'And haven't you been a talking nonsense!' 'Oh!' said Dick.

'Very ill, Marchioness, have I been ?' 'Dead, all but,' replied the small servant.

'I never thought you'd get better.

Thank Heaven you have!' Mr Swiveller was silent for a long while.

By and bye, he began to talk again, inquiring how long he had been there.
'Three weeks to-morrow,' replied the servant.
'Three what ?' said Dick.
'Weeks,' returned the Marchioness emphatically; 'three long, slow weeks.' The bare thought of having been in such extremity, caused Richard to fall into another silence, and to lie flat down again, at his full length.