“You ask no questions. You take this purse; you go to the nearest place where they keep everything of the very very best, ready made; you buy and put on, the most beautiful suit of clothes, the most beautiful hat, and the most beautiful pair of bright boots (patent leather, Pa, mind!) that are to be got for money; and you come back to me.”

“But, my dear Bella⁠—”

“Take care, Pa!” pointing her forefinger at him, merrily. “You have promised and vowed. It’s perjury, you know.”

There was water in the foolish little fellow’s eyes, but she kissed them dry (though her own were wet), and he bobbed away again. After half an hour, he came back, so brilliantly transformed, that Bella was obliged to walk round him in ecstatic admiration twenty times, before she could draw her arm through his, and delightedly squeeze it.

“Now, Pa,” said Bella, hugging him close, “take this lovely woman out to dinner.”