“This way,” said his new friend, apparently much relieved as they turned down a by-street; “we shall soon be there.”
“Shall we?” said Sam, quite unmoved by the announcement of his close vicinity to the select footmen of Bath.
“Yes,” said Mr. John Smauker. “Don’t be alarmed, Mr. Weller.”
“Oh no,” said Sam.
“You’ll see very handsome uniforms, Mr. Weller,” continued Mr. John Smauker; “and perhaps you’ll find some of the gentlemen rather high at first, you know, but they’ll soon come round.”
“That’s wery kind on ’em,” replied Sam.
“And you know,” resumed Mr. John Smauker, with an air of sublime protection; “you know, as you’re a stranger, perhaps they’ll be rather hard upon you at first.”
“They won’t be wery cruel, though, will they?” inquired Sam.
“No, no,” replied Mr. John Smauker, pulling forth the fox’s head and taking a gentlemanly pinch. “There are some funny dogs among us, and they will have their joke, you know: but you mustn’t mind ’em, you mustn’t mind ’em.”
“I’ll try and bear up agin such a reg’lar knock-down o’ talent,” replied Sam.