 her head over her tea-cup, and taking a
long gulp.
    »Mr. Thomas, ma'am, I doubt Mr. Thomas very much, ma'am, I don't like his
ways at all.«
    »Bitzer,« said Mrs. Sparsit, in a very impressive manner, »do you recollect
my having said anything to you respecting names?«
    »I beg your pardon, ma'am. It's quite true that you did object to names
being used, and they're always best avoided.«
    »Please to remember that I have a charge here,« said Mrs. Sparsit, with her
air of state. »I hold a trust here, Bitzer, under Mr. Bounderby. However
improbable both Mr. Bounderby and myself might have deemed it years ago, that he
would ever become my patron, making me an annual compliment, I cannot but regard
him in that light. From Mr. Bounderby I have received every acknowledgment of my
social station, and every recognition of my family descent, that I could
possibly expect. More, far more. Therefore, to my patron I will be scrupulously
true. And I do not consider, I will not consider, I cannot consider,« said Mrs.
Sparsit, with a most extensive stock on hand of honour and morality, »that I
should be scrupulously true, if I allowed names to be mentioned under this roof,
that are unfortunately - most unfortunately - no doubt of that - connected with
his.«
    Bitzer knuckled his forehead again, and again begged pardon.
    »No, Bitzer,« continued Mrs. Sparsit, »say an individual, and I will hear
you; say Mr. Thomas, and you must excuse me.«
    »With the usual exception, ma'am,« said Bitzer, trying back, »of an
individual.«
    »Ah - h!« Mrs. Sparsit repeated the ejaculation, the shake of the head over
her tea-cup, and the long gulp, as taking up the conversation again at the point
where it had been interrupted.
    »An individual, ma'am,« said Bitzer, »has never been what he ought to have
been, since he first came into the place. He is a dissipated, extravagant idler.
He is not worth his salt, ma'am. He wouldn't get it either, if he hadn't a
friend and relation at court, ma'am!«
    »Ah - h!« said Mrs. Sparsit, with another melancholy shake of her
