"'It is very civil of you to say so, sir.'
"'Is she grown-up?'
"'Tolerably: she is twelve years old. She is getting on nicely with the Sisters, which is very satisfactory. She sews well already, and is a promising girl.'
"'Your boys here are comely and well-behaved, and do credit to the mother's care.'
"'Yes, it cannot be denied that what she does for them she does thoroughly. She keeps them well washed, and one hears nothing in the morning but "let me comb you; let me wash you." You should see how she souses and scrubs them.'
"'Is Seraphine as comely as her brothers?'
"'Do you hear that, missis? What a goose you are; won't you answer? Well, I will decide for both. On my honor, Seraphine is better looking than any in this house, though we have eighteen lodgers, who have a jolly lot of damsels among them of all shades.'
"'(Then looking fixedly at the man)—'In two or three years, Seraphine, who is still a child, will be a very attractive and modest young woman, and she will be a comfort to you. … But what would you say if a working-man, doing as you did by her mother, should seduce and dishonor the poor girl?'
"He sprang up almost beside himself, and said:— 'What should I say? I would say nothing; but I would murder the villain who dared to inveigle my daughter.'