第164章

HOW THE PICKWICKIANS MADE AND CULTIVATED THE ACQUAINTANCEOF A COUPLE OF NICE YOUNG MEN BELONGING TO ONE OF THE LIBERAL PROFESSIONS;HOW THEY DISPORTED THEMSELVES ON THE ICE; AND HOW THEIR FIRST VISIT CAMETO A CONCLUSION

"W ELL , Sam," said Mr.Pickwick as that favoured servitor entered his bed-chamber with his warm water, on the morning of Christmas Day, "Still frosty?""Water in the wash-hand basin's a mask o' ice, sir," responded Sam.

"Severe weather, Sam," observed Mr.Pickwick.

"Fine time for them as is well wropped up, as the Polar Bear said to himself, ven he was practising his skating," replied Mr.Weller.

"I shall be down in a quarter of an hour, Sam," said Mr.Pickwick, untying his nightcap.

"Wery good, sir," replied Sam."There's a couple o' Sawbones down-stairs.""A couple of what!" exclaimed Mr.Pickwick, sitting up in bed.

"A couple o' Sawbones," said Sam.

"What's a Sawbones?" inquired Mr.Pickwick, not quite certain whether it was a live animal, or something to eat.

"What! Don't you know what a Sawbones is, sir?" inquired Mr.Weller.

"I thought everybody know'd as a Sawbones was a Surgeon.""Oh, a Surgeon, eh?" said Mr.Pickwick, with a smile.

"Just that, sir," replied Sam."These here ones as is below, though, ain't reg'lar thorough-bred Sawbones; they're only in trainin'.""In other words they're Medical Students, I suppose?" said Mr.Pickwick.

Sam Weller nodded assent.

"I am glad of it," said Mr.Pickwick, casting his nightcap energetically on the counterpane, "They are fine fellows; very fine fellows; with judgments matured by observation and reflection; tastes refined by reading and study.

I am very glad of it."

"They're a smokin' cigars by the kitchen fire," said Sam.

"Ah!" observed Mr.Pickwick, rubbing his hands, "over-flowing with kindly feelings and animal spirits.Just what I like to see.""And one on 'em," said Sam, not noticing his master's interruption, "one on 'em's got his legs on the table, and is a drinkin' brandy neat, vile the t'other one--him in the barnacles--has got a barrel o' oysters atween his knees, wich he's a openin' like steam, and as fast as he eats 'em, he takes a aim vith the shells at young dropsy, who's a sittin' down fast asleep, in the chimbley corner.""Eccentricities of genius, Sam," said Mr.Pickwick."You may retire."Sam did retire accordingly; Mr.Pickwick, at the expiration of the quarter of an hour, went down to breakfast.

"Here he is at last!" said old Mr.Wardle."Pickwick, this is Miss Allen's brother, Mr.Benjamin Allen.Ben we call him, and so may you if you like.

This gentleman is his very particular friend, Mr.--""Mr.Bob Sawyer," interposed Mr.Benjamin Allen; whereupon Mr.Bob Sawyer and Mr.Benjamin Allen laughed in concert.

Mr.Pickwick bowed to Bob Sawyer, and Bob Sawyer bowed to Mr.Pickwick;Bob and his very particular friend then applied themselves most assiduously to the eatables before them; and Mr.Pickwick had an opportunity of glancing at them both.

Mr.Benjamin Allen was a coarse, stout, thick-set young man, with black hair cut rather short, and a white face cut rather long.He was embellished with spectacles, and wore a white neckerchief.Below his single-breasted black surtout, which was buttoned up to his chin, appeared the usual number of pepper-and-salt coloured legs, terminating in a pair of imperfectly polished boots.Although his coat was short in the sleeves, it disclosed no vestige of a linen wrist-band; and although there was quite enough of his face to admit of the encroachment of a shirt collar, it was not graced by the smallest approach to that appendage.He presented, altogether, rather a mildewy appearance, and emitted a fragrant odour of full-flavoured Cubas.

Mr.Bob Sawyer, who was habited in a coarse blue coat, which, without being either a great-coat or a surtout, partook of the nature and qualities of both, had about him that sort of slovenly smartness, and swaggering gait, which is peculiar to young gentlemen who smoke in the streets by day, shout and scream in the same by night, call waiters by their Christian names, and do various other acts and deeds of an equally facetious description.

He wore a pair of plaid trousers, and a large rough double-breasted waistcoat;out of doors, he carried a thick stick with a big top.He eschewed gloves, and looked, upon the whole, something like a dissipated Robinson Crusoe.

Such were the two worthies to whom Mr.Pickwick was introduced, as he took his seat at the breakfast table on Christmas morning.

"Splendid morning, gentlemen," said Mr.Pickwick.

Mr.Bob Sawyer slightly nodded his assent to the proposition, and asked Mr.Benjamin Allen for the mustard.

"Have you come far this morning, gentlemen?" inquired Mr.Pickwick.

"Blue Lion at Muggleton," briefly responded Mr.Allen.

"You should have joined us last night," said Mr.Pickwick.

"So we should," replied Bob Sawyer, "but the brandy was too good to leave in a hurry: wasn't it, Ben?""Certainly," said Mr.Benjamin Allen; "and the cigars were not bad, or the pork chops either: were they, Bob?""Decidedly not," said Bob.The particular friends resumed their attack upon the breakfast, more freely than before, as if the recollection of last night's supper had imparted a new relish to the meal.

"Peg away, Bob," said Mr.Allen to his companion, encouragingly.

"So I do," replied Bob Sawyer.And so, to do him justice, he did.

"Nothing like dissecting, to give one an appetite," said Mr.Bob Sawyer, looking round the table.

Mr.Pickwick slightly shuddered.

"By the bye, Bob," said Mr.Allen, "have you finished that leg yet?""Nearly," replied Sawyer, helping himself to half a fowl as he spoke.

"It's a very muscular one for a child's.""Is it?" inquired Mr.Allen, carelessly.

"Very," said Bob Sawyer, with his mouth full.