'
'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.
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