Good fellow,' said Jingle, pressing his hand, and turning his head

away. 'Ungrateful dog - boyish to cry - can't help it - bad fever - weak -

ill - hungry. Deserved it all - but suffered much - very.' Wholly unable

to keep up appearances any longer, and perhaps rendered worse by

the effort he had made, the dejected stroller sat down on the stairs,

and, covering his face with his hands, sobbed like a child.

Come, come,' said Mr Pickwick, with considerable emotion, 'we will

see what can be done, when I know all about the matter. Here, Job;

where is that fellow?'

Here, sir,' replied Job, presenting himself on the staircase. We have

described him, by the bye, as having deeply-sunken eyes, in the best

of times. In his present state of want and distress, he looked as if

those features had gone out of town altogether.

Here, sir,' cried Job.

Come here, sir,' said Mr Pickwick, trying to look stern, with four large

tears running down his waistcoat. 'Take that, sir.'

Take what? In the ordinary acceptation of such language, it should

have been a blow. As the world runs, it ought to have been a sound,

hearty cuff; for Mr Pickwick had been duped, deceived, and wronged

by the destitute outcast who was now wholly in his power. Must we

tell the truth? It was something from Mr Pickwick's waistcoat pocket,

which chinked as it was given into Job's hand, and the giving of

which, somehow or other imparted a sparkle to the eye, and a swelling

to the heart, of our excellent old friend, as he hurried away.

Sam had returned when Mr Pickwick reached his own room, and was

inspecting the arrangements that had been made for his comfort, with

a kind of grim satisfaction which was very pleasant to look upon.

Having a decided objection to his master's being there at all, Mr Weller

appeared to consider it a high moral duty not to appear too much

pleased with anything that was done, said, suggested, or proposed.

Well, Sam,' said Mr Pickwick.

Well, sir,' replied Mr Weller.

Pretty comfortable now, eh, Sam?'

Pretty vell, sir,' responded Sam, looking round him in a disparaging

manner.

'Have you seen Mr Tupman and our other friends?'

The Pickwick Papers