“Well!” said Mr. Boffin, after considering the point; “suppose you keep as you are for the present, and we’ll decide by-and-by. You’ll begin to take charge at once, of all that’s going on in the new house, will you?”

“Most willingly. I will begin this very day. Will you give me the address?”

Mr. Boffin repeated it, and the Secretary wrote it down in his pocketbook. Mrs. Boffin took the opportunity of his being so engaged, to get a better observation of his face than she had yet taken. It impressed her in his favour, for she nodded aside to Mr. Boffin, “I like him.”

“I will see directly that everything is in train, Mr. Boffin.”