“Well,” said Wegg, contemptuously, though, perhaps, perceiving some hint of danger otherwise, “keep it from your old lady. I ain’t going to tell her. I can have you under close inspection without that. I’m as good a man as you, and better. Ask me to dinner. Give me the run of your ’ouse. I was good enough for you and your old lady once, when I helped you out with your weal and hammers. Was there no Miss Elizabeth, Master George, Aunt Jane, and Uncle Parker, before you two?”

“Gently, Mr. Wegg, gently,” Venus urged.

“Milk and water-erily you mean, sir,” he returned, with some little thickness of speech, in consequence of the Gum-Ticklers having tickled it. “I’ve got him under inspection, and I’ll inspect him.