I shall be as merry as a grig among these gentry.

I'll look out for one like Christopher, and poison him--ha, ha, ha! Business though--business--we must be mindful of business in the midst of pleasure, and the time has flown this morning, I declare.' Enjoining Tom Scott to await his return, and not to stand upon his head, or throw a summerset, or so much as walk upon his hands meanwhile, on pain of lingering torments, the dwarf threw himself into a boat, and crossing to the other side of the river, and then speeding away on foot, reached Mr Swiveller's usual house of entertainment in Bevis Marks, just as that gentleman sat down alone to dinner in its dusky parlour.
'Dick,' said the dwarf, thrusting his head in at the door, 'my pet, my pupil, the apple of my eye, hey, hey!' 'Oh you're there, are you ?' returned Mr Swiveller; 'how are you ?' 'How's Dick ?' retorted Quilp.

'How's the cream of clerkship, eh ?' 'Why, rather sour, sir,' replied Mr Swiveller.

'Beginning to border upon cheesiness, in fact.' 'What's the matter ?' said the dwarf, advancing.

'Has Sally proved unkind.