"  Oh,  do  sip  the  goblet ! "

"  I  shall  not  consent  to  do  anything  of  the  kind,  sir,"  said
Mrs. Nickleby. "  Pray,  begone."

"Why  is  it,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  coming  up  a  step
higher,  and  leaning  his  elbows  on  the  wall,  with  as  much
complacency  as  if  he  were  looking  out  of  window,  "  why  is  it
that  beauty  is  always  obdurate,  even  when  admiration  is  as
honorable  and  respectful  as  mine  ?  "  Here  he  smiled,  kissed
his  hand,  and  made  several  low  bows. "  Is  it  owing  to  the
bees,  who,  when  the  honey  season  is  over,  and  they  are  sup-
posed to  have  been  killed  with  brimstone,  in  reality  fly  to
Barbary  and  lull  the  captive  Moors  to  sleep  with  their  drowsy
songs  ?  Or  is  it,"  he  added,  dropping  his  voice  almost  to  a
whisper,  "in  consequence  of  the  statue  at  Charing  Cross
having  been  lately  seen,  on  the  Stock  Exchange  at  midnight,
walking  arm-in-arm  with  the  Pump  from  Aldgate,  in  a  riding,
habit?"

"  Mamma,"  murmured  Kate,  "  do  you  hear  him  ?  "
▼OL. u — 9


180  LIFE  AND  ADVENTURES  OF

"Hush,  my  dear!''  replied  Mrs. Nickleby,  in  the
tone  of  voice,  "he  is  veiy  polite,  and  I  think  that  was  a
quotation  from  the  poets. Pray,  don't  worry  me  so — you'll
pinch  my  arm  black  and  blue. (Jo  away,  sir ! "

"Quite  away?"  said  the  gentleman,  with  a  languishing
look,  "  Oh !  quite  away  ?  "

"Yes,"  returned  Mrs. Nickleby,  "certainly. You  have  no
business  here. This  is  private  property,  sir;  you  ought  to
know  that."

"I  do  know,"  said  the  old  gentleman,  laying  his  finger  on
his  nose,  with  an  air  of  familiarity,  most  reprehensible,  "  that
this  is  a  sacred  and  enchanted  spot,  where  the  most  divine
charms" — here  he  kissed  his  hand  and  bowed  again  —  " waffc
mellifluousness  over  the  neighbors'  gardens,  and  force  the
fruit  and  vegetables  into  premature  existence. That  fact  I  am
acquainted  with. But  will  you  permit  me,  fairest  creature,  to
ask  you  one  question,  in  the  absence  of  the  planet  Venus,  who
has  gone  on  business  to  the  Horse  Guards,  and  would  other-
wise —  jealous  of  your  superior  charms  —  interpose  between
us?"

"Kate,"  observed  Mrs. Nickleby,  turning  to  her  daughter,
"  it's  very  awkward,  positively. 