ButeventothispropositionMrsCrawleycouldgivenoassent，thoughsheexpressednodirectdissent。Asregardedherownfeelings，shewouldmuchpreferredtohavebeenlefttolivethroughhermiseryalone；butshecouldnotbutappreciatethekindnesswhichendeavouredtothrowoverandhersintheirtroubletheaegisoffirst—ratecountyrespectability。ShewassavedfromthenecessityofgivingadirectanswertothissuggestionbythereturnofMrsRobartsandGraceherself。Thedoorwasopenedslowly，andtheycreptintotheroomasthoughtheywereawarethattheirpresencewouldbehardlywelcomed。
’Isthecarriagethere，Fanny？’saidLadyLufton。’Itisalmosttimeforustothinkofreturninghome。’
MrsRobartssaidthatthecarriagewasstandingwithintwentyyardsofthedoor。
’ThenIthinkwewillmakeastart，’saidLadyLufton。’HaveyousucceededinpersuadingMissCrawleytocomeovertoFramleyinApril？’
MrsRobartsmadenoanswertothis，butlookedatGrace；andGracelookeddownupontheground。
’IhavespokentoMrsCrawley，’saidLadyLufton，’andtheywillthinkofit。’Thenthetwoladiestooktheirleave，andwalkedouttotheircarriage。
’Whatdoesshesayaboutyourplan？’MrsRobartsasked。
’Sheistoobroken—heartedtosayanything。’LadyLuftonanswered。
’Shouldithappenthatheisconvicted，wemustcomeoverandtakeher。
Shewillhavenopowertoresistusinanything。’
CHAPTERLI
MRSDOBBSBROUGHTONPILESHERFAGGOTS
ThepicturestillprogressedupinMrsDobbsBroughton’sroom，andthesecretwasstillkept，orsupposedtobekept。MissVanSieverwas，atanyrate，certainthathermotherhadheardnothingofit，andMrsBroughtonreportedfromdaytodaythatherhusbandhadnotasyetinterfered。NeverthelesstherewasinthesedaysagreatgloomupontheDobbsBroughtonhousehold，somuchsothatConwayDalrymplehadmorethanoncesuggestedtoMrsBroughtonthattheworkshouldbediscontinued。Butthemistressofthehousewouldnotconsenttothis。
Inanswertotheseoffers，shewaswonttodeclareinsomewhatmysteriouslanguage，thatanymiserycominguponherselfwasamatterofmomenttonobody——hardlyeventoherself，asshewasquitepreparedtoencountermoralandsocialdeathwithoutdelay，ifnotanabsolutephysicaldemise；astowhichlatteralternative，sheseemedtothinkthateventhatmightnotbesofardistantassomepeoplechosetobelieve。WhatwasthecauseofthegloomoverthehouseneitherConwayDalrymplenorMissVanSieverunderstood，andtospeakthetruthMrsBroughtondidnotquiteunderstandthecauseherself。Sheknewwellenough，nodoubt，thatherhusbandcamehomealwayssullen，andsometimestipsy，andthatthingswerenotgoingwellintheCity。ShehadneverunderstoodmuchabouttheCity，beingsatisfiedwithanassurancethathadcometoherintheearlydaysfromherfriends，thattherewasamineofwealthinHookCourt，fromwhencewouldalwayscomeforheruse，houseandfurniture，acarriageandsomehorses，dressesandjewels，whichlatter，ifnotquitereal，shouldbemanufacturedwiththebestshamsubstituteknown。SoonafterherbrilliantmarriagewithMrDobbsBroughton，shehaddiscoveredthatthecarriageandhorses，andtheshamjewels，didnotlifthersocompletelyintoaterrestrialparadiseasshehadtaughtherselftoexpectthattheywoulddo。Herbrilliantdrawing—room，withDobbsBroughtonforacompanion，wasnotanelysium。Butthoughshehadfoundoutearlyinhermarriedlifethatsomethingwasstillwantingtoher，shehadbynomeansconfessedtoherselfthatthecarriageandhorsesandshamjewelswerebad，anditcanhardlybesaidthatshehadrepented。Shehadendeavouredtopatchupmatterswithalittleromance，andthenhadfallenuponConwayDalrymple——meaningnoharm。Indeed，lovewithher，asitnevercouldhavemeantmuchgood，wasnotlikelytomeanmuchharm。Thatsomebodyshouldpretendtoloveher，towhichpretenceshemightreplybyapretenceoffriendship——thiswasthelittleexcitementwhichshecraved，andbywhichshehadonceflatteredherselfthatsomethingofanelysiummightyetbecreatedforher。MrDobbsBroughtonhadunreasonablyexpressedadisliketothisinnocentamusement——veryunreasonably，knowing，asheoughttohaveknown，thathehimselfdidsoverylittletowardsprovidingthenecessaryelysiumbyanyqualitiesofhisown。Forafewweeksthisinterferencefromherhusbandhadenhancedtheamusement，givinganadditionalexcitementtothegame。Shefeltherselftobewomanmisunderstoodandill—used；andtosomewomenthereisnothingsocharmingasalittlemildill—usage，whichdoesnotinterferewiththeircreaturecomforts，withtheirclothes，ortheircarriage，ortheirshamjewels；butsufficestoaffordthemtheindulgenceofagrievance。Oflate，however，MrDobbsBroughtonhadbecomealittletooroughinhislanguage，andthingshadgoneuncomfortably。ShesuspectedthatConwayDalrymplewasnottheonlycauseofallthis。ShehadanideathatMrMusselboroandMrsVanSieverhaditintheirpowertomakethemselvesunpleasant，andthattheywereexercisingthispower。OfhisbusinessintheCityherhusbandneverspoketoher，norshetohim。Herownfortunehadbeenverysmall，somecoupleofthousandpoundsorso，andsheconceivedthatshehadnopretextonwhichshecould，unasked，interrogatehimabouthismoney。Shehadnoknowledgethatmarriageofitselfhadgivenhertherighttosuchinterference；andhadsuchknowledgebeenhersshewouldhavehadnodesiretointerfere。Shehopedthatthecarriageandshamjewelswouldbecontinuedtoher；butshedidnotknowhowtoframeanyquestiononthesubject。Touchingtheotherdifficulty——theConwayDalrympledifficulty——shehadherideas。Thetendernessofherfriendshiphadbeentroddenuponbyandoutragedbytheroughfootofanoverbearinghusband，andshewasill—used。Shewouldobey。Itwasbecomingtoherasawifethatsheshouldsubmit。ShewouldgiveupConwayDalrymple，andwouldinducehim——inspiteofhisviolentattachmenttoherself——totakeawife。Sheherselfwouldchooseawifeforhim。Sheherselfwould，withsuicidalhands，destroytheloveofherownlife，sinceanoverbearing，brutalhusbanddemandedthatitshouldbedestroyed。Shewouldsacrificeherownfeelings，anddoallinherpowertobringConwayDalrympleandClaraVanSievertogether。If，afterthat，somepoetdidnotimmortaliseherfriendshipinByronicverse，shecertainlywouldnotgetherdue。PerhapsConwayDalrymplewouldhimselfbecomeapoetinorderthatthismightbedoneproperly。
Foritmustbeunderstoodthat，thoughsheexpectedConwayDalrympletomarry，sheexpectedalsothatheshouldByronicallywretchedafterhismarriageonaccountofhisloveforherself。
ButtherewascertainlysomethingwrongoverandbeyondtheDalrympledifficulty。Theservantswerenotascivilastheyusedtobe，andherhusband，whenshesuggestedtohimalittledinner—party，snubbedhermostunmercifully。Thegivingofdinner—partieshadbeenhisglory，andshehadmadethesuggestionsimplywiththeviewofpleasinghim。’Iftheworldweregoinground，thewrongway，awomanwouldstillwantaparty，’hehadsaid，sneeringather。’ItwasofyouIwasthinking，Dobbs，’shereplied；’notofmyself。Icarelittleforsuchgatherings。’
Afterthatsheretiredtoherownroomwitharomantictearineacheye，andtoldherselfthat，hadchancethrownConwayDalrympleintoherwaybeforeshehadseenDobbsBroughton，shewouldhavebeenthehappiestwomanintheworld。Shesatforawhilelookingintovacancy，andthinkingthatitwouldbeverynicetobreakherheart。Howshouldshesetaboutit？Shouldshetaketoherbedandgrowthin？Shewouldbeginbyeatingnodinnerforeversomaydaysaltogether。Atlunchherhusbandwasneverpresent，andthereforethebrokenheartcouldbedisplayedatdinnerwithoutmuchpositivesuffering。InthemeantimeshewouldimploreConwayDalrympletogethimselfmarriedwithaslittledelayaspossible，andshewouldlayuponhimherpositiveordertorestrainhimselffromanywordofaffectionaddressedtoherself。She，atanyrate，wouldbepure，high—minded，andself—sacrificing——althoughromanticandpoeticalso，aswashernature。
Thepicturewasprogressing，andsoalso，asithadcomeabout，wasthelove—affairbetweentheartistandhismodel。ConwayDalrymplehadbeguntothinkthathemight，afterall，doworsethanmakeClaraVanSieverhiswife。ClaraVanSieverwashandsome，andundoubtedlyclever，andClaraVanSiever’smotherwascertainlyrich。And，inadditiontothis，theyoungladyherselfbegantolikethemanintowhosesocietyshewasthrown。Theaffairseemedtoflourish，andMrsDobbsBroughtonshouldhavebeendelighted。ShetoldClara，withaveryseriousair，thatshewasdelighted，biddingClara，atthesametime，tobeverycautious，asmenweresofickle，andasConwayDalrymple，thoughthebestfellowintheworld，wasnot，perhaps，altogetherfreefromthatcommonviceofmen。Indeed，itmighthavebeensurmised，fromawordortwowhichMrsBroughtonallowedtoescape，thatsheconsideredpoorConwaytobemorethanordinarilyafflictedinthatway。MissVanSieveratfirstonlypouted，andsaidthattherewasnothinginit。’Thereissomethinginit，mydear，certainly，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton；’andtherecanbenoearthlyreasonwhythereshouldnotbeagreatdealinit。’’Thereisnothinginit，’saidMissVanSiever，impetuously；’andifyouwillcontinuetospeakofMrDalrympleinthatway，Imustgiveupthepicture。’’Asforthat，’saidMrsBroughton，’Iconceivethatwearebothofusboundtotheyoungmannow，seeingthathehasgivensomuchtimetothework。’’Iamnotboundtohimatall，’saidMissVanSiever。
MrsBroughtonalsotoldConwayDalrymplethatshewasdelighted——oh，somuchdelighted！Hehadobtainedpermissiontocomeinonemorningbeforethetimeofsitting，sothathemightworkathiscanvasindependentlyofhismodel。Aswashiscustom，hemadehisownwayupstairsandcommencedhisworkalone——havingbeenexpresslytoldbyMrsBroughtonthatshewouldnotcometohimtillshebroughtClarawithher。Butshedidgouptotheroominwhichtheartistwaspainting，withoutwaitingforMissVanSiever。Indeed，shewasatthistimesoanxiousasthefuturewelfareofhertwoyoungfriendsthatshecouldnotrestrainherselffromspeakingeithertotheoneoftotheother，wheneveranyopportunityforsuchspeechcameround。TohaveleftConwayDalrympleatworkupstairswithoutgoingtohimwasimpossibletoher。Soshewent，andthentooktheopportunityofexpressingtoherfriendherideasastohispastandfutureconduct。
’Yes，itisverygood；verygood，indeed，’shesaid，standingbeforetheeasel，andlookingatthehalf—completedwork。’Idonotknowthatyoueverdidanythingbetter。’
’Inevercantellmyselftillapictureisfinishedwhetheritisgoingtobegoodornot，’saidDalrymple，thinkingreallyofhispictureandofnothingelse。
’Iamsurethiswillbegood，’shesaid，’andIsupposeitisbecauseyouhavethrownsomuchheartintoit。Itisnotmereindustrythatwillproducegoodwork，noryetskill，norevengenius；morethanthisisrequired。Theheartoftheartistmustbethrustwithallitsgushingtidesintotheperformance。’Bythistimeheknewallthetonesofhervoiceandtheirvariousmeanings，andimmediatelybecameawarethatatthepresentmomentshewasintentuponsomethingbeyondthepicture。Shewaspreparingforalittlescene，andwasgoingtogivehimsomeadvice。
Heunderstooditall，butashewasreallydesirousofworkingathiscanvas，andwasratheraversetohavingasceneatthemoment，hemadealittleattempttodisconcerther。’Itistheheartthatgivessuccess，’
shesaid，hewasconsideringhowhemightbestputanextinguisheruponherromancefortheoccasion。
’Notatall，MrsBroughton；successdependsonelbow—grease。’
’Onwhat，Conway？’
’Onelbow—grease——hardwork，thatis——andImustworkhardnowifImeantotakeadvantageoftoday’ssitting。Thetruthis，Idon’tgiveenoughhoursworktoit。’Andheleaneduponhisstick，anddaubedawaybristlyatthebackground，andthenstoodforamomentlookingathiscanvaswithhisheadalittleononeside，asthoughhecouldnotwithdrawhisattentionforamomentfromthethinghewasdoing。
’Youmeantosay，Conway，thatyouwouldratherthatIshouldnotspeaktoyou。’
’Oh，no，MrsBroughton，Ididnotmeanthatatall。’
’Iwon’tinterruptyouatyourwork。WhatIhavetosayisperhapsofnogreatmoment。Indeed，wordsbetweenyouandmenevercanhavemuchimportancenow。Canthey，Conway？’
’Idon’tseethatatall，’saidhe，workingawayathisbrush。
’Doyounot？Ido。Theyshouldneveramounttomore——theycanneveramounttomorethanthecommonordinarycourtesiesoflife；whatIcallthegreetingsandgood—byeingsofconversation。’Shesaidthisinalow，melancholytoneofvoice，notintendingtobeinanydegreejocose。’Howseldomisitthatconversationbetweenordinaryfriendsgoesbeyondthat。’
’Don’tyouthinkitdoes？’saidConway，steppingbackandtakinganotherlookatthepicture。’Ifindmyselftalkingtoallmannerofpeopleaboutallmannerofthings。’
’Youaredifferentfromme。Icannottalktoallmannerofpeople。’
’Politics，youknow，andart，andalittlescandal，andthewars，withadozenotherthings，maketalkingeasyenough，Ithink。Igrantyouthis，thatitisveryoftenagreatbore。HardlyadaypassesthatIdon’twishtocutoutsomebody’stongue。’
’Doyouwishtocutoutmytongue，Conway？’
Hebegantoperceivethatshewasdeterminedtotalkaboutherself，andthattherewasnoremedy。Hedreadedit，notbecausehedidnotlikethewoman，butfromaconvictionthatshewasgoingtomakesomecomparisonbetweenherandClaraVanSiever。Inhisordinaryhumourhelikedalittlepretenceatromance，andwasrathergoodatthatsortoflove—makingwhichintruthmeansanythingbutlove。Butjustnowhewasreallythinkingofmatrimony，andhadonthisverymorningacknowledgedtohimselfthathehadbecomesufficientlyattachedtoClaraVanSievertojustifyhiminaskinghertobehiswife。Inhispresentmoodhewasnotanxiousforoneofthosetiltswithbluntedswordsandhalf—severedlancesinthelistofCupidofwhichMrsDobbsBroughtonwassofond。
Nevertheless，ifsheinsistedthatheshouldnowdescendintothearenaandgothroughtheparaphernaliaofamocktournament，hemustobeyher。
Itisthehardshipofmenthatwhencalleduponbywomenforromance，theyareboundtoberomantic，whethertheopportunityservesthemornot。Amanmustproduceromance，oratleastsubmittoit，whendulysummoned，eventhoughheshouldhaveasorethroatoraheadache。Heisabruteifhedeclinesuchanencounter——andfeelsthat，shouldhesodeclinepersistently，hewilleverafterbetreatedasabrute。TherearemanyPotiphar’swiveswhoneverdreamofanymischief，andJosephswhoareveryanxioustoescape，thoughtheyareaskedtoreturnonlywhisperforwhisper。MrsDobbsBroughtonhadaskedhimwhetherhewishedthathertongueshouldbecutout，andhehadofcourserepliedthatherwordshadalwaysbeenajoytohim——neveratrouble。Itoccurredtohimashemadehislittlespeechthatitwouldonlyhaveservedherrightifhehadansweredherinquiteanotherstrain；butshewasawoman，andwasyoungandpretty，andwasentitledtoflattery。’Theyhavealwaysbeenajoytome，’hesaid，repeatinghislastwordsashestrovetocontinuehiswork。
’Adeadlyjoy，’shereplied，notquiteknowingwhatsheherselfmeant。
’Adeadlyjoy，Conway。Iwishwithallmyheartthatwehadneverknowneachother。’
’Idonot。Iwillneverwishawaythehappinessofmylife，evenshoulditbefollowedbymisery。’
’Youareaman，andiftroublecomesuponyou，youcanbearitonyourshoulders。Awomansuffersmore，justbecauseanother’sshouldersmayhavetobeartheburden。’
’Whenshehasgotahusband，youmean。’
’Yes——whenshehasahusband。’
’It’sthesamewithamanwhenhehasawife。’Hithertotheconversationhadhadsomuchofmilk—and—waterinitscompositionthatDalrymplefoundhimselfabletokeepitupandgoonwithhisbackgroundatthesametime。Ifshecouldonlybekeptinthesamedimcloudofsentiment，ifthehotraysofthesunofromancecouldbekeptfrombreakingthroughthemisttillMissVanSievershouldcome，itmightstillbewell。Hehadknownhertowanderaboutwithinthecloudsforanhourtogether，withoutbeingabletofindherwayintothelight。’It’sallthesamewithamanwhenhehasgotawife，’hesaid。’Ofcourseonehastosufferfortwo，whenone，sotosay，istwo。’
’Andwhathappenswhenonehastosufferforthree？’sheasked。
’Youmeanwhenawomanhaschildren？’
’Imeannothingofthekind，Conway；andyoumustknowthatIdonot，unlessyourfeelingsareindeedblunted。Butworldlysuccesshas，I
suppose，bluntedthem。’
’Iratherfancynot，’hesaid。’Ithinktheyareprettynearlyassharpasever。’
’Iknowmineare。Oh，howIwishIcouldridmyselfofthem！Butitcannotbedone。Agewillnotbluntthem——Iamsureofthat，’saidMrsBroughton。’Iwishitcould。’
Hehaddeterminednottotalkaboutherselfifthesubjectcouldbeinanywayavoided；butnowhefeltthathewasdrivenupintoacorner；——nowhewasforcedtospeaktoherofherownpersonality。’Youhavenoexperienceyetastothat。Howcanyousaywhatagewilldo？’
’Agedoesnotgobyyears，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton。’Weallknowthat。\"Hishairwasgrey，butnotwithyears。\"Lookhere，Conway，’andshemovedbackhertressesfromoffhertemplestoshowhimthatthereweregreyhairsbehind。Hedidnotseethem；andhadtheybeenveryvisibleshemightnotperhapshavebeensoreadytoexhibitthem。’Noonecansaythatlengthofyearshasblanchedthem。Ihavenosecretsfromyouaboutmyage。Oneshouldnotbegreybeforeonehasreachedthirty。’
’Ididnotseeachangedhair。’
’’Twasthefaultofyoureyes，then，forthereareplentyofthem。Andwhatisitthathasmadethemgrey？’
’Theysayhotroomswilldoit。’
’Hotrooms！No，Conway，itdoesnotcomefromheatedatmosphere。Itcomesfromacoldheart，achilledheart，afrozenheart，aheartthatisallice。’Shewasgettingoutofthecloudintotheheatnow，andhecouldonlyhopethatMissVanSieverwouldcomesoon。’Theworldisbeginningwithyou，Conway，andyouareasoldasIam。Itisendingwithme，andyetIamasyoungasyouare。ButIdonotknowwhyItalkofthis。Itissimplyfolly——utterfolly。Ihadnotmeanttospeakofmyself；butIdidwishtosayafewwordstoyouofyourownfuture。I
supposeImaystillspeaktoyouasafriend？’
’Ihopeyouwillalwaysdothat。’
’Nay——Iwillmakenosuchpromise。ThatIwillalwayshaveafriend’sfeelingforyou，afriend’sinterestinyourwelfare，afriend’striumphinyoursuccess——thatIwillpromise。Butfriendlywords，Conway，aresometimesmisunderstood。’
’Neverbyme，’saidhe。
’No，notbyyou——certainlynotbyyou。Ididnotmeanthat。Ididnotexpectthatyoushouldmisinterpretthem。’Thenshelaughedhysterically——alittlelow，gurgling，hystericallaugh；andafterthatshewipedhereyes，andthenshesmiled，andthensheputherhandverygentlyuponhisshoulder。’ThankGod，Conway，wearequitesafethere——arewenot？’
Hehadmadeablunder，anditwasnecessarythatheshouldcorrectit。
Hiswatchwaslyinginthetroughofhiseasel，andhelookedatitandwonderedwhyMissVanSieverwasnotthere。Hehadtripped，andhemustmakealittlestruggleandrecoverhisstep。’AsIsaidbefore，itshallneverbemisunderstoodbyme。Ihaveneverbeenvainenoughtosupposeforamomentthattherewasanyotherfeeling——notforamoment。Youwomencanbesocareful，whilewemenarealwaysoffourguard！Amanlovesbecausehecannothelpit；butawomanhasbeencareful，andanswershim——withfriendship。PerhapsIamwrongtosaythatIneverthoughtofwinninganythingmore；butIneverthinkofwinningmorenow。’Whythemischiefdidn’tMissVanSievercome！Inanotherfiveminutes，despitehimself，hewouldbeonhisknees，makingamockdeclaration，andshewouldbepouringforththevialofhermockwrath，orgivinghimmockcounselastotherestraintofhispassion。Hehadgonethroughitallbefore，andwastiredofit；butforhislifehedidnotknowhowtohelphimself。
’Conway，’saidshe，gravely，’howdareyouaddressmeinsuchlanguage。’
’Ofcourseitisverywrong，Iknowthat。’
’I’mnotspeakingofmyselfnow。Ihavelearnedtothinksolittleofmyself，aseventobeindifferenttothefeelingofinjuryyouaredoingme。Mylifeisablank，andIalmostthinkthatnothingcanhurtmefurther。Ihavenotheartleftenoughtobreak；no，notenoughtobebroken。ItisnotofmyselfthatIamthinking，whenIaskyouhowdoyoudaretoaddressmyinsuchlanguage。Doyounotknowthatitisaninjurytoanother？’
’Towhatother？’askedConwayDalrymple，whosemindwasbecomingratherconfused，andwhowasnotquitesurewhethertheotheronewasMrDobbsBroughton，orsomebodyelse。
’Tothatpoorgirlwhoiscomingherenow，whoisdevotedtoyou，andtowhom，Idonotdoubt，youhaveutteredwordswhichoughttohavemadeitimpossibletospeaktomeasyouspokenotamomentsince。’
Thingswerebecomingverygraveanddifficult。Theywouldhavebeenverygrave，indeed，hadnotsomegodsavedhimbysendingMissVanSievertohisrescueatthismoment。Hewasbeginningtothinkwhathewouldsayinanswertotheaccusationnowmade，whenhiseagerearcaughtthesoundofherstepuponthestairs；andbeforethepauseinconversationwhichthecircumstancesadmittedhadgivenplacetothenecessityforfurtherspeech，MissVanSieverhadknockedatthedoorandhadenteredtheroom。Hewasrejoiced，andIthinkthatMrsBroughtondidnotregrettheinterference。Itisalwayswellthattheselittledangerousscenesshouldbebroughttosuddenends。Thelastdetailsofsuchromances，ifdrawnouttotheirnaturalconclusions，areapttobeuncomfortable，ifnotdull。Shedidnotwanthimtogodownonhisknees，knowingthatthegettingupagainisalwaysawkward。
’Clara，Ibegantothinkyouwerenevercoming，’saidMrsBroughton，withhersweetestsmile。
’Ibegantothinksomyselfalso，’saidClara。’AndIbelievethismustbethelastsitting，or，atanyrate，thelastbutone。’
’Isanythingthematterathome？’saidMrsBroughton，claspingherhandstogether。
’Nothingverymuch；mammaaskedmeaquestionortwothismorning，andI
saidIwascominghere。Hadsheaskedmewhy，Ishouldhavetoldher。’
’Butwhatdidsheask？Whatdidshesay？’
’Shedoesnotalwaysmakeherselfveryintelligible。Shecomplainswithouttellingyouwhatshecomplainsof。Butshemutteredsomethingaboutartistswhichwasnotcomplimentary，andIsupposethereforeshehasasuspicion。Shestayedeversolatethismorning，andweleftthehousetogether。Shewillasksomedirectquestiontonight，orbeforelong，andthentherewillbeanendofit。’
’Letusmakethebestofourtime，then，’saidDalrymple；andthesittingwasarranged；MissVanSieverwentdownonherkneeswithherhammerinherhand，andtheworkbegan。MrsBroughtonhadtwistedaturbanroundClara’shead，asshealwaysdidontheseoccasions，andassistedtoarrangethedrapery。Sheusedtotellherselfasshedidso，thatshewaslikeIsaac，pilingthefagotsforherownsacrifice。OnlyIsaachadpiledtheminignorance，andshepiledthemconsciousofthesacrificialflames。AndIsaachadbeensaved；whereasitwasimpossiblethatthecatchingofanyraminanythicketwouldsaveher。But，nevertheless，shearrangedthedraperywithallherskill，pilingthefagotseversohighforherownpyre。InthemeantimeConwayDalrymplepaintedaway，thinkingmoreofhispicturethanhedidofonewomanoroftheother。
AfterawhilewhenMrsBroughtonhadpiledthefagotsashighasshecouldpilethem，shegotupfromherseatandpreparedtoleavetheroom。Muchofthepilingconsisted，ofcourse，inherownabsenceduringaportionofthesesittings。’Conway，’shesaid，asshewent，’ifthisistobethelastsitting，orthelastbutone，youshouldmakethemostofit。’ThenshethrewuponhimaverypeculiarglanceovertheheadofthekneelingJael，andwithdrew。Jael，whointhosemomentswouldbethinkingmoreofthefatigueofherpositionthananythingelse，didnotatalltakehometoherselfthepeculiarmeaningofherfriend’swords。
ConwayDalrympleunderstoodthemthoroughly，andthoughtthathemightaswelltaketheadvicegiventohim。HehadmadeuphismindtoproposetoMissVanSiever，andwhyshouldhenotdosonow？Hewentonwithhisbrushforacoupleofminuteswithoutsayingaword，workingaswellashecouldwork，andthenresolvedthathewouldatoncebegintheothertask。’MissVanSiever，’hesaid，’Iamafraidyouaretired？’
’Notmorethanusuallytired。ItisfatiguingtobeslayingSiserabythehourtogether。Idogettohatethisblock。’TheblockwasthedummybywhichtheformofSiserawassupposedtobetypified。
’Anothersittingwillaboutfinishit，’saidhe，’sothatyouneednotpositivelydistressyourselfnow。Willyourestyourselfforaminuteortwo？’HehadalreadyperceivedthattheattitudeinwhichClarawasposedbeforehimwasnotoneinwhichanofferofmarriagecouldbereceivedandrepliedtowithadvantage。