“Having tacitly consented,” said Mrs. Wilfer, with a grand shrug of her shoulders, and another wave of her gloves, “to my child’s acceptance of the proffered attentions of Mrs. Boffin, I interpose no objection.”

Here Miss Bella offered the remonstrance: “Don’t talk nonsense, ma, please.”

“Peace!” said Mrs. Wilfer.

“No, ma, I am not going to be made so absurd. Interposing objections!”