“My dear! The hermit Secretary, who creeps up and down the back stairs, and is never seen!”

“I don’t know about his creeping up and down the back stairs,” said Bella, rather contemptuously, “further than knowing that he does no such thing; and as to his never being seen, I should be content never to have seen him, though he is quite as visible as you are. But I pleased him (for my sins) and he had the presumption to tell me so.”

“The man never made a declaration to you, my dear Bella!”

“Are you sure of that, Sophronia?” said Bella. “ I am not. In fact, I am sure of the contrary.”

“The man must be mad,” said Mrs. Lammle, with a kind of resignation.