454 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF
" I should like to speak to you in private. Will you step out for an instant?"
" Certainly/' said Jingle, rising hastily. " Can't step far — no danger of over-walking yourself here — spike park — grounds pretty — romantic, but not extensive — open for public inspection — family always in town —housekeeper desperately careful — very."
" You have forgotten your coat," said Mr. Pickwick, as they walked out to the staircase, and closed the door after them.
" Eh ? " said Jingle. " Spout — dear relation — uncle Tom — couldn't help it — must eat, you know. Wants of nature — and all that."
" What do you mean ? "
" Gone, my dear Sir — last coat — can't help it. Lived on a pair of boots — whole fortnight. Silk umbrella — ivory handle — week — fact — honour — ask Job — knows it."
" Lived for three weeks upon a pair of boots and a silk umbrella with an ivory handle !" exclaimed Mr. Pickwick, who had only heard of such things in shipwrecks, or read of them in Constable's Miscellany.
" True," said Jingle, nodding his head. " Pawnbroker's shop — dupli- cates here — small sums — mere nothing — all rascals."
" Oh," said Mr. Pickwick, much relieved by this explanation ; " I understand you. You have pawned your wardrobe."
" Every thing — Job's too — all shirts gone — never mind — saves wash- ing. Nothing soon — lie in bed — starve^ — die — Inquest — little bone- house — poor prisoner — common necessaries — hush it up — gentlemen of the jury — warden's tradesmen — keep it snug — natural death — coroner's order — workhouse funeral — serve him right — all over — drop the curtain."
Jingle delivered this singular summary of his prospects in life with his accustomed volubility, and with various twitches of the countenance to counterfeit smiles. Mr. Pickwick easily perceived that his reckless- ness was assumed, and looking him full, but not unkindly, in the face, saw that his eyes were moist with tears.
- ' Good fellow," said Jingle, pressing his hand, and turning his head
away. *' Ungrateful dog — boyish to cry — can't help it — bad fever — weak — ill — hungry. Deserved it all; but suffered much — very." Wholly unable to keep up appearances any longer, and perhaps rendered worse by the effort he had made, the dejected stroller sat down on the stairs, and, covering his face with his hands, sobbed like a child.
" Come, come," said Mr. Pickwick, with considerable emotion, " we'll see what can be done when I know all about the matter. Here, Job ; where is that fellow ? "
" Here, Sir," replied Job, presenting himself on the staircase. We have described him, by-the-bye, as having deeply-sunken eyes in the best of times ; in his present state of want and distress, he looked as if those features had gone out of town altogether.
- Here, Sir," said Job.
- ' Come here, Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, trying to look stern, with four
large tears running down his waistcoat. " Take that, Sir.'*
Take what ? In the ordinary acceptation of such language, it should have been a blow. As the world runs, it ought to hare been a sound,
