"And I trust, Mr.Ascott, my nephew will soon cease to be an expense to you.
It was your own voluntary kindness that brought it upon yourself, and I hope you have not found, never will find, either him or us ungrateful." "Oh, as to that, ma'am, I don't look for gratitude.

Still, if Ascott does work his way into a good position--and he'll be the first of his family that ever did, I reckon--but I beg your pardon, Miss Leaf.
Ladies, I'll bid you good day.

Will your servant call my carriage ?" The instant he was gone Hilary burst forth-- "If I were Ascott, I'd rather starve in a garret, break stones in the high road, or buy a broom and sweep a crossing, than I'd be dependent on this man, this pompous, purse-proud, illiterate fool!" "No, not a fool," reproved Johanna.

"An acute, clear-headed, nor, I think, bad-hearted man.

Coarse and common, certainly; but if we were to hate every thing coarse or common, we should find plenty to hate.
Besides, though he does his kindness in an unpleasant way, think how very, very kind he has been to Ascott." "Johanna, I think you would find a good word for the de'il himself, as we used to say," cried Hilary, laughing.