ThefirstvariationwhichmanifesteditselfinMrF。’sAunt’sdemeanourwhenshehadfinishedherpieceoftoast，wasaloudandprolongedsniff。Findingitimpossibletoavoidconstruingthisdemonstrationintoadefianceofhimself，itsgloomysignificancebeingunmistakable，Clennamlookedplaintivelyattheexcellentthoughprejudicedladyfromwhomitemanated，inthehopethatshemightbedisarmedbyameeksubmission。
’Noneofyoureyesatme，’saidMrF。’sAunt，shiveringwithhostility。’Takethat。’
’That’wasthecrustofthepieceoftoast。Clennamacceptedtheboonwithalookofgratitude，andhelditinhishandunderthepressureofalittleembarrassment，whichwasnotrelievedwhenMrF。’sAunt，elevatinghervoiceintoacryofconsiderablepower，exclaimed，’Hehasaproudstomach，thischap!He’stooproudachaptoeatit!’and，comingoutofherchair，shookhervenerablefistsoveryclosetohisnoseastoticklethesurface。ButforthetimelyreturnofFlora，tofindhiminthisdifficultsituation，furtherconsequencesmighthaveensued。Flora，withouttheleastdiscomposureorsurprise，butcongratulatingtheoldladyinanapprovingmanneronbeing’verylivelyto-night’，handedherbacktoherchair。
’Hehasaproudstomach，thischap，’saidMrF。’srelation，onbeingreseated。’Givehimamealofchaff!’
’Oh!Idon’tthinkhewouldlikethat，aunt，’returnedFlora。