Mr Winkle on the ice (after Charles Dickens)
"The Pickwick Papers" is Charles Dickens' first novel. It was published in 1837 and was a great success. It has been translated into many languages since then and is read with interest all over the world. Everybody enjoys the amusing adventures of Mr Pickwick, his servant Sam Weller and the members of the famous Pickwick Club. Here is an extract from the novel.
One fine winter day Mr Wardle, in whose house Mr Pickwick and his friends were staying, said:
"What d'you say to an hour on the ice?" Everybody thought it was a good idea.
"You skate, Winkle, don't you?" (Mr Wardle had often heard Mr Winkle say that he went in for sports.)
"Ye — yes, oh yes", replied Mr Winkle. "But I — I — am rather out of practice."
"Oh, do skate, Mr Winkle," said one of the ladies. "I do so like to watch people skating."
"Oh, it's so graceful," said another young lady. A third young lady said it was very elegant.
"I should be very happy, I'm sure," said Mr Winkle, reddening, "but I've got no skates."
Hearing this, one of Mr Winkle's friends immediately promised to lend him his own pair.
"You needn't trouble about skates," somebody added. "There are lots of them downstairs."
Mr Winkle said he was very pleased, but looked rather uncomfortable.
Old Wardle led the way to a very nice skating-rink on a small lake near his house. The snow had already been swept away. The younger guests immediately put on their skates. Old Wardle soon joined them and they successfully performed a dance on the ice. All this time, Mr Winkle, blue with cold, was trying to put on his skates. After this had been done, Mr Winkle was raised to his feet by Sarn Weller.
"Now, sir," said Sam. "Show them how to do it!"
"Stop, Sam, stop," said Mr Winkle, trembling and catching hold of Sam's arm with the grasp of a drowning man.
"How slippery it is, Sam!"
"Not an uncommon thing with ice, sir," answered Mr Weller. "Hold up, sir."
"These — these are very bad skates, aren't they, Sam?" asked Mr Winkle.
"Now, Winkle," cried Mr Pickwick, who did not know what was the matter. "Come, the ladies are waiting for you."
"Yes, yes," replied Mr Winkle, "I'm coming."
"Well, sir, start off!" said Sam, trying to free himself from Mr Winkle.
"Wait a minute, Sam," said Mr Winkle. "I remember I've got two coats at home that I don't want, Sam. You can have them, Sam."
"Thank you, sir", replied Mr Weller, touching his hat.
"Never mind touching your hat, Sam,," said Mr Winkle hurriedly. "You needn't take your hand away to do that. I intended to give you five shillings this morning, Sam. I'll give it to you this afternoon, Sam."
"You're very good, sir," replied Mr Weller.
"Please hold me at first, Sam, will you?" said Mr Winkle. "I shall soon learn how to do it. Not too fast, Sam, not too fast."
But at that moment Mr Pickwick suddenly shouted from the opposite bank, "Sam!"
"Sir?" said Mr Weller.
"Here. I want you."
"Let me go, sir", said Sam. "Can't you hear Mr Pickwick calling me?" and taking no notice of the unhappy Mr Winkle, Mr Weller tried to free himself and in doing so pushed him. The latter fell on the ice and sat there, trying to smile. Mr Pickwick ran up to Mr Winkle, very angry.
"Take Mr Winkle's skates off", he said to Sam Weller.
"But I've only begun..." said Mr. Winkle weakly.
"Take his skates off", repeated Mr Pickwick. When the skates had been taken off, Mr Pickwick said to Sam, "Lift him up."
Sam helped Mr Winkle to rise. Then Mr Pickwick walked a short distance away from the rest of the party, asking Mr Winkle to follow him, and said in a low voice:
"You are a great liar, sir."
With these words Mr Pickwick turned slowly away from Mr Winkle and joined his friends.