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indisposition, to prevent my growing too boisterous? You may deem my strength and health to be overbearing? and be so good as, to intend making me more delicate? You may be of opinion that it would render me more interesting?"
"Indeed, Madam,—"
"Or, you may fancy that a friendly catarrh might be useful, in furnishing me with employment, from ordering water-gruel, and balm-tea, and barley-water, and filling up my leisure in devising successive slops?"
The difficulty of being heard made the stranger now cease to attempt speaking; and Mrs. Ireton, after sundry similar interrogatories, angrily said, "So you really don't think fit to initiate me into your motives for coming to me, without troubling yourself to learn mine for admitting you into my presence?"
"On the contrary, Ma'am, I desire—"
"O! I am mistaken, am I? It's on the contrary, is it? You are vastly kind to set me right; vastly kind, indeed!
