“Do nothing of the kind,” said Jingle. “Leave the room, Sir⁠—no business here⁠—lady’s free to act as she pleases⁠—more than one-and-twenty.”

“More than one-and-twenty!” ejaculated Wardle contemptuously. “More than one-and-forty!”

“I ain’t,” said the spinster aunt, her indignation getting the better of her determination to faint.

“You are,” replied Wardle; “you’re fifty if you’re an hour.”

Here the spinster aunt uttered a loud shriek, and became senseless.

“A glass of water,” said the humane Mr. Pickwick, summoning the landlady.