“Some local irritation, ma’am?”

“What!” replied my aunt, pulling the cotton out of one ear like a cork.

Mr. Chillip was so alarmed by her abruptness⁠—as he told my mother afterwards⁠—that it was a mercy he didn’t lose his presence of mind. But he repeated sweetly:

“Some local irritation, ma’am?”

“Nonsense!” replied my aunt, and corked herself again, at one blow.

Mr. Chillip could do nothing after this, but sit and look at her feebly, as she sat and looked at the fire, until he was called upstairs again. After some quarter of an hour’s absence, he returned.

“Well?” said my aunt, taking the cotton out of the ear nearest to him.