"Where's Pattie?" said he, in alarm.
The question restored me to my faculties.
"Eloped," said I; "cheated me beyond all expression, and run off with my rival Jack Tickle."
"What a fool!" said my uncle, recovering his composure; "I'm sure I never opposed her."
"So much for not giving her to me!" said I.
"To you!" said my uncle.
"Uncle Wilkins," said I, "from this moment I shall cut your acquaintance. Pattie has jilted me so horribly you can't conceive, and has married Jack Tickle!"
"Well," said my uncle, "where's the harm? To be sure, and a'n't he as good now as worth ten thousand a year?"
"Not worth a cent!" said I, shaking my fists at the old gentleman—and then drumming on my own breast—"not worth a cent, and down in every tailor's books in town, except Snip's, who wouldn't trust him."
"Oh, you villain!" said my uncle Wilkins, "how you've cheated me!"