“Sam,” said Mr. Pickwick, clearing his throat, “your father and I have been having some conversation about you.”

“About you, Samivel,” said Mr. Weller, in a patronising and impressive voice.

“I am not so blind, Sam, as not to have seen, a long time since, that you entertain something more than a friendly feeling towards Mrs. Winkle’s maid,” said Mr. Pickwick.

“You hear this, Samivel?” said Mr. Weller, in the same judicial form of speech as before.