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"These-these are very bad skates, aren't they, Sam?" asked Mr Winkle.
"Now, Winkle," cried Mr Pickwick, who did not know what was the matter. "Come, the ladies are waiting for you."
"Yes, yes," replied Mr Winkle, "I'm coming."
"Well, sir, start off!" said Sam, trying to free himself from Mr Winkle.
"Wait a minute, Sam," said Mr Winkle. "I remember I've got two coats at home that I don't want, Sam. You can have them, Sam."
"Thank you, sir," replied Mr Weller, touching his hat.
"Never mind touching your hat, Sam," said Mr Winkle hurriedly. "You needn't take your hand away to do that. I intended to give you five shillings this morning, Sam. I'll give it to you this afternoon, Sam."
"You're very good, sir," replied Mr Weller.
"Please hold me at first, Sam, will you?" said Mr Winkle. "I shall soon learn how to do it. Not too fast, Sam, not too fast."
But at that moment Mr Pickwick suddenly shouted from the opposite bank, "Sam!"
"Sir?" said Mr Weller.
"Here. I want you."
"Let me go, sir," said Sam. "Can't you hear Mr Pickwick calling me?" and taking no notice of the unhappy Mr Winkle, Mr Weller tried to free himself, and in doing so pushed him. The latter fell on the ice and sat there, trying to smile. Mr Pickwick ran up to Mr Winkle, very angry.
"Take Mr Winkle's skates off," he said to Sam Weller.
"But I've only begun..." said Mr Winkle weakly.
"Take his skates off," repeated Mr Pickwick. When the skates had been taken off, Mr Pickwick said to Sam, "Lift him up."
Sam helped Mr Winkle to rise. Then Mr Pickwick walked a short distance away from the rest of the party, asking Mr Winkle to follow him, and said in a low voice: "You are a great liar, sir."
With these words Mr Pickwick turned slowly away from Mr Winkle and joined his friends.