By this time they had reached the turnpike at Mile End; a profound silence prevailed until they had got two or three miles farther on, when Mr. Weller, senior, turning suddenly to Mr. Pickwick, said⁠—

“Wery queer life is a pike-keeper’s, sir.”

“A what?” said Mr. Pickwick.

“A pike-keeper.”

“What do you mean by a pike-keeper?” inquired Mr. Peter Magnus.

“The old ’un means a turnpike-keeper, gen’l’m’n,” observed Mr. Samuel Weller, in explanation.