My meditative silence appeared to weigh upon the spirits of this worldling, and to force him, as it were, into talking to me against his own will.
"Well, Miss Clack, what's the last news in the charitable circles?
How is your friend Mr.Godfrey Ablewhite, after the mauling he got from the rogues in Northumberland Street?
Egad! they're telling a pretty story about that charitable gentleman at my club!" I had passed over the manner in which this person had remarked that I was more than twenty-one, and that I had no pecuniary interest in my aunt's Will.

But the tone in which he alluded to dear Mr.Godfrey was too much for my forbearance.

Feeling bound, after what had passed in my presence that afternoon, to assert the innocence of my admirable friend, whenever I found it called in question--I own to having also felt bound to include in the accomplishment of this righteous purpose, a stinging castigation in the case of Mr.Bruff.
"I live very much out of the world," I said; "and I don't possess the advantage, sir, of belonging to a club.

But I happen to know the story to which you allude; and I also know that a viler falsehood than that story never was told." "Yes, yes, Miss Clack--you believe in your friend.

Natural enough.