“Or,” pursued the other⁠—“or take it in your head that people are your puppets because they don’t come out to advantage at the particular moments when you do, with the assistance of a very clever and agreeable wife. All the rest keep on doing, and let Mrs. Lammle keep on doing. Now, I have held my tongue when I thought proper, and I have spoken when I thought proper, and there’s an end of that. And now the question is,” proceeded Fledgeby, with the greatest reluctance, “will you have another egg?”

“No, I won’t,” said Lammle, shortly.

“Perhaps you’re right and will find yourself better without it,” replied Fascination, in greatly improved spirits. “To ask you if you’ll have another rasher would be unmeaning flattery, for it would make you thirsty all day. Will you have some more bread and butter?”

“No, I won’t,” repeated Lammle.