Is there any man in the House better listened to than John Brough?
Is there any duke in the land that can give a better dinner than John Brough; or a larger fortune to his daughter than John Brough?
Why, sir, the humble person now speaking to you could buy out many a German duke! But I'm not proud--no, no, not proud.

There's my daughter--look at her--when I die, she will be mistress of my fortune; but am I proud?
No! Let him who can win her, marry her, that's what I say.

Be it you, Mr.Fizgig, son of a peer of the realm; or you, Bill Tidd.

Be it a duke or a shoeblack, what do I care, hey ?--what do I care ?" "O-o-oh!" sighed the gent who went by the name of Bill Tidd: a very pale young man, with a black riband round his neck instead of a handkerchief, and his collars turned down like Lord Byron.

He was leaning against the mantelpiece, and with a pair of great green eyes ogling Miss Brough with all his might.
"Oh, John--my dear John!" cried Mrs.Brough, seizing her husband's hand and kissing it, "you are an angel, that you are!" "Isabella, don't flatter me; I'm a _man_,--a plain downright citizen of London, without a particle of pride, except in you and my daughter here--my two Bells, as I call them! This is the way that we live, Titmarsh my boy: ours is a happy, humble, Christian home, and that's all.
Isabella, leave go my hand!" "Mamma, you mustn't do so before company; it's odious!" shrieked Miss B.; and Mamma quietly let the hand fall, and heaved from her ample bosom a great large sigh.