“Just wot the young nobleman said ev’ry quarter-day arterwards for the rest of his life,” replied Mr. Weller.

“Wos you ever called in,” inquired Sam, glancing at the driver, after a short silence, and lowering his voice to a mysterious whisper⁠—“wos you ever called in, when you wos ’prentice to a sawbones, to wisit a postboy.”

“I don’t remember that I ever was,” replied Bob Sawyer.

“You never see a postboy in that ’ere hospital as you walked (as they says o’ the ghosts), did you?” demanded Sam.

“No,” replied Bob Sawyer. “I don’t think I ever did.”

“Never know’d a churchyard were there wos a postboy’s tombstone, or see a dead postboy, did you?” inquired Sam, pursuing his catechism.

“No,” rejoined Bob, “I never did.”