But having once got the wine to his lips, he tossed it off like a man, and smacked them afterwards.
'Dear Uncle,' said the boy, affecting to make light of it, while the tears stood in his eyes, 'for the honour you have done me, et cetera, et cetera.

I shall now beg to propose Mr Solomon Gills with three times three and one cheer more.

Hurrah! and you'll return thanks, Uncle, when we drink the last bottle together; won't you ?' They clinked their glasses again; and Walter, who was hoarding his wine, took a sip of it, and held the glass up to his eye with as critical an air as he could possibly assume.
His Uncle sat looking at him for some time in silence.

When their eyes at last met, he began at once to pursue the theme that had occupied his thoughts, aloud, as if he had been speaking all the time.
'You see, Walter,' he said, 'in truth this business is merely a habit with me.

I am so accustomed to the habit that I could hardly live if I relinquished it: but there's nothing doing, nothing doing.