“Nathaniel Pipkin could make no reply, so old Lobbs shook him backwards and forwards, for two or three minutes, by way of arranging his ideas for him.

“ ‘What do you want here?’ roared Lobbs; ‘I suppose you have come after my daughter, now!’

“Old Lobbs merely said this as a sneer: for he did not believe that mortal presumption could have carried Nathaniel Pipkin so far. What was his indignation, when that poor man replied⁠—

“ ‘Yes, I did, Mr. Lobbs, I did come after your daughter. I love her, Mr. Lobbs.’

“ ‘Why, you snivelling, wry-faced, puny villain,’ gasped old Lobbs, paralysed by the atrocious confession; ‘what do you mean by that? Say this to my face! Damme, I’ll throttle you!’