“Vun o’ the truest things as you’ve said for many a long year,” replied Sam, in a most composed manner.
“Here’s a subpœna for you, Mr. Weller,” said Jackson.
“What’s that in English?” inquired Sam.
“Here’s the original,” said Jackson, declining the required explanation.
“Which?” said Sam.
“This,” replied Jackson, shaking the parchment.
“Oh, that’s the ’rig’nal, is it?” said Sam. “Well, I’m wery glad I’ve seen the ’rig’nal, ’cos it’s a gratifyin’ sort o’ thing, and eases vun’s mind so much.”
“And here’s the shilling,” said Jackson. “It’s from Dodson and Fogg’s.”
“And it’s uncommon handsome o’ Dodson and Fogg, as knows so little of me, to come down vith a present,” said Sam. “I feel it as a wery high compliment, sir; it’s a wery hon’rable thing to them, as they knows how to reward merit werever they meets it. Besides wich, it’s affectin’ to one’s feelin’s.”
As Mr. Weller said this, he inflicted a little friction on his right eyelid, with the sleeve of his coat, after the most approved manner of actors when they are in domestic pathetics.