“Did I, Mr. Rokesmith?” asked Bella with her face still covered. “O say, Mr. Rokesmith! Did I?”

“Don’t be distressed, Miss Wilfer; it matters very little now.”

“Ah! You can’t deny it, though!” said Mr. Boffin, with a knowing shake of his head.

“But I have asked him to forgive me since,” cried Bella; “and I would ask him to forgive me now again, upon my knees, if it would spare him!”

Here Mrs. Boffin broke out a-crying.