'Ay, I remember, old lady. But we hadn't tried what it was to have the
rest then. Our new shoes had come home, but we hadn't put 'em on. We're
wearing 'em now, we're wearing 'em, and must step out accordingly.'

Mrs Boffin took up her work again, and plied her needle in silence.

'As to Rokesmith, that young man of mine,' said Mr Boffin, dropping
his voice and glancing towards the door with an apprehension of being
overheard by some eavesdropper there, 'it's the same with him as with
the footmen. I have found out that you must either scrunch them, or let
them scrunch you. If you ain't imperious with 'em, they won't believe
in your being any better than themselves, if as good, after the stories
(lies mostly) that they have heard of your beginnings. There's nothing
betwixt stiffening yourself up, and throwing yourself away; take my word
for that, old lady.'

Bella ventured for a moment to look stealthily towards him under her
eyelashes, and she saw a dark cloud of suspicion, covetousness, and
conceit, overshadowing the once open face.

'Hows'ever,' said he, 'this isn't entertaining to Miss Bella. Is it,
Bella?'

A deceiving Bella she was, to look at him with that pensively abstracted
air, as if her mind were full of her book, and she had not heard a
single word!

'Hah! Better employed than to attend to it,' said Mr Boffin. 'That's
right, that's right. Especially as you have no call to be told how to
value yourself, my dear.'

Colouring a little under this compliment, Bella returned, 'I hope sir,
you don't think me vain?'

'Not a bit, my dear,' said Mr Boffin. 'But I think it's very creditable
in you, at your age, to be so well up with the pace of the world, and to
know what to go in for. You are right. Go in for money, my love. Money's
the article. You'll make money of your good looks, and of the money Mrs
Boffin and me will have the pleasure of settling upon you, and you'll
live and die rich. That's the state to live and die in!' said Mr Boffin,
in an unctuous manner. R--r--rich!'

There was an expression of distress in Mrs Boffin's face, as, after
watching her husband's, she turned to their adopted girl, and said:

'Don't mind him, Bella, my dear.'

'Eh?' cried Mr Boffin. 'What! Not mind him?'

'I don't mean that,' said Mrs Boffin, with a worried look, 'but I mean,
don't believe him to be anything but good and generous, Bella, because
he is the best of men. No, I must say that much, Noddy. You are always