I therefore begged Mr.
Pickwick to accompany me up-stairs, and left the two Mr. Wellers in
the care of the housekeeper, laying strict injunctions upon her to
treat them with all possible hospitality.
CHAPTER IV - THE CLOCK
As we were going up-stairs, Mr. Pickwick put on his spectacles,
which he had held in his hand hitherto; arranged his neckerchief,
smoothed down his waistcoat, and made many other little
preparations of that kind which men are accustomed to be mindful
of, when they are going among strangers for the first time, and are
anxious to impress them pleasantly. Seeing that I smiled, he
smiled too, and said that if it had occurred to him before he left
home, he would certainly have presented himself in pumps and silk
stockings.
'I would, indeed, my dear sir,' he said very seriously; 'I would
have shown my respect for the society, by laying aside my gaiters.'
'You may rest assured,' said I, 'that they would have regretted
your doing so very much, for they are quite attached to them.'
'No, really!' cried Mr. Pickwick, with manifest pleasure. 'Do you
think they care about my gaiters? Do you seriously think that they
identify me at all with my gaiters?'
'I am sure they do,' I replied.
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