“Don't talk so foolishly, Mr. Burdock:—attorneys, like physicians, are privileged persons, you know.”
“True, true, madam,” said Burdock, rather hastily quitting his seat; “and now, as the cause of our conference is at an end, I will take my leave.”
“My dear sir, you surely are not going to quit me in this state:—you have not heard my complaint.”
“I thought your mind was easy on the subject.”
“Oh! by no means! I am far from soothed,—far from tranquillized: your discrimination may shed a new light upon my mind. I must insist on throwing myself upon your consideration.”
“For consistency's sake, don't blow hot and cold in the same moment, Mrs. Blennerhagen. Be in a rage, or be pacified: and if I must hear your tale of woe, the sooner you tell it the better.”
“You'll promise not to call me a silly, foolish woman, then, if you think my apprehensions were groundless.”
“Of course, madam, I should scarcely call a lady a fool to her face, even if I thought she deserved it.”
“How deeply I am indebted to you!—you cannot conceive how much the cast of your countenance, when you look pleasant, reminds me of my late excellent husband,—poor Mr. Winpennie!—Alas! I never was jealous of him, with or without a cause. He was the best—the kindest—”
“Excuse me, madam; but, however I may reverence the memory of Mr. Winpennie, my time is of too much value, and too seriously engrossed just now, by my duties towards the livings to listen to an eulogy on the dead.”