’Idon’tseethat，mydear。’
’IfeeltobetoooldtothinkthatIshalleverlikeanymorenewpeople。ThreeyearsagoIshouldhavebeenquitesurethatIshouldloveanewcousin。Itwouldhavebeenlikehavinganewdress。ButI’vecometothinkthatanolddressisthemostcomfortable，andanoldcousincertainlythebest。’
ThesquirehadtakenforthemagloomylodginginSackvilleStreet。
LodgingsinLondonarealwaysgloomy。Gloomycolourswearbetterthanbrightonesforcurtainsandcarpets，andthekeepersoflodgingsinLondonseemtothinkthatacertaindinginessofappearanceisrespectable。IneversawaLondonlodginginwhichanyattemptatcheerfulnesshadbeenmade，andIdonotthinkthatanysuchattempt，ifmade，wouldpay。Thelodging—seekerwouldbefrightenedanddismayed，andwouldunconsciouslybeledtofancythatsomethingwaswrong。Ideasofburglarsandimproperpersonswouldpresentthemselves。ThisissocertainlythecasethatIdoubtwhetheranywell—conditionedlodging—housematroncouldbeinducedtoshowroomsthatwereprettilydrapedorpleasantlycoloured。Thebigdrawing—roomandtwolargebedroomswhichthesquiretookwereallthatwasproper，andwereasbrown，andasgloomy，andasill—suitedforthecomfortsofordinarylifeasthoughtheyhadbeenpreparedfortwoprisoners。ButLilywasnotsoignorantastoexpectcheerfullodgingsinLondon，andwassatisfied。’Andwhatarewetodonow？’saidLily，assoonastheyfoundthemselvessettled。ItwasstillMarch，andwhatevermayhavebeenthenatureoftheweatheratAllington，itwasverycoldinLondon。TheyreachedSackvilleStreetaboutfiveintheevening，andanhourwastakenupinunpackingtheirtrunksandmakingthemselvesascomfortableastheircircumstancesallowed。’Andnowwhatarewetodonow？’saidLily。
’Itoldthemtohavedinnerforusathalf—pastsix。’
’Andwhatafterthat？Won’tBernardcometoustonight？Iexpectedhimtobestandingonthedoor—stepswaitingforuswithhisbrideinhishand。’
’Idon’tsupposeBernardwillbeheretonight，’saidthesquire。’Hedidnotsaythathewould，andasforMissDunstable，Ipromisedtotakeyoutoheraunt’shousetomorrow。’
’ButIwantedtoseehertonight。Well；——ofcoursebridesmaidsmustwaituponbrides。Andladieswithtwentythousandpoundscan’tbeexpectedtorunaboutlikecommonpeople。AsforBernard——butBernardneverwasinahurry。’Thentheydined，andwhenthesquirehadverynearlyfallenasleepoverabottleofportwinewhichhadbeensentinforhimfromsomeneighbouringpublic—house，Lilybegantofeelthatitwasverydull。Andshelookedroundtheroom，andshethoughthatitwasveryugly。Andshecalculatedthatthirtyeveningssospentwouldseemtobeverylong。AndshereflectedthatthehourswereprobablygoingmuchmorequicklywithEmilyDunstable，who，nodoubt，atthismomenthadBernardDalebyherside。Andthenshetoldherselfthatthehourswerenottediouswithherathome，whilesittingwithhermother，withallherdailyoccupationswithinherreach。Butinsotellingherselfshetookherselftotask，inquiringofherselfwhethersuchanassurancewasaltogethertrue。Werenotthehourssometimestediousevenathome？
Andinthiswayhermindwanderedofftothoughtsuponlifeingeneral，andsherepeatedtoherselfoverandoveragainthetwowordswhichshehadtoldJohnEamesthatshewouldwriteinherjournal。Thereaderwillrememberthosetwowords——OldMaid。Andshehadwrittentheminherbook，makingeachletteracapital，androundthemshehaddrawnascroll，ornamentedafterherownfashion，andshehadaddedthedateinquaintlyformedfigures——forinsuchmattersLilyhadsomelittleskillandadashoffuntodirectit；andshehadinscribedbelowitanItalianmotto：——’Whogoessoftly，goessafely’；andaboveherworkofartshehadputaheading——AsarrangedfateforL。D。’Nowshethoughtofallthis，andreflectedwhetherEmilyDunstablewasintruthveryhappy。
Presentlythetearscameintohereyes，andshegotupandwenttothewindow，asthoughshewereafraidthatherunclemightwakeandseethem。Andasshelookedoutontheblankstreet，shemutteredawordortwo——’Dearmother！Dearestmother！’Thenthedoorwasopened，andhercousinBernardannouncedhimself。Shehadnotheardhisknockatthedoorasshehadbeenthinkingofthetwowordsinherbook。
’What；Bernard！——ah，yes，ofcourse，’saidthesquire，rubbinghiseyesashestrovetowakehimself。’Iwasn’tsureyouwouldcome，butI’mdelightedtoseeyou。Iwishyoujoywithallmyheart——withallmyheart。’
’Ofcourse，Ishouldcome，’saidBernard。’DearLily，thisissogoodofyou。Emilyissodelighted。’ThenLilyspokehercongratulationswarmly，andtherewasnotraceofatearinhereyes，andshewasthoroughlyhappyasshesatbyhercousin’sside，andlistenedtohisrapturesaboutEmilyDunstable。’Andyouwillbesofondofheraunt，’
hesaid。
’Butisshenotawfullyrich？’saidLily。
’Frightfullyrich，’saidBernard；’butreallyyouwouldhardlyfinditoutifnobodytoldyou。Ofcourseshelivesinabighouse，andhasaheapofservants；butshecan’thelpthat。’
’Ihateaheapofservants，’saidLily。
Thentherecameanotherknockatthedoor，andwhoshouldentertheroombutJohnEames。Lilyforamomentwastakenaback，butitwasonlyforamoment。Shehadbeenthinkingsomuchofhimthathispresencedisturbedherforaninstant。’HeprobablywillnotknowthatIamhere，’shehadsaidtoherself；butshehadnotyetbeenthreehoursinLondon，andhewasalreadywithher！Atfirsthehardlyspoketoher，addressinghimselftothesquire。’LadyJuliatoldmeyouweretobehere，andasI
startfortheContinentearlytomorrowmorning，IthoughtyouwouldletmecomeandseeyoubeforeIwent。’
’I’malwaysgladtoseeyou，John，’saidthesquire——’veryglad。Andsoyouaregoingabroad，areyou？’
ThenJohnnycongratulatedhisoldacquaintance，BernardDale，astohiscomingmarriage，andexplainedtothemhowLadyJuliainoneofherlettershadtoldhimallaboutit，andhadevengivenhimthenumberinSackvilleStreet。’Isupposeshelearneditfromyou，Lily，’saidthesquire。’Yesuncle，shedid。’AndthentherecamequestionsastoJohn’sprojectedjourneytotheContinent，andheexplainedthathewasgoingonlaw—business，onbehalfofMrCrawley，tocatchthedeanandMrsArabin，ifitmightbepossible。’Yousee，sir，MrToogood，whoisMrCrawley’scousin，andalsohislawyer，ismycousintoo；andthat’swhyI’mgoing。’AndstilltherehadbeenhardlyawordspokenbetweenhimandLily。
’Butyou’renotalawyer，John；areyou？’saidthesquire。
’No。I’mnotalawyermyself。’
’Noralawyer’sclerk？’
’Certainlynotalawyer’sclerk，’saidJohn，laughing。
’Thenwhyshouldyougo？’askedBernardDale。
ThenJohnnyhadtoexplain，andindoingsohebecameveryeloquentastothehardshipsofMrCrawley’scase。’Yousee，sir，nobodycanpossiblybelievethatsuchamanasthatstoletwentypounds。’
’Idonotforone，’saidLily。
’GodforbidthatIshouldsayhedid，’saidthesquire。
’I’mquitesurehedidn’t，’saidJohnny，warmingtohissubject。’Itcouldn’tbethatsuchamanasthatshouldbecomeathiefallatonce。
It’snothumannature，sir；isit？’
’It’sveryhardtoknowwhathumannatureis，’saidthesquire。
’It’sthegeneralopiniondowninBarsetshirethathedidstealit，’
saidBernard。’DrThornewasoneofthemagistrateswhocommittedhim，andIknowhethinksso。’
’Idon’tblamethemagistratesintheleast，’saidJohnny。
’That’skindofyou，’saidthesquire。
’Ofcourseyou’lllaughatme，sir；butyou’llseethatweshallcomeoutright。There’ssomemysteryinitofwhichwehaven’tgotatthebottomasyet；andifthereisanybodythatcanhelpusitisthedean。’
’Ifthedeanknowsanything，whyhashenotwrittenandtoldwhatheknows？’saidthesquire。
’That’swhatIcan’tsay。Thedeanhasnothadanopportunityofwritingsinceheheard——evenifhehasyetheard——thatMrCrawleyistobetried。AndthenheandMrsArabinarenottogether。It’salongstory，andIwillnottroubleyouwithitall；butatanyrateI’mgoingofftomorrow。Lily，canIdoanythingforyouinFlorence？’
’InFlorence？’saidLily；’andareyoureallygoingtoFlorence？HowI
envyyou。’
’Andwhopaysyourexpenses，’saidthesquire。
’Well；——astomyexpenses，theyaretobepaidbyapersonwhowon’traiseanyunpleasantquestionsabouttheamount。’
’Idon’tknowwhatyoumean，’saidthesquire。
’Hemeanshimself，’saidLily。
’I’mgoingtohaveatripformyownfun，’saidJohnny，’andIshallpickupevidenceontheroad，asI’mgoing——that’sall。’
ThenLilybegantotakeanactivepartintheconversation，andagreatdealwassaidaboutMrCrawley，andaboutGrace，andLilydeclaredthatshewouldbeveryanxioustohearanynewswhichJohnEamesmightbeabletosend。’Youknow，John，howfondweareofyourcousinGrace，atAllington？Arewenot，uncle？’
’Yes，indeed，’saidthesquire。’Ithoughtheraverynicegirl。’
’Ifyoushouldbeabletolearnanythingthatmaybeofuse，John，howhappyyouwillbe。’
’Yes，Ishall，’saidJohn。
’AndIthinkit’ssogoodofyoutogo，John。Butitisjustlikeyou。
Youwerealwaysgenerous。’Soonafterthathegotupandwent。ItwasverycleartohimthathewouldhavenomomentinwhichtosayawordalonetoLily；andifhecouldfindsuchamoment，whatgoodwouldsuchaworddohim？Itwasasyetbutafewweekssinceshehadpositivelyrefusedhim。Andhetoorememberedverywellthosetwowordswhichshehadtoldhimshewouldwriteinherbook。Ashehadbeencomingtothehousehehadtoldhimselfthathiscomingwouldbe——couldbeofnouse。
Andyethewasdisappointedwiththeresultofhisvisit，althoughshehadspokentohimsosweetly。
’Isupposeyou’llbegonewhenIgetback，’hesaid。
’Weshallbehereamonth，’saidthesquire。
’Ishallbebacklongbeforethat，Ihope，’saidJohnny。’Good—bye，sir。Good—bye，Dale。Good—bye，Lily。’Andheputouthishandtoher。
’Good—bye，John。’Andthensheadded，almostinawhisper。’Ithinkyouarevery，veryrighttogo。’Howcouldhefailafterthattohopeashewalkedhomethatshemightstillrelent。Andshealsothoughtmuchofhim，butherthoughtsofhimmadeherclingmorefirmlythanevertothosetwowords。Shecouldnotbringherselftomarryhim；but，atleast，shewouldnotbreakhisheartbybecomingthewifeofanyoneelse。SoonafterthisBernardDalewentalso。IamnotsurethathehadbeenwellpleasedatseeingJohnEamesbecomesuddenlytheheroofthehour。Whenayoungmanisgoingtoperformsoimportantanactasmarriageheisapttothinkthatheoughttobetheheroofthehourhimself——atanyrateamonghisownfamily。
EarlyonthenextmorningLilywastakenbyheruncletocalluponMrsThorne，andtoseeEmilyDunstable。Bernardwastomeetthemthere，butithadbeenarrangedthattheyshouldreachthehousefirst。’Thereisnothingsoabsurdastheseintroductions，’Bernardhadsaid。’Yougoandlookather，andwhenyou’vehadtimetolookather，thenI’llcome！’
SothesquireandLilywentofftolookatEmilyDunstable。
’Youdon’tmeantosaythatshelivesinthathouse？’saidLily，whenthecabwasstoppedbeforeanenormousmansioninoneofthemostfashionableoftheLondonsquares。
’Ibelieveshedoes，’saidthesquire。
’Inevershallbeabletospeaktoanybodylivinginsuchahouseasthat，’saidLily。’Adukecouldn’thaveanythinggrander。’
’MrsThorneisricherthanhalfthedukes，’saidthesquire。Thenthedoorwasopenedbyaporter，andLilyfoundherselfwithinthehall。
Everythingwasverygreat，andverymagnificent，and，asshethought，veryuncomfortable。Presentlysheheardaloudjovialvoiceonthestairs。’MrDale，I’mdelightedtoseeyou。AndthisisyournieceLily。
Comeup，mydear。Thereisayoungwomanupstairsdyingtoembraceyou。
Nevermindtheumbrella。Putitdownanywhere。Iwanttohavealookatyou，becauseBernardswearsthatyou’resopretty。’ThiswasMrsThorne，onceMissDunstable，therichestwomaninEngland，andtheauntofBernard’sbride。ThereadermayperhapsremembertheadvicewhichsheoncegavetoMajorGrantly，andherenthusiasmonthatoccasion。’Theresheis，MrDale；whatdoyouthinkofher？’saidMrsThorneassheopenedthedoorofasmallsitting—roomwedgedinbetweentwolargesaloons，inwhichEmilyDunstablewassitting。
’AuntMartha，howcanyoubesoridiculous？’saidtheyounglady。
’Isupposeitisridiculoustoaskthequestiontowhichonereallywantstohaveananswer，’saidMrsThorne。’ButMrDalehas，intruth，cometoinspectyou，andtoformanopinion；and，inhonesttruth，I
shallbeveryanxioustoknowwhathethinks——though，ofcourse，hewon’ttellme。’
Theoldmantookthegirlinhisarms，andkissedheronbothcheeks。
’IhavenodoubtyouwillfindoutwhatIthink，’hesaid，’thoughI
shouldnevertellyou。’
’Igenerallydofindoutwhatpeoplethink，’shesaid。’Andsoyou’reLilyDale？’
’Yes，I’mLilyDale。’
’Ihavesooftenheardofyou，particularlyoflate；foryoumustknowthatacertainMajorGrantlyisafriendofmine。Wemusttakecarethatthataffaircomesoffallright，mustwenot？’
’Ihopeitwill。’ThenLilyturnedtoEmilyDunstable，and，takingherhand，wentupandsatbesideher，whileMrsThorneandthesquiretalkedofthecomingmarriage。’Howlonghaveyoubeenengaged？’saidLily。
’Reallyengagedaboutthreeweeks。Ithinkitisnotmorethanthreeweeksago。’
’HowverydiscreetBernardhasbeen。Heneversaidawordaboutitwhileitwasgoingon。’
’Menneverdotell，Isuppose，’saidEmilyDunstable。
’Ofcourseyoulovehimdearly？’saidLily，notknowingwhatelsetosay。
’OfcourseIdo。’
’Andsodowe。Youknowhe’salmostabrothertous；thatis，tomeandmysister。Weneverhadabrotherofourown。’AndsothemorningwaspassedtillLilywastoldbyheruncletocomeaway，andwastoldalsobyMrsThornethatshewastodinewiththeminthesquareonthatday。
’Youmustnotbesurprisedthatmyhusbandisnothere，’shesaid。’He’saveryoddsortofman，andhenevercomestoLondonifhecanhelpit。’
CHAPTERXLVI
THEBAYSWATERROMANCE
EameshadbynomeansdonehisworkforthateveningwhenheleftMrDaleandLilyattheirlodgings。Hehadotherbusinessinhandtowhichhehadpromisedtogiveattention，andanotherpersontoseewhowouldwelcomehiscomingquiteaswarmly，thoughbynomeansaspleasantly，asLilyDale。Itwasthenjustnineo’clock，andashehadtoldMissDemolines——Madalinawemayaswellcallhernow——thathewouldbeinPorchesterTerracebynineatthelatest，itwasincumbentonhimtomakehaste。Hegotintoacab，andbidthecabmandrivehard，andlightingacigar，begantoinquireofhimselfoverandoveragainwhetheritwaswellforhimtohurryawayfromthepresenceofLilyDaletothatofMadalinaDemolines。Hefeltthathewashalf—ashamedofwhathewasdoing。Thoughhedeclaredtohimselfoverandoveragainthatheneverhadsaidaword，andneverintendedtosayaword，toMadalina，whichalltheworldmightnothear，yetheknewthathewasdoingamiss。
Hewasdoingamiss，andhalfrepentedit，andhewashalfproudofit。
HewasmostanxioustobeabletogivehimselfcreditforhisconstancytoLilyDale；tobeabletofeelthathewassteadfastinhispassion；
andyethelikedtheideaofamusinghimselfwithhisBayswaterromance，ashewouldcallit，andwasnotwithoutsomethingofconceitashethoughtoftheprogresshehadmadeinit。’Loveisonethingandamusementisanother，’hesaidtohimselfashepuffedthecigarsmokeoutofhismouth；andinhishearthewasproudofhisowncapacityforenjoyment。Hethoughtitafinething，althoughatthesamemomentheknewittobeanevilthing——thishurryingawayfromtheyoungladywhomhereallylovedtoanotherastowhomhethoughtitverylikelythatheshouldbecalledupontopretendtoloveher。Andhesangalittlesongashewent，’Ifshebenotfairtome，whatcareIhowfairshebe。’
ThatwasintendedtoapplytoLily，andwasusedasanexcuseforhisficklenessingoingtoMissDemolines。Andhewasperhaps，too，alittleconceitedastohismissiontotheContinent。Lilyhadtoldhimthathewasverygladthathewasgoing；thatshethoughthimveryrighttogo。
Thewordshadbeenverypleasanttohisears，andLilyhadneverlookedprettierinhiseyesthanwhenshehadspokenthem。Johnny，therefore，wasratherproudofhimselfashesatinthecabsmokinghiscigar。Hehad，moreover，beatenhisoldenemySirRaffleBuffleinanothercontest，andhefeltthattheworldwassmilingonhim；——thattheworldwassmilingonhiminspiteofhiscruelfateinthematterofhisreallovesuit。
TherewasamysteryabouttheBayswaterromancewhichwasnotwithoutitsallurement，andaportionofthemysterywasconnectedwithMadalina’smother。LadyDemolineswasveryrarelyseen，andJohnEamescouldnotquiteunderstandwhatwasthemanneroflifeofthatunfortunatelady。Herdaughterusuallyspokeofherwithaffectionateregretasbeingunabletoappearonthatparticularoccasiononaccountofsomepassingmalady。Shewassufferingfromanervousheadache，orwasafflictedwithbronchitis，orhadbeentouchedwithrheumatism，sothatshewasseldomonthescenewhenJohnnywaspassinghistimeatPorchesterTerrace。Andyetheheardofherdiningout，andgoingtoplaysandoperas；andwhenhedidchancetoseeher，hefoundthatshewasasprightlyoldwomanenough。IwillnotventuretosaythathemuchregrettedtheabsenceofLadyDemolines，orthathewaskeenlyalivetotheimproprietyofbeingleftalonewiththegentleMadalina；butthecustomaryabsenceoftheelderladywasanincidentintheromancewhichdidnotfailtostrikehim。
Madalinawasalonewhenhewasshownuponintothedrawing—roomontheeveningofwhichwearespeaking。
’MrEames，’shesaid，’willyoukindlylookatthatwatchwhichislyingonthetable。’Shelookedfullathimwithhergreateyeswideopen，andthetoneofhervoicewasintendedtoshowhimthatshewasaggrieved。
’Yes，Iseeit，’saidJohn，lookingdownonMissDemolines’littlegoldGenevawatch，withwhichhehadalreadymadesufficientacquaintancetoknowthatitwasworthnothing。’ShallIgiveityou？’
’No，MrEames；letitremainthere，thatitmayremindme，ifitdoesnotremindyou，byhowlongatimeyouhavebrokenyourword。’
’UponmywordIcouldn’thelpit；——uponmyhonourIcouldn’t。’
’Uponyourhonour，MrEames？’
’Iwasobligedtogoandseeafriendwhohasjustcometotownfrommypartofthecountry。’
’Thatisthefriend，Isuppose，ofwhomIhaveheardfromMaria。’ItistobefearedthatConwayDalrymplehadnotbeensoguardedasheshouldhavebeeninsomeofhisconversationswithMrsDobbsBroughton，andthatawordortwohadescapedfromhimastotheloveofJohnEamesforLilyDale。
’Idon’tknowwhatyoumayhaveheard，’saidJohnny，’butIwasobligedtoseethesepeoplebeforeIlefttown。Thereisgoingtobeamarriageandallthatsortofthing。’
’Whoisgoingtobemarried？’
’OneCaptainDaleisgoingtobemarriedtoMissDunstable。’
’Oh！AndastooneMissLilyDale——isshetobemarriedtoanybody？’
’NotthatIhaveheardof，’saidJohnny。
’SheisnotgoingtobethewifeofoneMrJohnEames？’
HedidnotwishtotalktoMissDemolinesaboutLilyDale。Hedidnotchoosetodisowntheimputation，ortoacknowledgeitstruth。
’Silencegivesconsent，’shesaid。’Ifitbeso，Icongratulateyou。I
havenodoubtsheisthemostcharmingyoungwoman。Itisaboutsevenyears，Ibelieve，sincethatlittleaffairwithMrCrosbie，andthereforethat，Isuppose，maybeconsideredasforgotten。’
’Itisonlythreeyears，’saidJohnny，angrily。’Besides，Idon’tknowwhatthathastodowithit。’
’Youneednotbeashamed，’saidMadalina。’Ihaveheardhowwellyoubehavedonthatoccasion。Youwerequitethepreuxchevalier；andifanygentlemaneverdeservedwellofaladyyoudeservedwellofher。I
wonderhowMrCrosbiefeltwhenhemetyoutheotherdayatMaria’s。I
hadnotheardanythingaboutitthen，orIshouldhavebeenmuchmoreinterestedinwatchingyourmeeting。’
’Ireallycan’tsayhowhefelt。’
’Idaresaynot；butIsawhimshakehandswithyou。AndsoLilyDalehascometotown。’
’Yes——MissDaleisherewithheruncle。’
’Andyouaregoingawaytomorrow？’
’Yes——andIamgoingawaytomorrow。’
Afterthattherewasapauseintheconversation。Eameswassickofit，andwasveryanxioustochangetheconversation。MissDemolineswassittingintheshadow，awayfromthelight，withherfacehalfhiddenbyherhands。Atlastshejumpedup，andcameroundandstoodoppositetohim。’Ichargeyoutotellmetruly，JohnEames，’shesaid，’whetherMissLilianDaleisengagedtoyouasyourfuturewife？’Helookedupintoherface，butmadenoimmediateanswer。Thensherepeatedherdemand。
’IaskyouwhetheryouareengagedtomarryMissLilianDale，andI
expectareply。’
’Whatmakesyouaskmesuchaquestionasthat？’
’Whatmakesmeaskyou？Doyoudenymyrighttofeelsomuchinterestinyouastodesiretoknowwhetheryouareabouttomarried？Ofcourseyoucandeclinetotellmeifyouchoose。’
’AndifIweretodecline？’
’Ishouldknowthenthatitwastrue，andIshouldthinkyouwereacoward。’
’Idon’tseeanycowardiceinthematter。Onedoesnottalkaboutthatkindofthingtoeverybody。’
’Uponmyword，MrEames，youarecomplimentary；——indeedyouare。Toeverybody！Iameverybody——amI？Thatisyourideaof——friendship！YoumaybesurethatafterthatIshallasknofurtherquestions。’
’Ididn’tmeanitthewayyouhavetakenit，Madalina。’
’Inwhatwaydidyoumeanit，sir？Everybody！MrEames，youmustexcusemeifIsaythatIamnotwellenoughthiseveningtobearthecompanyof——everybody。Ithinkyouhadbetterleaveme。Ithinkthatyouhadbettergo。’
’Areyouangrywithme？’
’Yes，Iam——veryangry。BecauseIhavecondescendedtofeelaninterestinyourwelfare，andhaveaskedyouaquestionwhichIthoughtthatourintimacyjustified，youtellmethatthatisakindofthingthatyouwillnottalkaboutto——everybody。IbegyoutounderstandthatIwillnotbeyoureverybody。MrEames，thereisthedoor。’
Thingshadnowbecomeveryserious。HithertoJohnnyhadbeenseatedcomfortablyinthecornerofasofa，andhadnotfoundhimselfboundtomove，thoughMissDemolineswasstandingbeforehim。Butnowitwasabsolutelynecessarythatheshoulddosomething。Hemusteithergo，orelsehemustmakeentreatytobeallowedtoremain。Woulditnotbeexpedientthatheshouldtaketheladyatherwordandescape？Shewasstillpointingtothedoor，andthewaywasopentohim。Ifheweretowalkoutnowofcoursehewouldneverreturn，andtherewouldbetheendoftheBayswaterromance。Ifheremaineditmightbethattheromancewouldbecometroublesome。Hegotupfromhisseat，andhadalmostresolvedthathewouldgo。Hadshenotsomewhatrelaxedthemajestyofherangerasherose，hadthefireofhereyenotbeensomewhatquenchedandthelinesofhermouthsoftened，Ithinkthathewouldhavegone。
Theromancewouldhavebeenover，andhewouldhavefeltithadcometoaningloriousend；butitwouldhavebeenwellforhimthatheshouldhavegone。Thoughthefirewassomewhatquenchedandthelinesweresomewhatsoftened，shewasstillpointingatthedoor。
’Doyoumeanit？’hesaid。
’Idomeanit——certainly。’
’Andthisistobetheendofeverything？’
’Idonotknowwhatyoumeanbyeverything。Itisaverylittleeverythingtoyou，Ishouldsay。Idonotquiteunderstandyoureverythingandyoureverybody。’
’Iwillgoifyouwishmetogoofcourse。’
’Idowishit。’
’ButbeforeIgo，youmustpermitmetoexcusemyself。Ididnotintendtooffendyou。Imerelymeant——’
’Youmerelymeant！Givemeanhonestanswertoadownrightquestion。
AreyouengagedtoMissLilianDale？’
’No；——Iamnot。’
’Uponyourhonour？’