As for her great acquaintances, none of them were in London; and she made it a matter of quarrel with me that I had not introduced her to John Brough, Esquire, M.P., and to Lord and Lady Tiptoff, her relatives.
Mr.Brough was at Brighton when we arrived in town; and on his return I did not care at first to tell our Director that I had brought my aunt with me, or mention my embarrassments for money.

He looked rather serious when perforce I spoke of the latter to him and asked for an advance; but when he heard that my lack of money had been occasioned by the bringing of my aunt to London, his tone instantly changed.

"That, my dear boy, alters the question; Mrs.Hoggarty is of an age when all things must be yielded to her.

Here are a hundred pounds; and I beg you to draw upon me whenever you are in the least in want of money." This gave me breathing-time until she should pay her share of the household expenses.
And the very next day Mr.and Mrs.John Brough, in their splendid carriage-and-four, called upon Mrs.Hoggarty and my wife at our lodgings in Lamb's Conduit Street.
It was on the very day when my poor aunt appeared with her face in that sad condition; and she did not fail to inform Mrs.Brough of the cause, and to state that at Castle Hoggarty, or at her country place in Somersetshire, she had never heard or thought of such vile odious things.
"Gracious heavens!" shouted John Brough, Esquire, "a lady of your rank to suffer in this way!--the excellent relative of my dear boy, Titmarsh! Never, madam--never let it be said that Mrs.Hoggarty of Castle Hoggarty should be subject to such horrible humiliation, while John Brough has a home to offer her,--a humble, happy, Christian home, madam; though unlike, perhaps, the splendour to which you have been accustomed in the course of your distinguished career.

Isabella my love!--Belinda! speak to Mrs.Hoggarty.