’Butnevermindthat。EverybodyknowsthatMariaClutterbuckwasverymuchadmired。OfcourseI’mnotgoingtotellyouoranyothergentlemanallherhistory。’
’Iwasinhopesyouwere。’
’Thencertainlyyourhopeswillbefrustrated，MrEames。ButundoubtedlywhenshetoldusthatshewasgoingtotakeDobbsBroughton，wewerealittledisappointed。MariaClutterbuckhadbeenusedtoabetterkindoflife。YouunderstandwhatImean，MrEames？’
’Oh，exactly；——andyetit’snotabadkindoflife，either。’
’No，no；thatistrue。Ithasitsattractions。Shekeepshercarriage，seesagooddealofcompany，hasanexcellenthouse，andgoesabroadforsixweekseveryyear。Butyouknow，MrEames，thereis，perhaps，alittleuncertaintyaboutit。’
’Lifeisalwaysuncertain，MissDemolines。’
’You’requizzingnow，Iknow。Butdon’tyoufeelnow，really，thatCitymoneyisalwaysverychancy？Itcomesandgoessoquick。’
’Asregardsthegoing，Ithinkthat’sthesamewithallmoney，’saidJohnny。
’Notwithland，orthefunds。Mammahaseveryshillinglaidoutinafirst—classmortgageonlandatfourpercent。thatdoesmakeonefeelsosecure！Thelandcan’trunaway。’
’ButyouthinkpoorBroughton’smoneymay？’
’It’sallspeculation，youknow。Idon’tbelieveshemindsit；Idon’tindeed。Shelivesthatkindoffeveredlifenowthatshelikesexcitement。OfcourseweallknowthatMrDobbsBroughtonisnotwhatwecancallaneducatedgentleman。Hismannersareagainsthim，andheisveryignorant。EvendearMariawouldadmitthat。’
’Onewouldperhapsletthatpasswithoutaskingheropinionatall。’
’Shehasacknowledgedittome，twentytimes。Butheisverygood—natured，andletsherdoprettynearlyanythingthatshelikes。I
onlyhopeshewon’ttrespassonhisgood—nature。Ido，indeed。’
’Youmean，spendtoomuchmoney？’
’No；Ididn’tmeanthatexactly。Ofcoursesheoughttobemoderate，andIhopesheis。Tothatkindoffeveredexistenceprofuseexpenditureisperhapsnecessary。ButIwasthinkingofsomethingelse。Ifearsheisalittlegiddy。’
’Dearme！Ishouldhavethoughtshewastoo——too——too——’
’Youmeantoooldforanythingofthatkind。MariaBroughtonmustbethirty—threeifshe’saday。’
’Thatwouldmakeyoujusttwenty—five，’saidJohnny，feelingperfectlysureashesaidsothattheladywhomhewasaddressingwasatanyratepastthirty！
’Nevermindmyage，MrEames；whetherIamtwenty—five，orahundredandfive，hasnothingtodowithpoorMariaClutterbuck。ButnowI’lltellyouwhyImentionallthistoyou。YoumusthaveseenhowfoolishsheisaboutyourfriendMrDalrymple？’
’Uponmyword，Ihaven’t。’
’Nonsense，MrEames；youhave。Ifshewereyourwife，wouldyoulikehertocallamanConway？Ofcourseyouwouldnot。Idon’tmeantosaythatthere’sanythinginit。IknowMaria’sprinciplestoowelltosuspectthat。It’smerelybecauseshe’sflightyandfevered。’
’Thatfeveredexistenceaccountsforitall，’saidJohnny。
’Nodoubtitdoes，’saidMissDemolines，withanodofherhead，whichwasintendedtoshowthatshewaswillingtogiveherfriendthefullbenefitofanyexcusewhichcouldbeofferedforher。’Butdon’tyouthinkyoucoulddosomething，MrEames？’
’Idosomething？’
’Yes，you。YouandMrDalrymplearesuchfriends！Ifyouwerejusttopointouttohimyouknow——’
’Pointoutwhat？Tellhimthatheoughtn’ttobecalledConway？
Because，afterall，Isupposethat’stheworstofit。IfyoumeantosaythatDalrympleisinlovewithMrsBroughton，younevermadeagreatermistakeinyourlife。’
’Oh，no；notinlove。Thatwouldbeterrible，youknow。’AndMissDemolinesshookherheadsadly。’Buttheremaybesomuchmischiefdonewithoutanythingofthatkind！Thoughtlessness，youknow，MrEames——purethoughtlessness！ThinkofwhatIhavesaid，andifyoucanspeakawordtoyourfriend，do。AndnowIwanttoaskyousomethingelse。I’msogladyouarecome，becausecircumstanceshaveseemedtomakeitnecessarythatyouandIshouldknoweachother。Wemaybeofsomuchuseifweputourheadstogether。’Johnnybowedwhenheheardthis，butmadenoimmediatereply。’Haveyouheardanythingaboutacertainpicturethatisbeingplanned？’Johnnydidnotwishtoanswerthisquestion，butMissDemolinespausedsolong，andlookedsoearnestlyintohisface，thathefoundhimselfforcedtosaysomething。
’Whatpicture？’
’Acertainpicturethatis——，or，perhaps，thatisnottobe，paintedbyMrDalrymple？’
’IhearsomuchaboutDalrymple’spictures！Youdon’tmeantheportraitofLadyGlencoraPalliser？Thatisnearlyfinished，andwillbeintheExhibitionthisyear。’
’Idon’tmeanthatatall。Imeanapicturethathasnotyetbeenbegun。’
’Aportrait，Isuppose？’
’AstothatIcannotquitesay。Itisatanyratetobealikeness。I
amsureyouhaveheardofit。Come，MrEames，itwouldbebetterthatweshouldbecandidwitheachother。YourememberMissVanSiever，ofcourse？’
’IrememberthatshedinedattheBroughtons。’
’AndyouhaveheardofJael，Isuppose，andSisera？’
’Yes；inageneralway——intheBible。’
’AndnowwillyoutellmewhetheryouhavenotheardthenamesofJaelandMissVanSievercoupledtogether？Iseeyouknowallaboutit。’
’Ihaveheardofitcertainly。’
’Ofcourseyouhave。SohaveI，asyouperceive。Now，MrEames，’——andMissDemoline’svoicebecametremulouslyeagerassheaddressedhim——’itisyourduty，anditismyduty，totakecarethatthatpicturewillneverbepainted。’
’Butwhyshoulditnotbepainted？’
’Youdon’tknowMissVanSiever，yet。’
’Notintheleast。’
’NorMrsVanSiever。’
’Ineverspokeawordtoher。’
’Ido。Iknowthemboth——well。’TherewassomethingalmostgrandlytragicinMissDemoline’svoiceasshethusspoke。’Yes，MrEames，I
knowthemwell。Ifthatschemebecontinued，itwillworkterriblemischief。YouandImustpreventit。’
’ButIdon’tseewhatharmitwilldo。’
’ThinkofConwayDalrymplepassingsomanyhoursinMaria’ssitting—roomupstairs！Thepictureistobepaintedthere，youknow。’
’ButMissVanSieverwillbepresent。Won’tthatmakeitallright？
WhatistherewrongaboutMissVanSiever？’
’Iwon’tdenythatClaraVanSieverhasacertainbeautyofherown。TomesheiscertainlythemostunattractivewomanthatIevercamenear。
Sheissimplyrepulsive！’HereuponMissDemolinesheldupherhandasthoughshewerebanishingMissVanSieverforeverfromhersight，andshudderedslightly。’Menthinkherhandsome，andsheishandsome。Butsheisfalse，covetous，malicious，cruel，anddishonest。’
’Whatafiendinpetticoats！’
’Youmaysaythat，MrEames。Andthenhermother！Hermotherisnotsobad。Hermotherisdifferent。Butthemotherisanodiouswoman，too。ItwasanevildayforMariaClutterbuckwhenshefirstsaweitherthemotherorthedaughter。Itellyouthatinconfidence。’
’ButwhatcanIdo？’saidJohnny，whobegantobeshatteredandalmostinterestedbytheeagernessofthewoman。
’I’lltellyouwhatyoucando。Don’tletyourfriendgotoMrBroughton’shousetopaintthepicture。Ifhedoesdoit，therewillbemischiefcomeofit。Ofcourseyoucanpreventhim。’
’IshouldnotthinkoftryingtopreventhimunlessIknewwhy。’
’She’sanastyproudminx，anditwouldsetherupeversohigh——tothinkthatshewasbeingpaintedbyMrDalrymple！Butthatisn’tthereason。Mariawouldgetintoterribletroubleaboutit，therewouldbenoendofmischief。Imustnottellyoumorenow，andifyoudonotbelieveme，Icannothelpit。Surely，MrEames，mywordmaybetakenasgoingforsomething？AndwhenIaskyoutohelpmeinthis，Idoexpectthatyouwillnotrefuseme。’BythistimeMissDemolineswassittingclosetohim，andhadmorethanonceputherhanduponhisarmintheenergyofhereloquence。ThenasherememberedthathehadneverseenMissDemolinestilltheotherday，ofMissVanSiever，orevenMrsDobbsBroughton，hebethoughthimselfthatitwasallverydroll。NeverthelesshehadnotobjectiontoMissDemolinesputtingherhanduponhisarm。
’Ineverliketointerfereinanythingthatdoesnotseemtobemyownbusiness，’saidJohnny。
’Isnotyourfriend’sbusinessyourownbusiness？Whatdoesfriendshipmeanifitnotso？AndwhenItellyouthatitismybusiness，mineofright，doesthatgofornothingwithyou？IthoughtImightdependuponyou，MrEames；Ididindeed。’Thenagainsheputherhanduponhisarm，andashelookedintohereyeshebegantothinkthatafterallshewasgood—lookinginacertainway。Atanyrateshehadfineeyes，andtherewassomethingpicturesqueabouttheentanglementofherhair。’Thinkofit，andthencomebackandtalktomeagain，’saidMissDemolines。
’ButIamgoingoutoftowntomorrow。’
’Forhowlong？’
’Fortendays。’
’Nothingcanbedoneduringthattime。ClaraVanSieverisgoingawayinaday，andwillnotbebackforthreeweeks。Ihappentoknowthat；
sowehaveplentyoftimeforworking。Itwouldbeverydesirablethatsheshouldneverevenhearofit；butthatcannotbehoped，asMariahassuchatongue！Couldn’tyouseeMrDalrympletonight？’
’Well，no；Idon’tthinkIcould。’
’Mind，atleast，thatyoucometomeassoonaseveryoureturn。’
Beforehegotoutofthehouse，whichhedidafteramostaffectionatefarewell，JohnnyfelthimselfcompelledtopromisethathewouldcometoMissDemolinesagainassoonashegotbacktotown；andasthedoorwasclosedbehindhimbytheboyinbuttons，hemadeuphismindthathecertainlywouldcallassoonashereturnedtoLondon。’It’sasgoodasaplay，’hesaidtohimself。NotthathecaredintheleastforMissDemolines，orthathewouldtakeanystepswiththeintentionofpreventingthepaintingofthepicture。MissDemolineshadsomebattletofight，andhewouldleavehertofightitwithherownweapons。IfhisfriendchosetopaintapictureofJael，andtakeMissVanSieverasamodel，itwasnobusinessofhis。NeverthelesshewouldcertainlygoandseeMissDemolinesagain，because，ashesaid，shewasasgoodasaplay。
CHAPTERXXVI
THEPICTURE
OnthatsameafternoonConwayDalrymplerolleduphissketchofJaelandSisera，putitintohispocket，dressedhimselfwithsomeconsiderablecare，puttingonavelvetcoatwhichhewasinthehabitofwearingoutofdoorswhenhedidnotintendtowanderbeyondKensingtonGardens，andtheneighbourhoodandwhichwassupposedtobecomehimwell，yellowgloves，andacertainSpanishhatofwhichhewasfond，andslowlysaunteredacrosstothehouseofhisfriendMrsDobbsBroughton。Whenthedoorwasopenedtohimhedidnotaskoftheladywereathome，butmutteringsomewordtotheservant，madehiswaythroughthehall，upstairs，toacertainsmallsitting—roomlookingtothenorthwhichwasmuchusedbythemistressofthehouse。ItwasquiteclearthatConwayDalrymplehadarrangedhisvisitbeforehand，andthathewasexpected。
Heopenedthedoorwithoutknocking，and，thoughtheservanthadfollowedhim，heenteredwithoutbeingannounced。’I’mafraidI’mlate，’
hesaid，ashegavehishandtoMrsBroughton；’butforthelifeIcouldnotgetawaysooner。’
’Youarequiteintime，’saidthelady，’foranygoodthatyouarelikelytodo。’
’Whatdoesthatmean？’
’Itmeansthis，myfriend，thatyouhadbettergivetheideaup。Ihavebeenthinkingofitallday，andIdonotapproveofit。’
’Whatnonsense！’
’Ofcourseyouwillsayso，Conway。IhaveobservedoflatethatwhateverIsaytoyouiscallednonsense。Isupposeitisthenewfashionthatgentlemenshouldsoexpressthemselves，butIamnotquitesurethatIlikeit。’
’YouknowwhatImean。Iamveryanxiousaboutthispicture，andI
shallbemuchdisappointedifitcannotbedonenow。Itwasyouputitintomyheadfirst。’
’Iregretitverymuch，Icanassureyou；butitwillnotbegenerousinyoutourgethatagainstme。’
’Butwhyshouldn’titsucceed？’
’Therearemanyreasons——somepersonaltomyself。’
’Idonotknowwhattheycanbe。YouhintedatsomethingwhichIonlytookashavingbeensaidinjoke。’
’IfyoumeanaboutMissVanSieverandyourself，Iwasquiteinearnest，Conway。Idonotthinkyoucoulddobetter，andIshouldbegladtoseeitofallthings。NothingwouldpleasememorethantobringMissVanSieverandyoutogether。’
’Andnothingwouldpleasemeless。’
’Butwhyso？’
’Because——because——Icandonothingbuttellyouthetruth，carina；itisbecausemyheartisnotfreetopresentitselfatMissVanSiever’sfeet。’
’Itoughttobeso，Conway，andyoumustmakeitfree。Itwillbewellthatyoushouldbemarried，andwellforothersbesidesyourself。Itellyousoasyourfriend，youhavenotruerfriend。Sitwhereyouare，ifyouplease。Youcansayanythingyouhavetosaywithoutstalkingabouttheroom。’
’Iwasnotgoingtostalk——asyoucallit。’
’Youwillbesaferandquieterwhileyouaresitting。Iheardaknockatthedoor，andIdonotdoubtthatitwillbeClara。Shesaidshewouldbehere。’
’Andyouhavetoldheraboutthepicture？’
’Yes；Ihavetoldher。Shesaidthatitwouldbeimpossible，andthathermotherwouldnotallowit。Heresheis。’ThenMissVanSieverwasshownintotheroom，andDalrympleperceivedthatshewasagirlthepeculiarityofwhosecomplexionboredaylightbettereventhancandlelight。Therewassomethinginhercountenancewhichseemedtodeclarethatshecouldbearanylighttowhichitmightbesubjected，withoutflinchingfromit。Andherbonnet，whichwasveryplain，andhersimplebrownmorninggown，suitedherwell。Shewasonewhorequirednoneofthecircumstancesofstudieddresstocarryoffaughtinherownappearance。Shecouldlookherbestwhenotherwomenlooktheirworst，andcoulddaretobeseenatalltimes。Dalrymple，withanartist’seye，sawthisatonce，andimmediatelyconfessedtohimselfthattherewassomethinggreatabouther。Hecouldnotdenyherbeauty。Buttherewaseverpresenttohimthatlookofhardnesswhichhadstruckhimwhenhefirstsawher。Hecouldnotbutfancythatthoughattimesshemightbeplayful，andallowthefurofhercoattobestrokedwithgood—humour——shewouldbeadangerousplaything，usingherclawsunpleasantlywhenthegood—humourshouldhavepassedaway。Butnotthelesswasshebeautiful，and——beyondthatandbetterthanthat，forhispurpose——shewaspicturesque。
’Clara，’saidMrsBroughton，’hereisthismadpainter，andhesaysthathewillhaveyouonhiscanvaseitherwithyourwillorwithoutit。’
’Evenifhecoulddothat，Iamsurehewouldnot，’saidMissVanSiever。
’ToprovetoyouthatIcan，IthinkIneedonlyshowyouthesketch，’
saidDalrymple，takingthedrawingoutofhispocket。’Asregardstheface，Iknowitsowellbyheartalready，thatIfeelcertainIcouldproducealikenesswithoutevenasitting。Whatdoyouthinkofit，MrsBroughton？’
’Itisclever，’saidshe，lookingatitwithalltheenthusiasmwhichwomenareabletothrowintotheireyesonsuchoccasions；’veryclever。
Thesubjectwouldjustsuither。Ihaveneverdoubtedthat。’
’Eamessaysthatitisconfused，’saidtheartist。
’Idon’tseethatatall，’saidMrsBroughton。
’Ofcourseasketchmustberough。Thisonehasbeenrubbedaboutandaltered——butIthinkthereissomethinginit。’
’Animmensedeal，’saidMrsBroughton。’Don’tyouthinkso，Clara？’
’Iamnotajudge。’
’Butyoucanseethewoman’sfixedpurpose；andherstealthinessaswell；——andthemansleepslikealog。Whatisthatdimoutline？’
’Nothinginparticular，’saidDalrymple。ButthedimoutlinewasintendedtorepresentMrsVanSiever。
’Itisverygood——unquestionablygood，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton。’Idonotforamomentdoubtthatyouwillmakeagreatpictureofit。Itisjustthesubjectforyou，Conway；somuchimagination，andyetsuchascopeforportraiture。Itwouldbefullofaction，andyetsuchperfectrepose。Andthelightsandshadowswouldbeexactlyinyourline。Icanseeataglancehowyouwouldmanagethelightinthetent，andbringitdownjustonthenail。Andthentheposeofthewomanwouldbesogood，somuchstrength，andyetsuchgrace！Youshouldhavethebowlhedrankthemilkoutof，soastotellthewholestory。Nopainterlivingtellsastorysowellasyoudo，Conway。’ConwayDalrympleknewthatthewomanwastalkingnonsensetohim，andyethelikedit，andlikedherfortalkingit。
’ButMrDalrymplecanpainthisSiserawithoutmakingmeJael，’saidMissVanSiever。
’Ofcoursehecan，’saidMrsBroughton。
’ButIneverwill，’saidtheartist。’Iconceivedthesubjectasconnectedwithyou，andIwillneverdisjointhetwoideas。’
’Ithinkitnocompliment，Icanassureyou，’saidMissVanSiever。
’Andnonewasintended。Butyoumayobservethatartistsinallageshavesoughtforhighertypesofmodelsinpaintingwomenwhohavebeenviolentorcriminal，thanhavesufficedforthemintheirportraituresofgentlenessandvirtue。LookatalltheJudithsandtheLucretias，andtheCharlotteCordays；howmuchfinerthewomenarethantheMadonnasandtheSaintCecilias。’
’Afterthat，Clara，youneednotscrupletobeaJael，’saidMrsBroughton。
’ButIdoscruple——verymuch；sostronglythatIknowInevershalldoit。InthefirstplaceIdon’tknowwhyMrDalrymplewantsit。’
’Wantit！’saidConway。’Iwanttopaintastrikingpicture。’
’Butyoucandothatwithoutputtingmeintoit。’
’No；——notthispicture。Andwhyshouldyouobject？Itisthecommonestthingintheworldforladiestosittoartistsinthatmanner。’
’Peoplewouldknowit。’
’Nobodywouldknowit，sothatyouneedcareaboutit。Whatwoulditmatterifeverybodyknewit？Wearenotproposinganythingimproper；——arewe，MrsBroughton？’
’Sheshallnotbepressedifshedoesnotlikeit，’saidMrsBroughton。
’YouknowItoldyoubeforeClaracamein，thatIwasafraiditcouldnotbedone。’
’AndIdon’tlikeit，’saidMissVanSiever，withsomelittlehesitationinhervoice。
’Idon’tseeanythingimproperinit，ifyoumeanthat，’saidMrsBroughton。
’But，mamma！’
’Wellyes；thatisthedifficulty，nodoubt。Theonlyquestionis，whetheryourmotherisnotsoverysingular，astomakeitimpossiblethatyoushouldcomplywithherineverything。’
’IamafraidthatIdonotcomplywithherinverymuch，’saidMissVanSieverinhergentlestvoice。
’Oh，Clara！’
’Youdrivemetosayso，otherwiseIshouldbeahypocrite。OfcourseI
oughtnottohavesaiditbeforeMrDalrymple。’
’YouandMrDalrymplewillunderstandallaboutthat，Idaresay，beforethepictureisfinished，’saidMrsBroughton。
ItdidnottakemuchpersuasiononthepartofConwayDalrympletogettheconsentoftheyoungerladytobepainted，oroftheeldertoallowthesittingtogooninherroom。Whenthequestionofeaselsandotherapparatuscametobeconsidered，MrsBroughtonwasratherflustered，andagaindeclaredwithenergythatthewholethingmustfalltotheground；
butafeworewordsfromthepainterrestoredher，andatlastthearrangementsweremade。AsMrsDobbsBroughton’sdearfriend，MadalinaDemolineshadsaid，MrsDobbsBroughtonlikedafeveredexistence。’WhatwillDobbsBroughtonsay？’sheexclaimedmorethanonce。AnditwasdecidedatlastthatDobbsshouldknownothingaboutitaslongasitcouldbekeptfromhim。’Ofcourseheshallbetoldatlast，’saidhiswife。’Iwouldn’tkeepanythingfromthedearfellowforalltheworld。
ButifheknewitatfirstitwouldbesuretogetthroughMusselborotoyourmother。’
’IcertainlyshallbegthatMrBroughtonmaynotbetakenintoconfidenceifMrMusselboroistofollow，’saidClara。’AnditmustbeunderstoodthatImustceasetositimmediately，whatevermaybetheinconvenience，shouldmammaspeaktomeaboutit。’
Thisstipulationwasmadeandconceded，andthenMissVanSieverwentaway，leavingtheartistwithMrsDobbsBroughton。’Andnow，ifyouplease，Conway，youhadbettergotoo，’saidthelady，assoonastherehadbeentimeforMissVanSievertogetdownstairsandoutofthehall—door。
’Ofcourseyouareinahurrytogetridofme。’
’Yes，Iam。’
’AlittlewhileagoIimproperlysaidthatsomesuggestionofyourswasnonsenseandyourebukedmeformybluntincivility。MightnotIrebukeyounowwithequaljustice？’
’Doso，ifyouwill；——butleaveme。Itellyou，Conway，thatinthesemattersyoumusteitherbeguidedbyme，oryouandImustceasetoseeeachother。Itdoesnotdothatyoushouldremainherewithmelongerthanthetimeusuallyallowedforamorningcall。Clarahascomeandgone，andyoualsomustgo。Iamsorrytodisturbyou，foryouseemtobesoverycomfortableinthatchair。’
’Iamcomfortable——andIcanlookatyou。Come；——therecanbenoharminsayingthat，ifIsaynothingelse。Well；——there，nowIamgone。’
Whereuponhegotupfromhisarm—chair。
’Butyouarenotgonewhileyoustandthere。’
’Andyouwouldreallywishmetomarrythisgirl？’
’Ido——ifyoucanloveher。’
’Andwhataboutherlove？’
’Youmustwinit，ofcourse。Sheistobewon，likeanyotherwoman。
Thefruitwon’tfallintoyourmouthmerelybecauseyouopenyourlips。
Youmustclimbthetree。’
’StillclimbingtreesintheHesperides，’saidConway。’Lovedoesthat，youknow；butitishardtoclimbthetreeswithoutthelove。ItseemstomethatIhavedonemyclimbing——haveclombashighasIknewhow，andthattheboughsarebreakingwithme，andthatIamlikelytogetafall。Doyouunderstandme？’
’Iwouldrathernotunderstandyou。’
’Thatisnoanswertomyquestion。DoyouunderstandthatatthismomentIamgettingafallwhichwillbreakeveryboneinmyskinandputanyotherclimbingoutofthequestionasfarasIamconcerned？Doyouunderstandthat？’
’No；Idonot，’saidMrsBroughton，inatremulousvoice。
’ThenI’llgoandmakeloveatoncetoClaraVanSiever。There’senoughofpluckleftinmetoaskhertomarryme，andIsupposeIcouldmanagetogothroughtheceremonyifsheacceptedme。’
’ButIwantyoutoloveher，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton。
’IdaresayIshouldloveherwellenoughafterabit；——thatis，ifshedidn’tbreakmyheadorcombmyhair。IsupposetherewillbenoobjectiontomysayingthatyousentmewhenIaskher？’
’Conway，youwillofcoursenotmentionmynametoher。IhavesuggestedtoyouamarriagewhichIthinkwouldtendtomakeyouhappy，andwouldgiveyouastabilityinlifewhichyouwant。ItisperhapsbetterthatIshouldbeexplicitatonce。AsanunmarriedmanIcannotcontinuetoknowyou。Youhavesaidwordsoflatewhichhavedrivenmetothisconclusion。Ihavethoughtaboutitmuch——toomuchperhaps，andIknowthatIamright。MissVanSieverhasbeautyandwealthandintellect，andIthinkthatshewouldappreciatetheloveofsuchamanasyouare。Nowgo。’AndMrsDobbsBroughton，standingupright，pointedtothedoor。ConwayDalrympleslowlytookhisSpanishhatfromofthemarbleslabonwhichhehadlaidit，andlefttheroomwithoutsayingaword。Theinterviewhadbeenquitelongenough，andtherewasnothingelsewhichheknewhowtosaywitheffect。