I felt quite uncomfortable⁠—as if Mrs. Micawber supposed I had asked her to do anything of the sort!⁠—and sat looking at her in alarm.

“ Mr. Micawber has his faults. I do not deny that he is improvident. I do not deny that he has kept me in the dark as to his resources and his liabilities both,” she went on, looking at the wall; “but I never will desert Mr. Micawber!”

Mrs. Micawber having now raised her voice into a perfect scream, I was so frightened that I ran off to the clubroom, and disturbed Mr. Micawber in the act of presiding at a long table, and leading the chorus of