“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.”