The good-natured chaffing to which he was subjected he met with his old smile.
"Much obleeged to ye for leavin' her for a man as knows a genuine creetur when he sees her," he said, to one and another, who rallied him upon his matrimonial intentions.
"Isn't she rather old ?" inquired one whose manners were not learned of Lord Chesterfield.
"I dunno," he replied; "she's hearn it thunder enough not to be skeered, an' she's had the measles an' the whoopin' cough, an' the chicken pox, an' the mumps, an' got through with her nonsense.".