`Oh, deyvlish!' replied Verisopht. Having given utterance to which remarkable sentiment, he occupied himself as before.

`Neither does Miss Nickleby look the worse,' said Sir Mulberry, bending his bold gaze upon her. `She was always handsome, but upon my soul, ma'am, you seem to have imparted some of your own good looks to her besides.'

To judge from the glow which suffused the poor girl's countenance after this speech, Mrs Wititterly might, with some show of reason, have been supposed to have imparted to it some of that artificial bloom which decorated her own. Mrs Wititterly admitted, though not with the best grace in the world, that Kate did look pretty. She began to think, too, that Sir Mulberry was not quite so agreeable a creature as she had at first supposed him; for, although a skilful flatterer is a most delightful companion, if you can keep him all to yourself, his taste becomes very doubtful when he takes to complimenting other people.

`Pyke,' said the watchful Mr Pluck, observing the effect which the praise of Miss Nickleby had produced.

`Well, Pluck,' said Pyke.

`Is there anybody,' demanded Mr Pluck, mysteriously, `anybody you know, that Mrs Wititterly's profile reminds you of?'

`Reminds me of!' answered Pyke. `Of course there is.'

`Who do you mean?' said Pluck, in the same mysterious manner. `The D. of B.?'

`The C. of B.,' replied Pyke, with the faintest trace of a grin lingering in his countenance. `The beautiful sister is the countess; not the duchess.'

`True,' said Pluck, `the C. of B. The resemblance is wonderful!'

`Perfectly startling,' said Mr Pyke.

Here was a state of things! Mrs Wititterly was declared, upon the testimony of two veracious and competent witnesses, to be the very picture of a countess! This was one of the consequences of getting into good society. Why, she might have moved among grovelling people for twenty years, and never heard of it. How could she, indeed? what did they know about countesses?

The two gentlemen having, by the greediness with which this little bait was swallowed, tested the extent of Mrs Wititterly's appetite for adulation, proceeded to administer that commodity in very large doses, thus affording to Sir Mulberry Hawk an opportunity of pestering Miss Nickleby with questions and remarks, to which she was absolutely obliged to make some reply. Meanwhile, Lord Verisopht enjoyed unmolested the full flavour of the gold knob at the top of his cane, as he would have done to the end of the interview if Mr Wititterly had not come home, and caused the conversation to turn to his favourite topic.

`My lord,' said Mr Wititterly, `I am delighted -- honoured -- proud. Be seated again, my lord, pray. I am proud, indeed -- most proud.'

It was to the secret annoyance of his wife that Mr Wititterly said all this, for, although she was bursting with pride and arrogance, she would have had the illustrious guests believe that their visit was quite a common occurrence, and that they had lords and baronets to see them every day in the week. But Mr Wititterly's feelings were beyond the power of suppression.

`It is an honour, indeed!' said Mr Wititterly. `Julia, my soul, you will suffer for this tomorrow.'

`Suffer!' cried Lord Verisopht.