Mrs. Veneering, always charmed by this rattling sylph, cries. “Oh yes! Do let us resolve ourselves into a Committee of the whole House! So delicious!” Veneering says, “As many as are of that opinion, say Aye⁠—contrary, No⁠—the Ayes have it.” But nobody takes the slightest notice of his joke.

“Now, I am Chairwoman of Committees!” cries Lady Tippins.

(“What spirits she has!” exclaims Mrs. Veneering; to whom likewise nobody attends.)

“And this,” pursues the sprightly one, “is a Committee of the whole House to what-you-may-call-it⁠—elicit, I suppose⁠—the voice of Society. The question before the Committee is, whether a young man of very fair family, good appearance, and some talent, makes a fool or a wise man of himself in marrying a female waterman, turned factory girl.”