But, tears were not the things to find their way to Mr. Bumble's soul; his heart was waterproof.

“Alice!" said the visitor's mild voice, "am I late to-night?""You always seem la…”

“I distress you; I draw fast to an end.”

“Spring flew swiftly by, and summer came; and if the village had been beautiful …”

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, fa…”