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and the boy breathes so very hard while he's eating, that we found it
impossible to sit at table with him.'
'Young grampus!' said Mr Weller.
'
Oh, dreadful,' rejoined Mr Muzzle; 'but that is the worst of country
service, Mr Weller; the juniors is always so very savage. This way, sir,
if you please, this way.'
Preceding Mr Weller, with the utmost politeness, Mr Muzzle conducted
him into the kitchen.
'
Mary,' said Mr Muzzle to the pretty servant-girl, 'this is Mr Weller; a
gentleman as master has sent down, to be made as comfortable as
possible.'
'And your master's a knowin' hand, and has just sent me to the right
place,' said Mr Weller, with a glance of admiration at Mary. 'If I wos
master o' this here house, I should alvays find the materials for
comfort vere Mary wos.' 'Lor, Mr Weller!' said Mary blushing.
'Well, I never!' ejaculated the cook.
'
Bless me, cook, I forgot you,' said Mr Muzzle. 'Mr Weller, let me
introduce you.'
'
How are you, ma'am?' said Mr Weller.'Wery glad to see you, indeed,
and hope our acquaintance may be a long 'un, as the gen'l'm'n said to
the fi' pun' note.'
When this ceremony of introduction had been gone through, the cook
and Mary retired into the back kitchen to titter, for ten minutes; then
returning, all giggles and blushes, they sat down to dinner. Mr
Weller's easy manners and conversational powers had such
irresistible influence with his new friends, that before the dinner was
half over, they were on a footing of perfect intimacy, and in possession
of a full account of the delinquency of Job Trotter.
'
'
'
'
I never could a-bear that Job,' said Mary.
No more you never ought to, my dear,' replied Mr Weller.
Why not?' inquired Mary.
'Cos ugliness and svindlin' never ought to be formiliar with elegance
and wirtew,' replied Mr Weller. 'Ought they, Mr Muzzle?'
'Not by no means,' replied that gentleman.
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