Miles (who, although he said 'Yes
- O certainly - he should like to know more about the gentleman -
he had no right to put himself in opposition to the general wish,'
and so forth, shook his head doubtfully and hemmed several times
with peculiar gravity), it was arranged that Mr. Pickwick should
carry me with him on an evening visit to the subject of our
discussion, for which purpose an early appointment between that
gentleman and myself was immediately agreed upon; it being
understood that I was to act upon my own responsibility, and to
invite him to join us or not, as I might think proper. This solemn
question determined, we returned to the clock-case (where we have
been forestalled by the reader), and between its contents, and the
conversation they occasioned, the remainder of our time passed very
quickly.
When we broke up, Mr. Pickwick took me aside to tell me that he had
spent a most charming and delightful evening. Having made this
communication with an air of the strictest secrecy, he took Jack
Redburn into another corner to tell him the same, and then retired
into another corner with the deaf gentleman and the slate, to
repeat the assurance. It was amusing to observe the contest in his
mind whether he should extend his confidence to Mr. Miles, or treat
him with dignified reserve. Half a dozen times he stepped up
behind him with a friendly air, and as often stepped back again
without saying a word; at last, when he was close at that
gentleman's ear and upon the very point of whispering something
conciliating and agreeable, Mr.
Pages:
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136