patronizing errand; or, if they did, would remain within them, only for one single instant, while your mother had the strength yet remaining in her vital frame to request them to depart? You little know your mother if you presume to think so.”
“It’s all very fine,” Lavinia began to grumble, when Mrs. Wilfer repeated:
“Hold! I will not allow this. Do you not know what is due to guests? Do you not comprehend that in presuming to hint that this lady and gentleman could have any idea of patronizing any member of your family—I care not which—you accuse them of an impertinence little less than insane?”
“Never mind me and Mrs. Boffin, ma’am,” said Mr. Boffin, smilingly: “we don’t care.”
“Pardon me, but I do,” returned Mrs. Wilfer.
Miss Lavinia laughed a short laugh as she muttered, “Yes, to be sure.”
“And I require my audacious child,” proceeded Mrs. Wilfer, with a withering look at her youngest, on whom it had not the slightest effect, “to please to be just to her sister Bella; to remember that her sister Bella is much sought after; and that when her sister Bella accepts an attention, she considers herself to be conferring qui-i-ite as much honour,”—this with an indignant shiver—“as she receives.”
But, here Miss Bella repudiated, and said quietly, “I can speak for myself; you know, Ma. You needn’t bring me in, please.”
“And it’s all very well aiming at others through convenient me,” said the irrepressible Lavinia, spitefully; “but I should like to ask George Sampson what he says to it.”