“Stop a bit, my dear. I wish to lead up to it by degrees. And that Mr. Boffin has not treated him well?”

“Has treated him most shamefully, dear Pa!” cried Bella with a flashing face.

“Of which,” pursued the cherub, enjoining patience with his hand, “a certain mercenary young person distantly related to myself, could not approve? Am I leading up to it right?”

“Could not approve, sweet Pa,” said Bella, with a tearful laugh and a joyful kiss.