o imprisonment for debt had
been altered, and the Fleet Prison pulled down.

_I.--Mr. Pickwick Engages Sam Weller_

Mr. Pickwick's apartments in Goswell Street were of a very neat and
comfortable description, peculiarly adapted for a man of his genius and
observation, and importance as General Chairman of the world-famed
Pickwick Club.

His landlady, Mrs. Bardell, was a comely woman of bustling manners and
agreeable appearance, with a natural gift for cooking. Cleanliness and
quiet reigned throughout the house, and in it Mr. Pickwick's will was
law.

To anyone acquainted with these things and with Mr. Pickwick's admirably
regulated mind, his conduct on the morning previous to his setting out
for Eatanswill seemed most mysterious and unaccountable. He paced the
room, popped his head out of the window, and constantly referred to his
watch. It was evident to Mrs. Bardell, who was dusting the apartment,
that something of importance was in contemplation.

"Mrs. Bardell," said Mr. Pickwick at last, "your little boy is a very
long time gone."

"Why, it's a good long way to the Borough, sir!" remonstrated Mrs.
Bardell.

"Very true; so it is. Mrs. Bardell do you think it's a much greater
expense to keep two people than to keep one?"

"La, Mr. Pickwick!" said Mrs. Bardell, colouring, as she fancied she
observed a species of matrimonial twinkle in the eyes of her lodger.
"La, Mr. Pickwick, what a question!"

"Well, but _do_ you?" inquired Mr. Pickwick.

"That depends," said Mrs. Bardell, "a good deal upon the person, you
know, Mr. Pickwick; and whether it's a saving and careful person, sir."

"That's very true," said Mr. Pickwick; "but the person I have in my eye
(here he looked very hard at Mrs. Bardell) I think possesses these
qualities. To tell you the truth, I have made up my mind. You'll think
it very strange now that I never consulted you about this matter till I
sent your little boy out this morning, eh?"

Mrs. Bardell had long worshipped Mr. Pickwick at a distance, and now she
thought he was going to propose. A deliberate plan, too--sent her little
boy to the Borough to get him out of the way! How thoughtful! How
considerate!

"It'll save you a good deal of trouble, won't it?" said Mr. Pickwick.
"And when I am in town you'll always have somebody to sit with you." Mr.
Pickwick smiled placidly.

"I'm sure I ought to be a very happy woman," said Mrs. Bardell,
trembling with agitation. "Oh, you kind