“You take advantage of a hasty word of mine,” said Bella with a little sting of self-reproach, “to make me seem⁠—I don’t know what. I spoke without consideration when I used it. If that was bad, I am sorry; but you repeat it after consideration, and that seems to me to be at least no better. For the rest, I beg it may be understood, Mr. Rokesmith, that there is an end of this between us, now and forever.”

“Now and forever,” he repeated.

“Yes. I appeal to you, sir,” proceeded Bella with increasing spirit, “not to pursue me. I appeal to you not to take advantage of your position in this house to make my position in it distressing and disagreeable. I appeal to you to discontinue your habit of making your misplaced attentions as plain to Mrs. Boffin as to me.”

“Have I done so?”