'No, no - oh, not there,' replied Job, with a quickness very unusual to

him, 'not there.'

What was you a-doin' there?' asked Sam, with a sharp glance. 'Got

inside the gate by accident, perhaps?'

Why, Mr Weller,' replied Job, 'I don't mind telling you my little secrets,

because, you know, we took such a fancy for each other when we first

met. You recollect how pleasant we were that morning?'

Oh, yes,' said Sam, impatiently. 'I remember. Well?'

Well,' replied Job, speaking with great precision, and in the low tone

of a man who communicates an important secret; 'in that house with

the green gate, Mr Weller, they keep a good many servants.'

'So I should think, from the look on it,' interposed Sam.

'Yes,' continued Mr Trotter, 'and one of them is a cook, who has saved

up a little money, Mr Weller, and is desirous, if she can establish

herself in life, to open a little shop in the chandlery way, you see.'

Yes.'

Yes, Mr Weller. Well, Sir, I met her at a chapel that I go to; a very neat

little chapel in this town, Mr Weller, where they sing the number four

collection of hymns, which I generally carry about with me, in a little

book, which you may perhaps have seen in my hand - and I got a little

intimate with her, Mr Weller, and from that, an acquaintance sprung

up between us, and I may venture to say, Mr Weller, that I am to be

the chandler.'

Ah, and a wery amiable chandler you'll make,' replied Sam, eyeing

Job with a side look of intense dislike.

The great advantage of this, Mr Weller,' continued Job, his eyes filling

with tears as he spoke, 'will be, that I shall be able to leave my present

disgraceful service with that bad man, and to devote myself to a better

and more virtuous life; more like the way in which I was brought up,

Mr Weller.'

You must ha' been wery nicely brought up,' said Sam.

Oh, very, Mr Weller, very,' replied Job. At the recollection of the purity

of his youthful days, Mr Trotter pulled forth the pink handkerchief,

and wept copiously.

'You must ha' been an uncommon nice boy, to go to school vith,' said

Sam.

The Pickwick Papers