With another tearful laugh Bella joyfully kissed him again.
“And therefore—and therefore,” the cherub went on in a glowing voice, as Bella’s hand stole gradually up his waistcoat to his neck, “this mercenary young person distantly related to myself, refused the price, took off the splendid fashions that were part of it, put on the comparatively poor dress that I had last given her, and trusting to my supporting her in what was right, came straight to me. Have I led up to it?”
Bella’s hand was round his neck by this time, and her face was on it.
“The mercenary young person distantly related to myself,” said her good father, “did well! The mercenary young person distantly related to myself, did not trust to me in vain! I admire this mercenary young person distantly related to myself, more in this dress than if she had come to me in China silks, Cashmere shawls, and Golconda diamonds. I love this young person dearly. I say to the man of this young person’s heart, out of my heart and with all of it, ‘My blessing on this engagement betwixt you, and she brings you a good fortune when she brings you the poverty she has accepted for your sake and the honest truth’s!’ ”
The stanch little man’s voice failed him as he gave John Rokesmith his hand, and he was silent, bending his face low over his daughter. But, not for long. He soon looked up, saying in a sprightly tone:
“And now, my dear child, if you think you can entertain John Rokesmith for a minute and a half, I’ll run over to the dairy, and fetch him a cottage loaf and a drink of milk, that we may all have tea together.”
It was, as Bella gaily said, like the supper provided for the three nursery hobgoblins at their house in the forest, without their thunderous