“Yes!” cried the delighted creature. “And with a footman up behind, with a bar across, to keep his legs from being poled! And with a coachman up in front, sinking down into a seat big enough for three of him, all covered with upholstery in green and white! And with two bay horses tossing their heads and stepping higher than they trot longways! And with you and me leaning back inside, as grand as ninepence! Oh-h-h-h My! Ha ha ha ha ha!”

Mrs. Boffin clapped her hands again, rocked herself again, beat her feet upon the floor, and wiped the tears of laughter from her eyes.

“And what, my old lady,” inquired Mr. Boffin, when he also had sympathetically laughed: “what’s your views on the subject of the Bower?”

“Shut it up. Don’t part with it, but put somebody in it, to keep it.”

“Any other views?”