'No mistake about that 'ere, Sir,' replied another voice through the

keyhole; 'and if that wery same interestin' young creetur ain't let in

vithout delay, it's wery possible as his legs vill enter afore his

countenance.' The young man gave a gentle kick at one of the

lower panels of the door, after he had given utterance to this hint, as if

to add force and point to the remark.

Is that you, Sam?' inquired Mr Winkle, springing out of bed.

Quite unpossible to identify any gen'l'm'n vith any degree o' mental

satisfaction, vithout lookin' at him, Sir,' replied the voice dogmatically.

Mr Winkle, not much doubting who the young man was, unlocked the

door; which he had no sooner done than Mr Samuel Weller entered

with great precipitation, and carefully relocking it on the inside,

deliberately put the key in his waistcoat pocket; and, after surveying

Mr Winkle from head to foot, said -

You're a wery humorous young gen'l'm'n, you air, Sir!'

What do you mean by this conduct, Sam?' inquired Mr Winkle

indignantly. 'Get out, sir, this instant. What do you mean, Sir?'

What do I mean,' retorted Sam; 'come, Sir, this is rayther too rich, as

the young lady said when she remonstrated with the pastry-cook,

arter he'd sold her a pork pie as had got nothin' but fat inside. What

do I mean! Well, that ain't a bad 'un, that ain't.'

'Unlock that door, and leave this room immediately, Sir,' said Mr

Winkle.

'I shall leave this here room, sir, just precisely at the wery same

moment as you leaves it,' responded Sam, speaking in a forcible

manner, and seating himself with perfect gravity. 'If I find it necessary

to carry you away, pick-a-back, o' course I shall leave it the least bit o'

time possible afore you; but allow me to express a hope as you won't

reduce me to extremities; in saying wich, I merely quote wot the

nobleman said to the fractious pennywinkle, ven he vouldn't come out

of his shell by means of a pin, and he conseqvently began to be

afeered that he should be obliged to crack him in the parlour door.' At

the end of this address, which was unusually lengthy for him, Mr

Weller planted his hands on his knees, and looked full in Mr Winkle's

face, with an expression of countenance which showed that he had

not the remotest intention of being trifled with.

You're a amiably-disposed young man, Sir, I don't think,' resumed Mr

Weller, in a tone of moral reproof, 'to go inwolving our precious

The Pickwick Papers