“ On the whole, then;⁠—observe me,” urges Twemlow with great nicety, as if; in the case of its having been off the whole, he would have done it directly⁠—“ on the whole, I must beg you to excuse me from addressing any communication to Lord Snigsworth.”

“Bless you, bless you!” says Veneering; horribly disappointed, but grasping him by both hands again, in a particularly fervent manner.