THE PICKWICK CLUB. 513
pending experiment. Not so, Mr. Pickwick. He at once threw himself upon the astonished combatants with his accustomed energy, and loudly called upon the by-standers to interpose.
This roused Mr. Bob Sawyer, who had been hitherto quite paralysed by the frenzy of his companion ; and with that gentleman's assistance, Mr. Pickwick raised Ben Allen to his feet. Mr. Martin finding himself alone on the floor, got up and looked about him.
- ' Mr. Allen," said Mr. Pickwick,'^ what is the matter, Sir? "
" Never mind. Sir," replied Mr. Allen, with haughty defiance.
" What is it ? " enquired Mr. Pickwick, looking at Bob Sawyer. " Is he unwell .^ "
Before Bob could reply, Mr. Ben Allen seized Mr. Pickwick by the hand, and murmured, in sorrowful accents, " My sister, my dear Sir ; my sister."
" Oh, is that all ! " said Mr. Pickwick. " We shall easily arrange that matter, I hope. Your sister is safe and well, and I am here, my dear Sir, to "
" Sorry to do anythin' as may cause an interruption to such wery pleasant proceedin's, as the king said ven he dissolved the parliament," interposed Mr. Welle;, who had been peeping through the glass door ; "but there's another experiment here, Sir. Here's a wenerable old lady a lyin' on the carpet vaitin' for dissection, or galwinism, or some other rewivin' and scientific inwention."
"I forgot," exclaimed Mr. Ben Allen. "^It is my aunt."
- ' Dear me," said Mr. Pickwick. '^ Poor lady ! gently Sam, gently."
" Strange sitivation for one o' the family," observed Sam Weller, hoisting the aunt into a chair. " Now, depitty Sawbones, bring out the wollatilly."
The latter observation was addressed to the boy in grey, who, having handed over the fly to the care of the street-keeper, had come back to see what all the noise was about. Between the boy in grey, and Mr. Bob Sawyer, and Mr. Benjamin Allen (who having frightened his aunt into a fainting fit, was afl^ectionately solicitous for her recovery) the old lady was at length restored to consciousness ; and then IMr. Ben Allen, turning with a puzzled countenance to Mr. Pickwick, asked him what he was about to say when he had been so alarmingly interrupted.
" We are all friends here, I presume.'*" said Mr. Pickwick, clearing his voice, and looking towards the man of few words with the surly countenance, who drove the fly with the chubby horse.
This reminded Mr. Bob Sawyer that the boy in grey was looking on, with eyes wide open and greedy ears. The incipient chemist having been lifted up by his coat collar and dropped outside the door. Bob Sawyer assured Mr. Pickwick that he might speak without reserve.
"' Your sister, my dear Sir," said Mr. Pickwick, turning to Benja- min Allen, '^ is in London ; well and happy."
" Her happiness is no object to me. Sir," said Mr. Benjamin Allen, with a flourish of the hand.
" Her husband is an object to me, Sir," said Bob Sawyer. '^He shall be an object to me. Sir, at twelve paces, and a very pretty object
