'I suppose you've heard what's going forward, Mr Weller?' said Mrs.

Bardell.

I've heerd somethin' on it,' replied Sam.

It's a terrible thing to be dragged before the public, in that way, Mr

Weller,' said Mrs. Bardell; 'but I see now, that it's the only thing I

ought to do, and my lawyers, Mr Dodson and Fogg, tell me that, with

the evidence as we shall call, we must succeed. I don't know what I

should do, Mr Weller, if I didn't.'

The mere idea of Mrs. Bardell's failing in her action, affected Mrs.

Sanders so deeply, that she was under the necessity of refilling and

re-emptying her glass immediately; feeling, as she said afterwards,

that if she hadn't had the presence of mind to do so, she must have

dropped.

Ven is it expected to come on?' inquired Sam.

Either in February or March,' replied Mrs. Bardell.

What a number of witnesses there'll be, won't there,?' said Mrs.

Cluppins.

'Ah! won't there!' replied Mrs. Sanders.

'And won't Mr Dodson and Fogg be wild if the plaintiff shouldn't get

it?' added Mrs. Cluppins, 'when they do it all on speculation!'

Ah! won't they!' said Mrs. Sanders.

But the plaintiff must get it,' resumed Mrs. Cluppins.

I hope so,' said Mrs. Bardell.

Oh, there can't be any doubt about it,' rejoined Mrs. Sanders.

Vell,' said Sam, rising and setting down his glass, 'all I can say is,

that I vish you MAY get it.'

'Thank'ee, Mr Weller,' said Mrs. Bardell fervently.

And of them Dodson and Foggs, as does these sort o' things on spec,'

continued Mr Weller, 'as vell as for the other kind and gen'rous people

o' the same purfession, as sets people by the ears, free gratis for

nothin', and sets their clerks to work to find out little disputes among

their neighbours and acquaintances as vants settlin' by means of

The Pickwick Papers