( Dickens The Pickwick papers ) Mr. Winkle was then examined by Mr. Skimpin, who, being a promisingyoung man of two or three-and-forty, was of course anxious to confuse awitness who was notoriously predisposed in favour of the other side, asmuch as he could.
The conversation, brief as it was, predisposed Mr. Weller strongly inhis landlord's favour; and, raising himself on his elbow, he took a morelengthened survey of his appearance than he had yet had either time orinclination to make.