Why shouldn't he ?" asked Mr.James.
"Because, James, he spends the time in cockering up that gal whom he's ruined and spoiled--him and the old nigger between them--so that her mind is poisoned against her lawful relations, and nothing will content her but coming into all the old man's money, instead of going share and share alike, as a cousin should, and especially a she-cousin, while there's a biscuit left in the locker and a drop of rum in the cask." "Ah!" said Mr.James with a touch of sympathy, called forth, perhaps, by mention of the rum, which is a favorite drink with second-hand booksellers' assistants.
"Nothing too good for her," the other went on; "the best of education, pianos to play upon, and nobody good enough for her to know.

Not on visiting terms, if you please, with her neighbors; waiting for duchesses to call upon her.

And what is she, after all?
A miserable teacher!" Mr.Joseph Gallop was a young man somewhere between twenty and thirty, tall, large-limbed, well set-up, and broad-shouldered.

A young man who, at first sight, would seem eminently fitted to push his own fortunes.

Also, at first sight, a remarkably handsome fellow, with straight, clear-cut features and light, curly hair.