\"Youmighthavebeenoneofthefriendsofthefamilyandscarcelyhavelearnedthefact.Indeed,poorman,heonlyabouthalfexists,forhehasbeensolongovershadowedbyhisfashionablewifeanddaughter,thatheisbutasicklyplantofaman.\"
VanBergsawthatthegreetingreceivedbyMr.Mayhewfromhiswifeanddaughterwasveryundemonstrativetosaytheleast,andthatthenthegentlemanquicklydisappeared,asiffearingthathemightbeintheway.
\"Frommyverylimitedmeansofjudging,\"VanBergremarked,\"I
cannotseeanythingmoreobjectionableintheheadofthefamilythanintheothermembers.\"
\"Yourphrase,\'headofthefamily,\'asappliedtoMr.Mayhew,makesmesmile.Hisnamefiguresattheheadofthelargefamilybills,butscarcelyelsewherewithmuchprominence.Youwillsoonlearn,ifyouremainhere,thatMr.Mayhewimbibesrathermorethanisgoodforhim,soImayaswellmentionthedisagreeablefactatonce.Buttodothepoormanjustice,Isupposehedrinkstokeephisspiritsuptotheordinarylevel,ratherthanfromanyhopeofbecomingalittlejollyoccasionally.WhymyauntmarriedhimIscarcelyknow;andyetIhaveoftenthoughtthathemightbeaverydifferentdidshenotsoquenchhimbyamannerallherown.