“You see, Mr. Samuel,” said the buxom female, “as I was telling him yesterday, he will feel lonely, he can’t expect but what he should, sir, but he should keep up a good heart, because, dear me, I’m sure we all pity his loss, and are ready to do anything for him; and there’s no situation in life so bad, Mr. Samuel, that it can’t be mended. Which is what a very worthy person said to me when my husband died.” Here the speaker, putting her hand before her mouth, coughed again, and looked affectionately at the elder Mr. Weller.

“As I don’t rekvire any o’ your conversation just now, mum, vill you have the goodness to re-tire?” inquired Mr. Weller, in a grave and steady voice.