id or a natural face
among them all but Mrs Boffin's. None the less because it was far less
radiant than of yore, faithfully reflecting in its anxiety and regret
every line of change in the Golden Dustman's.

'Rokesmith,' said Mr Boffin one evening when they were all in his room
again, and he and the Secretary had been going over some accounts, 'I
am spending too much money. Or leastways, you are spending too much for
me.'

'You are rich, sir.'

'I am not,' said Mr Boffin.

The sharpness of the retort was next to telling the Secretary that he
lied. But it brought no change of expression into the set face.

'I tell you I am not rich,' repeated Mr Boffin, 'and I won't have it.'

'You are not rich, sir?' repeated the Secretary, in measured words.

'Well,' returned Mr Boffin, 'if I am, that's my business. I am not going
to spend at this rate, to please you, or anybody. You wouldn't like it,
if it was your money.'

'Even in that impossible case, sir, I--'

'Hold your tongue!' said Mr Boffin. 'You oughtn't to like it in any
case. There! I didn't mean to be rude, but you put me out so, and after
all I'm master. I didn't intend to tell you to hold your tongue. I beg
your pardon. Don't hold your tongue. Only, don't contradict. Did you
ever come across the life of Mr Elwes?' referring to his favourite
subject at last.

'The miser?'

'Ah, people called him a miser. People are always calling other people
something. Did you ever read about him?'

'I think so.'

'He never owned to being rich, and yet he might have bought me twice
over. Did you ever hear of Daniel Dancer?'

'Another miser? Yes.'

'He was a good 'un,' said Mr Boffin, 'and he had a sister worthy of him.
They never called themselves rich neither. If they HAD called themselves
rich, most likely they wouldn't have been so.'

'They lived and died very miserably. Did they not, sir?'

'No, I don't know that they did,' said Mr Boffin, curtly.

'Then they are not the Misers I mean. Those abject wretches--'

'Don't call names, Rokesmith,' said Mr Boffin.

'--That exemplary brother and sister--lived and died in the foulest and
filthiest degradation.'

'They pleased themselves,' said Mr Boffin, 'and I suppose they could
have done no more if they had spent their money. But however, I ain't
going to fling mine away. Keep the expenses down. The fact is, you ain't
enough here, Rokesmith. It wants constant attention in the littlest
things. Some of us will be