self backwards
and forwards, like a demented member of some Mandarin's family.

'O, I understand you now, sir!' cried Bella. 'I want neither you nor any
one else to tell me the rest of the story. I can tell it to YOU, now, if
you would like to hear it.'

'Can you, my dear?' said Mr Boffin. 'Tell it then.'

'What?' cried Bella, holding him prisoner by the coat with both hands.
'When you saw what a greedy little wretch you were the patron of, you
determined to show her how much misused and misprized riches could
do, and often had done, to spoil people; did you? Not caring what she
thought of you (and Goodness knows THAT was of no consequence!) you
showed her, in yourself, the most detestable sides of wealth, saying in
your own mind, "This shallow creature would never work the truth out of
her own weak soul, if she had a hundred years to do it in; but a glaring
instance kept before her may open even her eyes and set her thinking."
That was what you said to yourself, was it, sir?'

'I never said anything of the sort,' Mr Boffin declared in a state of
the highest enjoyment.

'Then you ought to have said it, sir,' returned Bella, giving him two
pulls and one kiss, 'for you must have thought and meant it. You saw
that good fortune was turning my stupid head and hardening my silly
heart--was making me grasping, calculating, insolent, insufferable--and
you took the pains to be the dearest and kindest fingerpost that ever
was set up anywhere, pointing out the road that I was taking and the end
it led to. Confess instantly!'

'John,' said Mr Boffin, one broad piece of sunshine from head to foot,
'I wish you'd help me out of this.'

'You can't be heard by counsel, sir,' returned Bella. 'You must speak
for yourself. Confess instantly!'

'Well, my dear,' said Mr Boffin, 'the truth is, that when we did go in
for the little scheme that my old lady has pinted out, I did put it to
John, what did he think of going in for some such general scheme as YOU
have pinted out? But I didn't in any way so word it, because I didn't in
any way so mean it. I only said to John, wouldn't it be more consistent,
me going in for being a reg'lar brown bear respecting him, to go in as a
reg'lar brown bear all round?'

'Confess this minute, sir,' said Bella, 'that you did it to correct and
amend me!'

'Certainly, my dear child,' said Mr Boffin, 'I didn't do it to harm you;
you may be sure of that. And I did hope it might just hint a caution.
Stil