“You don’t know how well I think of you, Miss Wilfer.”

“Truly, you must have a very high opinion of me, Mr. Rokesmith, when you believe that in prosperity I neglect and forget my old home.”

“Do I believe so?”

“You did , sir, at any rate,” returned Bella.

“I took the liberty of reminding you of a little omission into which you had fallen⁠—insensibly and naturally fallen. It was no more than that.”

“And I beg leave to ask you, Mr. Rokesmith,” said Bella, “why you took that liberty?⁠—I hope there is no offence in the phrase; it is your own, remember.”