‘No,’ said the girl, with a shake of the head which expressed a more decided negative than the most copious language could have conveyed. ‘Missis Raddle said you warn’t to have none.’ The surprise depicted on the countenances of his guests imparted new courage to the host. ‘Bring up the warm water instantly--instantly!’ said Mr. Bob Sawyer, with desperate sternness. ‘No. I can’t,’ replied the girl; ‘Missis Raddle raked out the kitchen fire afore she went to bed, and locked up the kittle.’ ‘Oh, never mind; never mind. Pray don’t disturb yourself about such a trifle,’ said Mr. Pickwick, observing the conflict of Bob Sawyer’s passions, as depicted in his countenance, ‘cold water will do very well.’ ‘Oh, admirably,’ said Mr. Benjamin Allen. ‘My landlady is subject to some slight attacks of mental derangement,’ remarked Bob Sawyer, with a ghastly smile; ‘I fear I must give her warning.’ ‘No, don’t,’ said Ben Allen. ‘I fear I must,’ said Bob, with heroic firmness. ‘I’ll pay her what I owe her, and give her warning to-morrow morning.’ Poor fellow! how devoutly he wished he could! Mr. Bob Sawyer’s heart-sickening attempts to rally under this last blow, communicated a dispiriting influence to the company, the greater part of whom, with the view of raising their spirits, attached themselves with extra cordiality to the cold brandy-and-water, the first perceptible effects of which were displayed in a renewal of hostilities between the scorbutic youth and the gentleman in the shirt. The belligerents vented their feelings of mutual contempt, for some time, in a variety of frownings and snortings, until at last the scorbutic youth felt it necessary to come to a more explicit understanding on the matter; when the following clear understanding took place. ‘Sawyer,’ said the scorbutic youth, in a loud voice. ‘Well, Noddy,’ replied Mr. Bob Sawyer. ‘I should be very sorry, Sawyer,’ said Mr. Noddy, ‘to create any unpleasantness at any friend’s table, and much less at yours, Sawyer-- very; but I must take this opportunity of informing Mr. Gunter that he is no gentleman.’ ‘And I should be very sorry, Sawyer, to create any disturbance in the street in which you reside,’ said Mr. Gunter, ‘but I’m afraid I shall be under the necessity of alarming the neighbours by throwing the person who has just spoken, out o’ window.’ ‘What do you mean by that, sir?’ inquired Mr. Noddy. ‘What I say, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter. ‘I should like to see you do it, Sir,’ said Mr. Noddy. ‘You shall _feel _me do it in half a minute, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter. ‘I request that you’ll favour me with your card, Sir,’ said Mr. Noddy. ‘I’ll do nothing of the kind, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter. ‘Why not, Sir?’ inquired Mr. Noddy. ‘Because you’ll stick it up over your chimney-piece, and delude your visitors into the false belief that a gentleman has been to see you, Sir,’ replied Mr. Gunter. ‘Sir, a friend of mine shall wait on you in the morning,’ said Mr. Noddy.