Page 12 - PBCOctober2015

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 12 No.1 March 2015 !12
!

The pleasures of being …….MrPickwick!
!
!
!
!

The cover of this issue depicts the scene where Mrs
Bardell ‘falls’ for Samuel Pickwick. There follows an
extract from Chapter X11 of an early version of The
Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club for your
amusement, and perhaps an incentive to aspire to the role
of President if this is what happens!
!
!

“Oh you kind, good, playful dear” said Mrs Bardell and without more ado, she rose from
her chair, and flung her arms around Mr Pickwick’s neck, with a contract of tears and a
chorus of sobs.
!

“Bless my soul,” cried the astonished Mr Pickwick; “Mrs Bardell my good woman – dear
me, what a situation – pray consider. Mrs Bardell, don’t –if anybody should come –“
!

“Oh, let them come,” exclaimed Mrs Bardell, frantically; “I’ll never leave you – dear kind,
good soul,” and with these words Mrs Bardell clung the tighter.
!
“Mercy upon me,” said Mr Pickwick, struggling violently, “ I hear somebody coming up the
stairs. Don’t, don’t, there’s a good creature, don’t. But entreaty and remonstrance were
alike, unavailing; for Mrs Bardell had fainted in Mr Pickwick’s arms; and before he could
gain time to deposit her on a chair, Master Bardell entered the room, ushering in Mr
Tupman, Mr Winkle, and Mr Snodgrass.
!
Mr Pickwick was struck motionless and speechless. He stood with his lovely burden in his
arms, gazing vacantly on the countenances of his friends without the slightest attempt
at recognition or explanation.
!

They in turn stared at him, and Master Bardell, in his turn stared at everyone!
!
!

***************************************