 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
