Pickwick - No. V - chs. XII-XIV

[Denise]

We find Mr. Pickwick in his lodgings, where he discusses with his landlady Mrs. Bardell (a widow with a small son) whether two people are as easy to keep as one, and that it would be less work for her, and company for her little boy. Mrs. Bardell takes these cryptic remarks as a proposal, becomes hysterical, and faints in Mr. Pickwick's arms, just as his friends enter. Once they have taken her to her own room, he says he does not know why there was such a fuss over his wanting to hire a servant, and then proceeds to hire Sam Weller. The Pickwickians, accompanied by Sam, go to Eatenswill to observe an election, between the contentious Blue and Buff parties. Upon arriving, they find they cannot do anything without declaring a side, so since they don't really care, they choose Blue after being told that Mr. Perker (who had recommended that they go) is of that party. As there are not beds enough at the inn, Pickwick and Winkle are offered lodging by Mr. Pott, the editor of the Blue newspaper. While Pickwick concentrates on the election activities, Winkle spends time with Mrs. Pott, and Tupman and Snodgrass pass the time at the inn, hearing a story about a haunted chair. The Blue candidate wins the election.

[Denise]

This section was a wonderful political satire, I thought. But what else would you expect from Dickens?