It needed no second invitation to induce the party to yield full justice to the meal; and as little pressing did it require to induce Mr. Weller, the long gamekeeper, and the two boys, to station themselves on the grass, at a little distance, and do good execution upon a decent proportion of the viands. An old oak afforded a pleasant shelter to the group, and a rich prospect of arable and meadow land, intersected with luxuriant hedges, and richly ornamented with wood, lay spread out before them.

“This is delightful⁠—thoroughly delightful!” said Mr. Pickwick; the skin of whose expressive countenance was rapidly peeling off, with exposure to the sun.

“So it is⁠—so it is, old fellow,” replied Wardle. “Come; a glass of punch!”