`Oh!' cried the gentleman, surveying Tom attentively. `You really are Miss Pinch's brother, I presume? You will excuse my asking. I don't observe any resemblance.'
`Miss Pinch has a brother, I know,' observed the lady.
`Miss Pinch is always talking about her brother, when she ought to be engaged upon my education,' sobbed the pupil.
`Sophia! Hold your tongue!' observed the gentleman. `Sit down, if you please,' addressing Tom.
Tom sat down, looking from one face to another, in mute surprise.
`Remain here, if you please, Miss Pinch,' pursued the gentleman, looking slightly over his shoulder.
Tom interrupted him here, by rising to place a chair for his sister.
Having done which he sat down again.
`I am glad you chance to have called to see your sister to-day, sir,' resumed the brass-and-copper founder. `For although I do not approve, as a principle, of any young person engaged in my family in the capacity of a governess, receiving visitors, it happens in this case to be well-timed.
I am sorry to inform you that we are not at all satisfied with your sister.'
`We are very much dis satisfied with her,' observed the lady.
`I'd never say another lesson to Miss Pinch if I was to be beat to death for it!' sobbed the pupil.
`Sophia!' cried her father. `Hold your tongue!'
`Will you allow me to inquire what your ground of dissatisfaction is?' asked Tom.
`Yes,' said the gentleman, `I will. 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 connexion 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 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. My meaning is, that no man can expect his children to respect what he degrades.'
`Ha, ha, ha!' laughed the gentleman. `Cant! cant! The common cant!'
`The common story, sir!' said Tom; `the story of a common mind. Your governess cannot win the confidence and respect of your children, forsooth!
Let her begin by winning yours, and see what happens then.'
`Miss Pinch is getting her bonnet on, I trust, my dear?' said the gentleman.
`I trust she is,' said Tom, forestalling the reply. `I have no doubt she is. In the meantime I address myself to you, sir. You made your statement to me, sir; you required to see me for that purpose; and I have a right to answer it. I am not loud or turbulent,' said Tom, which was quite true, `though I can scarcely say as much for you, in your manner of addressing yourself to me. And I wish, on my sister's behalf, to state the simple truth.'
`You may state anything you like, young man,' returned the gentleman, affecting to yawn. `My dear, Miss Pinch's money.'