,«
said Sam with great vehemence: »but all I can say is, that I'm not only ready
but villin' to do anythin' as'll make matters agreeable; and if chuckin' either
o' them Sawboneses out o' winder 'ull do it, I'm the man.« As Sam Weller said
this, he tucked up his wristbands, at the imminent hazard of falling off the
wall in so doing, to intimate his readiness to set to work immediately.
    Flattering as these professions of good feeling were, Arabella resolutely
declined (most unaccountably as Sam thought,) to avail herself of them. For some
time she strenuously refused to grant Mr. Winkle the interview Sam had so
pathetically requested; but at length, when the conversation threatened to be
interrupted by the unwelcome arrival of a third party, she hurriedly gave him to
understand, with many professions of gratitude, that it was barely possible she
might be in the garden an hour later, next evening. Sam understood this
perfectly well; and Arabella bestowing upon him one of her sweetest smiles,
tripped gracefully away, leaving Mr. Weller in a state of very great admiration
of her charms, both personal and mental.
    Having descended in safety from the wall, and not forgotten to devote a few
moments to his own particular business in the same department, Mr. Weller then
made the best of his way back to the Bush, where his prolonged absence had
occasioned much speculation and some alarm.
    »We must be careful,« said Mr. Pickwick, after listening attentively to
Sam's tale, »not for our own sakes, but for that of the young lady. We must be
very cautious.«
    »We!« said Mr. Winkle, with marked emphasis.
    Mr. Pickwick's momentary look of indignation at the tone of this remark,
subsided into his characteristic expression of benevolence, as he replied:
    »We, sir! I shall accompany you.«
    »You!« said Mr. Winkle.
    »I,« replied Mr. Pickwick, mildly. »In affording you this interview, the
young lady has taken a natural, perhaps, but still a very imprudent step. If I
am present at the meeting, a mutual friend, who is old enough to be the father
of both parties, the voice of calumny can never be raised against her
hereafter.«
    Mr. Pickwick's eyes lightened with honest exultation at his own foresight,
as he spoke thus. Mr. Winkle was touched by this little trait of his delicate
respect for the young protégée
