(At exactly the same canter, and with a certain flourishing appearance of doing something, Ma did, in fact, occasionally take a rock upon the instrument.)

“Of course you like dancing?”

“Oh no, I don’t,” said Miss Podsnap.

“No? With your youth and attractions? Truly, my dear, you surprise me!”

“I can’t say,” observed Miss Podsnap, after hesitating considerably, and stealing several timid looks at Mrs. Lammle’s carefully arranged face, “how I might have liked it if I had been a⁠—you won’t mention it, will you?”

“My dear! Never!”

“No, I am sure you won’t. I can’t say then how I should have liked it, if I had been a chimney-sweep on May-Day.”