The Secretary as suddenly brightened, and returned: “Upon my honour I had no thought but for you. I forced myself to be constrained, lest you might misinterpret my being more natural. There. It’s gone.”

“Thank you,” said Bella, holding out her little hand. “Forgive me.”

“No!” cried the Secretary, eagerly. “Forgive me !” For there were tears in her eyes, and they were prettier in his sight (though they smote him on the heart rather reproachfully too) than any other glitter in the world.

When they had walked a little further:

“You were going to speak to me,” said the Secretary, with the shadow so long on him quite thrown off and cast away, “about Lizzie Hexam. So was I going to speak to you, if I could have begun.”