“And I dare say, ma’am,” pursued Mr. Boffin, while Mrs. Boffin added confirmatory nods and smiles, “you are not very much inclined to take kindly to us?”

“Pardon me,” said Mrs. Wilfer. “ ’Twere unjust to visit upon Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, a calamity which was doubtless a dispensation.” These words were rendered the more effective by a serenely heroic expression of suffering.