"Of course, I could see he was 'centric, and then at first he spoke so funnily.
'And who be you ?' he says, threatening-like.

And I says to him, 'I'm Mr.Bunting's daughter, sir.' 'Then you're a very fortunate girl'-- that's what he says, Ellen--'to 'ave such a nice stepmother as you've got.

That's why,' he says, 'you look such a good, innocent girl.' And then he quoted a bit of the Prayer Book.

'Keep innocency,' he says, wagging his head at me.

Lor'! It made me feel as if I was with Old Aunt again." "I won't have you going out with the lodger--that's flat." Bunting spoke in a muffled, angry tone.