’I dare say not.  I only thought I’d tell you.  You might have been going to speak about that railway.’

‘Oh dear no.’

’Your mother was saying to me down in the county that she hoped you attended to the business.  I told her that there was nothing to attend to.’

‘My mother doesn’t understand anything at all about it,’ said Sir Felix.

‘Women never do.  Well;—­what can I do for you, now that you are here?’

’Mr Melmotte, I’m come,—­I’m come to;—­in short, Mr Melmotte, I want to propose myself as a suitor for your daughter’s hand.’

‘The d——­ you do!’

‘Well, yes; and we hope...