A third roar.

"He's kissing 'em all!" screamed the enthusiastic little gentleman.
And hailed by the deafening shouts of the multitude the procession
moved on.

Ladies and gentlemen, according to our modern ideas this account does not
do much to raise Mr. Perker in our estimation; but the best testimonial
to his memory is to be found in Mr. Pickwick's observation when, being at
last free from all his legal difficulties, he proposed to settle up with
his lawyer.

"Well, now," said Mr. Pickwick, "let me have a settlement with you."

"Of the same kind as the last?" inquired Perker, with an