It had seemed to him so much a matter of course that the ladies of his house should marry into noble families that the idea of one of them being given to a gentleman belonging to the professional class was surprising indeed.
"Do you really mean, sir, that if my friend Harry were some day to ask for Jeanne's hand you would approve of the match ?" "That is exactly what I do mean, Ernest.

In the stormy times in which we are living I could wish no better protector for her.

Were he a Frenchman, in the same position of life, I own that I might view the matter in a different light; but, as I have said, in England the distinction of classes is much less marked than here; and, moreover, in England there is little fear of such an outbreak of democracy as that which is destroying France." A few minutes later Monsieur du Tillet entered with the clothes which had been prepared for the boys.

They were such as would be worn by the sons of workmen; he himself was attired in a blue blouse and trousers.

Jules was aroused from the couch on which he had for the last hour been asleep, and he and Ernest retired to dress themselves in their new costume, M.du Tillet accompanying them to assist in their toilet.