“You’ll see some very handsome uniforms, Mr. Weller,” continued Mr. John Smauker; “and perhaps you’ll find some of the gentlemen rather high at first, you know, but they’ll soon come round.”

“That’s wery kind on ’em,” replied Sam.

“And you know,” resumed Mr. John Smauker, with an air of sublime protection⁠—“you know, as you’re a stranger, perhaps, they’ll be rather hard upon you at first.”

“They won’t be wery cruel, though, will they?” inquired Sam.