“ ‘But now,’ ” continued Sam, “ ‘now I find what a reg’lar soft-headed, inkred’lous turnip I must ha’ been; for there ain’t nobody like you, though I like you better than nothin’ at all.’ I thought it best to make that rayther strong,” said Sam, looking up.

Mr. Weller nodded approvingly, and Sam resumed.

“ ‘So I take the privilidge of the day, Mary, my dear⁠—as the gen’l’m’n in difficulties did, ven he valked out of a Sunday⁠—to tell you that the first and only time I see you, your likeness was took on my hart in much quicker time and brighter colours than ever a likeness was took by the profeel macheen (wich p’raps you may have heerd on Mary my dear) altho it does finish a portrait and put the frame and glass on complete, with a hook at the end to hang it up by, and all in two minutes and a quarter.’ ”

“I am afeerd that werges on the poetical, Sammy,” said Mr. Weller dubiously.