“⁠—This has set me thinking, I say,” repeated Mrs. Boffin, cordially beaming under the influence of her husband’s compliment, “and I have thought two things. First of all, that I have grown timid of reviving John Harmon’s name. It’s an unfortunate name, and I fancy I should reproach myself if I gave it to another dear child, and it proved again unlucky.”

“Now, whether,” said Mr. Boffin, gravely propounding a case for his Secretary’s opinion; “whether one might call that a superstition?”

“It is a matter of feeling with Mrs. Boffin,” said Rokesmith, gently. “The name has always been unfortunate. It has now this new unfortunate association connected with it. The name has died out. Why revive it? Might I ask Miss Wilfer what she thinks?”