I rayther think - I say I rayther think, Samivel - that he found his-self

a little jolted ven ve turned the corners.'

Wot, I s'pose you happened to drive up agin a post or two?' said Sam.

I'm afeerd,' replied Mr Weller, in a rapture of winks - 'I'm afeerd I took

vun or two on 'em, Sammy; he wos a-flyin' out o' the arm-cheer all the

way.'

Here the old gentleman shook his head from side to side, and was

seized with a hoarse internal rumbling, accompanied with a violent

swelling of the countenance, and a sudden increase in the breadth of

all his features; symptoms which alarmed his son not a little.

Don't be frightened, Sammy, don't be frightened,' said the old

gentleman, when by dint of much struggling, and various convulsive

stamps upon the ground, he had recovered his voice. 'It's only a kind

o' quiet laugh as I'm a-tryin' to come, Sammy.'

Well, if that's wot it is,' said Sam, 'you'd better not try to come it agin.

You'll find it rayther a dangerous inwention.'

Don't you like it, Sammy?' inquired the old gentleman.

Not at all,' replied Sam.

Well,' said Mr Weller, with the tears still running down his cheeks, 'it

ud ha' been a wery great accommodation to me if I could ha' done it,

and 'ud ha' saved a good many vords atween your mother-in-law and

me, sometimes; but I'm afeerd you're right, Sammy, it's too much in

the appleplexy line - a deal too much, Samivel.'

This conversation brought them to the door of the snuggery, into

which Sam - pausing for an instant to look over his shoulder, and cast

a sly leer at his respected progenitor, who was still giggling behind - at

once led the way.

Mother-in-law,' said Sam, politely saluting the lady, 'wery much

obliged to you for this here wisit. - Shepherd, how air you?'

'Oh, Samuel!' said Mrs. Weller. 'This is dreadful.'

Not a bit on it, mum,' replied Sam. - 'Is it, shepherd?'

Mr Stiggins raised his hands, and turned up his eyes, until the whites

or rather the yellows - were alone visible; but made no reply in

words.

The Pickwick Papers