'
'Bless my soul, sir!' cried Tom, rising from his seat; for he was now
unable to contain himself any longer; 'don't allow such considerations
as those to influence you, pray. They don't exist, sir. She is not
unprotected. She is ready to depart this instant. Ruth, my dear, get
your bonnet on!'
'Oh, a pretty family!' cried the lady. 'Oh, he's her brother! There's no
doubt about that!'
'As little doubt, madam,' said Tom, 'as that the young lady yonder is
the child of your teaching, and not my sister's. Ruth, my dear, get your
bonnet on!'
'When you say, young man,' interposed the brass-and-copper founder,
haughtily, 'with that impertinence which is natural to you, and which I
therefore do not condescend to notice further, that the young lady, my
eldest daughter, has been educated by any one but Miss Pinch, you--I
needn't proceed. You comprehend me fully. I have no doubt you are used
to it.'
'Sir!' cried Tom, after regarding him in silence for some little time.
'If you do not understand what I mean, I will tell you. If you do
understand what I mean, I beg you not to repeat that mode of expressing
yourself in answer to it.
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