“Yes, I should rather have inferred, my dear sir,” returned the cherub feebly, “that Bella took you, from what I have within these few minutes remarked.”

“You don’t know, Pa,” said Bella, “how ill I have used him!”

“You don’t know, sir,” said Rokesmith, “what a heart she has!”

“You don’t know, Pa,” said Bella, “what a shocking creature I was growing, when he saved me from myself!”

“You don’t know, sir,” said Rokesmith, “what a sacrifice she has made for me!”

“My dear Bella,” replied the cherub, still pathetically scared, “and my dear John Rokesmith, if you will allow me so to call you⁠—”

“Yes do, Pa, do!” urged Bella. “ I allow you, and my will is his law. Isn’t it⁠—dear John Rokesmith?”