“Yes, sir.”
“You know better! I don't want humbug, Armour! I'm not fond of it!”
“You told me people said his father was a bookbinder, and I said 'Yes, sir'!”
“You know as well as I do it's a damned lie! The boy is mine. He belongs neither to bookbinder nor blacksmith!”
“You'll allow me a small share in him, I hope! I've done more for him than you, sir.”
“That's not my fault!”
“Perhaps not; but I've done more for him than you ever will, sir!”
“How do you make that out?”
“I've made him as good a shoesmith as ever drove nail! I don't say he's up to his grandfather at the anvil yet, but—”
“An accomplishment no doubt, but not exactly necessary to a gentleman!”