"Well, my dear madam, whatever it is that has procured me the honour and the pleasure of this visit, I am sure I am very glad of it, and shall not quarrel with it. He! he! Nice weather, Mrs. Lovett."
"Very."
"Ah, madam—ah, it was a world of pities to disturb the investments. It was indeed. But ladies will be ladies."
"Sir?"
"I—I merely said ladies will be ladies you know. And indeed—he! he!—I fully expected the interesting ceremony had come off before now, I did indeed; and I should have wagered a new hat."
"Mr. Brown, what are you talking about?"
"About?"
"Yes, what do you mean?"
"Why, a—a—that is—the—a—a—about—concerning—the—my dear madam, if I have inadvertently trodden upon your sensibilities, I—I really—"
"You really what?"