," said Bella when she was in the street, "and now
I'll go and see my dear, darling pa in the city."

_IV.--The Runaway Marriage_

Bella found her way to her father's office in the city. It was after
hours, and the little man was alone, having tea on a small cottage loaf
and a pennyworth of milk, for R. Wilfer was but a clerk on a small
income. He immediately fetched another loaf and another pennyworth of
milk, and then, before she could tell him she had left the Boffins, who
should come along but John Rokesmith. And John Rokesmith not only came
in, but he caught Bella in his arms, and she was content to leave her
head on his breast as if that were her head's chosen and lasting resting
place.

"I knew you would come to him, and I followed you," said Rokesmith. "You
_are_ mine."

"Yes, I am yours if you think me worth taking," Bella responded.

Then Bella's father had to hear what had happened, and said his daughter
had done well.

"To think," said Wilfer, looking round the office, "that anything of a
tender nature should come off here is what tickles me."

A few weeks later and Bella and her father went out early one morning
and took the steamer to Greenwich. And at Greenwich there was John
Rokesmith, and presently in a church John and Bella were joined together
in wedlock.

They had been married a year, and lived in a little house at Blackheath.
John Rokesmith went up to the city every day, and explained that he was
"in a China house." From time to time he would ask her, "Would you like
to be rich _now_, my darling?" and got for answer, "Dear John, am I not
rich?"

But for all that a change came in their affairs. For Mortimer Lightwood,
who had met Bella at the Boffins', seeing her walking with her husband,
recognised him as Julius Handford; and as Mr. Inspector had never
discovered what became of Mr. Julius Handford, he must needs pay Mr.
Rokesmith a visit. And then it turned out that John Rokesmith was not
only Julius Handford, but John Harmon himself, much to Mr. Inspector's
astonishment.

More surprises were to follow, for when John came home next day he told
Bella that he had left the China house, and was better off.

"We must have our headquarters in London now, my dear, and there's a
house ready for us."

And the house which John and Bella visited next day was none other than
the Boffins', and when they arrived, there were Mr. and Mrs. Boffin
beaming at them. Mrs. Boffin told Bella that John