“Have the goodness to keep your observashuns to yourself, Sir, I beg,” said Mrs. Raddle, suddenly arresting the rapid torrent of her speech, and addressing the third party with impressive slowness and solemnity. “I am not aweer, Sir, that you have any right to address your conversation to me. I don’t think I let these apartments to you, Sir.”

“No, you certainly did not,” said Mr. Benjamin Allen.

“Very good, Sir,” responded Mrs. Raddle, with lofty politeness. “Then p’raps, Sir, you’ll confine yourself to breaking the arms and legs of the poor people in the hospitals, and keep yourself to yourself, Sir, or there may be some persons here as will make you, Sir.”