‘Mr Wegg!’ said Venus, with a sudden flush of wrath. ‘The lady in question is not a old party.’
‘I meant,’ exclaimed Wegg, testily, ‘to the party as formerly objected?’
‘Mr Wegg,’ said Venus, ‘in a case of so much delicacy, I must trouble you to say what you mean. There are strings that must not be played upon. No sir! Not sounded, unless in the most respectful and tuneful manner. Of such melodious strings is Miss Pleasant Riderhood formed.’
‘Then it is the lady as formerly objected?’ said Wegg.
‘Sir,’ returned Venus with dignity, ‘I accept the altered phrase. It is the lady as formerly objected.’
‘When is it to come off?’ asked Silas.
‘Mr Wegg,’ said Venus, with another flush. ‘I cannot permit it to be put in the form of a Fight. I must temperately but firmly call upon you, sir, to amend that question.’
‘When is the lady,’ Wegg reluctantly demanded, constraining his ill temper in remembrance of the partnership and its stock in trade, ‘a going to give her ’and where she has already given her ’art?’
‘Sir,’ returned Venus, ‘I again accept the altered phrase, and with pleasure. The lady is a going to give her ’and where she has already given her ’art, next Monday.’
‘Then the lady’s objection has been met?’ said Silas.