Page:The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club.djvu/707

597 THE PICKWICK CLUB. 597

" 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 — "

" To say this here," said the elder IMr. Weller, impatiently, " that it ain't o' no use to me ; I'm a goin' to vork a coach regular, and ha'nt 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

to Mr. Pick^ vay towards the 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, drasTired him back by mam 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.

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

" 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 very discontented look. " Mark my vords, Sammy, I'll do somethin* desperate vith this here property ; somethin' desperate I"


 * ' 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 b'ye to your father, Samivel ; I dewote the remainder o' my days to a pike."

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

" Well, well, Mr. Weller, I will keep the money. I can do more, good with it, perhaps, than you can."

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