Chepter-7
Despite their protests, the Pickwickians and Sam Weller were brought before the Magistrate who formally charged them for obstructing justice and planning to engage in a duel, which the law expressly forbade. Mr. Pickwick’s and Mr. Tupman’s bails were set with terms that they could not possibly meet.
Presently, having conferred with Sam Weller, Mr. Pickwick requested a private conference with the Magistrate Mr. Nupkins. When Mr. Nupkins conferred with his assistant Mr. Jinks about the appropriateness of granting Mr. Pickwick a private conference, Mr. Jinks, who had hitherto all the answers, shrugged his shoulders, compelling Mr. Nupkins to conclude his assistant was a good-for-nothing. By and by, Mr. Nupkins granted Mr. Pickwick his private conference though not without caution. (Mr. Nupkins harboured a hidden fear that Mr. Pickwick and Sam Weller had contrived his—Mr. Nupkins’—assassination.)
At the private conference, Mr. Pickwick informed Mr. Nupkins that he had in his midst a villain and a swindler, namely Captain Fitz-Marshall. Mr. Nupkins admitted that a Captain Fitz-Marshall, whom he had met at a race-course, had indeed insinuated himself into his family’s confidence, and that this wife and daughter thought the world of him. To Mr. Nupkins’ horror, Mr. Pickwick spoke at length about the exploits of Captain Fitz-Marshall, or Mr. Alfred Jingle, and his associate Job Trotter. Consequently, Mr. Nupkins cross-examined the beadle’s account of the events at the Great White Horse. When the beadle, who felt as if the eyes of the world were on him, failed to recount the events with any degree of confidence, Mr. Nupkins dismissed the charges and presently went to consult his wife and daughter about the dastardly deeds of Captain Fitz-Marshall.
Needless to say, Mrs. Nupkins and Miss Nupkins were distressed by the news. Mrs. Nupkins blamed her husband for bringing disgrace into their house. Miss Nupkins lamented the impossibility of going into society again what with the shame of associating with swindlers hanging over their heads.
Meanwhile, Sam Weller joined Mr. Muzzle, one of the Magistrate’s servants, for a meal at the servants’ quarters. There Sam made the acquaintance of two ladies, the cook who was Mr. Muzzle’s significant other, and Mary, a pretty servant with whom Sam directly fell in love. By and by, Sam informed them of Job Trotter when who else came knocking at the door but Job Trotter himself. Trotter was suffered (or forced) to enter, and presently, Mr. Muzzle berated him and then summoned him to an adjacent room where Mr. Muzzle intended to make it out with Mr. Trotter who had intended to marry Mr. Muzzle’s significant other, the cook. But before Mr. Muzzle could beat Mr. Trotter to a pulp, the cook flew at Mr. Trotter and pulled out a good handful of his hair. Then there was a summons for Mr. Muzzle to bring Job Trotter and Sam Weller before the Magistrate.
Subsequently, Sam Weller and Mr. Trotter found themselves before the Magistrate who was with Mr. Pickwick, Mr. Tupman, Mrs. Nupkins, Miss Nupkins, and Captain Fitz-Marshall. Mr. Pickwick was in the act of berating Captain Fitz-Marshall, or Alfred Jingle, but the latter was not in the least discomposed. He wasn’t discomposed because Mr. Nupkins had decided to let Alfred jingle go his as way as to press charges and the publicity that that would garner would damage Mr. Nupkins’ family’s reputation, not to mention Mr. Nupkins’ political career. By and by, as Alfred Jingle and Job Trotter took their leave, Sam made as to follow them so as to give them a parting shot that they would never forget. He was restrained from doing so, however, by Mr. Pickwick. As it turned out, Mr. Muzzle administered to the parting shot, sending Mr. Jingle and Mr. Trotter crashing down into the “American aloe tubs”.
With his business concluded, Mr. Pickwick wished the Nupkins a fond farewell. He was about to leave with Mr. Tupman and Sam when Sam delayed their departure. He had misplaced his hat in the servants’ quarters. Naturally, it’s Mary who helped Sam find his hat, and before they parted she and Sam exchanged a kiss.
Having lodged at the George and Vulture Tavern in London, Mr. Pickwick commissioned Sam to go to Mrs. Bardell and to make his—Mr. Pickwick’s—tenantèklandlord affairs put in order (understandably, Mr. Pickwick was moving out) and to find out, if he could, whether Mrs. Bardell really intended to sue Mr. Pickwick for damages based on groundless cause.
Presently, Sam arrived at Mrs. Bardell’s address on Goswell Street and knocked. After some delay, Mrs. Bardell, who was entertaining guests, invited Sam in. Without much ado, Sam stated the purpose of his visit: to settle Mr. Pickwick’s obligations as a tenant to Mrs. Bardell and to make his—Mr. Pickwick’s—personal effects ready for removal from the premises. As Mrs. Bardell went to retrieve a receipt. Mrs. Bardell’s guests, Mrs. Cluppins and Mrs. Sanders, lamented the awful situation that their friend was in on account of Mr. Pickwick. Sam kept quiet lest he should create a scene in defence of Mr. Pickwick.
When Mrs. Bardell returned with the receipt, she offered Sam a drink. Sam accepted, seeing as how it would afford him the opportunity to sound out Mrs. Bardell with regard the lawsuit. With his usual loquacity, Sam put the ladies at ease as they partook of wine. Eventually, Mrs. Bardell stated her resolve to go through with the lawsuit.
When Sam returned to the George and Vulture, he informed Mr. Pickwick of Mrs. Bardell’s determination to sue him for damages by reason of a breach of promise of marriage. Needless to say, the report cast a pall on Mr. Pickwick’s mood. If the lawsuit was carried out, Mr. Pickwick would have to answer for it in public two or three months after his Christmas stay at Dingley Dell.
Having some leisure time before he accompanied Mr. Pickwick to Dingley Dell, Sam Weller decided to visit his mother-in-law for the sake of good manners. He hadn’t yet made her acquaintance. Mr. Pickwick approved of the idea.
So with his best clothes on, Sam made his way to Dorking where he stopped at the Marquwas of Granby, a modest tavern belonging to his father. There he took note of a stout, shrill voiced lady bartending and of a red-nosed man who was busy eating toast and drinking hot pine-apple rum and water. By the look of his voracious appetite, Sam inferred that the red-nosed man was the deputy shepherd of whom his father had spoken disparagingly of. Immediately, Sam took dislike to the red-nosed man. Nonetheless, after exchanging greetings with his mother-in-law, who was no other than the stout, shrill-voiced lady bartending, Sam made the acquaintance of the red-nosed man, who was called Mr. Stiggins.
When Sam asked about his father, both his mother-in-law and the Mr. Stiggins spoke disparagingly of him, citing Sam’s father’s refusal to contribute to charity on behalf of infant Negroes in the West Indies. By and by, a coach arrived from London and deposited Mr. Weller senior at the Marquwas of Granby. Father and son greeted each other and shared a drink. When Sam mentioned the charity on behalf of infant Negroes in the West Indies, his father accused Mrs. Weller and the Mr. Stiggins of engaging in bogus charity activities—charity activities from which the deputy shepherd stood to profit. Indeed, if Mr. Weller senior could make his way, he would subject Mr. Stiggins to intense manual labour if only for the sake of reforming his lazy nature.
Next day, before leaving for London, Sam told his father that if he were in his father’s shoes that he wouldn’t hesitate to give Mr. Stiggins a beating and thereby drive him out of the Marquwas and Granby. Mr. Weller senior blessed his son.
It was three days before Christmas, and the Pickwickians prepared to leave for Dingley Dell. There was a delay, however, on account of a cod-fish which was so large that the basket that it’s contained in could not be properly stowed onto the coach. By and by, by dint of an accident, the basket was made to fit, and the servant who was responsible for making it happen was congratulated with a tip with which he was suffered to made a drank before he was to convey the coach to Dingley Dell.
With the cod-fish stowed and the servant refreshed, the journey began. The coach went at a brisk pace which perfectly suited the bracing winter air. Presently, they arrived at a village where the horses would be changed. When the coach came to a stop, two of the passengers alight to stretch themselves and to have a bit of refreshment. With fresh horses harnessed, the journey was about to resume but for the absence of the two of the passengers. Presently, Mr. Tupman and Mr. Pickwick, each having had a glass of ale, came running. They boarded the coach and journey resumed.
At three in the afternoon, the coach arrived at the Blue Lion. There the Pickwickians met fat boy Joe who had come with a chaise-cart to convey the Pickwickians’ luggage. Joe told the Pickwickians that on account of their previous troubles in handling a horse and carriage, Mr. Wardle assumed that the Pickwickians would choose to walk to Manor Farm. Mr. Pickwick confirmed Mr. Wardle’s assumption. Thus Sam Weller went with fat boy Joe on the chaise-cart, while the Pickwickians hoofed it.
The bracing winter air proved to be ideal for a brisk walk. Chatting away merrily, the Pickwickians turned into a lane when they were greeted by Mr. Wardle and his company which included Isabella, Trundle, Emily, and some eight or ten young ladies. (They were in town to shop for furniture for the soon to be married Isabella and Trundle.) There was little standing on ceremony as the two parties made introductions.
Presently, Mr. Wardle led the party to Manor Farm through a short cut through the fields. When they arrived at Manor Farm, Mr. Pickwick found Mr. Wardle’s mother in a despondent state. He cheered her up with his good nature. During the leisure activities after dinner, Mr. Snodgrass paid his compliments to Emily Wardle, and Mr. Winkle doted on Arabella Allen, a young lady with black eyes.
The next morning, Mr. Pickwick awoke to the sound of much ado in the house. He’s afraid that something dreadful had happened when he’s reminded that today was the wedding day of Trundle and Isabella. Thus, having dressed with especial care, Mr. Pickwick retired to the breakfast room where he found everyone, including the servants, dressed in his or her finest array. As usual, Mr. Pickwick found his servant Sam Weller getting on perfectly with everyone.
The wedding ceremony was performed by Mr. Miller, the old clergyman of Dingley Dell. At the post-wedding breakfast, to great applause, Mr. Pickwick made a speech wishing Mr. Trundle and his new bride Isabella prosperity and happiness. The party broke up only to meet again at dinner after a twenty-mile walk to burn off the calories consumed at breakfast. The dinner was as filling as the breakfast so that it’s only natural to have it followed up with a dancing party. To Mr. Tupman’s amusement, Mr. Pickwick was especially keen to dance. Mr. Pickwick was quite serious, however, and he proved to be an indefatigable dancer as he first danced with Mr. Wardle’s mother then with the old clergyman’s wife.
The next morning, Sam Weller was asking Emma Wardle about the Wardle’s tradition of having Christmas games when fat boy Joe’s presence compelled Sam to relate a story the moral of which was intended to warn fat boy Joe of the dangers of becoming irrevocably fat into adulthood. It’s about a fat man who was so fat that he couldn’t get at his fob watch which was pressed so tightly onto his person that even pickpockets tried in vain to steal it. But one day, an ingenious pickpocket managed to do just that, and ever afterwards the fat man’s digestion suffered which adversely affected the quality of his life.
Presently, the Christmas games began with the tradition of kissing someone when he or she was standing below the mistletoe. This was followed by the game blind-man’s bluff which was then followed by the game snap-dragon. When the games made concluded, the party sat down for supper. There Mr. Wardle sang a song entitled “A Christmas Carol” which was a song that declared the Christmas season, the king of all seasons. By and by, someone noted that it was ominously windy and snowy outside, compelling Mr. Wardle’s mother to mention a story that was told by Mr. Wardle’s father on such a night as this about the goblins that carried away old Gabriel Grub. Mr. Wardle dismissed the story as a fable of sorts, but Mr. Wardle’s mother emphatically insisted the story was true. At Mr. Pickwick’s behest, Mr. Wardle’s mother related the story.