Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/549

455 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 455

hearty cuff; for Mr. Pickwick had been' duped, deceived, and wronged by the destitute outcast who was now wholly in his power. Must we tell the truth ? It was something- from Mr. Pickwick's waistcoat- pocket, which chinked as it was given into Job's hand : and the g-iving" which, somehow or other imparted a sparkle to the eye, and a swelling to the heart of our excellent old friend, as he hurried away.

Sara had returned when Mr. Pickwick reached his own room, and was inspecting the arrangements that had been made for bis comfort, with a kind of grim satisfaction which was very pleasant to look upon. Having a decided objection to his master's being there at all, Mr. Weller appeared to consider it a high moral duty not to appear too much pleased with anything that was done, said, suggested, or proposed. « Well, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick. « Well, Sir," replied Mr. Weller. " Pretty comfortable now, eh, Sam ? "

" Pretty veil, Sir," responded Sam, looking round him in a disparaging manner.

" Have you seen Mr. Tupman and our other friends ? " " Yes, I have seen 'em, Sir, and they're a comin' to-morrow, and wos wery much surprised to hear they warn't to come to-day," replied Sam. " You have brought the things I wanted ? "

Mr. Weller in reply pointed to various packages which he had arranged as neatly as he could, in a corner of the room.

" Very well, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, after a little hesitation ;
 * listen to what I am going to say, Sam."

" Cert'nly, Sir," rejoined Mr. Weller, " fire avay, Sir." " I have felt from the first, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, with much solemnity, " that this is not the place to bring a young man to." " Nor an old 'un neither, Sir," observed Mr. Weller. " You're quite right, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick ; "but old men may come here through their own heedlessness and unsuspicion, and young men may be brought here by the selfishness of those they serve. It is better for those young men, in every point of view, that they should not remain here. Do you understand me, Sam ? "

" Vy no, Sir, I do not," replied Mr. Weller, doggedly. " Try, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick.

" Veil, Sir," rejoined Sam, after a short pause, " I think I see your drift ; and if I do see your drift, it's my 'pinion that you're a comin' it a great deal too strong, as the mail-coachman said to the snow storm, ven it overtook him."

" I see you comprehend me, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick. ** Independ- ently of my wish that you should not be idling about a place like this for years to come, I feel that for a debtor in the Fleet to be attended by his man-servant is a monstrous absurdity. — Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, " for a time you must leave me."

" Oh, for a time, eh, Sir ? " rejoined Mr. Weller, rather sarcastically.

" Yes, for the time that I remain here," said Mr. Pickwick. " Your

wages I shall continue to pay. Any one of my three friends will be

happy to take you, were it only out of respect to me. And if I ever do