I was, sir,' replied Job, heaving a deep sigh; 'I was the idol of the

place.'

'Ah,' said Sam, 'I don't wonder at it. What a comfort you must ha' been

to your blessed mother.'

At these words, Mr Job Trotter inserted an end of the pink

handkerchief into the corner of each eye, one after the other, and

began to weep copiously.

Wot's the matter with the man,' said Sam, indignantly. 'Chelsea

water-works is nothin' to you. What are you melting vith now? The

consciousness o' willainy?'

I cannot keep my feelings down, Mr Weller,' said Job, after a short

pause. 'To think that my master should have suspected the

conversation I had with yours, and so dragged me away in a post-

chaise, and after persuading the sweet young lady to say she knew

nothing of him, and bribing the school-mistress to do the same,

deserted her for a better speculation! Oh! Mr Weller, it makes me

shudder.'

Oh, that was the vay, was it?' said Mr Weller.

To be sure it was,' replied Job.

Vell,' said Sam, as they had now arrived near the hotel, 'I vant to have

a little bit o' talk with you, Job; so if you're not partickler engaged, I

should like to see you at the Great White Horse to- night, somewheres

about eight o'clock.'

'I shall be sure to come,' said Job.

Yes, you'd better,' replied Sam, with a very meaning look, 'or else I

shall perhaps be askin' arter you, at the other side of the green gate,

and then I might cut you out, you know.'

I shall be sure to be with you, sir,' said Mr Trotter; and wringing

Sam's hand with the utmost fervour, he walked away.

Take care, Job Trotter, take care,' said Sam, looking after him, 'or I

shall be one too many for you this time. I shall, indeed.' Having

uttered this soliloquy, and looked after Job till he was to be seen no

more, Mr Weller made the best of his way to his master's bedroom.

'It's all in training, Sir,' said Sam.

What's in training, Sam?' inquired Mr Pickwick.

The Pickwick Papers