And the stranger, without stopping to take a breath, swallowed at in a single mouthful the full half -pint of brandy-and-water, and dropped into a chair as comfortably as if nothing uncommon had occurred.

While his three companions were busily engaged in offering their thanks to their new acquaintance, Mr Pickwick had leisure to examine the stranger's costume and appearance.

He was about middle height, but the thinness of his body, and the length of his legs, gave him the appearance of being much taller. The green coat had been a smart garment in the days of swallow-tails, but had evidently been designed for a shorter man than the stranger, for the soiled and faded sleeves scarcely reached to his wrists. The coat was buttoned tightly up to his chin, and looked in danger of splitting down the back at any moment. An old stock, without any sign of a shirt, ornamented his neck.

His black trousers displayed here and there those shiny patches which bespeak long use, and were strapped very tightly over a pair of patched and mended shoes, as if to conceal the dirty white socks, which were nevertheless clearly visible. His long, black hair flowed in waves from beneath each side of his old hat; and glimpses of his bare wrists could be seen between the tops of his gloves and the cuffs of his coat sleeves. His face was thin but there was something indescribably jaunty and totally self-possessed about the man.

Vocabulary:

Leisure: Free time.
Costume: Clothing.
Garment: Piece of clothing.
Swallow-tails: A coat which was already old-fashioned in Mr Pickwick's day.
Soiled: Dirty.
Stock: An old-fashioned collar.
Bespeak: Show.
Glimpse: A very quick look.
Cuffs: The thicker material at the bottom of a sleeve.
Jaunty: Cheerful and optimistic.
Self-possession: Someone who knows what he is doing.