“That’s a little unfortunate, but it can’t be helped. Unfortunate or fortunate, I positively cannot see him, my love.”

Bella cast about in her mind what could be his reason for this unaccountable behaviour; as she sat on his knee looking at him in astonishment and pouting a little. A weak reason presented itself.

“John dear, you never can be jealous of Mr. Lightwood?”

“Why, my precious child,” returned her husband, laughing outright: “how could I be jealous of him? Why should I be jealous of him?”

“Because, you know, John,” pursued Bella, pouting a little more, “though he did rather admire me once, it was not my fault.”