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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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Support the Monkey! Tell All your Friends and Teachers |
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264 you.’ ‘What’s the matter, sir?’ asked Mr Kenwigs, with becoming submission to the collector of water-rates. ‘Making such a remark as that, sir,’ replied Mr Lillyvick, angrily. ‘He has had punch already, has he not, sir? I consider the way in which that punch was cut off, if I may use the expression, highly disrespectful to this company; scandalous, perfectly scandalous. It may be the custom to allow such things in this house, but it’s not the kind of behaviour that I’ve been used to see displayed, and so I don’t mind telling you, Kenwigs. A gentleman has a glass of punch before him to which he is just about to set his lips, when another gentleman comes and collars that glass of punch, without a “with your leave”, or “by your leave”, and carries that glass of punch away. This may be good manners--I dare say it is--but I don’t understand it, that’s all; and what’s more, I don’t care if I never do. It’s my way to speak my mind, Kenwigs, and that is my mind; and if you don’t like it, it’s past my regular time for going to bed, and I can find my way home without making it later.’ Here was an untoward event! The collector had sat swelling and fuming in offended dignity for some minutes, and had now fairly burst out. The great man--the rich relation--the unmarried uncle--who had it in his power to make Morleena an heiress, and the very baby a legatee--was offended. Gracious Powers, where was this to end! ‘I am very sorry, sir,’ said Mr Kenwigs, humbly. ‘Don’t tell me you’re sorry,’ retorted Mr Lillyvick, with much sharpness. ‘You should have prevented it, then.’ The company were quite paralysed by this domestic crash. The |
