Part 41 (1/2)

”Try it now,” said Wardle

”Oh do, please, Mr Pickwick!” cried all the ladies

”I should be very happy to afford you any amusement,” replied Mr

Pickwick, ”but I haven't done such a thing these thirty years”

”Pooh! pooh! Nonsense!” said Wardle, dragging off his skates with the is ”Here; I'll keep you coood tempered old fellon the slide, with a rapidity which came very close upon Mr Weller, and beat the fat boy all to nothing

Mr Pickwick paused, considered, pulled off his gloves and put them in his hat: took two or three short runs, baulked himself as often, and at last took another run, and went slowly and gravely down the slide, with his feet about a yard and a quarter apart, aratified shouts of all the spectators

”Keep the pot a bilin', sir!” said Saain, and then Mr Pickwick, and then Sam, and then Mr Winkle, and then Mr Bob Sawyer, and then the fat boy, and then Mr Snodgrass, following closely upon each other's heels, and running after each other with as erness as if all their future prospects in life depended on their expedition

It was the , to observe the manner in which Mr Pickwick performed his share in the ceremony; to watch the torture of anxiety hich he viewed the person behind, gaining upon hiradually expend the painful force he had put on at first, and turn slowly round on the slide, with his face towards the point from which he had started; to contemplate the playful smile which mantled on his face when he had accoerness hich he turned round when he had done so, and ran after his predecessor: his black gaiters tripping pleasantly through the snow, and his eyes beah his spectacles And when he was knocked dohich happened upon the average every third round), it was the ined, to behold hi countenance, and resume his station in the rank, with an ardor and enthusiasht, the sliding was at the quickest, the laughter was at the loudest, when a sharp smart crack was heard There was a quick rush towards the bank, a wild screae mass of ice disappeared; the water bubbled up over it; Mr Pickwick's hat, gloves, and handkerchief were floating on the surface; and this was all of Mr Pickwick that anybody could see

Disuish were depicted on every countenance, the rass and Mr Winkle grasped each other by the hand, and gazed at the spot where their leader had gone doith frenzied eagerness: while Mr Tup the pro to any persons who , the clearest possible notion of the catastrophe, ran off across the country at his utht

It was at thisthe hole with cautious steps, and Mr Benja a hurried consultation with Mr Bob Sawyer on the advisability of bleeding the co little bit of professional practice--it was at this very ed from beneath the water, and disclosed the features and spectacles of Mr Pickwick

”Keep yourself up for an instant--for only one instant!” bawled Mr

Snodgrass

”Yes, do; let me implore you--for my sake!” roared Mr Winkle, deeply affected The adjuration was rather unnecessary; the probability being, that if Mr Pickwick had declined to keep himself up for anybody else's sake, it would have occurred to hiht as well do so, for his own

”Do you feel the bottom there, old fellow?” said Wardle

”Yes, certainly,” replied Mr Pickwick, wringing the water fro for breath ”I fell upon et on my feet at first”

The clay upon so much of Mr Pickwick's coat as was yet visible, bore testimony to the accuracy of this statement; and as the fears of the spectators were still further relieved by the fat boy's suddenly recollecting that the water was nowhere ies of valor were perfor, and cracking, and struggling, Mr Pickas at length fairly extricated from his unpleasant position, and once more stood on dry land

”Oh, he'll catch his death of cold,” said E!” said Arabella ”Let me wrap this shawl round you, Mr Pickwick”

”Ah, that's the best thing you can do,” said Wardle; ”and when you've got it on, run hos can carry you, and jump into bed directly”

A dozen shaere offered on the instant Three or four of the thickest having been selected, Mr Pickrapped up, and started off, under the guidance of Mr Weller: presenting the singular pheno wet, and without a hat, with his arround, without any clearly defined purpose, at the rate of six good English miles an hour

But Mr Pickwick cared not for appearances in such an extreed on by Sam Weller, he kept at the very top of his speed until he reached the door of Manor Farm, where Mr Tuphtened the old lady into palpitations of the heart by i her with the unalterable conviction that the kitchen chimney was on fire--a cala colors to the old lady's itation

Mr Pickwick paused not an instant until he was snug in bed Sa fire in his roo was held in honor of his safety

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