Find a chair for your uncle, Esther." "Ay, the name did it," chuckled the old man, who as a matter of fact was anything but a humble old person, and to whom the bare fact of existence, and the name of Clegg, seemed warrant enough for thinking quite a lot of yourself.
"I'm afraid you don't remember your old uncle," said the old man to Esther, looking dimly round, and rather bewildered by the fine young ladies.

Actually, he was only a remote courtesy uncle, having married their father's mother's sister.
"Oh, of course, Uncle Clegg," said Esther, a true daughter of her mother; "but, you see, it's a long time since we saw you." "And this is Dorcas.

Come and kiss your uncle, Dorcas.

And this is Matilda," said Mrs.Mesurier.
"Ay," said the old man, "and you're all growing up such fine young ladies.

Deary me, Mary, but they must make you feel old." "We were just going to have some tea," said Esther; "wouldn't you like a cup, uncle ?" "I daresay your uncle would rather have a glass of beer," said Mrs.
Mesurier.
"Ay, you're right there, Mary," answered the old man, "right there.