"How delightful it must be to live surrounded by royalty in that way!"
"There you're quite out. It's a great bore; one has to mind their p's and q's at court, you know—I never go to Windsor if I can help, it."
"Well, I should never tire of a court—I am thoroughly patrician in my disposition. I have a good right to such tastes, Captain Kockney, for I have a great deal of noble blood in my veins."
"Now, really! what family do you belong to?"
"The duke of Percy; a noble family of Scotland. Pa's name is Joseph P. Hubbard. Don't you pity people who have no nobility in their families?"
"'Pon my soul, I don't know how a man feels under such circumstances. It's a queer sensation, I dare say."
"Dr. Van Horne," continued Mrs. Hilson, to a young man who came up to make his bow to her, "I have a great mind to ask a favour of you. Will you undertake to bleed me?"
"I should be sorry if you required my services in that way, Mrs.
Hilson."
"Ah, but it would be a real obligation; I want to get rid of all but my Percy blood. Perhaps you don't know that our family is distinguished in its descent?"
"From 'old Mother Hubbard,'" thought young Van Horne; but he merely bowed.