Sam gave a comical look in reply, and the old gentleman having broken an obstinate lump of coal, with a countenance expressive of as much earnestness and malice as if it had been the head of one of the widows last-mentioned, said:

“In short, Sammy, I feel that I ain’t safe anyveres but on the box.”

“How are you safer there than anyveres else?” interrupted Sam.

“ ’Cos a coachman’s a privileged indiwidual,” replied Mr. Weller, looking fixedly at his son. “ ’Cos a coachman may do vithout suspicion wot other men may not; ’cos a coachman may be on the wery amicablest terms with eighty mile o’ females, and yet nobody think that he ever means to marry any vun among ’em. And wot other man can say the same, Sammy?”

“Vell, there’s somethin’ in that,” said Sam.