 Miss Pinch's money.«
    »When you tell me,« resumed Tom, who was not the less indignant for keeping
himself quiet, »that my sister has no innate power of commanding the respect of
your children, I must tell you it is not so; and that she has. She is as well
bred, as well taught, as well qualified by nature to command respect, as any
hirer of a governess you know. But when you place her at a disadvantage in
reference to every servant in your house, how can you suppose, if you have the
gift of common sense, that she is not in a tenfold worse position in reference
to your daughters?«
    »Pretty well! Upon my word,« exclaimed the gentleman, »this is pretty well!«
    »It is very ill, sir,« said Tom. »It is very bad and mean, and wrong and
cruel. Respect! I believe young people are quick enough to observe and imitate;
and why or how should they respect whom no one else respects, and everybody
slights? And very partial they must grow - oh, very partial! - to their studies,
when they see to what a pass proficiency in those same tasks has brought their
governess! Respect! Put anything the most deserving of respect before your
daughters in the light in which you place her, and you will bring it down as
low, no matter what it is!«
    »You speak with extreme impertinence, young man,« observed the gentleman.
    »I speak without passion, but with extreme indignation and contempt for such
a course of treatment, and for all who practise it,« said Tom. »Why, how can
you, as an honest gentleman, profess displeasure or surprise, at your daughter
telling my sister she is something beggarly and humble, when you are for ever
telling her the same thing yourself in fifty plain, out-speaking ways, though
not in words; and when your very porter and footman make the same delicate
announcement to all comers? As to your suspicion and distrust of her: even of
her word; if she is not above their reach, you have no right to employ her.«
    »No right!« cried the brass-and-copper founder.
    »Distinctly not,« Tom answered. »If you imagine that the payment of an
annual sum of money gives it to you, you immensely exaggerate its power and
value. Your money is the least, part of your bargain in such a case. You may be
punctual in that to half a second
