doing
gradually rose into high favour with old Lobbs, who taught him to smoke in time;
and they used to sit out in the garden on the fine evenings, for many years
afterwards, smoking and drinking in great state. He soon recovered the effects
of his attachment, for we find his name in the parish register, as a witness to
the marriage of Maria Lobbs to her cousin; and it also appears, by reference to
other documents, that on the night of the wedding he was incarcerated in the
village cage, for having, in a state of extreme intoxication, committed sundry
excesses in the streets, in all of which he was aided and abetted by the bony
apprentice with the thin legs.«
 

                                 Chapter XVIII

   Briefly Illustrative of Two Points; - First, the Power of Hysterics, and,
                     Secondly, the Force of Circumstances.

For two days after the breakfast at Mrs. Hunter's the Pickwickians remained at
Eatanswill, anxiously awaiting the arrival of some intelligence from their
revered leader. Mr. Tupman and Mr. Snodgrass were once again left to their own
means of amusement; for Mr. Winkle, in compliance with a most pressing
invitation, continued to reside at Mr. Pott's house, and to devote his time to
the companionship of his amiable lady. Nor was the occasional society of Mr.
Pott himself, wanting to complete their felicity. Deeply immersed in the
intensity of his speculations for the public weal and the destruction of the
Independent, it was not the habit of that great man to descend from his mental
pinnacle to the humble level of ordinary minds. On this occasion, however, and
as if expressly in compliment to any follower of Mr. Pickwick's, he unbent,
relaxed, stepped down from his pedestal, and walked upon the ground: benignly
adapting his remarks to the comprehension of the herd, and seeming in outward
form, if not in spirit, to be one of them.
    Such having been the demeanour of this celebrated public character towards
Mr. Winkle, it will be readily imagined that considerable surprise was depicted
on the countenance of the latter gentleman, when, as he was sitting alone in the
breakfast-room, the door was hastily thrown open, and as hastily closed, on the
entrance of Mr. Pott, who, stalking majestically towards him, and thrusting
aside his proffered hand, ground his teeth, as if to put a sharper edge on what
he was about to utter, and exclaimed, in a saw-like voice, -
    »Serpent!«
    »Sir!« exclaimed Mr. Winkle, starting from his