‘O Charley dear, never forget who did all this!’

‘No, miss, I never will. Nor Tom won’t. Nor yet Emma. It was all you, miss.’

‘I have known nothing of it. It was Mr Jarndyce, Charley.’

‘Yes, miss, but it was all done for the love of you and that you might be my mistress. If you please, miss, I am a little present with his love, and it was all done for the love of you. Me and Tom was to be sure to remember it.’

Charley dried her eyes, and entered on her functions: going in her matronly little way about and about the room, and folding up everything she could lay her hands upon. Presently, Charley came creeping back to my side, and said:

‘O don’t cry, if you please, miss.’

And I said again, ‘I can’t help it, Charley.’

And Charley said again, ‘No, miss, nor I can’t help it.’ And so, after all, I did cry for joy indeed, and so did she.