"Agreeable!" cried the collector. "I mean to say, Sir, that it was delicious."
Mr. Lillyvick bent forward to pronounce the last word with greater emphasis; and having done so, drew himself up, and frowned and nodded a great many times.
"I say, delicious," repeated Mr. Lillyvick. "Absorbing, fairy-like, toomultuous." And again Mr. Lillyvick drew himself up, and again he frowned and nodded.
"Ah!" said Nicliolas, a little surprised at these symptoms of ecstatic approbation. "Yes—she is a clever girl."
"She is a divinity," returned Mr. Lillyvick, giving a collector's double knock on the ground with the umbrella before-mentioned. "I have known divine actresses before now, Sir; I used to collect—at least I used to call for—and very often call for—the water-rate at the house of a divine actress, who lived in my beat for upwards of four year, but never—no, never, Sir—of all divine creatures, actresses or no actresses, did I see a diviner one than is Henrietta Petowker."
Nicholas had much ado to prevent himself from laughing; not trusting himself to speak, he merely nodded in accordance with Mr. Lillyvick's nods, and remained silent.
"Let me speak a word with you in private," said Mr. Lillyvick.
Nicholas looked good-humouredly at Smike, who, taking the hint, disappeared.
"A bachelor is a miserable wretch. Sir," said Mr. Lillyvick.
"Is he?" asked Nicholas.
"He is," rejoined the collector. "I have lived in the world for nigh sixty year, and I ought to know what it is."
"You ought to know, certainly," thought Nicholas; "but whether you do or not, is another question."
"If a bachelor happens to have saved a little matter of money," said Mr. Lillyvick, "his sisters and brothers, and nephews and nieces, look to that money, and not to him; even if by being a public character he is the head of the family, or as it may be the main from which all the other little branches are turned on, they still wish him dead all the while, and get low-spirited every time they see him looking in good health, because they want to come into his little property. You see that?"
"O, yes," replied Nicholas: "it's very true, no doubt."
"The great reason for not being married," resumed Mr. Lillyvick, " is the expense; that's what's kept me off, or else—Lord!" said Mr. Lillyvick, snapping his fingers, "I might have had fifty women."
"Fine women?" asked Nicholas.
"Fine women, Sir!" replied the collector; "aye! not so fine as Henrietta Petowker, for she is an uncommon specimen, but such women as don't fall into every man's way, I can tell you that. Now suppose a man can get a fortune in his wife instead of with her—eh?"
"Why, then, he is a lucky fellow," replied Nicholas.
"That's what I say," retorted the collector, patting him benignantly on the side of the head with his umbrella; "just what I say: Hen-
