“Oh, I assure you, mother’s very fond of a rubber,” said Mr. Wardle; “ain’t you, mother?”

The old lady, who was much less deaf on this subject than on any other, replied in the affirmative.

“Joe, Joe!” said the gentleman; “Joe⁠—damn that⁠—oh, here he is; put out the card-tables.”

The lethargic youth contrived without any additional rousing to set out two card-tables; the one for Pope Joan, and the other for whist. The whist-players were Mr. Pickwick and the old lady, Mr. Miller and the fat gentleman. The round game comprised the rest of the company.