Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/664

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POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF

the elder Mr. Weller laid his pipe on the table, and stirred the fire with a meditative visage.

While the old gentleman was thus engaged, a very buxom-looking cook, dressed in mourning, who had been bustling about in the bar, glided into the room, and bestowing many smirks of recognition upon Sam, silently stationed herself at the back of his father's chair, and announced her presence by a slight cough, the which being disregarded, was followed by a louder one.

"Hallo!" said the elder Mr. Weller, dropping the poker as he looked round, and hastily drew his chair ^away. *^ Wot's the matter now ? "

" Have a cup of tea, there's a good soul," replied the buxom female, coaxingly.

" I von't," replied Mr. Weller, in a somewhat boisterous manner, low tone, '' furder fust."
 * ' I'll see you — " Mr. Weller hastily checked himself, and added in a

_ '^ Oh, dear, dear; how adversity does change people!" said the lady, looking upwards.

'■ It's the only thing 'twixt this, and the doctor as shall change mt/ condition," muttered Mr. Weller.

" 1 really never saw a man so cross," said the buxom female.

'' Never mind — it's all for my own good; vich is the reflection vith wich the penitent schoolboy comforted his feelin's ven they flogged him," rejoined the old gentleman.

The buxom female shook her head with a compassionate and sym- pathising air; and, appealing to Sam, enquired v/hether his father really ought not to make an effort to keep up, and not give way to that lowness of spirits.

''You see, Mr. Samuel," said the buxom female, '^'^as I was telling him yesterday, he will feel lonely, he can't expect but what he should, Sir, but he should keep up a good heart, because, dear me, I'm sure we all pity his loss, and are ready to do anything for him ; and there's no situation in life so bad, Mr. Samuel, that it can't be mended, which is what a very worthy person said to me when my husband died." Here the speaker, putting her hand before her mouth, coughed again, and looked affectionately at the elder Mr. Weller.

''As I don't rekvire any o' your conversation just now, Mum, vill you have the goodness to re-tire ? " enquired Mr. Weller in a grave and steady voice.

" Well, Mr. Weller," said the buxom female, " I'm sure I only- spoke to you out of kindness."

" Wer'y likely, Mum," replied Mr. Weller. ''Samivel, show the lady out, and shut the door arter her."

This hint was not lost upon the buxom female, for she at once left the room, and slammed the door behind her, upon which Mr. Weller, senior, falling back in his chair in a violent perspiration, said —

" Sammy, if I wos to stop here alone vun veek — only vun veek, my boy — that 'ere 'ooman 'ud marry me by force and wiolence afore it was over."

'' Wot, is she so wery fond on you ? " enquired Sam.