He had relapsed for a moment into
his late train of meditation, and, with a thoughtful smile upon his
face, had died.
I had long known it to be his wish that whenever this event should
come to pass we might be all assembled in the house. I therefore
lost no time in sending for Mr. Pickwick and for Mr. Miles, both of
whom arrived before the messenger's return.
It is not my purpose to dilate upon the sorrow and affectionate
emotions of which I was at once the witness and the sharer. But I
may say, of the humbler mourners, that his faithful housekeeper was
fairly heart-broken; that the poor barber would not be comforted;
and that I shall respect the homely truth and warmth of heart of
Mr. Weller and his son to the last moment of my life.
'And the sweet old creetur, sir,' said the elder Mr. Weller to me
in the afternoon, 'has bolted. Him as had no wice, and was so free
from temper that a infant might ha' drove him, has been took at
last with that 'ere unawoidable fit o' staggers as we all must come
to, and gone off his feed for ever! I see him,' said the old
gentleman, with a moisture in his eye, which could not be mistaken,
- 'I see him gettin', every journey, more and more groggy; I says
to Samivel, "My boy! the Grey's a-goin' at the knees;" and now my
predilictions is fatally werified, and him as I could never do
enough to serve or show my likin' for, is up the great uniwersal
spout o' natur'.
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