. I don't recognise it as a right; but I
will. Your sister has not the slightest innate power of commanding respect. It
has been a constant source of difference between us. Although she has been in
this family for some time, and although the young lady who is now present, has
almost, as it were, grown up under her tuition, that young lady has no respect
for her. Miss Pinch has been perfectly unable to command my daughter's respect,
or to win my daughter's confidence. Now,« said the gentleman, allowing the palm
of his hand to fall gravely down upon the table: »I maintain that there is
something radically wrong in that! You, as her brother, may be disposed to deny
it -«
    »I beg your pardon, sir,« said Tom. »I am not at all disposed to deny it. I
am sure that there is something radically wrong: radically monstrous: in that.«
    »Good Heavens!« cried the gentleman, looking round the room with dignity,
»what do I find to be the case! what results obtrude themselves upon me as
flowing from this weakness of character on the part of Miss Pinch! What are my
feelings as a father, when, after my desire (repeatedly expressed to Miss Pinch,
as I think she will not venture to deny) that my daughter should be choice in
her expressions, genteel in her deportment, as becomes her station in life, and
politely distant to her inferiors in society, I find her, only this very
morning, addressing Miss Pinch herself as a beggar!«
    »A beggarly thing,« observed the lady, in correction.
    »Which is worse,« said the gentleman, triumphantly; »which is worse. A
beggarly thing. A low, coarse, despicable expression!«
    »Most despicable,« cried Tom. »I am glad to find that there is a just
appreciation of it here.«
    »So just, sir,« said the gentleman, lowering his voice to be the more
impressive. »So just, that, but for my knowing Miss Pinch to be an unprotected
young person, an orphan, and without friends, I would, as I assured Miss Pinch,
upon my veracity and personal character, a few minutes ago, I would have severed
the connection between us at that moment and from that time.«
    »Bless my soul, sir!« cried Tom, rising from his seat; for he was now unable
to contain himself any longer; »don't allow
