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 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! Are they mad?' cried Nicholas, diving
under the table, dragging up the collector by main force, and thrusting
him, all doubled up, into a chair, as if he had been a stuffed figure.
'What do you mean to do? What do you want to do? What is the matter with
you?'
While Nicholas raised up the collector, Smike had performed the same
office for Mr Snevellicci, who now regarded his late adversary in tipsy
amazement.
'Look here, sir,' replied Mr Lillyvick, pointing to his astonished
wife, 'here is purity and elegance combined, whose feelings have been
outraged--violated, sir!'
'Lor, what nonsense he talks!' exclaimed Mrs Lillyvick in answer to the
inquiring look of Nicholas.
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