crown's wurth 'ud do it?" says the patient. "I think it might,"
says the doctor. "Three shillins' wurth 'ud be sure to do it, I s'pose?"
says the patient. "Certainly," says the doctor. "Wery good," says the
patient; "good-night." Next mornin' he gets up, has a fire lit, orders
in three shillins' wurth o' crumpets, toasts 'em all, eats 'em all, and
blows his brains out.'

'What did he do that for?' inquired Mr. Pickwick abruptly; for he was
considerably startled by this tragical termination of the narrative.

'Wot did he do it for, Sir?' reiterated Sam. 'Wy, in support of his
great principle that crumpets wos wholesome, and to show that he
wouldn't be put out of his way for nobody!' With such like shiftings and
changings of the discourse, did Mr. Weller meet his master's questioning
on the night of his taking up his residence in the Fleet. Finding all
gentle remonstrance useless, Mr. Pickwick at length yielded a reluctant
consent to his taking lodgings by the week, of a bald-headed cobbler,
who rented a small slip room in one of the upper galleries. To this
humble apartment Mr. Weller moved a mattress and bedding, which he hired
of Mr. Roker; and, by the time he lay down upon it at night, was as much
at home as if he had been bred in the prison, and his whole family had
vegetated therein for three generations.

'Do you always smoke arter you goes to bed, old cock?' inquired Mr.
Weller of his landlord, when they had both retired for the night.

'Yes, I does, young bantam,' replied the cobbler.

'Will you allow me to in-quire wy you make up your bed under that 'ere
deal table?' said Sam.

''Cause I was always used to a four-poster afore I came here, and I find
the legs of the table answer just as well,' replied the cobbler.

'You're a character, sir,' said Sam.

'I haven't got anything of the kind belonging to me,' rejoined the
cobbler, shaking his head; 'and if you want to meet with a good one, I'm
afraid you'll find some difficulty in suiting yourself at this register
office.'

The above short dialogue took place as Mr. Weller lay extended on his
mattress at one end of the room, and the cobbler on his, at the other;
the apartment being illumined by the light of a rush-candle, and the
cobbler's pipe, which was glowing below the table, like a red-hot coal.
The conversation, brief as it was, predisposed Mr. Weller strongly in
his landlord's favour; and, raising himself on his elbow, he took a more
lengthened surve