The Pickwick Papers 58 страница

The word was music to Pell's ears. He had been revolving in his mind whether any business was to be transacted, or whether he had been merely invited to partake of a glass of brandy-andwater, or a bowl of punch, or any similar professional compliment, and now the doubt was set at rest without his appearing at all eager for its solution. His eyes glistened as he laid his hat on the table, and said—

“What is the business upon which—um? Either of these gentlemen wish to go through the court? We require an arrest; a friendly arrest will do, you know; we are all friends here, I suppose? ”

“Give me the dockyment, Sammy, ” said Mr. Weller, taking the will from his son, who appeared to enjoy the interview amazingly. “Wot we rekvire, sir, is a probe o” this here. ”

“Probate, my dear Sir, probate, ” said Pell.

“Well, sir, ” replied Mr. Weller sharply, “probe and probe it, is wery much the same; if you don't understand wot I mean, sir, I des-say I can find them as does. ”

“No offence, I hope, Mr. Weller, ” said Pell meekly. “You are the executor, I see, ” he added, casting his eyes over the paper.

“I am, sir, ” replied Mr. Weller.

“These other gentlemen, I presume, are legatees, are they? ” inquired Pell, with a congratulatory smile.

“Sammy is a leg-at-ease, ” replied Mr. Weller; “these other gen'l'm'n is friends o” mine, just come to see fair; a kind of umpires. ”

“Oh! ” said Pell, “very good. I have no objections, I'm sure. I shall want a matter of five pound of you before I begin, ha! ha! ha! ”

It being decided by the committee that the five pound might be advanced, Mr. Weller produced that sum; after which, a long consultation about nothing particular took place, in the course whereof Mr. Pell demonstrated to the perfect satisfaction of the gentlemen who saw fair, that unless the management of the business had been intrusted to him, it must all have gone wrong, for reasons not clearly made out, but no doubt sufficient. This important point being despatched, Mr. Pell refreshed himself with three chops, and liquids both malt and spirituous, at the expense of the estate; and then they all went away to Doctors” Commons.

The next day there was another visit to Doctors” Commons, and a great to-do with an attesting hostler, who, being inebriated, declined swearing anything but profane oaths, to the great scandal of a proctor and surrogate. Next week, there were more visits to Doctors” Commons, and there was a visit to the Legacy Duty Office besides, and there were treaties entered into, for the disposal of the lease and business, and ratifications of the same, and inventories to be made out, and lunches to be taken, and dinners to be eaten, and so many profitable things to be done, and such a mass of papers accumulated that Mr. Solomon Pell, and the boy, and the blue bag to boot, all got so stout that scarcely anybody would have known them for the same man, boy, and bag, that had loitered about Portugal Street, a few days before.

At length all these weighty matters being arranged, a day was fixed for selling out and transferring the stock, and of waiting with that view upon Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, stock-broker, of somewhere near the bank, who had been recommended by Mr. Solomon Pell for the purpose.

It was a kind of festive occasion, and the parties were attired accordingly. Mr. Weller's tops were newly cleaned, and his dress was arranged with peculiar care; the mottled-faced gentleman wore at his button-hole a full-sized dahlia with several leaves; and the coats of his two friends were adorned with nosegays of laurel and other evergreens. All three were habited in strict holiday costume; that is to say, they were wrapped up to the chins, and wore as many clothes as possible, which is, and has been, a stage-coachman's idea of full dress ever since stagecoaches were invented.

Mr. Pell was waiting at the usual place of meeting at the appointed time; even he wore a pair of gloves and a clean shirt, much frayed at the collar and wristbands by frequent washings.

“A quarter to two, ” said Pell, looking at the parlour clock. “If we are with Mr. Flasher at a quarter past, we shall just hit the best time. ”

“What should you say to a drop o” beer, gen'l'm'n? ” suggested the mottled-faced man. “And a little bit o” cold beef, ” said the second coachman.

“Or a oyster, ” added the third, who was a hoarse gentleman, supported by very round legs.

“Hear, hear! ” said Pell; “to congratulate Mr. Weller, on his coming into possession of his property, eh? Ha! ha! ”

“I'm quite agreeable, gen'l'm'n, ” answered Mr. Weller. “Sammy, pull the bell. ”

Sammy complied; and the porter, cold beef, and oysters being promptly produced, the lunch was done ample justice to. Where everybody took so active a part, it is almost invidious to make a distinction; but if one individual evinced greater powers than another, it was the coachman with the hoarse voice, who took an imperial pint of vinegar with his oysters, without betraying the least emotion.

“Mr. Pell, Sir, ” said the elder Mr. Weller, stirring a glass of brandy-and-water, of which one was placed before every gentleman when the oyster shells were removed—“Mr. Pell, Sir, it wos my intention to have proposed the funs on this occasion, but Samivel has vispered to me—”

Here Mr. Samuel Weller, who had silently eaten his oysters with tranquil smiles, cried, “Hear! ” in a very loud voice.

—“Has vispered to me, ” resumed his father, “that it vould be better to dewote the liquor to vishin” you success and prosperity, and thankin” you for the manner in which you've brought this here business through. Here's your health, sir. ”

“Hold hard there, ” interposed the mottled-faced gentleman, with sudden energy; “your eyes on me, gen'l'm'n! ”

Saying this, the mottled-faced gentleman rose, as did the other gentlemen. The mottled-faced gentleman reviewed the company, and slowly lifted his hand, upon which every man (including him of the mottled countenance) drew a long breath, and lifted his tumbler to his lips. In one instant, the mottled-faced gentleman depressed his hand again, and every glass was set down empty. It is impossible to describe the thrilling effect produced by this striking ceremony. At once dignified, solemn, and impressive, it combined every element of grandeur.

“Well, gentlemen, ” said Mr. Pell, “all I can say is, that such marks of confidence must be very gratifying to a professional man. I don't wish to say anything that might appear egotistical, gentlemen, but I'm very glad, for your own sakes, that you came to me; that's all. If you had gone to any low member of the profession, it's my firm conviction, and I assure you of it as a fact, that you would have found yourselves in Queer Street before this. I could have wished my noble friend had been alive to have seen my management of this case. I don't say it out of pride, but I think—However, gentlemen, I won't trouble you with that. I'm generally to be found here, gentlemen, but if I'm not here, or over the way, that's my address. You'll find my terms very cheap and reasonable, and no man attends more to his clients than I do, and I hope I know a little of my profession besides. If you have any opportunity of recommending me to any of your friends, gentlemen, I shall be very much obliged to you, and so will they too, when they come to know me. Your healths, gentlemen. ”

With this expression of his feelings, Mr. Solomon Pell laid three small written cards before Mr. Weller's friends, and, looking at the clock again, feared it was time to be walking. Upon this hint Mr. Weller settled the bill, and, issuing forth, the executor, legatee, attorney, and umpires, directed their steps towards the city.

The office of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, of the Stock Exchange, was in a first floor up a court behind the Bank of England; the house of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was at Brixton, Surrey; the horse and stanhope of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, were at an adjacent livery stable; the groom of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was on his way to the West End to deliver some game; the clerk of Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, had gone to his dinner; and so Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, himself, cried, “Come in, ” when Mr. Pell and his companions knocked at the counting-house door.

“Good-morning, Sir, ” said Pell, bowing obsequiously. “We want to make a little transfer, if you please. ”

“Oh, just come in, will you? ” said Mr. Flasher. “Sit down a minute; I'll attend to you directly. ”

“Thank you, Sir, ” said Pell, “there's no hurry. Take a chair, Mr. Weller. ”

Mr. Weller took a chair, and Sam took a box, and the umpires took what they could get, and looked at the almanac and one or two papers which were wafered against the wall, with as much open-eyed reverence as if they had been the finest efforts of the old masters.

“Well, I'll bet you half a dozen of claret on it; come! ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, resuming the conversation to which Mr. Pell's entrance had caused a momentary interruption.

This was addressed to a very smart young gentleman who wore his hat on his right whisker, and was lounging over the desk, killing flies with a ruler. Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was balancing himself on two legs of an office stool, spearing a wafer-box with a penknife, which he dropped every now and then with great dexterity into the very centre of a small red wafer that was stuck outside. Both gentlemen had very open waistcoats and very rolling collars, and very small boots, and very big rings, and very little watches, and very large guard-chains, and symmetrical inexpressibles, and scented pocket-handkerchiefs.

“I never bet half a dozen! ” said the other gentleman. “I'll take a dozen. ”

“Done, Simmery, done! ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.

“P. P., mind, ” observed the other.

“Of course, ” replied Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, entered it in a little book, with a gold pencil-case, and the other gentleman entered it also, in another little book with another gold pencil-case.

“I see there's a notice up this morning about Boffer, ” observed Mr. Simmery. “Poor devil, he's expelled the house! ”

“I'll bet you ten guineas to five, he cuts his throat, ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.

“Done, ” replied Mr. Simmery.

“Stop! I bar, ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, thoughtfully. “Perhaps he may hang himself. ”

“Very good, ” rejoined Mr. Simmery, pulling out the gold pencil-case again. “I've no objection to take you that way. Say, makes away with himself. ”

“Kills himself, in fact, ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.

“Just so, ” replied Mr. Simmery, putting it down. “Flasher—ten guineas to five, Boffer kills himself. ” Within what time shall we say? ”

“A fortnight? ” suggested Wilkins Flasher, Esquire.

“Con-found it, no, ” rejoined Mr. Simmery, stopping for an instant to smash a fly with the ruler. “Say a week. ”

“Split the difference, ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. “Make it ten days. ”

“Well; ten days, 'rejoined Mr. Simmery.

So it was entered down on the little books that Boffer was to kill himself within ten days, or Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, was to hand over to Frank Simmery, Esquire, the sum of ten guineas; and that if Boffer did kill himself within that time, Frank Simmery, Esquire, would pay to Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, five guineas, instead.

“I'm very sorry he has failed, ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. “Capital dinners he gave. ”

“Fine port he had too, ” remarked Mr. Simmery. “We are going to send our butler to the sale to-morrow, to pick up some of that sixty-four. ”

“The devil you are! ” said Wilkins Flasher, Esquire. “My man's going too. Five guineas my man outbids your man. ”

“Done. ”

Another entry was made in the little books, with the gold pencil-cases; and Mr. Simmery, having by this time killed all the flies and taken all the bets, strolled away to the Stock Exchange to see what was going forward.

Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, now condescended to receive Mr. Solomon Pell's instructions, and having filled up some printed forms, requested the party to follow him to the bank, which they did: Mr. Weller and his three friends staring at all they beheld in unbounded astonishment, and Sam encountering everything with a coolness which nothing could disturb.

Crossing a courtyard which was all noise and bustle, and passing a couple of porters who seemed dressed to match the red fire engine which was wheeled away into a corner, they passed into an office where their business was to be transacted, and where Pell and Mr. Flasher left them standing for a few moments, while they went upstairs into the Will Office.

“Wot place is this here? ” whispered the mottled-faced gentleman to the elder Mr. Weller.

“Counsel's Office, ” replied the executor in a whisper.

“Wot are them gen'l'men a-settin” behind the counters? ” asked the hoarse coachman.

“Reduced counsels, I s'pose, ” replied Mr. Weller. “Ain't they the reduced counsels, Samivel? ”

“Wy, you don't suppose the reduced counsels is alive, do you? ” inquired Sam, with some disdain.

“How should I know? ” retorted Mr. Weller; “I thought they looked wery like it. Wot are they, then? ”

“Clerks, ” replied Sam.

“Wot are they all a-eatin” ham sangwidges for? ” inquired his father.

“Cos it's in their dooty, I suppose, ” replied Sam, “it's a part o” the system; they're alvays a-doin” it here, all day long! ” Mr. Weller and his friends had scarcely had a moment to reflect upon this singular regulation as connected with the monetary system of the country, when they were rejoined by Pell and Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, who led them to a part of the counter above which was a round blackboard with a large “W. ” on it.

“Wot's that for, Sir? ” inquired Mr. Weller, directing Pell's attention to the target in question.

“The first letter of the name of the deceased, ” replied Pell.

“I say, ” said Mr. Weller, turning round to the umpires, there's somethin” wrong here. We's our letter—this won't do. ”

The referees at once gave it as their decided opinion that the business could not be legally proceeded with, under the letter W., and in all probability it would have stood over for one day at least, had it not been for the prompt, though, at first sight, undutiful behaviour of Sam, who, seizing his father by the skirt of the coat, dragged him to the counter, and pinned him there, until he had affixed his signature to a couple of instruments; which, from Mr. Weller's habit of printing, was a work of so much labour and time, that the officiating clerk peeled and ate three Ribstone pippins while it was performing.

As the elder Mr. Weller insisted on selling out his portion forthwith, they proceeded from the bank to the gate of the Stock Exchange, to which Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, after a short absence, returned with a cheque on Smith, Payne, & Smith, for five hundred and thirty pounds; that being the money to which Mr. Weller, at the market price of the day, was entitled, in consideration of the balance of the second Mrs. Weller's funded savings. Sam's two hundred pounds stood transferred to his name, and Wilkins Flasher, Esquire, having been paid his commission, dropped the money carelessly into his coat pocket, and lounged back to his office.

Mr. Weller was at first obstinately determined on cashing the cheque in nothing but sovereigns; but it being represented by the umpires that by so doing he must incur the expense of a small sack to carry them home in, he consented to receive the amount in five-pound notes.

“My son, ” said Mr. Weller, as they came out of the bankinghouse—“my son and me has a wery partickler engagement this arternoon, and I should like to have this here bis'ness settled out of hand, so let's jest go straight avay someveres, vere ve can hordit the accounts. ”

A quiet room was soon found, and the accounts were produced and audited. Mr. Pell's bill was taxed by Sam, and some charges were disallowed by the umpires; but, notwithstanding Mr. Pell's declaration, accompanied with many solemn asseverations that they were really too hard upon him, it was by very many degrees the best professional job he had ever had, and one on which he boarded, lodged, and washed, for six months afterwards.

The umpires having partaken of a dram, shook hands and departed, as they had to drive out of town that night. Mr. Solomon Pell, finding that nothing more was going forward, either in the eating or drinking way, took a friendly leave, and Sam and his father were left alone.

“There! ” said Mr. Weller, thrusting his pocket-book in his side pocket. “Vith the bills for the lease, and that, there's eleven hundred and eighty pound here. Now, Samivel, my boy, turn the horses” heads to the George and Wulter! ”

CHAPTER LVI AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE TAKES PLACE BETWEEN

Mr. PICKWICK AND SAMUEL WELLER, AT WHICH HIS

PARENT ASSISTS—AN OLD GENTLEMAN IN A SNUFF—

COLOURED SUIT ARRIVES UNEXPECTEDLY

Mr. Pickwick was sitting alone, musing over many things, and thinking among other considerations how he could best provide for the young couple whose present unsettled condition was matter of constant regret and anxiety to him, when Mary stepped lightly into the room, and, advancing to the table, said, rather hastily—

“Oh, if you please, Sir, Samuel is downstairs, and he says may his father see you? ”

“Surely, ” replied Mr. Pickwick.

“Thank you, Sir, ” said Mary, tripping towards the door again.

“Sam has not been here long, has he? ” inquired Mr. Pickwick.

“Oh, no, Sir, ” replied Mary eagerly. “He has only just come home. He is not going to ask you for any more leave, Sir, he says. ”

Mary might have been conscious that she had communicated this last intelligence with more warmth than seemed actually necessary, or she might have observed the good-humoured smile with which Mr. Pickwick regarded her, when she had finished speaking. She certainly held down her head, and examined the corner of a very smart little apron, with more closeness than there appeared any absolute occasion for.

“Tell them they can come up at once, by all means, ” said Mr. Pickwick.

Mary, apparently much relieved, hurried away with her message.

Mr. Pickwick took two or three turns up and down the room; and, rubbing his chin with his left hand as he did so, appeared lost in thought.

“Well, well, ” said Mr. Pickwick, at length in a kind but somewhat melancholy tone, “it is the best way in which I could reward him for his attachment and fidelity; let it be so, in Heaven's name. It is the fate of a lonely old man, that those about him should form new and different attachments and leave him. I have no right to expect that it should be otherwise with me. No, no, ” added Mr. Pickwick more cheerfully, “it would be selfish and ungrateful. I ought to be happy to have an opportunity of providing for him so well. I am. Of course I am. ”

Mr. Pickwick had been so absorbed in these reflections, that a knock at the door was three or four times repeated before he heard it. Hastily seating himself, and calling up his accustomed pleasant looks, he gave the required permission, and Sam Weller entered, followed by his father.

“Glad to see you back again, Sam, ” said Mr. Pickwick. “How do you do, Mr. Weller? ”

“Wery hearty, thank'ee, sir, ” replied the widower; “hope I see you well, sir. ”

“Quite, I thank you, ” replied Mr. Pickwick.

“I wanted to have a little bit o” conwersation with you, sir, ” said Mr. Weller, “if you could spare me five minits or so, sir. ”

“Certainly, ” replied Mr. Pickwick. “Sam, give your father a chair. ”

“Thank'ee, Samivel, I've got a cheer here, ” said Mr. Weller, bringing one forward as he spoke; “uncommon fine day it's been, sir, ” added the old gentleman, laying his hat on the floor as he sat himself down.

“Remarkably so, indeed, ” replied Mr. Pickwick. “Very seasonable. ”

“Seasonablest veather I ever see, sir, ” rejoined Mr. Weller. Here, the old gentleman was seized with a violent fit of coughing, which, being terminated, he nodded his head and winked and made several supplicatory and threatening gestures to his son, all of which Sam Weller steadily abstained from seeing.

Mr. Pickwick, perceiving that there was some embarrassment on the old gentleman's part, affected to be engaged in cutting the leaves of a book that lay beside him, and waited patiently until Mr. Weller should arrive at the object of his visit.

“I never see sich a aggrawatin” boy as you are, Samivel, ” said Mr. Weller, looking indignantly at his son; “never in all my born days. ”

“What is he doing, Mr. Weller? ” inquired Mr. Pickwick.

“He von't begin, sir, ” rejoined Mr. Weller; “he knows I ain't ekal to ex-pressin” myself ven there's anythin” partickler to be done, and yet he'll stand and see me a-settin” here taking up your walable time, and makin” a reg'lar spectacle o” myself, rayther than help me out vith a syllable. It ain't filial conduct, Samivel, ” said Mr. Weller, wiping his forehead; “wery far from it. ”

“You said you'd speak, ” replied Sam; “how should I know you wos done up at the wery beginnin”? ”

“You might ha” seen I warn't able to start, ” rejoined his father; “I'm on the wrong side of the road, and backin” into the palin's, and all manner of unpleasantness, and yet you von't put out a hand to help me. I'm ashamed on you, Samivel. ”

“The fact is, Sir, ” said Sam, with a slight bow, “the gov'nor's been a-drawin” his money. ”

“Wery good, Samivel, wery good, ” said Mr. Weller, nodding his head with a satisfied air, “I didn't mean to speak harsh to you, Sammy. Wery good. That's the vay to begin. Come to the pint at once. Wery good indeed, Samivel. ”

Mr. Weller nodded his head an extraordinary number of times, in the excess of his gratification, and waited in a listening attitude for Sam to resume his statement.

“You may sit down, Sam, ” said Mr. Pickwick, apprehending that the interview was likely to prove rather longer than he had expected.

Sam bowed again and sat down; his father looking round, he continued—

“The gov'nor, sir, has drawn out five hundred and thirty pound. ”

“Reduced counsels, ” interposed Mr. Weller, senior, in an undertone.

“It don't much matter vether it's reduced counsels, or wot not, ” said Sam; “five hundred and thirty pounds is the sum, ain't it? ”

“All right, Samivel, ” replied Mr. Weller.

“To vich sum, he has added for the house and bisness—”

“Lease, good-vill, stock, and fixters, ” interposed Mr. Weller.

“As much as makes it, ” continued Sam, “altogether, eleven hundred and eighty pound. ”

“Indeed! ” said Mr. Pickwick. “I am delighted to hear it. I congratulate you, Mr. Weller, on having done so well. ”

“Vait a minit, Sir, ” said Mr. Weller, raising his hand in a deprecatory manner. “Get on, Samivel. ”

“This here money, ” said Sam, with a little hesitation, “he's anxious to put someveres, vere he knows it'll be safe, and I'm wery anxious too, for if he keeps it, he'll go a-lendin” it to somebody, or inwestin” property in horses, or droppin” his pocket-book down an airy, or makin” a Egyptian mummy of his-self in some vay or another. ”

“Wery good, Samivel, ” observed Mr. Weller, in as complacent a manner as if Sam had been passing the highest eulogiums on his prudence and foresight. “Wery good. ”

“For vich reasons, ” continued Sam, plucking nervously at the brim of his hat—“for vich reasons, he's drawn it out to-day, and come here vith me to say, leastvays to offer, or in other vords—”

“To say this here, ” said the elder Mr. Weller impatiently, “that it ain't o” no use to me. I'm a-goin” to vork a coach reg'lar, and ha'n't got noveres to keep it in, unless I vos to pay the guard for takin” care on it, or to put it in vun o” the coach pockets, vich “ud be a temptation to the insides. If you'll take care on it for me, sir, I shall be wery much obliged to you. P'raps, ” said Mr. Weller, walking up to Mr. Pickwick and whispering in his ear—“p'raps it'll go a little vay towards the expenses o” that “ere conwiction. All I say is, just you keep it till I ask you for it again. ” With these words, Mr. Weller placed the pocket-book in Mr. Pickwick's hands, caught up his hat, and ran out of the room with a celerity scarcely to be expected from so corpulent a subject.

“Stop him, Sam! ” exclaimed Mr. Pickwick earnestly. “Overtake him; bring him back instantly! Mr. Weller—here—come back! ”

Sam saw that his master's injunctions were not to be disobeyed; and, catching his father by the arm as he was descending the stairs, dragged him back by main force.

“My good friend, ” said Mr. Pickwick, taking the old man by the hand, “your honest confidence overpowers me. ”

“I don't see no occasion for nothin” o” the kind, Sir, ” replied Mr. Weller obstinately.

“I assure you, my good friend, I have more money than I can ever need; far more than a man at my age can ever live to spend, ” said Mr. Pickwick.

“No man knows how much he can spend, till he tries, ” observed Mr. Weller.

“Perhaps not, ” replied Mr. Pickwick; “but as I have no intention of trying any such experiments, I am not likely to come to want. I must beg you to take this back, Mr. Weller. ” “Wery well, ” said Mr. Weller, with a discontented look. “Mark my vords, Sammy, I'll do somethin” desperate vith this here property; somethin” desperate! ”

“You'd better not, ” replied Sam.

Mr. Weller reflected for a short time, and then, buttoning up his coat with great determination, said—

“I'll keep a pike. ”

“Wot! ” exclaimed Sam.

“A pike! ” rejoined Mr. Weller, through his set teeth; “I'll keep a pike. Say good-bye to your father, Samivel. I dewote the remainder of my days to a pike. ”

This threat was such an awful one, and Mr. Weller, besides appearing fully resolved to carry it into execution, seemed so deeply mortified by Mr. Pickwick's refusal, that that gentleman, after a short reflection, said—

“Well, well, Mr. Weller, I will keep your money. I can do more good with it, perhaps, than you can. ”

“Just the wery thing, to be sure, ” said Mr. Weller, brightening up; “o” course you can, sir. ”

“Say no more about it, ” said Mr. Pickwick, locking the pocketbook in his desk; “I am heartily obliged to you, my good friend. Now sit down again. I want to ask your advice. ”

The internal laughter occasioned by the triumphant success of his visit, which had convulsed not only Mr. Weller's face, but his arms, legs, and body also, during the locking up of the pocketbook, suddenly gave place to the most dignified gravity as he heard these words.

“Wait outside a few minutes, Sam, will you? ” said Mr. Pickwick.

Sam immediately withdrew.

Mr. Weller looked uncommonly wise and very much amazed, when Mr. Pickwick opened the discourse by saying—

“You are not an advocate for matrimony, I think, Mr. Weller? ”

Mr. Weller shook his head. He was wholly unable to speak; vague thoughts of some wicked widow having been successful in her designs on Mr. Pickwick, choked his utterance.

“Did you happen to see a young girl downstairs when you came in just now with your son? ” inquired Mr. Pickwick.

“Yes. I see a young gal, ” replied Mr. Weller shortly.

“What did you think of her, now? Candidly, Mr. Weller, what did you think of her? ”

“I thought she wos wery plump, and vell made, ” said Mr. Weller, with a critical air.

“So she is, ” said Mr. Pickwick, “so she is. What did you think of her manners, from what you saw of her? ”

“Wery pleasant, ” rejoined Mr. Weller. “Wery pleasant and comformable. ”

The precise meaning which Mr. Weller attached to this lastmentioned adjective, did not appear; but, as it was evident from the tone in which he used it that it was a favourable expression, Mr. Pickwick was as well satisfied as if he had been thoroughly enlightened on the subject.

“I take a great interest in her, Mr. Weller, ” said Mr. Pickwick.

Mr. Weller coughed.

“I mean an interest in her doing well, ” resumed Mr. Pickwick; “a desire that she may be comfortable and prosperous. You understand? ”

“Wery clearly, ” replied Mr. Weller, who understood nothing yet.

“That young person, ” said Mr. Pickwick, “is attached to your son. ”

“To Samivel Veller! ” exclaimed the parent.

“Yes, ” said Mr. Pickwick.

“It's nat'ral, ” said Mr. Weller, after some consideration, “nat'ral, but rayther alarmin”. Sammy must be careful. ”

“How do you mean? ” inquired Mr. Pickwick.

“Wery careful that he don't say nothin” to her, ” responded Mr. Weller. “Wery careful that he ain't led avay, in a innocent moment, to say anythin” as may lead to a conwiction for breach. You're never safe vith “em, Mr. Pickwick, ven they vunce has designs on you; there's no knowin” vere to have “em; and vile you're a-considering of it, they have you. I wos married fust, that vay myself, Sir, and Sammy wos the consekens o” the manoover. ”

“You give me no great encouragement to conclude what I have to say, ” observed Mr. Pickwick, “but I had better do so at once. This young person is not only attached to your son, Mr. Weller, but your son is attached to her. ”

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