593 POSTHUMOUS PAPERS OF
- ' I never see sich a aggerawatin boy as you are, Samivel," said Mr.
Weller, looking indignantly at his son ; " never in all my born days."
" What is he doing, Mr. Weller } " enquired Mr. Pickwick.
" He von't begin, Sir," rejoined Mr. Weller ; '* he knows I ain't ekal to ex-pressin' myself ven there's anythin' pariickler to be done, and yet he'll stand and see me a settin' here takin' up your walable time, and makin' a reg'lar spectacle o' myself, rayther than help me out vith a syllable. It ain't filial conduct, Samivel," said Mr. W^eller,- wiping his forehead ; " wery far from it."
- You said you'd speak," replied Sam ; " how should I know you
wos done up at the wery beginnin' } "
" You might ha* seen I warn't able to start," rejoined his father ;
- ' I'm on the wrong side of the road, and backin' into the palins and all
manner of unpleasantness, and yet you von't put out a hand to help me. I'm ashamed on you, Samivel."
♦' The fact is, Sir," said Sam, with a slight bow, " the gov'ner's been a drawin' his money."
^'Wery good, Samivel, wery good," said Mr. Weller, nodding his head with a satisfied air, ^' I didn't mean to speak harsh to you, Sammy. Wery good. That's the vay to begin ; come to the pint at once. Wery good indeed, Samivel."
]Mr. Weller nodded his head an extraordinary number of times in the excess of his gratification, and waited in a listening attitude for Sam to resume his statement.
^' You may sit down, Sam," said Mr. Pickwick, apprehending that the interview was likely to prove rather longer than he had expected.
Sam bowed again and sat down ; his father looking round, he con- tinued,
" The gov'ner. Sir, has drawn out five hundred and thirty pound.
'• Reduced counsels," interposed INIr. Weller, senior, in an under tone.
"It don't much matter vether it's reduced counsels, or wot not," said Sam ; " five hundred and thirty pound is the sum, ain't it } "
" All right, Samivel," replied Mr. Weller.
" To vich sum, he has added for the house and bisness — "
" Lease, good-vill, stock, and fixters," interposed Mr. Weller.
-^" As much as makes it," continued Sam, "altogether, eleven hundred and eighty pound.
" Indeed ! " said Mr. Pickwick, " I am delighted to hear it. I con- gratulate you, Mr. Weller, on having done so well."
- Vait a minit, Sir," said Mr. Weller, raising his hand in a depre-
catory manner. '* Get on, Samivel.
" This here money," said Sam, with a little hesitation, " he's anxious to put someveres vere he knows it'll be safe, and I'm wery anxious too, for if he keeps it, he'll go a lendin' it to somebody, or inwestin' pro- perty in horses, or droppin' his pocket-book down a airy, or makin' an Egyptian mummy of his-self in some vay or another.
" Wery good, Samivel," observed Mr. Weller, in as complacent a manner as if Sam had been passing the highest eulogiums on his prudence and foresight. ** Wery good.
