Never mind--think it an insult--leave the room'-- and he turned, as if to carry the threat into execution.
'What SHALL I do!' said the poor spinster, bursting into tears.

'My brother will be furious.' 'Of course he will,' said Mr.Jingle pausing--'outrageous.' 'Oh, Mr.
Jingle, what CAN I say!' exclaimed the spinster aunt, in another flood of despair.
'Say he dreamt it,' replied Mr.Jingle coolly.
A ray of comfort darted across the mind of the spinster aunt at this suggestion.

Mr.Jingle perceived it, and followed up his advantage.
'Pooh, pooh!--nothing more easy--blackguard boy--lovely woman--fat boy horsewhipped--you believed--end of the matter--all comfortable.' Whether the probability of escaping from the consequences of this ill-timed discovery was delightful to the spinster's feelings, or whether the hearing herself described as a 'lovely woman' softened the asperity of her grief, we know not.

She blushed slightly, and cast a grateful look on Mr.Jingle.
That insinuating gentleman sighed deeply, fixed his eyes on the spinster aunt's face for a couple of minutes, started melodramatically, and suddenly withdrew them.
'You seem unhappy, Mr.Jingle,' said the lady, in a plaintive voice.
'May I show my gratitude for your kind interference, by inquiring into the cause, with a view, if possible, to its removal ?' 'Ha!' exclaimed Mr.Jingle, with another start--'removal! remove my unhappiness, and your love bestowed upon a man who is insensible to the blessing--who even now contemplates a design upon the affections of the niece of the creature who--but no; he is my friend; I will not expose his vices.

Miss Wardle--farewell!' At the conclusion of this address, the most consecutive he was ever known to utter, Mr.Jingle applied to his eyes the remnant of a handkerchief before noticed, and turned towards the door.
'Stay, Mr.Jingle!' said the spinster aunt emphatically.