Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/303

237 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 237

ceptible grudatiuns, that it was iliBicult to distinguii^h the folds of the one, from the folds of the other. Over this, he mounted a long waist- coat of a broad pink-striped pattern, and over that ag-ain, a wide- skirted green coat, ornamented with larg-e brass buttons, whereof the two which garnished the waist, were so far apart, that no man had ever beheld them both, at the same time. His hair, which was short, sleek, and black, was just visible beneath the capacious brim of a low-crowned brown hat. His legs were encased in knee-cord breeches, and painted top-boots : and a copper watch-chain terminating in one seal, and a key of the same material, dangled loosely from his capacious waist-band.

We have said that Mr. Weller was engaged in preparing for his journey to London — he was taking sustenance, in fact. On the table before him, stood a pot of ale, a cold round of beef, and a very respect- able-looking loaf, to each of which he distributed his favours in turn, with the most rigid impartiality. He had just cut a mighty slice from the latter, when the footsteps of somebody entering the room, caused him to raise his head ; and he beheld his son.

" Mornin' Sammy," said the father.

The son walked up to the pot of ale, and nodding significantly to his parent, took a long draught by way of reply.

" Wery good power o' suction, Sammy," .said Mr. Weller the elder, looking into the pot, when his lirst-born had set it down half empty. " You'd ha' made an uncommon fine oyster, Sammy, if you'd been born in that station o' life."

" Yes, I des-say I should ha' managed to pick up a respectable livin'," replied Sam, applying himself to the cold beef, with considerable vigour.

" I'm wery sorry, Sammy", said the elder Mr. Weller, shaking up the ale, by describing small circles with the pot, preparatory to drinking. gammoned by that 'ere mulberry man. I always thought, up to three days ago, that the names of Veller and gammon could never come into contract, Sammy — never."
 * I'm wery sorry, Sammy, to hear from your lips, as you let yourself be


 * ' Always exceptin' the case of a wrdder, of course, ' said Sam.

•♦ Widders, Sammy," replied Mr. Weller, slightly changing colour. " Widders. are 'ceptions to ev'ry rule. I have heerd how many ord'nary women, one widder's equal to, in pint o* comjn' over j'ou. I think it's five-and-twenty, but I don't .rightly know vether it an't more.'*

" Well ; that's pretty well," said Sam.

" Besides," continued Mr. Weller, not noticing the interruption, " that's a wery different thing. You know what the counsel said, Sammy, as defended the gen'lem'n as beat his wife with the poker, venever he got jolly. ' And arter all, my Lord,' says he, * it's a amia- ble weakness.' So I says respectin' widders, Sammy, and so you'll say, ven you gets as old as 1 am."

" I ought to ha' knovv'd better, I know," said Sam.

" Ought to ha' know'd better ! " repeated Mr. Weller, striking the table with his fist. " Ought to ha' know'd better! why, I know a young 'un as hasn't had half nor quarter your eddication— a$ hasn't