"'I assure you, madam,' said Mr. Pickwick, grasping the old lady's hand, and speaking so loud that the exertion imparted a crimson hue to his benevolent countenance; 'I assure you, ma'am, that nothing delights me more, than to see a lady of your time of life heading so fine a family, and looking so young and well.'
"'Ah!' said the old lady, after a short pause; 'it's all very fine, I dare say; but I can't hear him.'
"'Grandma's rather put out now,' said Miss Isabella Wardle, in a low tone; 'but she'll talk to you presently.'
"Mr. Pickwick nodded his readiness to humour the infirmities of age, and entered into a general conversation with the other members of the circle.
"'Delightful situation this,' said Mr. Pickwick.
"'Delightful!' echoed Messrs. Snodgrass, Tupman, and Winkle.
"'Well, I think it is,' said Mr. Wardle.
"'There ain't a better spot o' ground in all Kent, sir,' said the hard-headed man with the pippin-face; 'there ain't indeed, sir—I'm sure there ain't, sir,' and the hard-headed man looked triumphantly round, as if he had been very much contradicted by somebody, but had got the better of him at last. 'There ain't a better spot o' ground in all Kent,' said the hard-headed man again after a pause.
"''Cept Mullins' meadows!' observed the fat man, solemnly.
"'Mullins' meadows!' ejaculated the other, with profound contempt.