“I shall never be sorry for it,” said Bella; “and I should always be sorry, and should every minute of my life despise myself if I remained here after what has happened.”

“At least, Bella,” argued Mr. Boffin, “let there be no mistake about it. Look before you leap, you know. Stay where you are, and all’s well, and all’s as it was to be. Go away, and you can never come back.”

“I know that I can never come back, and that’s what I mean,” said Bella.

“You mustn’t expect,” Mr. Boffin pursued, “that I’m a-going to settle money on you, if you leave us like this, because I am not. No, Bella! Be careful! Not one brass farthing.”

“Expect!” said Bella, haughtily. “Do you think that any power on earth could make me take it, if you did, sir?”