“A hackney coachman may admire me,” remarked Bella, with a touch of her mother’s loftiness.

“It’s highly probable, my love. Number two, my dear?”

“Number two, Pa, is much to the same purpose, though not so preposterous. Mr. Lightwood would propose to me, if I would let him.”

“Then I understand, my dear, that you don’t intend to let him?”

Bella again saying, with her former emphasis, “Why, of course not!” her father felt himself bound to echo, “Of course not.”

“I don’t care for him,” said Bella.

“That’s enough,” her father interposed.