It was a careworn-looking man, whosesallow face, and deeply-sunken eyes, were rendered still more strikingthan Nature had made them, by the straight black hair which hung inmatted disorder half-way down his face.
The post-boys, who had succeeded in cutting the traces,were standing, disfigured with mud and disordered by hard riding, by thehorses' heads.
Friends to see me! My God! I have sunk,from the prime of life into old age, in this place, and there is not oneto raise his hand above my bed when I lie dead upon it, and say, "It isa blessing he is gone!"'The excitement, which had cast an unwonted light over the man's face,while he spoke, subsided as he concluded; and pressing his witheredhands together in a hasty and disordered manner, he shuffled from theroom.
Now then!' With this, Mr. Bob Sawyer having handed the oldlady to a chair, shut the door, drew another chair close to her, andwaited to hear detailed the symptoms of some disorder from which he sawin perspective a long train of profits and advantages.
Mr. Pickwick and BobSawyer having also repaired the disorder which the journey had made intheir apparel, the three started forth, arm in arm, to Mr. Winkle's;Bob Sawyer impregnating the atmosphere with tobacco smoke as he walkedalong.