Our salutation over, the venerable piece of antiquity from which we
take our name is wound up in silence. The ceremony is always
performed by Master Humphrey himself (in treating of the club, I
may be permitted to assume the historical style, and speak of
myself in the third person), who mounts upon a chair for the
purpose, armed with a large key. While it is in progress, Jack
Redburn is required to keep at the farther end of the room under
the guardianship of Mr. Miles, for he is known to entertain certain
aspiring and unhallowed thoughts connected with the clock, and has
even gone so far as to state that if he might take the works out
for a day or two, he thinks he could improve them. We pardon him
his presumption in consideration of his good intentions, and his
keeping this respectful distance, which last penalty is insisted
on, lest by secretly wounding the object of our regard in some
tender part, in the ardour of his zeal for its improvement, he
should fill us with dismay and consternation.
This regulation afforded Mr. Pickwick the highest delight, and
seemed, if possible, to exalt Jack in his good opinion.
The next ceremony is the opening of the clock-case (of which Master
Humphrey has likewise the key), the taking from it as many papers
as will furnish forth our evening's entertainment, and arranging in
the recess such new contributions as have been provided since our
last meeting. This is always done with peculiar solemnity.
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