"She's so
much sweeter than she ever was that I can't afford to be rich just yet!"

But meantime Bella was imagining that Mr. Boffin was a cruel old miser,
and Mr. Boffin didn't like this, so John agreed that he would tell her
all about it.

But first he got Bella to describe exactly the kind of house she would
like if they were very, very rich, and when she told him, he and Mr.
Boffin had the Boffin mansion fixed over in just the way she had
said--with a nursery with rainbow-colored walls and flowers on the
staircase, and even a little room full of live birds, and a jewel box
full of jewels on the dressing-table.

Fate, however, had arranged even a greater trial of Bella's love for him
than all the others. As they walked together on the street one day, they
came face to face with a man who had been in the police office on the
night the body which every one believed to be John Harmon's had lain
there. He had seen the entrance of the agitated stranger, and had helped
the police in their later vain search for Rokesmith. Now he at once
recognized Bella's husband as that man, who the police believed had
probably committed the murder.

Rokesmith knew the man had recognized him, and when they got home he
told Bella that he was accused of killing the man the Harmon will had
bidden her marry.

[Illustration: Jennie Wren and her "troublesome child"

_See page 335_]

But nothing now could shake her faith in him. "How dare they!" she cried
indignantly. "My beloved husband." He caught her in his arms at that,
and while he held her thus the officers entered to arrest him.

Rokesmith found the matter very easy to explain to the satisfaction of
the police, but he told Bella nothing as yet, and, trusting and
believing in him absolutely, she waited in great wonder. Next day he
told her he had a new position and that now they must live in the city
where he had taken a furnished house for them.

They drove together to see it. Strangely enough it seemed to be in the
same street as Mr. Boffin's house, and stranger yet, the coach stopped
at Mr. Boffin's own door. Her husband put his arm around her and drew
her in, and she saw that everything was covered with flowers. As he led
her on she exclaimed in astonishment to see the little room full of
birds just as she had wished.

Suddenly her husband opened a door and there was Mr. Boffin beaming and
Mrs. Boffin shedding tears of joy, and folding her to her breast as she
said: "My de