“Oh, Mr. Boffin! Mrs. Boffin, pray say something for me!” murmured Bella, disengaging her arm, and covering her face with her hands.

“Old lady,” said Mr. Boffin, anticipating his wife, “you hold your tongue. Bella, my dear, don’t you let yourself be put out. I’ll right you.”

“But you don’t, you don’t right me!” exclaimed Bella, with great emphasis. “You wrong me, wrong me!”

“Don’t you be put out, my dear,” complacently retorted Mr. Boffin. “I’ll bring this young man to book. Now, you Rokesmith! You can’t decline to hear, you know, as well as to answer. You hear me tell you that the first side of your conduct was insolence⁠—insolence and presumption. Answer me one thing, if you can. Didn’t this young lady tell you so herself?”