He took one; and drawing a spectacle-case from his pocket, leisurely

pulled out a pair of spectacles, which he adjusted on his nose.

'You don't know me, ma'am?' he said, looking so intently at Arabella

that she began to feel alarmed.

'No, sir,' she replied timidly.

'No,' said the gentleman, nursing his left leg; 'I don't know how you

should. You know my name, though, ma'am.'

Do I?' said Arabella, trembling, though she scarcely knew why. 'May I

ask what it is?'

'Presently, ma'am, presently,' said the stranger, not having yet

removed his eyes from her countenance. 'You have been recently

married, ma'am?'

I have,' replied Arabella, in a scarcely audible tone, laying aside her

work, and becoming greatly agitated as a thought, that had occurred

to her before, struck more forcibly upon her mind.

Without having represented to your husband the propriety of first

consulting his father, on whom he is dependent, I think?' said the

stranger.

Arabella applied her handkerchief to her eyes.

Without an endeavour, even, to ascertain, by some indirect appeal,

what were the old man's sentiments on a point in which he would

naturally feel much interested?' said the stranger.

'I cannot deny it, Sir,' said Arabella.

'And without having sufficient property of your own to afford your

husband any permanent assistance in exchange for the worldly

advantages which you knew he would have gained if he had married

agreeably to his father's wishes?' said the old gentleman. 'This is what

boys and girls call disinterested affection, till they have boys and girls

of their own, and then they see it in a rougher and very different light!'

Arabella's tears flowed fast, as she pleaded in extenuation that she

was young and inexperienced; that her attachment had alone induced

her to take the step to which she had resorted; and that she had been

deprived of the counsel and guidance of her parents almost from

infancy.

The Pickwick Papers