Mr。Wellercameoutsostronginhiscapacityofchairman，thatSamwasforsometimepreventedfromspeakingbyagrinofsurprise，whichheldhisfacultiesenchained，andatlastsubsidedinalongwhistleofasinglenote。Nay，theoldgentlemanappearedeventohaveastonishedhimself，andthattonosmallextent，aswasdemonstratedbythevastamountofchucklinginwhichheindulged，aftertheutteranceoftheselucidremarks。
’Here’sthestory，’saidSam。’Vunceuponatimetherewosayounghairdresserasopenedawerysmartlittleshopvithfourwaxdummiesinthewinder，twogen’lmenandtwoladies—thegen’lmenvithbluedotsfortheirbeards，werylargeviskers，oudaciousheadsofhair，uncommoncleareyes，andnostrilsofamazin’
pinkness;theladiesviththeirheadso’oneside，theirrightforefingersontheirlips，andtheirformsdewelopedbeautiful，invichlastrespecttheyhadtheadwantageoverthegen’lmen，aswasn’tallowedbutwerylittleshoulder，andterminatedraytherabruptinfancydrapery。Hehadalsoamanyhair—brushesandtooth—brushesbottledupinthewinder，neatglass—casesonthecounter，afloor—clothedcuttin’—roomup—stairs，andaweighin’—
macheenintheshop，rightoppositethedoor。Butthegreatattractionandornamentwosthedummies，whichthishereyounghairdresserwosconstantlyarunnin’outintheroadtolookat，andconstantlyarunnin’inagaintotouchupandpolish;inshort，hewossoproudon’em，thatvenSundaycome，hewosalwayswretchedandmis’rabletothinktheywosbehindtheshutters，andlookedanxiouslyforMondayonthataccount。Vuno’thesedummieswosafavritevithhimbeyondtheothers;andvenanyofhisacquaintanceaskedhimwyhedidn’tgetmarried—astheyoungladiesheknow’d，inpartickler，oftendid—heusedtosay，\"Never！Inevervillenterintothebondsofvedlock，\"hesays，\"untilImeetvithayoung’oomanasrealisesmyideao’that’erefairestdummyviththelighthair。Then，andnottillthen，\"hesays，\"Ivillapproachthealtar。\"Alltheyoungladiesheknow’dashadgotdarkhairtoldhimthiswoswerysinful，andthathewoswurshippin’aidle;butthemaswosatallnearthesameshadeasthedummycolouredupwerymuch，andwosobservedtothinkhimaweryniceyoungman。’
’Samivel，’saidMr。Weller，gravely，’amembero’thisassociashunbein’oneo’that’eretendersexwhichisnowimmedetlyreferredto，Ihavetorekvestthatyouvillmakenoreflections。’