Farm? How Isabella
Wardle and her sister--and all the girls--would laugh! And the spinster
aunt--_she_ would enjoy it! But there was no help for it. It must be
faced.

Naturally Mr. Pickwick felt uncomfortable, and his first idea was to
arrange the matter. This was a sensible course, and he ought at once to
have put the matter into the hands of his friend Perker, with full powers
to treat. But no. Mr. Pickwick's vanity and indiscretion made him
meddle in the business behind his solicitor's back, as it where, and with
damaging results to himself--a warning to all such amateurs. It must be
said that Dodson and Fogg's behaviour at the extraordinary visit which he
paid them was marked by a certain propriety. Mr. Pickwick insisted on
knowing what were the grounds of action--that is, the details of the
evidence against him--in short, their case. They, very correctly,
refused to tell him. "The case may be false or it may be true--it may be
credible it may be incredible." But all the same it was a strong case.
This was as much as they could tell. Mr. Pickwick could only urge that
if "it were so, he was a most unfortunate man," on which Dodson
promptly--"I hope you are, sir, I trust you may be, sir. If you are
really innocent, you are more unfortunate than I had believed any man
could possibly be."

Mr. Pickwick then rather foolishly asked did he understand they meant to
go on with the action--as if they could have been affected by his
declaration. "Understand?" was the reply, "that you certainly may"--a
very natural speech.

With some want of professional delicacy and etiquette, Dodson seized the
opportunity to "serve" Mr. Pickwick; but they were not a high-class firm
and their methods were not high-class. Then an extraordinarily
incredible display followed. His passion broke forth. "_Of all the
disgraceful and rascally proceedings he ever_, _etc._!" Dodson summoned
his clerks to listen to this gross language, and said, "Perhaps you would
like to call us swindlers." "_You are_," said Mr. Pickwick. Fogg even
wished him to assault them--and perhaps he would have done so, but for
Sam, who at last got him away. This was certainly not correct, but how
aggravating was Mr. Pickwick! One is rather astonished at the
forbearance of this sharp firm.

Now, had Mr. Pickwick gone straight to his lodgings in Goswell Street and
seen Mrs. Bardell, heard her views and claims, had he been told by her
that she had been