He was a clever man; a pleasant companion; a careless student; with a great propensity for running into debt, and a partiality for the tavern.

When he was drunk, he used to beat his wife and daughter; and the next morning, with a headache, he would rail at the world for its neglect of his genius, and abuse, with a good deal of cleverness, and sometimes with perfect reason, the fools, his brother painters.

As it was with the utmost difficulty that he could keep himself, and as he owed money for a mile round Soho, where he lived, he thought to better his circumstances by marrying a young woman of the French nation, who was by profession an opera-girl.

The humble calling of her female parent Miss Sharp never alluded to, but used to state subsequently that the Entrechats were a noble family of Gascony, and took great pride in her descent from them.
And curious it is that as she advanced in life this young lady's ancestors increased in rank and splendour.
Rebecca's mother had had some education somewhere, and her daughter spoke French with purity and a Parisian accent.

It was in those days rather a rare accomplishment, and led to her engagement with the orthodox Miss Pinkerton.