Mr. Pickwick struck the table emphatically with his clenched fist, andspoke as follows:--'Is it not a wonderful circumstance,' said Mr. Pickwick, 'that we seemdestined to enter no man's house without involving him in some degreeof trouble? Does it not, I ask, bespeak the indiscretion, or, worse thanthat, the blackness of heart--that I should say so!--of my followers,that, beneath whatever roof they locate, they disturb the peace of mindand happiness of some confiding female? Is it not, I say--'Mr. Pickwick would in all probability have gone on for some time, hadnot the entrance of Sam, with a letter, caused him to break off in hiseloquent discourse.
Whyshould an honourable man break off his engagement merely because he wasdepressed by the death of a third party? He's much more likely to haveturned for consolation to it; but, anyhow, he was bound in decency to gothrough with it.