“I wish first, my dear,” remarked the cherub faintly, “that you’d have the kindness to sprinkle me with a little milk, for I feel as if I was⁠—Going.”

In fact, the good little fellow had become alarmingly limp, and his senses seemed to be rapidly escaping, from the knees upward. Bella sprinkled him with kisses instead of milk, but gave him a little of that article to drink; and he gradually revived under her caressing care.

“We’ll break it to you gently, dearest Pa,” said Bella.

“My dear,” returned the cherub, looking at them both, “you broke so much in the first⁠—Gush, if I may so express myself⁠—that I think I am equal to a good large breakage now.”

“ Mr. Wilfer,” said John Rokesmith, excitedly and joyfully, “Bella takes me, though I have no fortune, even no present occupation; nothing but what I can get in the life before us. Bella takes me!”