A ray of comfort darted across the mind of the spinster aunt at this

suggestion. Mr Jingle perceived it, and followed up his advantage.

'Pooh, pooh! - nothing more easy - blackguard boy - lovely woman - fat

boy horsewhipped - you believed - end of the matter - all comfortable.'

Whether the probability of escaping from the consequences of this ill-

timed discovery was delightful to the spinster's feelings, or whether

the hearing herself described as a 'lovely woman' softened the asperity

of her grief, we know not. She blushed slightly, and cast a grateful

look on Mr Jingle.

That insinuating gentleman sighed deeply, fixed his eyes on the

spinster aunt's face for a couple of minutes, started melodramatically,

and suddenly withdrew them.

You seem unhappy, Mr Jingle,' said the lady, in a plaintive voice. 'May

I show my gratitude for your kind interference, by inquiring into the

cause, with a view, if possible, to its removal?'

'Ha!' exclaimed Mr Jingle, with another start - 'removal! remove my

unhappiness, and your love bestowed upon a man who is insensible

to the blessing - who even now contemplates a design upon the

affections of the niece of the creature who - but no; he is my friend; I

will not expose his vices. Miss Wardle - farewell!' At the conclusion of

this address, the most consecutive he was ever known to utter, Mr

Jingle applied to his eyes the remnant of a handkerchief before

noticed, and turned towards the door.

Stay, Mr Jingle!' said the spinster aunt emphatically. 'You have made

an allusion to Mr Tupman - explain it.'

Never!' exclaimed Jingle, with a professional (i.e., theatrical) air.

Never!' and, by way of showing that he had no desire to be questioned

further, he drew a chair close to that of the spinster aunt and sat

down.

Mr Jingle,' said the aunt, 'I entreat - I implore you, if there is any

dreadful mystery connected with Mr Tupman, reveal it.'

Can I,' said Mr Jingle, fixing his eyes on the aunt's face - 'can I see -

lovely creature - sacrificed at the shrine - heartless avarice!' He

appeared to be struggling with various conflicting emotions for a few

seconds, and then said in a low voice -

'Tupman only wants your money.'

The Pickwick Papers