第241章

Deserved it all--but suffered much--very." Wholly unable to keep up appearances any longer, and perhaps rendered worse by the effort he had made, the dejected stroller sat down on the stairs, and, covering his face with his hands, sobbed like a child.

"Come, come," said Mr.Pickwick, with considerable emotion, "we'll see what can be done, when I know all about the matter.Here, Job; where is that fellow?""Here, sir," replied Job, presenting himself on the staircase.We have described him, by-the-bye, as having deeply-sunken eyes, in the best of times.In his present state of want and distress, he looked as if those features had gone out of town altogether.

"Here, sir," cried Job.

"Come here, sir," said Mr.Pickwick, trying to look stern, with four large tears running down his waistcoat."Take that, sir."Take what? In the ordinary acceptation of such language, it should have been a blow.As the world runs, it ought to have been a sound, 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 giving of 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.

Sam had returned when Mr.Pickwick reached his own room, and was inspecting the arrangements that had been made for his 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 vell, 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 away, 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 undertsand me, Sam?"

"Vy no, sir, I do NOT ," replied Mr.Weller, doggedly.

"Try, Sam," said Mr.Pickwick.

"Vell, 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 mailcoachman said to the snow-storm, ven it overtook him.""I see you comprehend me, Sam," said Mr.Pickwick."Independently 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 leave this place, Sam," added Mr.Pickwick, with assumed cheerfulness: "if I do, I pledge you my word that you shall return to me instantly.""Now I'll tell you wot it is, sir," said Mr.Weller, in a grave and solemn voice, "This here sort o' thing won't do at all, so don't let's hear no more about it.""I am serious, and resolved, Sam," said Mr.Pickwick.

"You air, air you, sir?" inquired Mr.Weller, firmly."Wery good, sir.

Then so am I."

Thus speaking, Mr.Weller fixed his hat on his hand with great precision, and abruptly left the room.

"Sam!" cried Mr.Pickwick, calling after him, "Sam! Here!"But the long gallery ceased to re-echo the sound of foot-steps.Sam Weller was gone.

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