"Religion! egad—do you really mean to tell me—ha, ha, ha! Upon my soul, that's the richest thing!—now, really!"
"My goodness! How frightfully wicked you are," exclaimed Miss Charity.
"True bill, egad! upon my soul, I'm afraid—ha, ha, ha!"
"Now, Captain Shrapnell, you shall not walk with us, if you swear," said Miss Charity.
"Swear! I didn't swear, did I? Very sorry if I did, upon my—I give you my word," said the Captain, politely.
"Yes, you did; and it's extremely wicked," said Miss Charity.
"Well, I won't; I swear to you I won't," vowed the Captain, a little inconsistently; "but now about Master Cleve Verney, Miss Agnes. I said I would not let you off, and I won't. I give you my honour, you shall say what you think of him, or, by Jove!—I conclude you can't trust yourself on the subject, ha, ha, ha! Hey?"
"You are mad, Captain Shrapnell," interposed Miss Charity, with weight.
"I can't say, really, I've formed any particular opinion. I think he is rather agreeable," answered Miss Agnes, under this pressure.