As Pa bent his head, she cried over him a little, and then said (after having stopped to dry her eyes on his white waistcoat, the discovery of which incongruous circumstance made her laugh): “Now, darling Pa, give me your hands that I may fold them together, and do you say after me:⁠—My little Bella.”

“My little Bella,” repeated Pa.

“I am very fond of you.”

“I am very fond of you, my darling,” said Pa.

“You mustn’t say anything not dictated to you, sir. You daren’t do it in your responses at Church, and you mustn’t do it in your responses out of Church.”

“I withdraw the darling,” said Pa.

“That’s a pious boy! Now again:⁠—You were always⁠—”

“You were always,” repeated Pa.

“A vexatious⁠—”