em, Mr Pickwick, ven they vunce has designs on you; there's no

knowin' vere to have 'em; and vile you're a-considering of it, they have

you. I wos married fust, that vay myself, Sir, and Sammy wos the

consekens o' the manoover.'

'You give me no great encouragement to conclude what I have to say,'

observed Mr Pickwick, 'but I had better do so at once. This young

person is not only attached to your son, Mr Weller, but your son is

attached to her.'

Vell,' said Mr Weller, 'this here's a pretty sort o' thing to come to a

father's ears, this is!'

I have observed them on several occasions,' said Mr Pickwick, making

no comment on Mr Weller's last remark; 'and entertain no doubt at all

about it. Supposing I were desirous of establishing them comfortably

as man and wife in some little business or situation, where they might

hope to obtain a decent living, what should you think of it, Mr Weller?'

At first, Mr Weller received with wry faces a proposition involving the

marriage of anybody in whom he took an interest; but, as Mr Pickwick

argued the point with him, and laid great stress on the fact that Mary

was not a widow, he gradually became more tractable. Mr Pickwick

had great influence over him, and he had been much struck with

Mary's appearance; having, in fact, bestowed several very unfatherly

winks upon her, already. At length he said that it was not for him to

oppose Mr Pickwick's inclination, and that he would be very happy to

yield to his advice; upon which, Mr Pickwick joyfully took him at his

word, and called Sam back into the room.

'Sam,' said Mr Pickwick, clearing his throat, 'your father and I have

been having some conversation about you.'

About you, Samivel,' said Mr Weller, in a patronising and impressive

voice.

I am not so blind, Sam, as not to have seen, a long time since, that

you entertain something more than a friendly feeling towards Mrs.

Winkle's maid,' said Mr Pickwick.

You hear this, Samivel?' said Mr Weller, in the same judicial form of

speech as before.

'I hope, Sir,' said Sam, addressing his master, 'I hope there's no harm

in a young man takin' notice of a young 'ooman as is undeniably good-

looking and well-conducted.'

Certainly not,' said Mr Pickwick.

The Pickwick Papers