The rest will be inwested in my name,' continued the elder Mr Weller;

and wen I'm took off the road, it'll come to you, so take care you don't

spend it all at vunst, my boy, and mind that no widder gets a inklin' o'

your fortun', or you're done.'

Having delivered this warning, Mr Weller resumed his pipe with a

more serene countenance; the disclosure of these matters appearing

to have eased his mind considerably.

Somebody's a-tappin' at the door,' said Sam.

Let 'em tap,' replied his father, with dignity.

Sam acted upon the direction. There was another tap, and another,

and then a long row of taps; upon which Sam inquired why the tapper

was not admitted.

Hush,' whispered Mr Weller, with apprehensive looks, 'don't take no

notice on 'em, Sammy, it's vun o' the widders, p'raps.'

No notice being taken of the taps, the unseen visitor, after a short

lapse, ventured to open the door and peep in. It was no female head

that was thrust in at the partially-opened door, but the long black

locks and red face of Mr Stiggins. Mr Weller's pipe fell from his hands.

The reverend gentleman gradually opened the door by almost

imperceptible degrees, until the aperture was just wide enough to

admit of the passage of his lank body, when he glided into the room

and closed it after him, with great care and gentleness. Turning

towards Sam, and raising his hands and eyes in token of the

unspeakable sorrow with which he regarded the calamity that had

befallen the family, he carried the high-backed chair to his old corner

by the fire, and, seating himself on the very edge, drew forth a brown

pocket-handkerchief, and applied the same to his optics.

While this was going forward, the elder Mr Weller sat back in his

chair, with his eyes wide open, his hands planted on his knees, and

his whole countenance expressive of absorbing and overwhelming

astonishment. Sam sat opposite him in perfect silence, waiting, with

eager curiosity, for the termination of the scene.

Mr Stiggins kept the brown pocket-handkerchief before his eyes for

some minutes, moaning decently meanwhile, and then, mastering his

feelings by a strong effort, put it in his pocket and buttoned it up.

After this, he stirred the fire; after that, he rubbed his hands and

looked at Sam.

The Pickwick Papers