The young lady, who had been coyly affecting not to know that a gentleman was so near, turned round as Sam spoke⁠—no doubt (indeed she said so, afterwards) to decline this offer from a perfect stranger⁠—when instead of speaking, she started back, and uttered a half-suppressed scream. Sam was scarcely less staggered, for in the countenance of the well-shaped female servant, he beheld the very features of his valentine, the pretty housemaid from Mr. Nupkins’s.

“Wy, Mary, my dear!” said Sam.

“Lauk, Mr. Weller,” said Mary, “how you do frighten one!”