xpressing his
opinion that it was time to lay the cloth, were too distinctly
audible, to be again mistaken for the workings of fancy.

'Gracious Heaven!' said the middle-aged lady, 'what's that!'

'It's--it's--only a gentleman, Ma'am,' said Mr. Pickwick from behind
the curtains.

'A gentleman!' said the lady with a terrific scream.

'It's all over,' thought Mr. Pickwick.

'A strange man,' shrieked the lady. Another instant and the house
would be alarmed. Her garments rustled as she rushed towards the
door.

'Ma'am,'--said Mr. Pickwick, thrusting out his head, in the extremity
of desperation, 'Ma'am.'

Now although Mr. Pickwick was not actuated by any definite object in
putting out his head, it was instantaneously productive of a good
effect. The lady, as we have alreaded stated, was near the door.
She must pass it, to reach the staircase, and she would most
undoubtedly have done so by this time, had not the sudden apparition
of Mr. Pickwick's nightcap driven her back, into the remotest corner
of the apartment, where she stood, staring wildly at Mr. Pickwick,
while Mr. Pickwick, in his turn, stared wildly at her.

'Wretch,'--said the lady, covering her eyes with her hands, 'what do
you want here.'

'Nothing, Ma'am--nothing whatever, Ma'am,' said Mr. Pickwick,
earnestly.

'Nothing!' said the lady, looking up.

'Nothing, Ma'am, upon my honour,' said Mr. Pickwick, nodding his head
so energetically, that the tassel of his nightcap danced again. 'I
am almost ready to sink, Ma'am, beneath the confusion of addressing a
lady in my nightcap (here the lady hastily snatched off her's), but I
can't get it off, Ma'am (here Mr. Pickwick gave it a tremendous tug
in proof of the statment). It is evident to me, Ma'am, now, that I
have mistaken this bedroom for my own. I had not been here five
minutes, Ma'am, when you suddenly entered it.'

'If this improbable story be really true, Sir,'--said the lady,
sobbing violently, 'you will leave it instantly.'

'I will, Ma'am, with the greatest pleasure,' replied Mr. Pickwick.

'Instantly, Sir,' said the lady.

'Certainly, Ma'am,' interposed Mr. Pickwick very quickly.
'Certainly, Ma'am. I--I--am very sorry, Ma'am,' said Mr. Pickwick,
making his appearance at the bottom of the bed, 'to have been the
innocent oc