«
    »I hope so, too, Mrs. Gamp,« said the undertaker; »and I think so, also.«
Mrs. Gamp curtseyed again. »This is one of the most impressive cases, sir,« he
continued, addressing Mr. Pecksniff, »that I have seen in the whole course of my
professional experience.«
    »Indeed, Mr. Mould!« cried that gentleman.
    »Such affectionate regret, sir, I never saw. There is no limitation, there
is positively NO limitation:« opening his eyes wide, and standing on tiptoe: »in
point of expense! I have orders, sir! to put on my whole establishment of mutes;
and mutes come very dear, Mr. Pecksniff; not to mention their drink. To provide
silver-plated handles of the very best description, ornamented with angels'
heads from the most expensive dies. To be perfectly profuse in feathers. In
short, sir, to turn out something absolutely gorgeous.«
    »My friend Mr. Jonas is an excellent man,« said Mr. Pecksniff.
    »I have seen a good deal of what is filial in my time, sir,« retorted Mould,
»and what is unfilial too. It is our lot. We come into the knowledge of those
secrets. But anything so filial as this; anything so honourable to human nature;
so calculated to reconcile all of us to the world we live in; never yet came
under my observation. It only proves, sir, what was so forcibly observed by the
lamented theatrical poet - buried at Stratford - that there is good in
everything.«
    »It is very pleasant to hear you say so, Mr. Mould,« observed Pecksniff.
    »You are very kind, sir. And what a man Mr. Chuzzlewit was, sir! Ah! what a
man he was. You may talk of your lord mayors,« said Mould, waving his hand at
the public in general, »your sheriffs, your common councilmen, your trumpery;
but show me a man in this city who is worthy to walk in the shoes of the
departed Mr. Chuzzlewit. No, no,« cried Mould, with bitter sarcasm. »Hang 'em
up, hang 'em up; sole 'em and heel 'em, and have 'em ready for his son against
he's old enough to wear 'em; but don't try 'em on yourselves, for they won't fit
you. We knew him,« said Mould, in the same biting vein, as
