Martin Chuzzlewit

W PUPIL INTO THE BOSOM OF MR PECKSNIFF'S FAMILY. WITH ALL THE FEST

er, going to go, and never going. When at his slowest rate of travelling he would sometimes lift up his legs so high, and display such mighty action, that it was difficult to believe he was doing less than fourteen miles an hour; and he was for ever so perfectly satisfied with his own speed, and so little disconcerted by opportunities of comparing himself with the fastest trotters, that the illusion was the more difficult of

gig with a tumour than anything else-all Mr Pinch's thoughts and wishes centred, one bright frosty morning; for with this galla

h, and not in jest at thy expense, for thou art poor enough already, Heaven knows-to think that such a holiday as lies before thee should awaken that quick flow and hurry of the spirits, in which thou settest down again, almost untasted, on the kitchen window-sill, that great white mug (put by, by thy own hands, last night, that breakfast might not hold thee late), and layest yonder crust up

alves. The sheep-bells rang as clearly in the vigorous air, as if they felt its wholesome influence like living creatures; the trees, in lieu of leaves or blossoms, shed upon the ground a frosty rime that sparkled as it fell, and might have been the dust of diamonds. So it was to Tom. From cottage chimneys, smoke went streaming up high, high, as if the earth had lost its grossness, being so fair, and must not be oppressed by he

ttle house again like mad, to say (she knew) that Mr Pinch was coming up. And she was right, for when he drew within hail of the gate, forth rushed the tollman's children, shrieking in tiny chorus, 'Mr Pinch!' to Tom's intense delight. The very tollman, though an ugly chap in general, and one whom folks were r

asts came hurriedly to many an upper casement as he clattered by, and gave him back his greeting: not stinted either, but sevenfold, good measure. They were all

y. The mist, too shy and gentle for such lusty company, fled off, quite scared, before it; and as it swept away, the hills and mounds and distant pasture lands, teeming with placid sheep and noisy crows, came ou

g fellow, of some five or six-and-twenty perhaps, and was dressed in such a free and fly-away fashion, that the long ends of his loose red neckcloth were streaming out behind him quite as often as before; and the bunch of bright winter berries in the buttonhole of his velveteen coat was as visible to Mr

ng. 'Who'd have thought of seeing y

th a very sudden decrease of vivac

eying him with great pleasure. 'Really, I didn't t

my fault, you know. With regard to being spruce, sir, that's

is?' Mr Pi

er when he's well dressed. There an't much credit in that. If I was very ragg

ear up, as it were, against being w

l to print, sir,' rejoined Mark,

my life. I always thought so; but now I am quite certain of it. I am going

eating himself on the very edge of the seat with his body half out of it, to express his being there on suff

eing you so very smart,' said Pinch, 'th

being jolly with a wife, 'specially if the children had the measles and that, and w

ond of anybody, pe

cular, sir

your views of things,' said Mr Pinch, 'to marry some

ht be carrying out a principle

id Mr Pinch. At which

nces that would make other men miserable, as I could, if I could only get a chance. But I can't get a chance. It's my opinion that nobody never wil

nch, looking at him with great astonishm

I'm a Kentish man by birth, though), and took that situation here, I quite made up my mind that it was the dullest little out-of-the-way corner in England, and that there would be some credit in being jolly under such circumstances

being able to confirm it by what I know myself,' said Mr Pinch

at, too, sir,' answered Mark.

tone being even now more subdued than ever. 'I can hardly think en

at he didn't suppose it would be much of an object to her. There were plenty

s Lupin would be glad of them. Why, I always supposed that Mrs Lupin and y

ourting-like to her, nor she to me, but I don't know what I mightn't do one of the

of the Dragon, Mar

ller. 'Why that would be the ruin of a man like me. I go and sit down comfortably for life, and no man never finds m

ou are going to leave

I'm looking out this morning for something new

thing now?' Mr

eplied, 'of something in

us, Mark?' c

might be some credit in being jolly, with one's mind in that pursuit, unless grave-diggers is usually g

don't indeed. I never th

to be gained there. A broker's man in a poor neighbourhood wouldn't be bad perhaps. A jailor sees a deal of misery. A doctor's man is in the very midst of murder. A bailiff's

rent subject, and cast sidelong glances at the bright face of his odd friend (who seemed quite unconscious of his observation), until t

n made the discovery that the bosom of his companion's shirt was as much exposed as if it

od of one, sir

Mr Pinch. 'Why, to k

. Even if it did, what would no waistcoat bring it to? Inflammation of the lungs, pe

his ride, and without troubling him to stop, jumped lightly down. And away he fluttered, with his red neckerchief, and his open coat, down a cross-lane; turning back from time

filled with carts, horses, donkeys, baskets, waggons, garden-stuff, meat, tripe, pies, poultry and huckster's wares of every opposite description and possible variety of character. Then there were young farmers and old farmers with smock-frocks, brown great-coats, drab great-coats, red worsted comforters, leather-leggings, wonderful shaped hats, hunting-whips, and rough sticks, standing about in groups, or talking noisily together on the tavern steps, or paying and receiving huge amounts of greasy wealth, with the assistance of such bulky pocket-books that when they were in

the market-place, and watched the farmers safe into the market dinner, he went back to look after the horse. Having seen him eat unto his heart's content he issued forth again, to wander round the town and regale himself with the shop windows; previously taking a long stare at the bank, and wondering in wha

was not because the works could decently complain of want of room. In good sooth they were big enough, and perhaps, as the saying is, ugly enough, to be the most correct of all mechanical performers; in Mr Pinch's eyes, however they were smal

ows on rows of volumes neatly ranged within-what happiness did they suggest! And in the window were the spick-and-span new works from London, with the title-pages, and sometimes even the first page of the first chapter, laid wide open; tempting unwary men to begin to read the book, and then, in the impossibility of turning over, to rush blindly in, and buy it! Here too were

boyish memory, whereof the tread of generations should not stir the lightest grain of sand. And there too were the Persian tales, with flying chests and students of enchanted books shut up for years in caverns; and there too was Abudah, the merchant, with the terrible little old woman hobbling out of the box in his bedroom; and there the mighty talisman, the rare Arabian Nights, with Cass

for the tailors', where the newest metropolitan waistcoat patterns were hanging up, which by some strange transformation always looked amazing there, and never appeared at all like the same thing anywhere else. But he stopped to read the playbill at the theatre and surveyed the doorway with a kind of awe, which was not d

ight that streamed in through the ancient windows in the choir was mingled with a murky red. As the grand tones resounded through the church, they seemed, to Tom, to find an echo in the depth of every ancient tomb, no less than in the deep mystery of his own heart. Great thoughts and hopes came crowding on his mind as the rich music rolled upon the air and yet among them-something more grave and solemn in their purpose, but the same-were all the images of that day, down to its very lightest recollection of childhood. The feeling that the sounds awakened, in the momen

, too, there stood a jug of most stupendous Wiltshire beer; and the effect of the whole was so transcendent, that he was obliged every now and then to lay down his knife and fork, rub his hands, and think about it. By the time the cheese and celery came, Mr Pinch had taken a book out of his pocket, and could afford to trifle with the viands; now eating a l

usly acknowledging Mr Pinch's withdrawal of the little tabl

he dragged one of the great leather-bottomed chairs to the very centre of the he

numbed. Ah! Bitte

some considerable time,

Outside a

so cool,' thought Mr Pinch. 'Poor fel

very warm and thick one; but he was not a whit more conversational out of his great-coat than in it, for he sat down again in the same place and attitude, and leaning back in his chair, began to bite his nails. He w

d partly because the new pupil was to inquire for him at half after six, and the hands were getting on towards that hour. Whenever the stranger caught him looking at this clock,

r about the time. The fact is, I have

I,' said

t six,' said

very same breath; whereupon the ot

d Tom, timidly, 'was to inquire at that

you all this while! I had no idea you were Mr Pinch. I am the Mr Martin for who

rrassed frankness peculiarly his, and which was as plainly a confession of his own imperfections, and an appeal to the kindness of the person he addressed, as if he had drawn one up in

s with him again; 'for I assure you, I was thinking there

m, with great pleasur

ief to me to feel, for to tell you the truth, I am not at all the sort of fellow who could get on with everybody, and that'

ng just over Martin's head, as he warmed himself-and listened

o let you into a secret, Mr Pinch, I never was so much in want of something warm and cheering in my life; but I didn't like to run the chance of b

rse it came; hot and strong. After drinking to each othe

of Pecksniff's, you kn

' cried

so he's kith and kin to me, somehow,

istian name?' said Mr Pi

s my surname for my own is not a very pretty one, and

Mr Pinch, with an

es, I suppose?' returned the other, settin

he old gentleman of the same name who had lodged at the Dragon, but to reserve all mention of that person for him, he had no better means of hiding his conf

or us ten minutes ago,' said Mr Pinch, g

se,' returne

hole face beaming with a consciousness of the s

t of a horse you have. Because if he's a bad one, I would rather kee

fully persuaded that he enjoyed it very much. Then he settled his bill, and Mr Chuzzlewit paid for the punch; and having wrapped themsel

n, getting into the sitter's place. 'By the bye,

aid Tom. 'Put it i

ig

afraid it would encumber him; to which Tom said, 'Not at all;' though it forced him into such an awkward position, that he had much ado to see anything but his own knees. But it is an ill wind that blows nobody any good; and the wisdom of the sa

y talked incessantly. When they were halfway home, and stopped to give the horse some water, Martin (who was very generous with his money) ordered another glass of punch, which they drank between them, and which had not the effect of making them less conversational than before. Their principal topic of discourse was naturally Mr Pecksniff and his family; of whom,

hem, and the church spire cast a long reflection on the graveyard grass; as if it were a dial (alas, the truest in the world!)

ng that his companion slackened the sla

e. 'There's the sweetest little organ t

ly worth the trouble, I should thi

,' answe

friend, 'you are a

there succeeded

se I get a great deal of pleasure from it, and the means of passing some of the happiest hours I k

I shal

oice, 'one of the loveliest and most beautifu

ful one,' said his friend, thoughtfull

and when I saw her, over my shoulder, standing just within the porch, I turned quite cold, almost believing her to be a spirit. A mo

ortuna

ough the chinks in the curtains as plainly as I see you; and she was beautiful. A

d you d

'Because she might suppose I had

did

when she came, she might find the church door open, and the organ playing, and might not be disappointed. She strolled that way for some days, and always staye

ow anything m

N

ollowed her when

e seemed to grow quite fond of? Now, Heaven bless her!' cried Tom, 'to have given her but a minute's pleasure every day, I would have gone on playing the organ at those times until I was an old m

ime, on account of the occasion being one of ceremony and rejoicing. The same man was in waiting for the horse who had been adjured by Mr Pinch in the morning not to yield to his rabid desire to start; and after d

ither had Miss Charity expected them, for she was busied, with a capacious wicker basket before her, in making impracticable nightcaps for the poor. Neither had Miss Mercy expected them, for she was sitting upon her stool, tying on the-oh good gracious!-the petticoat of a large doll that she was dressing for a neighbour's child-real

ng his abstracted face for one of joyful recognition. 'Here already!

ted him several times upon the back with his right hand the while, as if t

family divisions!-since you were infants together. Nay, my dears, why blush at being detected in your everyday pursuits? We had prepared to give

nd gave the same, with mantling cheeks, to Martin! How did you twinkle, as if fluttering with sympathy, when Mercy, reminded of the bonnet in her hair, hi

plation of these passages, and taking Mr Pinch in a friendly

r. We are on the best

It seems but yesterday that Thomas was a boy fresh from a scholastic course. Yet ye

oo much moved. But he pressed his ma

d friendship! And if it comes to pass that either of us be run over in any of those busy crossings which div

elbow hard. 'No more of this! Martin, my dear friend, that you may be a

, attended by his young relative, prepared

us company,

death, would Tom have followed him; g

Martin! This,' opening another door, 'is the little chamber in which my works (slight things at best) have been concocted. Portrait of myself by

bserved that the same fault had been found with it before. It was remarkable it s

Be careful how you come upstairs. This,' opening another door, 'is my chamber. I read here when the family suppose I have retired to rest. Sometimes I injure my hea

paper, a piece of India rubber, and a case of instruments; all put ready, in case an architectural idea should c

again, all at once, as if it were a Blue Chamber. But before he

w anything at all about it. So Mr Pecksniff answer

n; birds.' These birds, by the bye, comprised, in all, one staggering old sparrow without a tail, which had been borrowed expressly

led them to t

s been developed I believe. This is a room in which an idea for a steeple occurred to me that I may one day give t

and, what is more,

e. A wine-cellar. A portico. A summer-house. An ice-house. Plans, elevations, sections, every kind of thing. And this,' he added, having by this time reached another large chamber on the same story, with four little beds in it, 'this is your room, of which Mr Pinch here is the quiet sharer. A sout

most liberal permission to mention anything in this way that suggested itself to his fancy. Some y

ter which, and listening complacently as he went, to the encomiums passed by his

ples; another of captain's biscuits (which are always a moist and jovial sort of viand); a plate of oranges cut up small and gritty; with powdered sugar, and a highly geological home-made cake. The magnitude of these preparations quite took away Tom Pinch's breath; for though the new pupils were usually let

dditional choice quality, that it was in strict keeping with the night, bei

come by me. Let us drink to our new inmate, and may we be happy together! Martin, m

t) to look as if the wine were not acid and didn't ma

one for much disappointment and vexation. Let us be merry.' Here he took a captain's

ing extent. Nor was he stinted in his draughts of wine; but on the contrary, remembering Mr Pecksniff's speech, attacked the bottle with such vigour, that every time he filled his glass anew, Miss Charity, despite her amiable resolves, could not repress a fixed and stony glare, as if her

ng at the happy face of Mr Pinch, was seized with such fits of mirth as brought her to the very confines of hysterics. But for these bursts of gaiety, her sister, in her better sense, reproved her; observing, in an angry whisper, that it was

ly amassed by chimney-sweepers and other persons who get up early and go to bed betimes. The young ladies accordingly rose, and having taken leave of Mr Chuzzlewit with much sweetness, and of their father with much duty and of Mr Pinch with much conde

one of the spare beds. 'I don't see any snuffers in that candl

happy to be useful,

n,' said Mr Pecksniff, with a smile of patronage and

ery good f

nch means well. He is very grateful. I have n

ink you neve

You will make him useful to you, Martin, if you please. If Thomas has a fault, it is that he is sometimes a littl

night,

inch had returned

said Pecksniff. 'And sound sleep

hered from the after-pages of this history. Those of Thomas Pinch were all of holidays, church organs, and seraphic Pecksniffs. It was some time before Mr Pecksniff dreamed at all, or even sought his pillow, as he sat for full two hours