'We never flatter, my dear Mrs. Jackson,' say the plausible
couple; 'we speak our minds. Neither you nor Mr. Jackson have
faults enough. It may sound strangely, but it is true. You have
not faults enough. You know our way,--we must speak out, and
always do. Quarrel with us for saying so, if you will; but we
repeat it,--you have not faults enough!'
The plausible couple are no less plausible to each other than to
third parties. They are always loving and harmonious. The
plausible gentleman calls his wife 'darling,' and the plausible
lady addresses him as 'dearest.' If it be Mr. and Mrs. Bobtail
Widger, Mrs. Widger is 'Lavinia, darling,' and Mr. Widger is
'Bobtail, dearest.' Speaking of each other, they observe the same
tender form. Mrs. Widger relates what 'Bobtail' said, and Mr.
Widger recounts what 'darling' thought and did.
If you sit next to the plausible lady at a dinner-table, she takes
the earliest opportunity of expressing her belief that you are
acquainted with the Clickits; she is sure she has heard the
Clickits speak of you--she must not tell you in what terms, or you
will take her for a flatterer. You admit a knowledge of the
Clickits; the plausible lady immediately launches out in their
praise. She quite loves the Clickits. Were there ever such true-
hearted, hospitable, excellent people--such a gentle, interesting
little woman as Mrs.
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