“However, ma’am,” said Bounderby, “there are apartments at the Bank, where a born and bred lady, as keeper of the place, would be rather a catch than otherwise; and if the same terms⁠—”

“I beg your pardon, sir. You were so good as to promise that you would always substitute the phrase, annual compliment.”

“Well, ma’am, annual compliment. If the same annual compliment would be acceptable there, why, I see nothing to part us, unless you do.”

“Sir,” returned Mrs. Sparsit. “The proposal is like yourself, and if the position I shall assume at the Bank is one that I could occupy without descending lower in the social scale⁠—”