One excellent quality of Mr.Pickwick's character was beautifully displayed at this moment, under the most trying circumstances.

Although he had hastily Put on his hat over his nightcap, after the manner of the old patrol; although he carried his shoes and gaiters in his hand, and his coat and waistcoat over his arm; nothing could subdue his native politeness.
'I am exceedingly sorry, ma'am,' said Mr.Pickwick, bowing very low.
'If you are, Sir, you will at once leave the room,' said the lady.
'Immediately, ma'am; this instant, ma'am,' said Mr.Pickwick, opening the door, and dropping both his shoes with a crash in so doing.
'I trust, ma'am,' resumed Mr.Pickwick, gathering up his shoes, and turning round to bow again--'I trust, ma'am, that my unblemished character, and the devoted respect I entertain for your sex, will plead as some slight excuse for this--' But before Mr.Pickwick could conclude the sentence, the lady had thrust him into the passage, and locked and bolted the door behind him.
Whatever grounds of self-congratulation Mr.Pickwick might have for having escaped so quietly from his late awkward situation, his present position was by no means enviable.

He was alone, in an open passage, in a strange house in the middle of the night, half dressed; it was not to be supposed that he could find his way in perfect darkness to a room which he had been wholly unable to discover with a light, and if he made the slightest noise in his fruitless attempts to do so, he stood every chance of being shot at, and perhaps killed, by some wakeful traveller.
He had no resource but to remain where he was until daylight appeared.
So after groping his way a few paces down the passage, and, to his infinite alarm, stumbling over several pairs of boots in so doing, Mr.
Pickwick crouched into a little recess in the wall, to wait for morning, as philosophically as he might.
He was not destined, however, to undergo this additional trial of patience; for he had not been long ensconced in his present concealment when, to his unspeakable horror, a man, bearing a light, appeared at the end of the passage.

His horror was suddenly converted into joy, however, when he recognised the form of his faithful attendant.

It was indeed Mr.
Samuel Weller, who after sitting up thus late, in conversation with the boots, who was sitting up for the mail, was now about to retire to rest.
'Sam,' said Mr.Pickwick, suddenly appearing before him, 'where's my bedroom ?' Mr.Weller stared at his master with the most emphatic surprise; and it was not until the question had been repeated three several times, that he turned round, and led the way to the long-sought apartment.
'Sam,' said Mr.Pickwick, as he got into bed, 'I have made one of the most extraordinary mistakes to-night, that ever were heard of.' 'Wery likely, Sir,' replied Mr.Weller drily.
'But of this I am determined, Sam,' said Mr.Pickwick; 'that if I were to stop in this house for six months, I would never trust myself about it, alone, again.' 'That's the wery prudentest resolution as you could come to, Sir,' replied Mr.Weller.