But she suppressed her feelings, and answered whimpering, 'If your ladyship pleases, I wished to tell you that Mr. Dunborough is here.'

After a long silence, broken only by Mary's half-smothered sobs, the duke turned sharply upon the women: "For the love of God, cease your miserable whimpering," growled his lordship.

But then follows more whimpering: "Nature melted within me [continues Sterne] as I said this; and Maria observing, as I took out my handkerchief, that it was steeped too much already to be of use, would needs go wash it in the stream.

"Stop that whimpering and whining.