"What a happy man he must be in knowing so first-rate a parishioner. Did he boast much of our acquaintance?"
"He seemed to know more of your brothers and sisters," I said.
"Oh, which of them did he like best? How many did he say I had?"
This was a puzzler; for I was quite undecided whether to consider her a daughter of the house of Juffles with fourteen children, or Poggs with only two.
"Amy seemed a great favourite," I replied.
"But, my brothers—what did he say of my brothers?"
"He said—but perhaps it was in confidence—so I will not mention all he told me. He spoke highly of the whole family of Mr Poggs."
"And very properly too. We are all pleasant people in this neighbourhood; and, indeed, I wonder he can make any distinction in the degrees of amiability between the Poggses, Juffleses, Higginsons, Jeekses, Wilcoxes, and all the late and present occupiers of the Rayleigh estates."
"Higginsons? Wilcoxes? he never mentioned them; but as to the Jeekses, pray don't speak of those detestable wretches. I hope you despise young Jeeks as heartily as I do."
"Not quite, perhaps."