“Very good,” said Mr. Boffin. “We hope (my old lady and me) that you’ll give us credit for taking the plainest and honestest shortcut that could be taken under the circumstances. We have talked it over with a deal of care (my old lady and me), and we have felt that at all to lead you on, or even at all to let you go on of your own selves, wouldn’t be the right thing. So, I have openly given you to understand that⁠—” Mr. Boffin sought for a new turn of speech, but could find none so expressive as his former one, repeated in a confidential tone, “⁠—that it won’t do. If I could have put the case more pleasantly I would; but I hope I haven’t put it very unpleasantly; at all events I haven’t meant to. So,” said Mr. Boffin, by way of peroration, “wishing you well in the way you go, we now conclude with the observation that perhaps you’ll go it.”