‘My daughter, ma’am, is engaged to another man.’

‘You would not enslave her affections, Mr Melmotte?’

’I won’t give her a shilling if she marries any one else; that’s all.  You reminded me down at Caversham that your son is a Director at our Board.’

‘I did;—­I did.’

’I have a great respect for your son, ma’am.  I don’t want to hurt him in any way.  If he’ll signify to my daughter that he withdraws from this offer of his, because I’m against it, I’ll see that he does uncommon well in the city.  I’ll be the making of him.  Good night, ma’am.’  Then Mr Melmotte took his departure...