Her mother gave her a warning look.
"Yes, your young gentleman. There is one here, isn't there? or did Phœbe make a mistake?"
"You mean Mr. Cornwall," said Aunt Leth, in a gentle tone.
"I think that is the name Phœbe mentioned. A lawyer, isn't he?"
"Yes," replied Fanny, before her mother could speak, "and a very clever one."
"Bravo! bravo!" exclaimed Miser Farebrother. "That is as it should be. I am sure he is a very clever one; I hope we are not wrong in our opinion of him—for your sake, niece, for your sake. Sister-in-law, brother-in-law, I congratulate you. Niece, kiss me again."
Fanny held back, but her mother murmured, "Fanny!" and the girl kissed the miser's wrinkled face again, upon which he smacked his lips and cast up his eyes languishingly.
"And now," he said, "I must really go and find my dear Phœbe and the very clever lawyer. We must go; mustn't we, Jeremiah? See, sister-in-law, Jeremiah brought some flowers for my dear child, and happening to forget them when she left the table, she sent him back for them. I am ashamed of myself for having detained him. Do you know where Phœbe is?—this way—or that? That way? Thank you; I shall easily find her. Remember what I said to you—we must really see more of each other; you must come here oftener. And you, brother-in-law, and you, niece. And hark you, nephew: when I asked you how the world was using you, you answered, 'Extremely well, sir.' You did, did you not?"
"Yes, sir," said Bob, not knowing what was coming.
"You were wrong, and you are wrong again. Sister-in-law, too: you called me 'Mr. Farebrother?'"