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not very hopeful pupil—a stubborn little girl with a sulky
forehead； a deep voice； and an inanimate dissatisfied mamma—
whose case was certainly not rendered more hopeful by the
confusion into which we threw her preceptor。 The lesson at last
came to an end； after proceeding as discordantly as possible； and
when the little girl had changed her shoes； and had had her white
muslin extinguished in shawls； she was taken away。 After a few
words of preparation； we then went in search of Mr Turveydrop；
whom we found； grouped with his hat and gloves； as a model of
Deportment； on the sofa in his private apartment—the only
comfortable room in the house。 He appeared to have dressed at his
leisure； in the intervals of a light collation； and his dressing…case；
brushes； and so forth； all of quiet and elegant kind； lay about。
“Father； Miss Summerson； Miss Jellyby。”
“Charmed！ Enchanted！” said Mr Turveydrop； rising with his
high…shouldered bow。 “Permit me！” handing chairs。 “Be seated！”
kissing the tips of his left fingers。 “Overjoyed！” shutting his eyes
and rolling。 “My little retreat is made a Paradise。” Recomposing
himself on the sofa； like the second gentleman in Europe。
“Again you find us； Miss Summerson；” said he； “using our little
arts to polish； polish！ Again the sex stimulates us； and rewards us；
by the condescension of its lovely presence。 It is much in these
times （and we have made an awfully degenerating business of it
since the days of His Royal Highness the Prince Regent—my
patron； if I may presume to say so） to experience that Deportment
is not wholly trodden under foot by mechanics。 That it can yet
bask in the smile of Beauty； my dear madam。”
I said nothing； which I thought a suitable reply； and he took a
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pinch of snuff。
“My dear son；” said Mr Turveydrop； “you have four schools this
afternoon。 I would recommend a hasty sandwich。”
“Thank you； father；” returned Prince； “I will be sure to be
punctual。 My dear father； may I beg you to prepare your mind for
what I am going to say？”
“Good Heaven！” exclaimed the model； pale and aghast； as
Prince and Caddy； hand in hand； bent down before him。
“What is this？ Is this lunacy！ Or what is this？”
“Father；” returned Prince； with great submission； “I love this
young lady； and we are engaged。”
“Engaged！” cried Mr Turveydrop； reclining on the sofa； and
shutting out the sight with his hand。 “An arrow launched at my
brain； by my own child！”
“We have been engaged for some time； father；” faltered Prince；
“and Miss Summerson； hearing of it； advised that we should
declare the fact to you； and was so very kind as to attend on the
present occasion。 Miss Jellyby is a young lady who deeply respects
you； father。”
Mr Turveydrop uttered a groan。
“No； pray don’t！ Pray don’t； father；” urged his son。 “Miss
Jellyby is a young lady who deeply respects you； and our first
desire is to consider your comfort。”
Mr Turveydrop sobbed。
“No； pray don’t； father！” cried his son。
“Boy；” said Mr Turveydrop； “it is well that your sainted mother
is spared this pang。 Strike deep； and spare not。 Strike home； sir；
strike home！”
“Pray； don’t say so； father；” implored Prince； in tears。 “It goes
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to my heart。 I do assure you； father； that our first wish and
intention is to consider your comfort。 Caroline and I do not forget
our duty—what is my duty is Caroline’s； as we have often said
together—and； with your approval and consent； father； we will
devote ourselves to making your life agreeable。”
“Strike home；” murmured Mr Turveydrop。 “Strike home！”
But he seemed to listen； I thought； too。
“My dear father；” returned Prince； “we well know what little
comforts you are accustomed to； and have a right to； and it will
always be our study； and our pride； to provide those before
anything。 If you will bless us with your approval and consent；
father； we shall not think of being married until it is quite
agreeable to you； and when we are married； we shall always make
you—of course—our first consideration。 You must ever be the
Head and Master here； father； and we feel how truly unnatural it
would be in us； if we failed to know it； or if we failed to exert
ourselves in every possible way to please you。”
Mr Turveydrop underwent a severe internal struggle； and came
upright on the sofa again； with his cheeks puffing over his stiff
cravat： a perfect model of parental deportment。
“My son！” said Mr Turveydrop。 “My children！ I cannot resist
your prayer。 Be happy！”
His benignity； as he raised his future daughter…in…law and
stretched out his hand to his son （who kissed it with affectionate
respect and gratitude）； was the most confusing sight I ever saw。
“My children；” said Mr Turveydrop； paternally encircling
Caddy with his left arm as she sat beside him； and putting his right
hand gracefully on his hip。 “My son and daughter； your happiness
shall be my care。 I will watch over you。 You shall always live with
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me；” meaning； of course； I will always live with you； “this house is
henceforth as much yours as mine； consider it your home。 May
you long live to share it with me！”
The power of his Deportment was such； that they really were as
much overcome with thankfulness as if； instead of quartering
himself upon them for the rest of his life； he were making some
munificent sacrifice in their favour。
“For myself； my children；” said Mr Turveydrop； “I am falling
into the sear and yellow leaf； and it is impossible to say how long
the last feeble traces of gentlemanly Deportment may linger in this
weaving and spinning age。 But； so long； I will do my duty to
society； and will show myself； as usual； about town。 My wants are
few and simple。 My little apartment here； my few essentials for the
toilet； my frugal morning meal； and my little dinner； will suffice。 I
charge your dutiful affection with the supply of these
requirements； and I charge myself with all the rest。”
They were overpowered afresh by his uncommon generosity。
“My son；” said Mr Turveydrop； “for those little points in which
you are deficient—points of Deportment which are born with a
man—which may be improved by cultivation；