of, and it’s still less than ever to be thought of now. For Bella is ambitious, Mr Rokesmith, and I think I may predict will marry fortune. This time, you see, she will have the person and the property before her together, and will be able to make her choice with her eyes open. This is my road. I am very sorry to part company so soon. Good morning, sir!”

The Secretary pursued his way, not very much elevated in spirits by this conversation, and, arriving at the Boffin mansion, found Betty Higden waiting for him.

“I should thank you kindly, sir,” said Betty, “if I might make so bold as have a word or two wi’ you.”

She should have as many words as she liked, he told her; and took her into his room, and made her sit down.

“ ’Tis concerning Sloppy, sir,” said Betty. “And that’s how I come here by myself. Not wishing him to know what I’m a-going to say to you, I got the start of him early and walked up.”

“You have wonderful energy,” returned Rokesmith. “You are as young as I am.”

Betty Higden gravely shook her head. “I am strong for my time of life, sir, but not young, thank the Lord!”

“Are you thankful for not being young?”

“Yes, sir. If I was young, it would all have to be gone through again, and the end would be a weary way off, don’t you see? But never mind me; ’tis concerning Sloppy.”

“And what about him, Betty?”

“ ’Tis just this, sir. It can’t be reasoned out of his head by any powers of mine but what that he can do right by your kind lady and gentleman and do his work for me, both together. Now he can’t. To give himself up to being put in the way of arning a good living and getting on, he must give me up. Well; he won’t.”

“I respect him for it,” said Rokesmith.

“Do ye, sir? I don’t know but what I do myself. Still that don’t make it right to let him have his way. So as he won’t give me up, I’m a-going to give him up.”

“How, Betty?”

“I’m a-going to run away from him.”

With an astonished look at the indomitable old face and the bright eyes, the Secretary repeated, “Run away from him?”

“Yes, sir,” said Betty, with one nod. And in the nod and in the firm set of her mouth, there was a vigour of purpose not to be doubted.

“Come, come!” said the Secretary. “We must talk about this. Let us take our time over it, and try to get at the true sense of the case and the true course, by degrees.”

“Now, lookee here, my dear,” returned old Betty — “asking your excuse for being so familiar, but being of a time of life a’most to be your grandmother twice over. Now, lookee, here. ’Tis a poor living and a hard as is to be got out of this work that I’m a doing now, and but for Sloppy I don’t know as I should have held to it this long. But it did just keep us on, the two together. Now that I’m alone — with even Johnny gone — I’d far sooner be upon my feet and tiring of myself out, than a sitting folding and folding by the fire. And I’ll tell you why. There’s a deadness steals over me at times, that the kind of life favours