'A hopeful family yours, Mr Trotter,' said Perker, sealing a letter which

he had just finished writing.

'Yes, Sir,' replied Job. 'Very much so.'

Well,' said the little man, laughing, 'I hope you are going to disgrace

it. Deliver this letter to the agent when you reach Liverpool, and let me

advise you, gentlemen, not to be too knowing in the West Indies. If you

throw away this chance, you will both richly deserve to be hanged, as

I sincerely trust you will be. And now you had better leave Mr

Pickwick and me alone, for we have other matters to talk over, and

time is precious.' As Perker said this, he looked towards the door, with

an evident desire to render the leave-taking as brief as possible.

It was brief enough on Mr Jingle's part. He thanked the little attorney

in a few hurried words for the kindness and promptitude with which

he had rendered his assistance, and, turning to his benefactor, stood

for a few seconds as if irresolute what to say or how to act. Job Trotter

relieved his perplexity; for, with a humble and grateful bow to Mr

Pickwick, he took his friend gently by the arm, and led him away.

A worthy couple!' said Perker, as the door closed behind them.

I hope they may become so,' replied Mr Pickwick. 'What do you think?

Is there any chance of their permanent reformation?'

Perker shrugged his shoulders doubtfully, but observing Mr Pickwick's

anxious and disappointed look, rejoined -

Of course there is a chance. I hope it may prove a good one. They are

unquestionably penitent now; but then, you know, they have the

recollection of very recent suffering fresh upon them. What they may

become, when that fades away, is a problem that neither you nor I can

solve. However, my dear Sir,' added Perker, laying his hand on Mr

Pickwick's shoulder, 'your object is equally honourable, whatever the

result is. Whether that species of benevolence which is so very

cautious and long-sighted that it is seldom exercised at all, lest its

owner should be imposed upon, and so wounded in his self-love, be

real charity or a worldly counterfeit, I leave to wiser heads than mine

to determine. But if those two fellows were to commit a burglary to-

morrow, my opinion of this action would be equally high.'

With these remarks, which were delivered in a much more animated

and earnest manner than is usual in legal gentlemen, Perker drew his

chair to his desk, and listened to Mr Pickwick's recital of old Mr

Winkle's obstinacy.

'Give him a week,' said Perker, nodding his head prophetically.

The Pickwick Papers