“Very little, sir, I am afraid;” I answered, speaking to him as respectfully and sorrowfully as I felt; “but pray believe me, I have considered my own worldly position. When I explained it to you, we were already engaged⁠—”

“I beg ,” said Mr. Spenlow, more like Punch than I had ever seen him, as he energetically struck one hand upon the other⁠—I could not help noticing that even in my despair; “that you will not talk to me of engagements, Mr. Copperfield!”

The otherwise immovable Miss Murdstone laughed contemptuously in one short syllable.