“Mr. Wegg!” said Venus, with a sudden flush of wrath. “The lady in question is not a old party.”

“I meant,” exclaimed Wegg, testily, “to the party as formerly objected?”

“Mr. Wegg,” said Venus, “in a case of so much delicacy, I must trouble you to say what you mean. There are strings that must not be played upon. No sir! Not sounded, unless in the most respectful and tuneful manner. Of such melodious strings is Miss Pleasant Riderhood formed.”

“Then it is the lady as formerly objected?” said Wegg.

“Sir,” returned Venus with dignity, “I accept the altered phrase. It is the lady as formerly objected.”

“When is it to come off?” asked Silas.

“Mr. Wegg,” said Venus, with another flush. “I cannot permit it to be put in the form of a Fight. I must temperately but firmly call upon you, sir, to amend that question.”

“When is the lady,” Wegg reluctantly demanded, constraining his ill temper in remembrance of the partnership and its stock in trade, “a going to give her ’and where she has already given her ’art?”

“Sir,” returned Venus, “I again accept the altered phrase, and with pleasure. The lady is a going to give her ’and where she has already given her ’art, next Monday.”

“Then the lady’s objection has been met?” said Silas.

“Mr. Wegg,” said Venus, “as I did name to you, I think, on a former occasion, if not on former occasions — ”

“On former occasions,” interrupted Wegg.

“ — What,” pursued Venus, “what the nature of the lady’s objection was, I may impart, without violating any of the tender confidences since sprung up between the lady and myself, how it has been met, through the kind interference of two good friends of mine: one, previously acquainted with the lady: and one, not. The pint was thrown out, sir, by those two friends when they did me the great service of waiting on the lady to try if a union betwixt the lady and me could not be brought to bear — the pint, I say, was thrown out by them, sir, whether if, after marriage, I confined myself to the articulation of men, children, and the lower animals, it might not relieve the lady’s mind of her feeling respecting being — as a lady — regarded in a bony light. It was a happy thought, sir, and it took root.”

“It would seem, Mr. Venus,” observed Wegg, with a touch of distrust, “that you are flush of friends?”

“Pretty well, sir,” that gentleman answered, in a tone of placid mystery. “So-so, sir. Pretty well.”

“However,” said Wegg, after eyeing him with another touch of distrust, “I wish you joy. One man spends his fortune in one way, and another in another. You are going to try matrimony. I mean to try travelling.”

“Indeed, Mr. Wegg?”

“Change of air, sea-scenery, and my natural rest, I hope may bring me round after the persecutions I have undergone from the dustman with his head tied up, which I just now mentioned. The tough job being ended and the Mounds laid low, the hour is come for Boffin to stump up. Would ten to-morrow morning suit you, partner, for finally bringing Boffin’s nose to the grindstone?”

Ten to-morrow morning would quite suit Mr. Venus for that excellent purpose.

“You have had him well under inspection, I hope?” said Silas.