’Thankyou，Iamnottiredyet，’saidClara，notchangingthefixedglanceofnationalwrathwithwhichsheregardedherwoodenSiseraassheheldherhammeronhigh。
’ButIam。There；wewillrestforamoment。’DalrymplewasawarethatMrsDobbsBroughton，thoughshewasveryassiduousinpilingherfagots，neverpiledthemforlongtogether。Ifhedidnotmakehasteshewouldbebackuponthembeforehecouldgethiswordspoken。Whenheputdownhisbrush，andgotupfromhischair，andstretchedouthisarmasamandoeswhenheceasesforamomentfromhiswork，Claraofcoursegotupalso，andseatedherself。Shewasusedtoherturbanandherdrapery，andthereforethoughtofitnotatall；andhealsowasusedtoit，seeingherinittwoorthreetimesaweek；butnowthatheintendedtoaccomplishaspecialpurpose，theturbananddraperyseemedtobeintheway。’Idosohopeyouwilllikethepicture，’hesaid，ashewasthinkingofthis。
’Idon’tthinkIshall。Butyouwillunderstandthatitisnaturalthatagirlshouldnotlikeherselfinsuchaportraitureasthat。’
’Idon’tknowwhy。Icanunderstandthatyouspeciallyshouldnotlikethepicture；butIthinkthatmostwomeninLondoninyourplacewouldatanyratesaythattheydid。’
’Areyouangrywithme？’
’What；fortellingthetruth？No，indeed。’Hewasstandingoppositetohiseasel，lookingatthecanvas，shiftinghisheadaboutsoastochangethelights，andobservingcriticallythisblemishandthat；andyethewasallthewhilethinkinghowhehadbestcarryouthispurpose。
’Itwillhavebeenaprosperouspicturetome，’hesaidatlast，’ifitleadstothesuccessofwhichIamambitious。’
’Iamtoldthatallyoudoissuccessfulnow——merelybecauseyoudoit。
Thatistheworstofsuccess。’
’Whatistheworstofsuccess？’
’Thatwhenwonbymerititleadstofurthersuccess，forthegainingofwhichnomeritisnecessary。’
’Itmaybesoinmycase。Ifitisnot，Ishallhaveaverypoorchance。Clara，IthinkyoumustknowthatIamnottalkingaboutmypictures。’
’Ithoughtyouwere。’
’IndeedIamnot。Asforsuccessinmyprofession，farasIamfromthinkingImeritit，IfeeltolerablycertainthatIshallobtainit。’
’Youhaveobtainedit。’
’Iaminthewayofdoingso。Perhapsoneoutoftenstrugglingartistsissuccessful，andforhimtheprofessionisverycharming。Itiscertainlyasadfeelingthatthereissomuchofchanceinthedistributionoftheprizes。Itisalottery。Butonecannotcomplainofthatwhenonehasdrawntheprize。’Dalrymplewasnotamanwithoutself—possession，norwashereadilyabashed，buthefounditeasiertotalkofhispossessionthantomakehisoffer。Theturbanwashisdifficulty。Hehadtoldhimselfoverandoveragainwithinthelastfiveminutes，thathewouldhavelongsincesaidwhathehadtosayhaditnotbeenforthatturban。Hehadbeenpaintingallhislifefromlivingmodels——fromwomendressedupinthisorthatcostume，tosuitthenecessitiesofhispicture——buthehadnevermadelovetoanyofthem。
Theyhadbeensimplymodelstohim，andnowhefoundthattherewasadifficulty。’Ofthatprize，’hesaid，’Ihavemademyselftolerablysure；butastotheotherprize，Idonotknow。IwonderwhetherIamtohavethat。’OfcourseMissVanSieverunderstoodwellwhatwastheprizeofwhichhewasspeaking；andasshewasayoungwomanwithawillandpurposeofherown，nodoubtshewasreadypreparedwithananswer。Butitwasnecessarythatthequestionshouldbeputtoherinproperlydistinctterms。ConwayDalrymplecertainlyhadnotputhisquestioninproperlydistincttermsatpresent。Shedidnotchoosetomakeanyanswertohislastwords；andthereforesimplysuggestedthatastimewaspressinghehadbettergetonwithhiswork。’Iamquitereadynow，’
saidshe。
’Stophalfamoment。HowmuchmoreyouarethinkingofthepicturethanIam！Idonotcaretwopenceforthepicture。Iwillslitthecanvasfromtoptobottomwithoutagroan——withoutasingleinnergroan——ifyouwillletme。’
’Forheaven’ssake，donothingofthekind！Whyshouldyou？’
’JusttoshowyouthatitisnotforthesakeofthepicturethatIcomehere。Clara——’Thenthedoorwasopened，andIsaacappeared，naturecouldpilenomore。ConwayDalrymple，whohadmadehiswayalmostuptoClara’sseat，turnedroundsharplytowardshiseasel，inanger，athavingbeendisturbed。HeshouldhavebeenmoregratefulforallthathisIsaachaddoneforhim，andhaverecognisedthefactthatthefaulthadbeenwithhimself。MrsBroughtonhadbeentwelveminutesoutoftheroom。Shehadcountedthemtobefifteen——havingnodoubtmadeamistakeastothree——andhadtoldherselfthatwithsuchaoneasConwayDalrymple，withsomuchoftheworkreadydonetohishandforhim，fifteenminutesshouldhavebeenamplysufficient。Whenwereflectwhatherownthoughtsmusthavebeenduringtheinterval——whatitistohavetopileupsuchfagotsasthose，howshewas，asitwere，givingawayafreshmorselofherownheartduringeachminutethatsheallowedClaraandConwayDalrympletoremaintogether，itcannotsurpriseusthathereyesshouldhavebecomedizzy，andthatsheshouldnothavecountedtheminuteswithaccuratecorrectness。Dalrympleturnedtohispictureangrily，butMissVanSieverkeptherseatanddidnotshowtheslightestemotion。
’Myfriends，’saidMrsBroughton，’thiswillnotdo。Thisisnotworking；thisisnotsitting。’
’MrDalrymplehadbeenexplainingtometheprecariousnatureofanartist’sprofession，’saidClara。
’Itisnotprecariouswithhim，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton，sententiously。
’Notinageneralway，perhaps；buttoprovethetruthofhiswordshewasgoingtotreatJaelworsethanJaeltreatsSisera。’
’Iwasgoingtoslitthepicturefromthetoptothebottom。’
’Andwhy？’saidMrsBroughton，puttingherhandstoheavenintragichorror。
’JusttoshowMissVanSieverhowlittleIcareaboutit。’
’Andhowlittleyoucareabouther，too，’saidMrsBroughton。
’Shemighttakethatasshelike。’Afterthistherewasanothergenuinesitting，andtherealworkwentonasthoughtherehadbeennoepisode。
Jaelfixedherface，andheldherhammerasthoughhermindandheartweresolelybentonseemingtobeslayingSisera。Dalrympleturnedhiseyesfromthecanvastothemodel，andfromthemodeltothecanvas，workingwithhishandallthewhile，asthoughthatlastpathetic’Clara’hadneverbeenuttered；andMrsDobbsBroughtonreclinedonasofa，lookingatthemandthinkingofherownsingularlyromanticposition，tillhermindwasfilledwithapoeticfrenzy。InonemomentsheresolvedthatshewouldhateClaraasawomanwasneverhatedbywoman；andthenthereweredaggers，andpoison—cups，andstranglingcordsinhereye。InthenextshewasasfirmlydeterminedthatshewouldloveMrsConwayDalrympleaswomanwasneverlovedbywoman；andthenshesawherselfkneelingbyacradle，andtenderlynursingababy，ofwhichConwaywastobethefatherandClarathemother。Andsoshewenttosleep。
ForsometimeDalrympledidnotobservethis；butatlasttherewasalittlesound——eventheill—natureofMissDemolinescouldhardlyhavecalleditasnore——andhebecameawarethatforpracticalpurposesheandMissVanSieverwereagainalonetogether。’Clara，’hesaidinawhisper。MrsBroughtoninstantlyarousedherselffromherslumbers，andrubbedhereyes。’Dear，dear，dear，’shesaid，’Ideclareit’spastone。
I’mafraidImustturnyoubothout。Onemoresitting，Isuppose，willfinishit，Conway？’
’Yes，onemore，’saidhe。ItwasalwaysunderstoodthatheandClarashouldnotleavethehousetogether，andthereforeheremainedpaintingwhenshelefttheroom。’Andnow，Conway，’saidMrsBroughton，’I
supposethatallisover？’
’Idon’tknowwhatyoumeanbybeingallover。’
’No——ofcoursenot。Youlookatitinanotherlight，nodoubt。
Everythingisbeginningforyou。Butyoumustpardonme，formyheartisdistracted——distracted——distracted！’Thenshesatdownuponthefloor，andburstintotears。Whatwashetodo？Hethoughtthatthewomanshouldeithergivehimupaltogether，ornotgivehimup。Allthisfussaboutitwasirrational！HewouldnothavemadelovetoClaraVanSieverinherroomifshehadnottoldhimtodoso！
’Maria，’hesaid，inaverygravevoice，’anysacrificethatisrequiredonmypartonyourbehalfIamreadytomake。’
’Nosir；thesacrificesshallallbemadebyme。Itisthepartofawomantobeeversacrificial！’PoorMrsDobbsBroughton！’Youshallgiveupnothing。Theworldisatyourfeet，andyoushallhaveeverything——youth，beauty，wealth，station，love——love；friendshipalso，ifyouwillacceptitfromonesopoor，sobroken，sosecludedasIshallbe。’Ateachofthelastwordstherehadbeenadesperatesob；
andasshewasstillcrouchinginthemiddleoftheroom，lookingupintoDalrymple’sfacewhilehestoodoverher，thescenewasonewhichhadmuchinitthattranscendedthedoingsofeverydaylife，muchthatwouldbeevermemorable，andmuch，Ihavenodoubt，thatwasthoroughlyenjoyedbytheprincipalactor。AsforConwayDalrymple，hewassosecond—rateapersonageinthewholething，thatitmatteredlittlewhetherheenjoyeditornot。Idon’tthinkhedidenjoyit。’Andnow，Conway，’shesaid，’Iwillgiveyousomeadvice。Andwheninafter—daysyoushallrememberthisinterview，andreflecthowthatadvicewasgivenyou——withwhatsolemnity。’——heresheclaspedbothherhandstogether——’Ithinkthatyouwillfollowit。ClaraVanSieverwillnowbecomeyourwife。’
’Idonotknowthatatall，’saidDalrymple。
’ClaraVanSieverwillnowbecomeyourwife，’repeatedMrsBroughtoninaloudervoice，impatientofopposition。’Loveher。Cleavetoher。Makeherfleshofyourfleshandboneofyourbone。Butruleher！Yes，ruleher！Letherbeyoursecondself，butnotyourfirstself。Ruleher！
Loveher。Cleavetoher。Donotleaveheralone，tofeedonherownthoughtsasIhavedone——asIhavebeenforcedtodo。Nowgo。No，Conway，notaword；Iwillnothearaword。Youmustgo，orImust。’
Thensherosequicklyfromherlowlyattitude，andpreparedherselfforadarttothedoor。Itwasbetterbyfarthatheshouldgo，andsohewent。
AnAmericanwhenhehasspentapleasantdaywilltellyouthathehashada’goodtime’。IthinkthatMrsDobbsBroughton，ifshehadeverspokenthetruthofthatday’semploymentwouldhaveacknowledgedthatshehadhada’goodtime’。Ithinkthatsheenjoyedhermorning’swork。
ButasforConwayDalrymple，Idoubtwhetherhedidenjoyhismorning’swork。’Amanmayhavetoomuchofthissortofthing，andthenhebecomesverysickofhiscake。’Suchwasthenatureofhisthoughtsashereturnedtohisownabode。
CHAPTERLII
WHYDON’TYOUHAVEAN’IT’FORYOURSELF？
OfcourseitcametopassthatLilyDaleandEmilyDunstableweresoonveryintimate，andthattheysaweachothereveryday。Indeed，beforelongtheywouldhavebeenlivingtogetherinthesamehousehaditnotbeenthatthesquirehadfeltreluctanttoabandontheindependenceofhisownlodgings。WhenMrsThornehadpressedherinvitationforthesecond，andthenforthethirdtime，askingthembothtocometoherlargehouse，hehadbeggedhisniecetogoandleavehimalone。’Youneednotregardme，’hehadsaid，speakingnotwiththewhiningvoiceofcomplaint，butwiththatthintingeofmelancholywhichwasusualtohim。’IamsomuchalonedowninAllington，thatyouneednotmindleavingme。’butLilywouldnotgoonthoseterms，andthereforetheystilllivedtogetherinthelodgings。NeverthelessLilywaseverydayatMrsThorne’shouse，andthusagreatintimacygrewupbetweenthegirls。
EmilyDunstablehadneitherbrothernorsister，andLily’snearestmalerelativeinherowndegreewasnowMissDunstable’sbetrothedhusband。
Itwasnaturalthereforethattheyshouldatanyratetrytolikeeachother。ItafterwardscametopassthatLilydidgotoMrsThorne’shouse，andshestayedthereforawhile；butwhenthatoccurredthesquirehadgonebacktoAllington。
AmongothergenerouskindnessesMrsThorneinsistedthatBernardshouldhireahorseforhiscousinLily。EmilyDunstablerodedaily，andofcourseCaptainDalerodewithher；——andnowLilyjoinedtheparty。
Almostbeforesheknewwhatwasbeingdoneshefoundherselfprovidedwithhatandhabitandhorseandwhip。ItwasawaywithMrsThornethattheywhocamewithintheinfluenceofherimmediatesphereshouldbemadetofeelthatthecomfortsandluxuriesarisingfromherwealthbelongedtoacommonstock，andwerethejointpropertyofthemall。
Thingswerenotofferedandtakenandtalkedabout，buttheymadetheirappearance，andwereusedasamatterofcourse。Ifyougotostayatagentleman’shouseyouunderstandthat，asamatterofcourse，youwillbeprovidedwithmeatanddrink。Somehostsfurnishyoualsowithcigars。Asmallnumbergiveyoustablingandforageforyouhorse；andaveryselectfewmountyouonhuntingdays，andsendyououtwithagroomandasecondhorse。MrsThornewentbeyondallothersinthisopen—handedhospitality。Shehadenormouswealthathercommand，andhadbutfewofthoseall—absorbingdrainsuponherwealthwhichinthiscountrymakesomanyrichmenpoor。Shehadnofamilyproperty——noplacetokeepupinwhichshedidnotlive。Shehadnoretainerstobemaintainedbecausetheywereretainers。Shehadneithersonsnordaughters。Consequentlyshewasabletobelavishinhergenerosity；andasherheartwasverylavish，shewouldhavegivenherfriendsgoldtoeathadgoldbeengoodforeating。Indeedtherewasnomeasureinhergiving——unlesswhentheideacameuponherthattherecipientofherfavourswastradingonthem。Thenshecouldholdherhandverystoutly。
LilyDalehadnotlikedtheideaofbeingfittedoutthusexpensively。
Aboxattheoperawasallverywell，asitwasnotprocuredespeciallyforher。Andticketsforothertheatresdidnotseemtocomeunnaturallyforanightortwo。Butherspirithadmilitatedagainstthehatandthehabitandthehorse。ThewhipwasalittlepresentfromEmilyDunstable，andthatofcoursewasacceptedwithagoodgrace。Thentherecamethehorse——asthoughfromtheheavens；thereseemedtobetenhorses，twentyhorses，ifanybodyneededthem。AllthesethingsseemedtoflownaturallyintoMrsThorne’sestablishment，likeairthroughthewindows。
Itwasverypleasant，butLilyhesitatedwhenshewastoldthatahabitwastobegiventoher。’Mydearoldauntinsists，’saidEmilyDunstable。’Nobodyeverthinksofrefusinganythingfromher。Ifyouonlyknewwhatsomepeoplewilltake，andsomepeoplewillevenask，whohavenothingtodowithheratall！’’ButIhavenothingtodowithher——inthatwayImean，’saidLily。’Oh，yes，youhave，’saidEmily。
’YouandBernardareasgoodasbrotherandsister，andBernardareasgoodasmanandwife，andmyauntandIareasgoodasmotheranddaughter。Soyousee，inasortofwayyouareachildofthehouse。’SoLilyacceptedthehabit；butmadeastandatthehat，andpaidforthatoutofherownpocket。WhenthesquirehadseenLilyonhorsebackheaskedherquestionsaboutit。’Itwasahiredhorse，Isuppose？’hesaid。’Ithinkitcamedirectfromheaven，’saidLily。’Whatdoyoumean，Lily？’saidthesquireangrily。’Imeanthatwhenpeoplearesorichandgood—naturedasMrsThorneitisnotgoodinquiringwherethingscomefrom。AllthatIknowisthatthehorsescomeoutofPotts’
livery—stable。TheytalkofPottsasifhewereagood—naturedmanwhoprovideshorsesfortheworldwithouttroublinganybody。’ThenthesquirespoketoBernardaboutit，sayingthathewouldinsistondefrayinghisniece’sexpenses。ButBernardsworethatheshouldgivehisunclenoassistance。’Iwouldnotspeaktoheraboutsuchathingforalltheworld，’saidBernard。’ThenIshall，’saidthesquire。
InthosedaysLilythoughtmuchofJohnnyEames——gavetohimperhapsmoreofthatthoughtwhichleadstolovethanshehadevergivenhimbefore。ShestillheardtheCrawleyquestiondiscussedeveryday。MrsThorne，asweallknow，wasatthistimeaBarsetshirepersonage，andwasofcourseinterestedinBarsetshiresubjects；andshewasspeciallyanxiousinthematter，havingstronghopeswithreferencetothemarriageofMajorGrantlyandGrace，andstronghopesalsothatGrace’sfathermightescapethefangsofjustice。TheCrawleycasewasconstantlyinLily’sears，andasconstantlysheheardhighpraiseawardedtoJohnnyforhiskindnessingoingaftertheArabins。’Hemustbeafineyoungfellow，’saidMrsThorne，’andwe’llhavehimdownatChaldicotessomeday。OldLordDeGuestfoundhimoutandmadeafriendofhim，andoldLordDeGuestwasnofool。’LillywasnotaltogetherfreefromasuspicionthatMrsThorneknewthestoryofJohnny’sloveandwastryingtoserveJohnny——asotherpeoplehadtriedtodo，veryineffectually。Whenthissuspicioncameuponhershewouldshutherheartagainstherlover’spraises，andswearthatshewouldstandbythosetwoletterswhichshehadwritteninherbookathome。Butthesuspicionwouldnotalwaysbethere，andtheredidcomeuponheraconvictionthatherloverwasmoreesteemedamongmenandwomenthanshehadbeenaccustomedtobelieve。Hercousin，BernardDale，whocertainlywasregardedintheworldassomebody，spokeofhimasanequal；whereinformerdaysBernardhadalwaysregardedJohnnyEamesasstandinglowintheworld’sregards。ThenLily，whenalone，wouldrememberacertaincomparisonwhichsheoncemadebetweenAdolphusCrosbieandJohnEames，whenneitherofthemenhadasyetpleadedtheircausetoher，andwhichhadbeenverymuchinfavouroftheformer。ShehadthendeclaredthatJohnnywasa’mereclerk’。Shehadahigheropinionofhimnow——amuchhigheropinion，eventhoughhecouldneverbemoretoherthanafriend。
InthesedaysLily’snewally，EmilyDunstable，seemedtoLilytobesohappy！TherewasinEmilyacompleterealisationofthatideaofante—nuptialblessedness，ofwhichLilyhadoftenthoughtsomuch。
WhateverEmilydidshedidforBernard；and，togiveCaptainDalehisdue，hereceivedallthesweetswhichwereshowereduponhimwithbecomingsignsofgratitude。Isupposeitisalwaysthecaseatsuchtimesthatthegirlhasthebestofit，andonthisoccasionEmilyDunstablecertainlymadethemostofherhappiness。’Idoenvyyou，’
Lilysaidoneday。Theacknowledgementseemedtohavebeenextortedfromherinvoluntarily。Shedidnotlaughasshespoke，orfollowupwhatshehadsaidwithotherwordsintendedtotakeawaythejokeofwhatshehaduttered——haditbeenajoke；butshesatsilent，lookingatthegirlwhowasrearrangingflowerswhichBernardhadbroughttoher。
’Ican’tgivehimuptoyou，youknow，’saidEmily。
’Idon’tenvyyouhim，but\"it\"，’saidLily。
’Thengoandgetan\"it\"foryourself。Whydon’tyouhavean\"it\"foryourself？Youcanhavean\"it\"tomorrow，ifyoulike——ortwoorthree，ifallthatIhearistrue。’
’NoIcan’t，’saidLily。’Thingshavegonewrongwithme。Don’taskmeanythingmoreaboutit。Praydon’t。Ishan’tspeakofitifyoudo。’
’OfcourseIwillnotifyoutellmeImustnot。’
’Idotellyouso。Ihavebeenafooltosayanythingaboutit。
However，Ihavegotovermyenvynow，andamreadytogooutwithyouraunt。Heresheis。’
’Thingshavegonewrongwithme。’Sherepeatedthesamewordstoherselfoverandoveragain。Withalltheeffortswhichshehadmadeshecouldnotquitereconcileherselftothetwoletterswhichshehadwritteninthebook。ThiscominguptoLondon，andridinginthePark，andgoingtothetheatres，seemedtounsettleher。Athomeshehadschooledherselfdownintoquiescence，andmadeherselfthinkthatshebelievedthatshewassatisfiedwiththeprospectsofherlife。Butnowshewasallastrayagain，doubtingaboutherself，hankeringaftersomethingoverandbeyondthatwhichseemedtobeallottedtoher——but，nevertheless，assuringherselfthatsheneverwouldacceptofanythingelse。
Imustnot，ifIcanhelpit，letthereadersupposethatshewassofteningherhearttoJohnEamesbecauseJohnEameswasspokenwellofintheworld。Butwithallofus，intheopinionwhichweformofthosearoundus，wetakeunconsciouslytheopinionofothers。Awomanishandsomebecausetheworldsaysso。Musicischarmingtousbecauseitcharmsothers。Wedrinkourwineswithothermen’spalates，andlookatourpictureswithothermen’seyes。WhenLilyheardJohnEamespraisedbyallaroundher，itcouldnotbebutthatsheshouldpraisehimtoo——notoutloud，asothersdid，butinthesilenceofherheart。Andthenhisconstancytoherhadbeensoperfect！Ifthatotheronehadnevercome！Ifitcouldbethatshemightbeginagain，andthatshemightbesparedthatepisodeinherlifewhichhadbroughthimandhertogether！
’WhenisMrEamesgoingtobeback？’MrsThornesaidatdinneroneday。
OnthisoccasionthesquirewasdiningatMrsThorne’shouse；andtherewerethreeorfourothersthere——amongthemaMrHaroldSmith，whowasinParliament，andhiswife，andJohnEames’sespecialfriend，SirRaffleBuffle。Thequestionwasaddressedtothesquire，butthesquirewasslowtoanswer，anditwastakenupbySirRaffleBuffle。
’He’llbebackonthe15th，’saidtheknight，’unlesshemeanstoplaytruant。Ihopehewon’tdothat，ashisabsencehasbeenaterribleinconveniencetome。’ThenSirRaffleexplainedthatJohnEameswashisprivatesecretary，andthatJohnny’sjourneytotheContinenthadbeenmadewith，andcouldnothavebeenmadewithout，hissanction。’WhenI
cametohearofthestory，ofcourseItoldhimthathemustgo。
\"Eames，\"Isaid，\"taketheadviceofamanwhoknowstheworld。
Circumstancedasyouare，yourareboundtogo。\"Andhewent。’
’Uponmywordthatwasverygood—naturedofyou，’saidMrsThorne。
’Ineverkeepafellowtohisdeskwhohasreallygoimportantbusinesselsewhere，’saidSirRaffle。’Thecountry，Isay，canaffordtodoasmuchasthatforherservants。ButthenIliketoknowthatthebusinessisbusiness。Onedoesn’tchoosetobehumbugged。’
’Idaresayyouarehumbugged，asyoucallit，veryoften，’saidHaroldSmith。
’Perhapsso；perhapsIam；perhapsthatistheopinionwhichtheyhaveofmeattheTreasury。Butyouwerehardlylongenoughthere，Smith，tohavelearnedmuchaboutit，Ishouldsay。’
’Idon’tsupposeIshouldhaveknownmuchaboutit，asyoucallit，ifI
hadstayedtillDoomsday。’
’Idaresaynot；Idaresaynot。Menwhobeginaslateasyoudidneverknowwhatofficiallikereallymeans。NowI’vebeenatitallmylife，andIthinkIdounderstandit。’
’It’snotaprofessionIshouldlikeunlesswhereit’sjoinedwithpolitics，’saidHaroldSmith。
’Butthenit’sapttobesoshort，’saidSirRaffleBuffle。NowithadoncehappenedinthelifeofMrHaroldSmiththathehadbeeninaMinistry，but，unfortunately，thatMinistryhadgoneoutalmostwithinaweekofthetimeofMrSmith’sadhesion。SirRaffleandMrSmithhadknowneachotherformanyyears，andwereaccustomedtomakecivillittlespeechestoeachotherinsociety。
’I’dsoonerbeahorseinamillthanhavetogotoanofficeeveryday，’saidMrsSmith，comingtoherhusband’sassistance。’You，SirRaffle，havekeptyourselffreshandpleasantthroughitall；butwhobesidesyoueverdid？’
’IhopeIamfresh，’saidSirRaffle；’andasforpleasantness，Iwillleavethatforyoutodetermine。’
’Therecanbebutoneopinion，’saidMrsThorne。
TheconversationhadstrayedawayfromJohnEames，andLilywasdisappointed。Itwasapleasuretoherwhenpeopletalkedofhiminherhearing，andasaquestionortwohadbeenaskedabouthim，makinghimtheheroofthemoment，itseemedtoherthathewasbeingrobbedofhisduewhenthelittleamenitiesbetweenMrandMrsHaroldSmithandSirRaffleBufflebanishedhisnamefromthecircle。Nothingmore，however，wassaidofhimatdinner，andIfearthathewouldhavebeenaltogetherforgottenthroughouttheevening，hadnotLilyDalereferred——nottohim，whichshecouldnotpossiblyhavebeeninducedtodo——buttothesubjectofhisjourney。’IwonderwhetherpoorMrCrawleywillbefoundguilty？’ShesaidtoSirRaffleuponinthedrawing—room。
’Iamafraidhewill；Iamafraidhewill，’saidSirRaffle；’andI
fear，mydearMissDale，thatImustgofurtherthanthat。IfearImustexpressanopinionthatheisguilty。’
’Nothingwillevermakemethinkso，’saidLily。
’Ladiesarealwaystender—hearted，’saidSirRaffle，’andespeciallyyoungladies——andprettyyoungladies。Idonotwonderthatsuchshouldbeyouropinion。Butyousee，MissDale，amanofbusinesshastolookatthesethingsinabusinesslight。WhatIwanttoknowis，wheredidhegetthatcheque？Heisboundtobeexplicitinansweringthatbeforeanybodycanacquithim。’
’ThatisjustwhatMrEameshasgoneabroadtolearn。’