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If anybody had winked at her as Henrietta Petowker, it would have been indecorous in the last degree; but as Mrs Lillyvick! While he thought of it in a cold perspiration, and wondered whether it was possible that he could be dreaming, Mr Snevellicci repeated the wink, and drinking to Mrs Lillyvick in dumb show, actually blew her a kiss!
Mr Lillyvick? It was, indeed, the collector of water-rates who, regarding Nicholas with a fixed look and immovable countenance, shook hands with most portentous solemnity, and sat himself down in a seat by the chimney-corner. 'Why, when did you come here? asked Nicholas. 'This morning, sir, replied Mr Lillyvick. 'Oh! I see; then you were at the theatre tonight, and it was your umb
The proprietor, knowing she had three sisters, each with two flaxen tails, and all good for sixpence apiece a month at least, promptly deserted an old gentleman whom he had just lathered for shaving, and waited on the young lady himself. The old gentleman raising his head, Miss Kenwigs noticed his face and uttered a shrill little scream, it was her Uncle Lillyvick!
Mr Lillyvick left his chair, walked straight up to the other end of the table, and fell upon him literally fell upon him instantaneously. Mr Lillyvick was no light weight, and consequently when he fell upon Mr Snevellicci, Mr Snevellicci fell under the table. Mr Lillyvick followed him, and the ladies screamed. 'What is the matter with the men!
And now, there he sat, with the remains of a beard at least a week old encumbering his chin; a soiled and crumpled shirt-frill crouching, as it were, upon his breast, instead of standing boldly out; a demeanour so abashed and drooping, so despondent, and expressive of such humiliation, grief, and shame; that if the souls of forty unsubstantial housekeepers, all of whom had had their water cut off for non-payment of the rate, could have been concentrated in one body, that one body could hardly have expressed such mortification and defeat as were now expressed in the person of Mr Lillyvick the collector.
'That's what I say, retorted the collector, patting him benignantly on the side of the head with his umbrella; 'just what I say. Henrietta Petowker, the talented Henrietta Petowker has a fortune in herself, and I am going to 'To make her Mrs Lillyvick? suggested Nicholas. 'No, sir, not to make her Mrs Lillyvick, replied the collector.
'Surely you don't want any consolation at such a moment? observed Nicholas. 'No, replied Mr Lillyvick, shaking his head nervously: 'no of course not. 'But how come you both here, if you're going to be married, Mr Lillyvick? asked Nicholas. 'Why, that's what I came to explain to you, replied the collector of water-rate. 'The fact is, we have thought it best to keep it secret from the family.
When Mrs Kenwigs had been, in some degree, restored, and Newman, as a person possessed of some influence with her, had remonstrated and begged her to compose herself, Mr Lillyvick said in a faltering voice: 'I never shall ask anybody here to receive my I needn't mention the word; you know what I mean. Kenwigs and Susan, yesterday was a week she eloped with a half-pay captain!
Thus Mr Snevellicci had no sooner swallowed another glassful than he smiled upon all present in happy forgetfulness of having exhibited symptoms of pugnacity, and proposed 'The ladies! Bless their hearts! in a most vivacious manner. 'I love 'em, said Mr Snevellicci, looking round the table, 'I love 'em, every one. 'Not every one, reasoned Mr Lillyvick, mildly.
If ever a collector had borne himself like a collector, and assumed, before all men, a solemn and portentous dignity as if he had the world on his books and it was all two quarters in arrear, that collector was Mr Lillyvick.
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