'You're always away,' said Mary, giving her head the slightest possible

toss in the air. 'You no sooner come, Mr Weller, than you go again.'

Mr Weller drew the household beauty closer to him, and entered upon

a whispering conversation, which had not proceeded far, when she

turned her face round and condescended to look at him again. When

they parted, it was somehow or other indispensably necessary for her

to go to her room, and arrange the cap and curls before she could

think of presenting herself to her mistress; which preparatory

ceremony she went off to perform, bestowing many nods and smiles

on Sam over the banisters as she tripped upstairs.

'I shan't be avay more than a day, or two, Sir, at the furthest,' said

Sam, when he had communicated to Mr Pickwick the intelligence of

his father's loss.

As long as may be necessary, Sam,' replied Mr Pickwick, 'you have my

full permission to remain.'

Sam bowed.

You will tell your father, Sam, that if I can be of any assistance to him

in his present situation, I shall be most willing and ready to lend him

any aid in my power,' said Mr Pickwick.

Thank'ee, sir,' rejoined Sam. 'I'll mention it, sir.'

And with some expressions of mutual good-will and interest, master

and man separated.

It was just seven o'clock when Samuel Weller, alighting from the box

of a stage-coach which passed through Dorking, stood within a few

hundred yards of the Marquis of Granby. It was a cold, dull evening;

the little street looked dreary and dismal; and the mahogany

countenance of the noble and gallant marquis seemed to wear a more

sad and melancholy expression than it was wont to do, as it swung to

and fro, creaking mournfully in the wind. The blinds were pulled

down, and the shutters partly closed; of the knot of loungers that

usually collected about the door, not one was to be seen; the place

was silent and desolate.

Seeing nobody of whom he could ask any preliminary questions, Sam

walked softly in, and glancing round, he quickly recognised his parent

in the distance.

The widower was seated at a small round table in the little room

behind the bar, smoking a pipe, with his eyes intently fixed upon the

fire. The funeral had evidently taken place that day, for attached to his

The Pickwick Papers