'No,' said the collector.

'Certainly not,' added everybody.

'I remember my niece,' said Mr Lillyvick, surveying his audience with
a grave air; 'I remember her, on that very afternoon, when she first
acknowledged to her mother a partiality for Kenwigs. "Mother," she says,
"I love him."'

'"Adore him," I said, uncle,' interposed Mrs Kenwigs.

'"Love him," I think, my dear,' said the collector, firmly.

'Perhaps you are right, uncle,' replied Mrs Kenwigs, submissively. 'I
thought it was "adore."'

'"Love," my dear,' retorted Mr Lillyvick. '"Mother," she says, "I love
him!" "What do I hear?" cries her mother; and instantly falls into
strong conwulsions.'

A general exclamation of astonishment burst from the company.

'Into strong conwulsions,' repeated Mr Lillyvick, regarding them with a
rigid look. 'Kenwigs will excuse my saying, in the presence of friends,
that there was a very great objection to him, on the ground that he was
beneath the family, and would disgrace it. You remember, Kenwigs?'

'Certainly,' replied that gentleman, in no way displeased at the
reminiscence, inasmuch as it proved, beyond all doubt, what a high