“Pardon me,” said Mrs. Wilfer, after the first salutations, and as soon as she had adjusted the handkerchief under her chin, and waved her gloved hands, “to what am I indebted for this honour?”

“To make short of it, ma’am,” returned Mr. Boffin, “perhaps you may be acquainted with the names of me and Mrs. Boffin, as having come into a certain property.”

“I have heard, sir,” returned Mrs. Wilfer, with a dignified bend of her head, “of such being the case.”