“Never mind that now,” said Bounderby.

“Well, then,” grumbled Tom. “Don’t begin with me.”

“ Mrs. Bounderby,” said Harthouse, perfectly hearing this under-strain as it went on; “your brother’s face is quite familiar to me. Can I have seen him abroad? Or at some public school, perhaps?”

“No,” she resumed, quite interested, “he has never been abroad yet, and was educated here, at home. Tom, love, I am telling Mr. Harthouse that he never saw you abroad.”

“No such luck, sir,” said Tom.