 will you?« said Mr. Pickwick.
    Sam immediately withdrew.
    Mr. Weller looked uncommonly wise and very much amazed, when Mr. Pickwick
opened the discourse by saying:
    »You are not an advocate for matrimony, I think, Mr. Weller?«
    Mr. Weller shook his head. He was wholly unable to speak; vague thoughts of
some wicked widow having been successful in her designs on Mr. Pickwick, choked
his utterance.
    »Did you happen to see a young girl down stairs when you came in just now
with your son?« inquired Mr. Pickwick.
    »Yes. I see a young gal,« replied Mr. Weller, shortly.
    »What did you think of her, now? Candidly, Mr. Weller, what did you think of
her?«
    »I thought she wos wery plump, and vell made,« said Mr. Weller, with a
critical air.
    »So she is,« said Mr. Pickwick, »so she is. What did you think of her
manners, from what you saw of her?«
    »Wery pleasant,« rejoined Mr. Weller. »Wery pleasant and conformable.«
    The precise meaning which Mr. Weller attached to this last-mentioned
adjective, did not appear; but, as it was evident from the tone in which he used
it that it was a favourable expression, Mr. Pickwick was as well satisfied as if
he had been thoroughly enlightened on the subject.
    »I take a great interest in her, Mr. Weller,« said Mr. Pickwick.
    Mr. Weller coughed.
    »I mean an interest in her doing well,« resumed Mr. Pickwick; »a desire that
she may be comfortable and prosperous. You understand?«
    »Wery clearly,« replied Mr. Weller, who understood nothing yet.
    »That young person,« said Mr. Pickwick, »is attached to your son.«
    »To Samivel Veller!« exclaimed the parent.
    »Yes,« said Pickwick.
    »It's nat'ral,« said Mr. Weller, after some consideration, »nat'ral, but
rayther alarmin'. Sammy must be careful.«
    »How do you mean?« inquired Mr. Pickwick.
    »Wery careful that he don't say nothin' to her,« responded Mr. Weller. »Wery
careful that he ain't led avay, in a innocent moment, to say anythink as may
lead to a conwiction for breach. You're never safe vith 'em, Mr. Pickwick, ven
they vunce
