‘Well, Ma,’ said Septimus, after a little more rubbing of his ear, ’we must try it.  There can be no doubt that we have room for an inmate, and that I have time to bestow upon him, and inclination too.  I must confess to feeling rather glad that he is not Mr. Honeythunder himself.  Though that seems wretchedly prejudiced—­ does it not?—­for I never saw him.  Is he a large man, Ma?’

‘I should call him a large man, my dear,’ the old lady replied after some hesitation, ‘but that his voice is so much larger.’

‘Than himself?’

‘Than anybody.’

‘Hah!’ said Septimus.  And finished his breakfast as if the flavour of the Superior Family Souchong, and also of the ham and toast and eggs, were a little on the wane.

Mrs. Crisparkle’s sister, another piece of Dresden china, and matching her so neatly that they would have made a delightful pair of ornaments for the two ends of any capacious old-fashioned chimneypiece, and by right should never have been seen apart, was the childless wife of a clergyman holding Corporation preferment in London City.  Mr. Honeythunder in his public character of Professor of Philanthropy had come to know Mrs. Crisparkle during the last re-matching of the china ornaments (in other words during her last annual visit to her sister), after a public occasion of a philanthropic nature, when certain devoted orphans of tender years had been glutted with plum buns, and plump bumptiousness.  These were all the antecedents known in Minor Canon Corner of the coming pupils.

‘I am sure you will agree with me, Ma,’ said Mr. Crisparkle, after thinking the matter over, ’that the first thing to be done, is, to put these young people as much at their ease as possible.  There is nothing disinterested in the notion, because we cannot be at our ease with them unless they are at their ease with us.  Now, Jasper’s nephew is down here at present; and like takes to like, and youth takes to youth.  He is a cordial young fellow, and we will have him to meet the brother and sister at dinner.  That’s three.  We can’t think of asking him, without asking Jasper.  That’s four.  Add Miss Twinkleton and the fairy bride that is to be, and that’s six.  Add our two selves, and that’s eight.  Would eight at a friendly dinner at all put you out, Ma?’

‘Nine would, Sept,’ returned the old lady, visibly nervous.

‘My dear Ma, I particularise eight.’

‘The exact size of the table and the room, my dear.’

So it was settled that way:  and when Mr. Crisparkle called with his mother upon Miss Twinkleton, to arrange for the reception of Miss Helena Landless at the Nuns’ House, the two other invitations having reference to that establishment were proffered and accepted.  Miss Twinkleton did, indeed, glance at the globes, as regretting that they were not formed to be taken out into society; but became reconciled to leaving them behind.  Instructions were then despatched to the Philanthropist for the departure and arrival, in good time for dinner, of Mr. Neville and Miss Helena; and stock for soup became fragrant in the air of Minor Canon Corner.