ompass of the
world--as the three Miss Chuzzlewits; while the three Miss Chuzzlewits
became equally unconscious of the existence of the two Miss Pecksniffs.

'It is to be lamented,' said Mr Pecksniff, with a forgiving recollection
of Mr Spottletoe's fist, 'that our friend should have withdrawn himself
so very hastily, though we have cause for mutual congratulation even in
that, since we are assured that he is not distrustful of us in regard
to anything we may say or do while he is absent. Now, that is very
soothing, is it not?'

'Pecksniff,' said Anthony, who had been watching the whole party with
peculiar keenness from the first--'don't you be a hypocrite.'

'A what, my good sir?' demanded Mr Pecksniff.

'A hypocrite.'

'Charity, my dear,' said Mr Pecksniff, 'when I take my chamber
candlestick to-night, remind me to be more than usually particular in
praying for Mr Anthony Chuzzlewit; who has done me an injustice.'

This was said in a very bland voice, and aside, as being addressed to
his daughter's private ear. With a cheerfulness of conscience, prompting
almost a sprightly demeanour, he then resumed:

'All our thoughts centring in our very dear but unkind relative, and he
being as it were beyond our reach, we are met to-day, really as if we
were a funeral party, except--a blessed exception--that there is no body
in the house.'

The strong-minded lady was not at all sure that this was a blessed
exception. Quite the contrary.

'Well, my dear madam!' said Mr Pecksniff. 'Be that as it may, here we
are; and being here, we are to consider whether it is possible by any
justifiable means--'

'Why, you know as well as I,' said the strong-minded lady, 'that any
means are justifiable in such a case, don't you?'

'Very good, my dear madam, very good; whether it is possible by ANY
means, we will say by ANY means, to open the eyes of our valued
relative to his present infatuation. Whether it is possible to make
him acquainted by any means with the real character and purpose of that
young female whose strange, whose very strange position, in reference
to himself'--here Mr Pecksniff sunk his voice to an impressive
whisper--'really casts a shadow of disgrace and shame upon this family;
and who, we know'--here he raised his voice again--'else why is she his
companion? harbours the very basest designs upon his weakness and his
property.'

In their strong feeling on this point, they, who agreed in nothing else,
all concu