says he, you've got a very likely young gentleman here, that's a little
out of cash, says he, so I suppose, ma'am, says he, a place, or a
pension, or something in that shape of life, would be no bad
compliment, says he."

"But no such good luck as that will come to my share," cried Mrs
Belfield, "I can tell you that, for every thing I want to do goes quite
contrary. Who would not have thought such a son as mine, though I say
it before his face, could not have made his fortune long ago, living as
he did, among all the great folks, and dining at their table just like
one of themselves? yet, for all that, you see they let him go on his
own way, and think of him no more than of nobody! I'm sure they might
be ashamed to shew their faces, and so I should tell them at once, if I
could but get sight of them."

"I don't mean, ma'am," said Mr Simkins, "for to be finding fault with
what you say, for I would not be unpelite in no shape; but if I might
be so free as for to differ a little bit, I must needs say I am rather
for going to work in anotherguess sort of a manner; and if I was as
you--"

"Mr Simkins," interrupted Belfield, "we will settle this matter another
time." And then, turning to the wearied Cecilia, "The man, madam," he
said, "whom I have done myself the honour to recommend to you, I can
see to-morrow morning; may I then tell him to wait upon you?"

"I ask pardon for just putting in," cried Mr Simkins, before Cecilia
could answer, and again bowing down to the ground, "but I only mean to
say I had no thought for to be impertinent, for as to what I was agoing
to remark, is was not of no consequence in the least."