Page 3

The Pickwick Papers

Paying for the travellers

'This Association recognises the principle of every member of the Corresponding Society defraying his own travelling expenses; and it sees no objection whatever to the members of the said society pursuing their inquiries for any length of time they please, upon the same terms.'

'The members of the aforesaid Corresponding Society are hereby informed that their proposal to pay the postage of their letters, and the carriage of their parcels, has been deliberated upon by this Association: that this Association considers such proposal worthy of the great minds from which it emanated, and that it hereby signifies its perfect acquiescence.'

A casual observer, adds the secretary, to whose notes we are indebted for the following account - a casual observer might possibly have noticed nothing extraordinary in the bald head, and circular spectacles, which were intently turned towards his (the secretary's) face, during the reading of the above resolutions. To those who knew that the gigantic brain of Pickwick was working beneath that forehead, and that the beaming eyes of Pickwick were twinkling behind those glasses, the sight was indeed an interesting one.

Vocabulary:

Defraying: Here it means 'paying for'.
Said: Here it means 'the one mentioned before'.
Carriage: Posting and transporting.
Deliberated upon: Considered.
Emanated: Came.
Acquiescence: Agreement.
Be indebted: To owe something to.
Intently: With serious concentration.
Resolutions: Thing decided by a meeting.
Beaming: Smiling like the sun.
Twinkling: Shining with interest or amusement.

Click Me!
Please go on - press the blue button.