It might creep along as a pious opinion, and even reach England, to be acknowledged on a king's or a rowdy's death-bed--and Alberic de Blanchminster,' said I, '(saving your presence, sir) was a rowdy robber who, being afraid when it came to dying, caught at the Christian precept he has most neglected, as being therefore in all probability the decentest.
But no Englishman, not being on his death-bed, ever believed it: and we knew better--until this child came along and taught us.
The Brethren's livery has always been popular enough in the streets of Merchester: but she--she taught us (God bless her) that it can be honoured for its own sake; that it is noble and, best of all, that its _noblesse oblige_'.

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Ah, little maid, you do not guess your strength!" Corona understood very little of all this.

But she understood that Uncle Copas loved her, and was uttering these whimsies to cover up the love he revealed.