Sentence:  If that portrait could speak, sir &mdash; but it has the advantage over the original of not possessing the power of committing itself and disgusting others, &mdash; it would testify, that a long period has elapsed since I first habitually addressed it as the picture of a <WSD>noodle</WSD>. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  a person with poor judgement; a fool