“If your gov’nor had been a coachman,” reasoned Mr. Weller, “do you s’pose as that ’ere jury ’ud ever ha’ conwicted him, s’posin’ it possible as the matter could ha’ gone to that extremity? They dustn’t ha’ done it.”

“Wy not?” said Sam, rather disparagingly.

“Wy not!” rejoined Mr. Weller; “ ’cos it ’ud ha’ gone agin their consciences. A reg’lar coachman’s a sort o’ con-nectin’ link betwixt singleness and matrimony, and every practicable man knows it.”

“Wot! You mean, they’re gen’ral favorites, and nobody takes adwantage on ’em, p’raps?” said Sam.

His father nodded.