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543 urged, the tragedian adjusted the cuff of his right coat sleeve for the performance of the operation, and walked in a very stately manner up to Nicholas, who suffered him to approach to within the requisite distance, and then, without the smallest discomposure, knocked him down. Before the discomfited tragedian could raise his head from the boards, Mrs Lenville (who, as has been before hinted, was in an interesting state) rushed from the rear rank of ladies, and uttering a piercing scream threw herself upon the body. ‘Do you see this, monster? Do you see this?’ cried Mr Lenville, sitting up, and pointing to his prostrate lady, who was holding him very tight round the waist. ‘Come,’ said Nicholas, nodding his head, ‘apologise for the insolent note you wrote to me last night, and waste no more time in talking.’ ‘Never!’ cried Mr Lenville. ‘Yes--yes--yes!’ screamed his wife. ‘For my sake--for mine, Lenville--forego all idle forms, unless you would see me a blighted corpse at your feet.’ ‘This is affecting!’ said Mr Lenville, looking round him, and drawing the back of his hand across his eyes. ‘The ties of nature are strong. The weak husband and the father--the father that is yet to be--relents. I apologise.’ ‘Humbly and submissively?’ said Nicholas. ‘Humbly and submissively,’ returned the tragedian, scowling upwards. ‘But only to save her,--for a time will come--’ ‘Very good,’ said Nicholas; ‘I hope Mrs Lenville may have a good one; and when it does come, and you are a father, you shall retract it if you have the courage. There. Be careful, sir, to what |