By them it was proposed, as a test of Mr.Pickwick's sincerity, that he should immediately submit to personal restraint; and that gentleman having consented to hold a conference with Miss Tomkins, from the interior of a closet in which the day boarders hung their bonnets and sandwich-bags, he at once stepped into it, of his own accord, and was securely locked in.

This revived the others; and Miss Tomkins having been brought to, and brought down, the conference began.
'What did you do in my garden, man ?' said Miss Tomkins, in a faint voice.
'I came to warn you that one of your young ladies was going to elope to-night,' replied Mr.Pickwick, from the interior of the closet.
'Elope!' exclaimed Miss Tomkins, the three teachers, the thirty boarders, and the five servants.

'Who with ?' 'Your friend, Mr.Charles Fitz-Marshall.' 'MY friend! I don't know any such person.' 'Well, Mr.Jingle, then.' 'I never heard the name in my life.' 'Then, I have been deceived, and deluded,' said Mr.Pickwick.

'I have been the victim of a conspiracy--a foul and base conspiracy.

Send to the Angel, my dear ma'am, if you don't believe me.