“He has never done anything to me, my dear. I know no more against him than I know against Mr. Wrayburn; he has never done anything to me; neither has Mr. Wrayburn. And yet I have exactly the same objection to both of them.”

“Oh, John!” retorted Bella, as if she were giving him up for a bad job, as she used to give up herself. “You are nothing better than a sphinx! And a married sphinx isn’t a⁠—isn’t a nice confidential husband,” said Bella, in a tone of injury.

“Bella, my life,” said John Rokesmith, touching her cheek, with a grave smile, as she cast down her eyes and pouted again; “look at me. I want to speak to you.”

“In earnest, Blue Beard of the secret chamber?” asked Bella, clearing her pretty face.