Installment 13 of 20, in The Pickwick Papers 180th anniversary readalong, hosted by On Bookes, and commencing in March, just as Dickens’ thirteenth installment was published.
Chapter 35 – You may remember, in spite of the court finding against
him, Pickwick vows to not pay the settlement awarded against him. Pickwick is
aloof to the looming peril, and being advised he has several months before the
matter comes to a head, he decides to take a holiday in Bath. As usual, the
Pickwickians encounter new personalities along the way, and in Bath. They are
invited to a ball, at which most of the guests, are at the very least the
equals of Mr. Pickwick in terms of pomposity. Pickwick ends up playing cards
with a group of women, who beat him rather soundly, and are highly critical of
his every play.
Chapter 36 – Another one of those vignette chapters, that Dickens uses
to tell a story within the story – this time, the authentic story of Prince
Baldud. Pickwick, partakes of the restorative
waters at Bath, and swears they are working wonders for him, though his
friends, and the reader, were not previously aware that he had any physical
complaint. One evening before retiring, Pickwick finds a manuscript which tells
the true story of Prince Baldud, who in grief over a lost love, is believed to
water the ground at Bath with his tears and is the force behind their legendary
powers.
Much later that evening, Mr. Winkle has a dream that disorients him –
and then would you believe it – finds himself in a truly innocent, but
seemingly very compromising situation, with the wife of a fellow lodger, Mr.
Dowler. There is mayhem and threats of murder. Winkle manages to lock and block
himself securely in his room, but Mr. Dowler promises satisfaction come the
morning.
Chapter 37 – Meanwhile, Pickwick’s manservant, Mr. Weller has been
away at a soiree, that his peers, the serving classes of Bath name a swarry. These
honest folk, are equal to their masters in terms of self-importance and
pretentiousness. Sam Weller is unimpressed and seems to have a bit of fun at
their expense, but his tongue in cheek observations of their vanity, are usually
lost on them, so there are no hard feelings. In the morning, Pickwick sends Sam
on a mission, to discover where Mr. Winkle has run off to, and to bring him
back. Unflappable, dependable Sam happily accepts the commission – and Dicken’s
leaves the reader waiting another month to find out how Sam will fare.
I wonder why Winkle chose Bristol of all places... perhaps we'll find out in the next instalment :)
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