He bowed gracefully to me and said-- "I see clearly that you are the guest, of whom Annie has just told me, who have come from some distant country that does not know of us, or our ways of life.

So I daresay you would not mind answering me a few questions; for you see--" Here Dick broke in: "No, please, Boffin! let it alone for the present.

Of course you want the guest to be happy and comfortable; and how can that be if he has to trouble himself with answering all sorts of questions while he is still confused with the new customs and people about him?
No, no: I am going to take him where he can ask questions himself, and have them answered; that is, to my great-grandfather in Bloomsbury: and I am sure you can't have anything to say against that.

So instead of bothering, you had much better go out to James Allen's and get a carriage for me, as I shall drive him up myself; and please tell Jim to let me have the old grey, for I can drive a wherry much better than a carriage.
Jump up, old fellow, and don't be disappointed; our guest will keep himself for you and your stories." I stared at Dick; for I wondered at his speaking to such a dignified-looking personage so familiarly, not to say curtly; for I thought that this Mr.Boffin, in spite of his well-known name out of Dickens, must be at the least a senator of these strange people.

However, he got up and said, "All right, old oar-wearer, whatever you like; this is not one of my busy days; and though" (with a condescending bow to me) "my pleasure of a talk with this learned guest is put off, I admit that he ought to see your worthy kinsman as soon as possible.