Mr.Pickwick had not been asleep half an hour when little Captain Boldwig, followed by the two gardeners, came striding along as fast as his size and importance would let him; and when he came near the oak tree, Captain Boldwig paused, and drew a long breath, and looked at the prospect as if he thought the prospect ought to be highly gratified at having him to take notice of it; and then he struck the ground emphatically with his stick, and summoned the head-gardener.
"Hunt," said Captain Boldwig.
"Yes, sir," said the gardener.
"Roll this place to-morrow morning--do you hear, Hunt?""Yes, sir."
"And take care that you keep me this place in good order--do you hear, Hunt?""Yes, sir."
"And remind me to have a board done about trespassers, and spring guns, and all that sort of thing, to keep the common people out.Do you hear, Hunt; do you hear?""I'll not forget it, sir."
"I beg your pardon, sir," said the other man, advancing, with his hand to his hat.
"Well, Wilkins, what's the matter with you? " said Captain Boldwig.
"I beg your pardon, sir--but I think there have been trespassers here to-day.""Ha!" said the Captain, scowling around him.
"Yes, sir--they have been dining here, I think, sir.""Why, confound their audacity, so they have," said Captain Boldwig, as the crumbs and fragments that were strewn upon the grass met his eye.
"They have actually been devouring their food here.I wish I had the vagabonds here!" said the Captain, clenching the thick stick.
"I wish I had the vagabonds here," said the Captain, wrathfully.
"Beg your pardon, sir," said Wilkins, "but--""But what? Eh?" roared the Captain; and following the timid glance of Wilkins, his eyes encountered the wheel-barrow and Mr.Pickwick.
"Who are you, you rascal?" said the Captain, administering several pokes to Mr.Pickwick's body with the thick stick."What's your name?""Cold punch," murmured Mr.Pickwick, as he sunk to sleep again.
"What?" demanded Captain Boldwig.
No reply.
"What did he say his name was?" asked the Captain.
"Punch, I think, sir," replied Wilkins.
"That's his impudence, that's his confounded impudence," said Captain Boldwig."He's only feigning to be asleep now," said the Captain, in a high passion."He's drunk; he's a drunken plebeian.Wheel him away, Wilkins, wheel him away directly.""Where shall I wheel him to, sir?" inquired Wilkins, with great timidity.
"Wheel him to the Devil," replied Captain Boldwig.
"Very well, sir," said Wilkins.
"Stay," said the Captain.
Wilkins stopped accordingly.
"Wheel him," said the Captain, "wheel him to the Pound; and let us see whether he calls himself Punch when he comes to himself.He shall not bully me, he shall not bully me.Wheel him away."Away Mr.Pickwick was wheeled in compliance with this imperious mandate;and the great Captain Boldwig, swelling with indignation, proceeded on his walk.
