Will you get in?
I shall be very glad of your company.' The young fellow made his acknowledgments and accepted the offer; stepping into the carriage directly, and seating himself on the very edge of the seat with his body half out of it, to express his being there on sufferance, and by the politeness of Mr Pinch.

As they went along, the conversation proceeded after this manner.
'I more than half believed, just now, seeing you so very smart,' said Pinch, 'that you must be going to be married, Mark.' 'Well, sir, I've thought of that, too,' he replied.

'There might be some credit in being jolly with a wife, 'specially if the children had the measles and that, and was very fractious indeed.

But I'm a'most afraid to try it.

I don't see my way clear.' 'You're not very fond of anybody, perhaps ?' said Pinch.
'Not particular, sir, I think.' 'But the way would be, you know, Mark, according to your views of things,' said Mr Pinch, 'to marry somebody you didn't like, and who was very disagreeable.' 'So it would, sir; but that might be carrying out a principle a little too far, mightn't it ?' 'Perhaps it might,' said Mr Pinch.