‘that it is a member of my family!’

‘If so, my dear,’ observed Mr. Micawber, with his usual suddenness of warmth on that subject, ‘as the member of your family — whoever he, she, or it, may be — has kept us waiting for a considerable period, perhaps the Member may now wait MY convenience.’

‘Micawber,’ said his wife, in a low tone, ‘at such a time as this — ’

‘“It is not meet,”’ said Mr. Micawber, rising, ‘“that every nice offence should bear its comment!” Emma, I stand reproved.’

‘The loss, Micawber,’ observed his wife, ‘has been my family’s, not yours.