Well, well,' said Mr Pickwick, impatiently interrupting him, 'you can

follow with Sam. I want to speak to you, Mr Jingle. Can you walk

without his arm?'

'Certainly, sir - all ready - not too fast - legs shaky - head queer -

round and round - earthquaky sort of feeling - very.'

Here, give me your arm,' said Mr Pickwick.

No, no,' replied Jingle; 'won't indeed - rather not.'

Nonsense,' said Mr Pickwick; 'lean upon me, I desire, Sir.'

Seeing that he was confused and agitated, and uncertain what to do,

Mr Pickwick cut the matter short by drawing the invalided stroller's

arm through his, and leading him away, without saying another word

about it.

During the whole of this time the countenance of Mr Samuel Weller

had exhibited an expression of the most overwhelming and absorbing

astonishment that the imagination can portray. After looking from Job

to Jingle, and from Jingle to Job in profound silence, he softly

ejaculated the words, 'Well, I AM damn'd!' which he repeated at least a

score of times; after which exertion, he appeared wholly bereft of

speech, and again cast his eyes, first upon the one and then upon the

other, in mute perplexity and bewilderment.

'Now, Sam!' said Mr Pickwick, looking back.

I'm a-comin', sir,' replied Mr Weller, mechanically following his

master; and still he lifted not his eyes from Mr Job Trotter, who

walked at his side in silence. Job kept his eyes fixed on the ground for

some time. Sam, with his glued to Job's countenance, ran up against

the people who were walking about, and fell over little children, and

stumbled against steps and railings, without appearing at all sensible

of it, until Job, looking stealthily up, said -

How do you do, Mr Weller?'

It IS him!' exclaimed Sam; and having established Job's identity

beyond all doubt, he smote his leg, and vented his feelings in a long,

shrill whistle.

Things has altered with me, sir,' said Job.

I should think they had,' exclaimed Mr Weller, surveying his

companion's rags with undisguised wonder. 'This is rayther a change

for the worse, Mr Trotter, as the gen'l'm'n said, wen he got two

The Pickwick Papers