adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
acceptverbUS /ækˈsept/
consider or hold as true
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
affinitynounUS /əˈfɪnəti/
(immunology) the attraction between an antigen and an antibody
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
altruisticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːltruːˈɪstɪk/
showing unselfish concern for the welfare of others
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
certainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
Chuzzlewit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
commonadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmən/
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
CuriositynounUS /ˌkjʊriˈɑːsəti/
a state in which you want to learn more about something
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
DickensnounUS /ˈdɪkənz/
a word used in exclamations of confusion
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
disownedverbUS /dɪˈsoʊnd/
past form of “disown” — prevent deliberately (as by making a will) from inheriting
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
emotionnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃən/
any strong feeling
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
faithfuladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪθfəl/
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
fanciedadjectiveUS /ˈfænsid/
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
favoritenounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪt/
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
feltverbUS /felt/
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
fondadjectiveUS /fɑːnd/
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
grandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/
the father of your father or mother
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
improbableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɑːbəbəl/
not likely to be true or to occur or to have occurred
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
laughedverbUS /læft/
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
lingeredverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡərd/
past form of “linger” — remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
LittleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
lovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
lovedadjectiveUS /lʌvd/
held dear
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
MartinnounUS /ˈmɑːrtən/
French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
metverbUS /met/
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
musicnounUS /ˈmjuːzɪk/
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
Nell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
OldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
organ-builder
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
passagesnounUS /ˈpæsədʒəz/
plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
patheticadjectiveUS /pəˈθetɪk/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
periodsnounUS /ˈpɪriədz/
plural of “period” — an amount of time
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
PinchverbUS /pɪntʃ/
squeeze tightly between the fingers
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
portraiturenoun
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
richadjectiveUS /rɪtʃ/
possessing material wealth
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
scornnounUS /skɔːrn/
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
sentimentaladjectiveUS /ˌsentəˈmentəl/
given to or marked by sentiment or sentimentality
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
ShopverbUS /ʃɑːp/
do one's shopping
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading 'Martin Chuzzlewit' was a favorite book with him, and so was the 'Old Curiosity Shop.'
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
sympathynounUS /ˈsɪmpəθi/
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
TomnounUS /tɑːm/
male cat
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
tremulousadjectiveUS /ˈtremjələs/
(of the voice) quivering as from weakness or fear
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
vibrantadjectiveUS /ˈvaɪbrənt/
vigorous and animated
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
voicenounUS /vɔɪs/
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading He was fond of reading the pathetic passages from both books, and I can still hear his rich, vibrant voice as it lingered in tremulous emotion on the periods he loved.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I cannot make out that I was any the less fond of Dickens because of it.
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
willingadjectiveUS /ˈwɪlɪŋ/
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading I believe I was rather more willing to accept it as a faithful portraiture then than I should be now; and I certainly never made any question of it with my friend the organ-builder.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading No doubt a fancied affinity with Tom Pinch through their common love of music made him like that most sentimental and improbable personage, whom he would have disowned and laughed to scorn if he had met him in life; but it was a purely altruistic sympathy that he felt with Little Nell and her grandfather.
