"Mr. Pickwick nodded his readiness to humour the infirmities of age, and entered into a general conversation with the other members of the circle. "'Delightful situation this,' said Mr. Pickwick. "'Delightful!' echoed Messrs. Snodgrass, Tupman, and Winkle. "'Well, I think it is,' said Mr. Wardle. "'There ain't a better spot o' ground in all Kent, sir,' said the hard-headed man with the pippin-face; 'there ain't indeed, sir--I'm sure there ain't, sir,' and the hard-headed man looked triumphantly round, as if he had been very much contradicted by somebody, but had got the better of him at last. 'There ain't a better spot o' ground in all Kent,' said the hard-headed man again after a pause. "''Cept Mullins' meadows!' observed the fat man, solemnly. "'Mullins' meadows!' ejaculated the other, with profound contempt. "'Ah, Mullins' meadows,' repeated the fat man. "'Reg'lar good land that,' interposed another fat man. "'And so it is, sure-ly,' said a third fat man. "'Everybody knows that,' said the corpulent host. "The hard-headed man looked dubiously round, but finding himself in a minority, assumed a compassionate air, and said no more. "'What are they talking about?' inquired the old lady of one of her grand-daughters, in a very audible voice; for, like many deaf people, she never seemed to calculate on the possibility of other persons hearing what she said herself. "'About the land, grandma.' "'What about the land? Nothing the matter, is there?' "'No, no. Mr. Miller was saying our land was better than Mullins' meadows.' "'How should he know anything about it?' inquired the old lady indignantly. 'Miller's a conceited coxcomb, and you may tell him I said so.' Saying which, the old lady, quite unconscious that she had spoken above a whisper, drew herself up, and looked carving-knives at the hard-headed delinquent." * * * * *