The pretty housemaid had stood the candle on the floor; and, as it gave a very dim light, Sam was obliged to go down on _his _knees before he could see whether it really was his own hat or not. It was a remarkably small corner, and so--it was nobody’s fault but the man’s who built the house--Sam and the pretty housemaid were necessarily very close together. ‘Yes, this is it,’ said Sam. ‘Good-bye!’ ‘Good-bye!’ said the pretty housemaid. ‘Good-bye!’ said Sam; and as he said it, he dropped the hat that had cost so much trouble in looking for. ‘How awkward you are,’ said the pretty housemaid. ‘You’ll lose it again, if you don’t take care.’ So just to prevent his losing it again, she put it on for him. Whether it was that the pretty housemaid’s face looked prettier still, when it was raised towards Sam’s, or whether it was the accidental consequence of their being so near to each other, is matter of uncertainty to this day; but Sam kissed her. ‘You don’t mean to say you did that on purpose,’ said the pretty housemaid, blushing. ‘No, I didn’t then,’ said Sam; ‘but I will now.’ So he kissed her again. ‘Sam!’ said Mr. Pickwick, calling over the banisters. ‘Coming, Sir,’ replied Sam, running upstairs. ‘How long you have been!’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘There was something behind the door, Sir, which perwented our getting it open, for ever so long, Sir,’ replied Sam. And this was the first passage of Mr. Weller’s first love. CHAPTER XXVI. WHICH CONTAINS A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE PROGRESS OF THE ACTION OF BARDELL AGAINST PICKWICK Having accomplished the main end and object of his journey, by the exposure of Jingle, Mr. Pickwick resolved on immediately returning to London, with the view of becoming acquainted with the proceedings which had been taken against him, in the meantime, by Messrs. Dodson and Fogg. Acting upon this resolution with all the energy and decision of his character, he mounted to the back seat of the first coach which left Ipswich on the morning after the memorable occurrences detailed at length in the two preceding chapters; and accompanied by his three friends, and Mr. Samuel Weller, arrived in the metropolis, in perfect health and safety, the same evening. Here the friends, for a short time, separated. Messrs. Tupman, Winkle, and Snodgrass repaired to their several homes to make such preparations as might be requisite for their forthcoming visit to Dingley Dell; and Mr. Pickwick and Sam took up their present abode in very good, old- fashioned, and comfortable quarters, to wit, the George and Vulture Tavern and Hotel, George Yard, Lombard Street. Mr. Pickwick had dined, finished his second pint of particular port, pulled his silk handkerchief over his head, put his feet on the fender, and thrown himself back in an easy-chair, when the entrance of Mr. Weller with his carpet-bag, aroused him from his tranquil meditation. ‘Sam,’ said Mr. Pickwick. ‘Sir,’ said Mr. Weller.