Martin Chuzzlewit

THE INDEPENDENCE OF HIS SPIRIT,

r of them, he was certain (but particularly Tom), would ever have reason to regret the day on which they became acquainted. Mr Pinch was delighted to hear him say this, and felt so much flattered by his kind assurances of friendship and protection, that he was at a loss how to express the pleasure they afforded him. And indeed it may be observed of this friendship, such as it was, that it had within it more likely materials of endurance than many a sworn

n which abstruse employment he was much distracted by a habit his new friend had of whistling aloud while he was drawing-when they were not a little startled by the unexpected obtrusion into that sanctuary of gen

Upon my soul, I am grateful to my friend Pecksniff for helping me to the contemplation of such a delicious picture as you present. You remind me of Whittington, afterwards thrice Lord Mayor of London. I give you my unsullied word of honour, that

nd Tom, who had never in his life set eyes on M

en of friendship. 'You will understand me when I say that I am the accredited

at the mention of a name he knew.

e is Pinch'-

tin, checking himsel

aracter, which has been most highly commended to me by my friend Pecksniff; and that I deeply appreciate his talent for the organ, notwithstanding that I do not, if I may us

said Tom. 'I

hielding his lips with the palm of his hand, and applying

' said Tom, alou

manner as before, 'which my friend Pecksniff add

e any letter wi

ing, though not so delicately done by my frien

cried Tom q

he would say that he saw they understood each other; that it was unnecessary to mention the circumstance before a third p

erence to Mr Tigg or to his friend, either. Mr Tigg received this declaration with a grave request that Mr Pinch would have the goodness to make it again; and on Tom's repeating it in a still more emphatic and unmistakabl

mit of. There is actually at this instant, at the Blue Dragon in this village-an ale-house, observe; a common, paltry, low-minded, clodhopping, pipe-smoking ale-house-an individual, of whom it may be said, in the language of the Poet, that nobody but himself can in any way come up to him; who is detained there for his bill. Ha! ha! For his bill. I

rwards at Mr Tigg, who with his arms folded on his breast

ing in itself essentially mean; a low performance on a slate, or possibly chalked upon the back of a door-I do feel that there is a screw of such magnitude loose somewhere, that the whole framework of society is shaken, and the very first principles of things can no longer be

e about it, and I couldn't act without his instructions. Wouldn't it be better, sir, if y

d when moreover, owing to the astounding, and I must add, guilty n

y if he wrote to some friend or agent for a remittance it might not be lost upon the road; or at all events that the chance, however desperate, was

r, that you were

g. 'You have no objection to my

ly not,'

e sash. 'You see a fellow down there

' cried Tom. 'Th

but is waiting now, to see me home again. And for that attention, sir,' added Mr Tigg, stroking his moustache, 'I can tel

to come in, and upstairs; a summons which he so speedily obeyed, that almost as soon as Tom and Mr

ood gracious me! what's the matter b

ing you and the new gentleman,' to whom he made a rough kind of bow-'and the

k!' cried Tom.

man. 'Wait a bit. I shall crus

fiance. 'Yes, I see him. I could see him a little b

a ferocious look, and smote

that quarter, you'll get no answer. I know better. The

to prevent hostilities, 'tell me what I a

e. What is there between him and Mrs Lupin, sir? Why, there's a score between him and Mrs Lupin. And I think Mrs Lupin lets him and his friend off very easy in not charging 'em double prices for being a disgrace to the Dragon. That's my

y question, you know, M

all the men was made to be ordered about by him. This not being aggravation enough, he says this morning to me, in his usual captivating way, "We're going to-night, my man." "Are you, sir?" says I. "Perhaps you'd like the bill got ready, sir?" "Oh no, my man," he says; "you needn't mind that. I'll give Pecksniff orders to see to that." In reply to which, the Dragon makes answer, "Thankee, sir, you're very kind to honour us so far, but as

s candid speech and the delivery of some blighting ana

answered Mark. 'Only just turned of thr

o before,' said Martin.

m, retiring with him t

anything pleasant; and that I don't want him here just now, and think he would be cheaply got r

extent that left no doubt

t, I'd have borrowed it of you. But if we told this landlady we w

aid Tom. 'She kno

their company the better. As you have conducted the conversation with this

ture's Nobs, and that true greatness of soul sympathized with true greatness of soul, all the world over. It proved to him, he said, that like him they admired genius, even when it was coupled with the alloy occasionally visible in the metal of his friend Slyme; and on behalf of that friend, he thanked them; as warmly and heartily as if the cause were

s who flourished on false pretences; and had conceived a particular aversion to Mr Tigg and his friend, as choice specimens of the species. The business in hand thus easily settled, Mr Pinch and Martin would have withdrawn immediately, but for the urgent entreaties of Mr Tigg that

nt of business is very slight, and easily got together; a trick of the nose and a curl of the lip sufficient to compound a tolerable sneer, being ample provision for any exigency. But, in an evil hour, this off-shoot of the Chuzzlewit trunk, being lazy, and ill qualified for any regular pursuit and having dissipated such means as he ever possessed, had formally established himself as a professor of Taste for a livelihood; and finding, too late, that somethin

ing at home, I have arranged our trifling piece of business with Mr Pinch a

strangers,' said Chevy Slyme, turning his bloodshot eyes towards

ter an awkward pause, followed by Martin. But Mr Tigg so urgently conjured them,

eyes, 'that I am the wretchedest creature on record. Society is in a conspiracy against me. I'm the most literary man alive. I'm full of scholarship. I'm full of

o his hand, and nodded an intimation to the visitors t

lass. 'Very pretty! And crowds of impostors, the while, becoming famous; men who are no more on a level

again. He found some encouragement in it; for when he set it down he laughed scornfully. Upon that Mr Tigg gesticulated to the

Tigg, who could buy up the uncles of fifty strangers! Have I, or have I not? I come of a good family, I be

race, my dear Chiv,' said Mr Tigg, 'wh

d to two architect's apprentices. Fellows who measure earth with iron chains, and build hou

s friend's character; as he made known to Mr Pinch in a neat l

n, grovelling, tame characters they meet with commonly. I have an independent spirit. I have

Mr Tigg, 'you have a nobly

hat I possess a haughty spirit, and a proud spirit, and have infernally finely-touched chords in my nature, which won't brook patronage. Do you

t; for with the apt closing words above recited, Mr Slyme; of too haughty a stomach to work, to beg, to borrow, or to steal; yet mean enough to be worked or borrowed, begged or stolen for, by any catspaw that would serve his t

ver such a Roman as our friend Chiv? Was there ever a man of such a purely classical turn of thought, and of such a toga-like simplicity of nature? Was there ever a man with such a flow of eloq

his usual mildness, when, observing that his companion

going, Mr Pin

wered Tom. 'Yes.

inch?' said Tigg, following him. 'One minute of your company in the skit

reat in question; on arriving at which place that gentleman took from his hat what seemed t

this day,' said Mr Tigg,

n that,' said

my regiment on the coast of Africa, charging in the form of a hollow square, with the women and children and the re

glory; and consequently he was not quite so much ex

bing the milk-and-water, said "This is indeed weakness." I repeat that assertion in referenc

t,' said

een impressed by

ust say,' answered Tom, a

o you of all men, Mr Pinch, I have a right to make appeal on Mind's behalf, when it has not the art to push its fortune in the world. And so, sir-not for myself, who have no claim upon you, but for my crushed, my sensitive and independent friend, who has-I ask

clasp, which had probably once belonged to his deceased grandmother. It held o

o say, that for the convenience of posting you had better make it gold. Thank you.

squire to Mr Pecksniff's name, if you please. Dire

Tigg, taking an exact note of it with a stum

ay will do,'

d Mr Tigg. 'If we stipulated for this week, Saturday

icular about it,' said

transaction might be the more correct and business-like, appended his initials to the whole. That done, he assure

ny of that young gentleman for the present. With this view he took a few turns up and down the skittle-ground, and did not re-enter th

inting after their late guests, 'that would be the sort of service for me.

r, Mark,' replied Tom. 'So take my advice, a

' said Mark. 'I have broke it to he

d Mr Pinch,

o up to Lo

be?' aske

. All them trades I thought of was a deal too jolly; there was no credit at all to be got in any of 'em. I must l

rather too strong for a se

he difficulty is to make sure of one's ground, because a young man can't very well advertise

Mr Pinch, 'I don

ean family, would open a field of action as I might do something in. The man as would have suited me of all other men was that old gentl

ined to go then

rrow morning, and get a lift by the day coach when it overtakes me. So I wi

inch imparting to his new friend, as they went, such further particulars of

all the afternoon and evening. In this piece of generalship he was very much assisted by the great influx of company into the taproom; for the news of his intention having gone abroad, there was a perfect throng there all the

rk to himself, 'I'm done. I

e at last,' s

said: Th

ned to leave us, Mar

Mark; keeping his eye

with a most engaging hesitation, 't

m,' sai

it really was not an unnatural

n its being repeated; Mrs Lupin put his money into his hand, an

(at least, as far as, Mark's flesh and blood were concerned) to be one of them. He looked up in spite of himself directly; and having once looked up, there was no looking down aga

k what I liked most, I should take you. If I only thought what was best for me, I should take you. If I took what nineteen young fellows in twenty would be glad to take, and would take at any price, I should t

astonished how he could say such thi

ver have no explanation; I meant to do it when I come in here just now; but there's something about you, as makes a man sensible. Then let us have a word or two toget

eans a dark one, on the landlady's open brow. But it passe

here is to be no love-making, yo

I!' cried Mark. 'I

' returned the hostess, '

said Mark. 'T

n, suffered it to remain, and bade him say what he had to say,

e. Why, I can say anything to-night!' 'Say what you're going to say if you

than you are never drawed breath-let me see the man as says s

Mrs Lupin. 'Don't tal

as getting too old for my taste, always a-picturing me to yourself as being chained up to the Dragon door, and wanting to break away. I don't know that it would be so,' said Mark, 'but I don't know that it mightn't be. I am a roving sort of chap, I know. I'm fond of change. I'm always a-thinking that with my good health and spirits it would be more creditable in me to be jolly where there's things a-going on

le time, but she very soon put both her

ile, which was rather serious for her. 'And I do believe have been

ive!' he added, looking at her in a sort of rapture, 'if you are that way dis

oth hands, and bidding him, if he should ever want a friend, to remem

I should think she's at all put out, and should be made dow

ruefully uttered, he went, in any

, the children, the old men, the busy people and the idlers; there they were, all calling out 'Good-b'ye, Mark,' after their own manner, and all sorry

garden-down, old fellow! And Mr Pinch a-going to his organ-good-b'ye, sir! And the terrier-bitch from over the way-hie, then, lass! And children enough to hand down human natur to the latest posterity-good-b'ye, boys and girls