Mr. Pickwick.

'That depends--' said Mrs. Bardell, approaching the duster very near
to Mr. Pickwick's elbow, which was planted on the table; 'that
depends a good deal upon the person, you know, Mr. Pickwick; and
whether it's a saving and careful person, sir.'

'That's very true,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'but the person I have in my
eye (here he looked very hard at Mrs. Bardell) I think possesses
these qualities; and has, moreover, a considerable knowledge of the
world, and a great deal of sharpness, Mrs. Bardell; which may be of
material use to me.'

'La, Mr. Pickwick,' said Mrs. Bardell; the crimson rising to her
cap-border again.

'I do,' said Mr. Pickwick, growing energetic, as was his wont in
speaking of a subject which interested him, 'I do, indeed; and to
tell you the truth, Mrs. Bardell, I have made up my mind.'

'Dear me, sir,' exclaimed Mrs. Bardell.

'You'll think it very strange, now,' said the amiable Mr. Pickwick,
with a good humoured glance at his companion, 'that I never consulted
you about this matter, and never even mentioned it, till I sent your
little boy out this morning, eh?'

Mrs. Bardell could only reply by a look. She had long worshipped Mr.
Pickwick at a distance, but here she was, all at once, raised to a
pinnacle to which her wildest and most extravagant hopes and never
dared to aspire. Mr. Pickwick was going to propose--a deliberate
plan, too--sent her little boy to the Borough, to get him out of the
way--how thoughtful--how considerate!'

'Well,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'what do you think?'

'Oh, Mr. Pickwick,' said Mrs. Bardell, trembling with agitation,
'you're very kind, sir.'

'It'll save you a good deal of trouble, won't it?' said Mr. Pickwick.

'Oh, I never thought anything of the trouble, sir,' replied Mrs.
Bardell; 'and, of course, I should take more trouble to please you
then, than ever; but it is so kind of you, Mr. Pickwick, to have so
much consideration for my loneliness.'

'Ah, to be sure,' said Mr. Pickwick; 'I never thought of that. When
I am in town, you'll always have somebody to sit with you. To be
sure, so you will.'

'I'm sure I ought to be a very happy woman,' said Mrs. Bardell.

'And your little boy--' said Mr. Pickwick.

'Bless his heart,' interposed Mrs. Bardell, with a maternal sob.

'He, too, wi