“And you must prepare yourself you know, my precious,” said her father, with much gentleness, “for our looking very poor and meagre at home, and being at the best but very uncomfortable, after Mr. Boffin’s house.”

“I don’t mind, Pa. I could bear much harder trials⁠—for John.”

The closing words were not so softly and blushingly said but that John heard them, and showed that he heard them by again assisting Bella to another of those mysterious disappearances.

“Well!” said the cherub gaily, and not expressing disapproval, “when you⁠—when you come back from retirement, my love, and reappear on the surface, I think it will be time to lock up and go.”