“Ah!”

“Why, I don’t rightly know. It worn’t a long time ago, nor it worn’t a short time ago—just between the two, perhaps.”

“Has any chaise been by at all?”

“Oh yes, there’s been a shay by.”

“How long ago, my friend,” interposed Mr. Pickwick, “an hour?”

“Ah, I daresay it might be,” replied the man.

“Or two hours?” inquired the post-boy on the wheeler.

“Well, I shouldn’t wonder if it was,” returned the old man, doubtfully.

“Drive on, boys,” cried the testy old gentleman: “don’t waste any more time with that old idiot!”