or other, I suppose, for a bridesmaid—when she ought to have confided in me, and ought to have said, ‘If, Lavvy, you consider it due to your engagement with George, that you should countenance the occasion by being present, then Lavvy, I beg you to be present, keeping my secret from Ma and Pa.’ As of course I should have done.”
“As of course you would have done? Ingrate!” exclaimed Mrs. Wilfer. “Viper!”
“I say! You know ma’am. Upon my honour you mustn’t,” Mr. Sampson remonstrated, shaking his head seriously, “With the highest respect for you, ma’am, upon my life you mustn’t. No really, you know. When a man with the feelings of a gentleman finds himself engaged to a young lady, and it comes (even on the part of a member of the family) to vipers, you know!—I would merely put it to your own good feeling, you know,” said Mr. Sampson, in rather lame conclusion.
Mrs. Wilfer’s baleful stare at the young gentleman in acknowledgment of his obliging interference was of such a nature that Miss Lavinia burst into tears, and caught him round the neck for his protection.
“My own unnatural mother,” screamed the young lady, “wants to annihilate George! But you shan’t be annihilated, George. I’ll die first!”
Mr. Sampson, in the arms of his mistress, still struggled to shake his head at Mrs. Wilfer, and to remark: “With every sentiment of respect for you, you know, ma’am—vipers really doesn’t do you credit.”
“You shall not be annihilated, George!” cried Miss Lavinia. “Ma shall destroy me first, and then she’ll be contented. Oh, oh, oh! Have I lured George from his happy home to expose him to this! George, dear, be free! Leave me, ever dearest George, to Ma and to my fate. Give my love to your aunt, George dear, and implore her not to curse the viper that has