Mr Stiggins made no verbal answer, but his manner was expressive.

He tasted the contents of the glass which Sam had placed in his hand,

put his umbrella on the floor, and tasted it again, passing his hand

placidly across his stomach twice or thrice; he then drank the whole

at a breath, and smacking his lips, held out the tumbler for more.

Nor was Mrs. Weller behind-hand in doing justice to the composition.

The good lady began by protesting that she couldn't touch a drop -

then took a small drop - then a large drop - then a great many drops;

and her feelings being of the nature of those substances which are

powerfully affected by the application of strong waters, she dropped a

tear with every drop of negus, and so got on, melting the feelings

down, until at length she had arrived at a very pathetic and decent

pitch of misery.

The elder Mr Weller observed these signs and tokens with many

manifestations of disgust, and when, after a second jug of the same,

Mr Stiggins began to sigh in a dismal manner, he plainly evinced his

disapprobation of the whole proceedings, by sundry incoherent

ramblings of speech, among which frequent angry repetitions of the

word 'gammon' were alone distinguishable to the ear.

I'll tell you wot it is, Samivel, my boy,' whispered the old gentleman

into his son's ear, after a long and steadfast contemplation of his lady

and Mr Stiggins; 'I think there must be somethin' wrong in your

mother-in-law's inside, as vell as in that o' the red-nosed man.'

Wot do you mean?' said Sam.

I mean this here, Sammy,' replied the old gentleman, 'that wot they

drink, don't seem no nourishment to 'em; it all turns to warm water,

and comes a-pourin' out o' their eyes. 'Pend upon it, Sammy, it's a

constitootional infirmity.'

Mr Weller delivered this scientific opinion with many confirmatory

frowns and nods; which, Mrs. Weller remarking, and concluding that

they bore some disparaging reference either to herself or to Mr

Stiggins, or to both, was on the point of becoming infinitely worse,

when Mr Stiggins, getting on his legs as well as he could, proceeded to

deliver an edifying discourse for the benefit of the company, but more

especially of Mr Samuel, whom he adjured in moving terms to be upon

his guard in that sink of iniquity into which he was cast; to abstain

from all hypocrisy and pride of heart; and to take in all things exact

pattern and copy by him (Stiggins), in which case he might calculate

on arriving, sooner or later at the comfortable conclusion, that, like

him, he was a most estimable and blameless character, and that all

his acquaintances and friends were hopelessly abandoned and

The Pickwick Papers