I was sorting those things on the chest, and not thinking of the old man or the children, but singing to myself, when all in a moment I felt there was a face growing out of the dark.' 'What face ?' asked her husband, looking about him.
'For a moment it was the old man's, and then it got younger.

For a moment it was both the children's, and then it got older.

For a moment it was a strange face, and then it was all the faces.' 'And then it was gone ?' 'Yes; and then it was gone.' 'Where were you then, old lady ?' 'Here, at the chest.

Well; I got the better of it, and went on sorting, and went on singing to myself.

"Lor!" I says, "I'll think of something else--something comfortable--and put it out of my head." So I thought of the new house and Miss Bella Wilfer, and was thinking at a great rate with that sheet there in my hand, when all of a sudden, the faces seemed to be hidden in among the folds of it and I let it drop.' As it still lay on the floor where it had fallen, Mr Boffin picked it up and laid it on the chest.
'And then you ran down stairs ?' 'No.