' 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. Clickit, or such a frank,
unaffected creature as Mr. Clickit? were there ever two people, in short,
so little spoiled by the world as they are? 'As who, darling?' cries Mr.
Widger, from the opposite side of the table. 'The Clickits, dearest,'
replies Mrs. Widger. 'Indeed you are right, darling,' Mr. Widger
rejoins; 'the Clickits are a very high-minded, worthy, estimable couple.'
Mrs. Widger remarking that Bobtail always grows quite eloquent upon this
subject, Mr. Widger admits that he feels very strongly whenever such
people as the Clickits and some other friends of his (here he glances at
the host and hostess) are mentioned; for they are an honour to human
nature, and do one good to think of. '_You_ know the Clickits, Mrs.
Jackson?' he says, addressing the lady of the house. 'No, indeed; we
have not that pleasure,' she replies. 'You astonish me!' exclaims Mr.
Widger: 'not know the Clickits! why, you are the very people of all
others who ought to be their bosom friends. You are kindred beings; you
are one and the same thing:--not know the Clickits! Now _will_ you know
the Clickits? Will you make a point of knowing them? Will you meet them
in a friendly way at our house one evening, and be acquainted with them?'
Mrs. Jackson will be quite delighted; nothing would give her more
pleasure. 'Then, Lavinia, my darling,' says Mr. Widger, 'mind you don't
lose sight of that; now, pray take care that Mr. and Mrs. Jackson know
the Clickits without loss of time. Such people ought not to be strangers
to each other.' Mrs. Widger books both families as the centre of
attraction for her next party; and Mr. Widger, going on to expatiate upon
the virtues of the Clickits, adds to their other moral qualities, that
they keep one of the neatest phaetons in town, and have two thousand a
year.

As the plausible couple never laud the merits of any absent person,
without dexterously contriv