“Miss Wilfer,” said the Secretary, with a beaming face, “if you could know with what delight I make the discovery that Fortune isn’t spoiling you , you would know that it more than compensates me for any slight at any other hands.”

“Oh, don’t speak of me ,” said Bella, giving herself an impatient little slap with her glove. “You don’t know me as well as⁠—”

“As you know yourself?” suggested the Secretary, finding that she stopped. “ Do you know yourself?”

“I know quite enough of myself,” said Bella, with a charming air of being inclined to give herself up as a bad job, “and I don’t improve upon acquaintance. But Mr. Boffin.”