cart, where he disappeared from view with a
tremendous splash.

And that, so far as this story is concerned, was the end of Silas Wegg.

IV

BELLA AND THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN

It was not long before John Rokesmith, the secretary, was very much in
love with Bella indeed. Bella saw this plainly, but the fine house and
costly clothes had quite spoiled her, and, thinking him only a poor
secretary and her father's lodger, she treated him almost with contempt.

Yet he would not tell her who he was, for he did not want her to marry
him merely because of the money it would bring her. She hurt his
feelings often, but in spite of it she could not help being attracted to
him. He had a way, too, of looking at her that made her feel how proud
and unjust she was, and sometimes made her quite despise herself.

But having had a taste of the pleasures and comforts that wealth would
bring, Bella had quite determined when she married to marry nobody but a
very rich man. Mr. and Mrs. Boffin both noticed how changed she was
growing from her own sweet self and regretted it, for they liked Bella
and they liked the secretary, too, and they could easily see that the
latter was in love with her.

One day Mrs. Boffin went to the secretary's room for something. As she
entered, Rokesmith, who was sitting sadly over the fire, looked up with
a peculiar expression that told the good woman all in a flash who he
was.

"I know you now," she cried, "you're little John Harmon!"

In the joy and surprise she almost fainted, but he caught her and set
her down beside him. Just then in came Mr. Boffin, and the secretary
told them the whole story, and how he now loved Bella, but would not
declare himself because of her contempt.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Boffin were so glad to know he was really alive they
fell to crying with joy. The Golden Dustman declared that, no matter how
the last will read, John should have the fortune for his own. Rokesmith
(or Harmon) at first refused to do this, but Mr. Boffin swore that if he
did not he himself would not touch the money, and it would have to go to
the Crown anyway. So at last it was agreed that Mr. Boffin should keep a
small portion for his own, but that the other should take all the rest.

Mr. Boffin wanted to tell everybody the truth at once, but John would
not let them. You see he wouldn't marry Bella for anything unless she
loved him for himself alone. And she was growing so fond of riches that
there seemed li