’Perhapshethinksheisofferingaremedyforyourmisery。’
Asthiswassaid,Lilyturnedroundslowlyandlookedupintohermother’sface。’Mamma,’shesaid,’thatisverycruel。Ididnotthinkyoucouldbesocruel。Howcanyou,whobelievehimtobesoselfish,thinkthat?’
’Itisveryhardtojudgeofmen’smotives。Ihaveneversupposedhimtobesoblackthathewouldnotwishtomakeatonementfortheevilhehasdone。’
’IfIthoughtthattherecertainlycouldbenoanswer。’
’Whocanlookintoaman’sheartandjudgeallthesourcesofhisactions?Therearemixedfeelingsthere,nodoubt。Remorseforwhathehasdone;regretforwhathehaslost;——something,perhaps,ofthepurityoflove。’
’Yes,something——Ihopesomething——forhissake。’
’Butwhenahorsekicksandbites,youknowhisnatureanddonotgonearhim。Whenamanhascheatedyouonce,youthinkhewillcheatyouagain,andyoudonotdealwithhim。Youdonotlooktogathergrapesfromthistles,afteryouhavefoundthattheyarethistles。’
’IstillgofortherosesthoughIhaveoftentornmyhandwiththornsinlookingforthem。’
’Butyoudonotpluckthosethathavebecomecankeredintheblowing。’
’Becausehewasonceatfault,willhebecankeredalways?’
’Iwouldnottrusthim。’
’Now,mamma,seehowdifferentweare;or,rather,howdifferentitiswhenonejudgesforoneselforanother。Ifitweresimplymyself,andmyownfuturefateinlife,Iwouldtrusthimwithitalltomorrow,withoutaword。Ishouldgotohimasagamblergoestothegaming—table,knowingthatIloseeverything,IcouldhardlybepoorerthanIwasbefore。ButIshouldhaveabetterhopethanthegamblerisjustifiedinhaving。That,however,isnotmydifficulty。AndwhenIthinkofhimI
canseeaprospectforsuccessforthegambler。Ithinksowellofmyselfthat,lovinghim,asIdo;——yes,mamma,donotbeuneasy;——lovinghimasIdo,IbelieveIcouldbeacomforttohim。Ithinkthathemightbebetterwithmethanwithoutme。Thatis,hewouldbeso,ifhecouldteachhimselftolookbackuponthepastasIcando,andtojudgeofmeasIcanjudgeofhim。’
’Hehasnothing,atleast,forwhichtocondemnyou。’
’Buthewouldhave,wereItomarryhimnow。HewouldcondemnmebecauseIhadforgivenhim。HewouldcondemnmebecauseIhadbornewhathehaddonetome,andhadstilllovedhim——lovedhimthroughitall。Hewouldfeelandknowtheweakness——andthereisweakness。Ihavebeenweakinnotbeingabletoridmyselfofhimaltogether。Hewouldrecognisethisafterawhile,andwoulddespisemeforit。Buthewouldnotseewhatthereisofdevotiontohiminmybeingabletobearthetauntsoftheworldingoingbacktohim,andtoyourtaunts,andmyowntaunts。Ishouldhavetobearhisalso——notspokenaloud,buttobeseeninhisfaceandheardinhisvoice——andthatIcouldnotendure。Ifhedespisedme,andhewould,thatwouldmakeusbothunhappy。Therefore,mamma,tellhimnottocome;tellhimthathecannevercome;but,ifitbepossible,tellhimtenderly。’Thenshegotupandwalkedaway,asthoughsheweregoingoutoftheroom,buthermotherhadcaughtherbeforethedoorwasopened。
’Lily,’shesaid,’ifyouthinkyoucanbehappywithhim,heshallcome。’
’No,mamma,no。IhavebeenlookingforthelighteversinceIreadhisletter,andIthinkIseeit。Andnow,mamma,Iwillmakeacleanbreastofit。FromthemomentinwhichIheardthatthatpoorwomanwasdead,I
havebeeninastateofflutter。Ithasbeenweakofme,andsilly,andcontemptible。ButIcouldnothelpit。Ikeptonaskingmyselfwhetherhewouldeverthinkofmenow。Well;hehasansweredthequestion;andhassodoneitthathehasforceduponmethenecessityofaresolution。
Ihaveresolved,andIbelievethatIshallbethebetterforit。’
TheletterwhichMrsDalewrotetoMrCrosbiewasasfollows:—
’MrsDalepresentshercomplimentstoMrCrosbie,andbegstoassurehimthatitwillnotnowbepossiblethatheshouldrenewtherelationswhichwerebrokenoffthreeyearsago,betweenhimandMrsDale’sfamily。’Itwasveryshort,certainly,anditdidnotbyanymeanssatisfyMrsDale。Butshedidnotknowhowtosaymorewithoutsayingtoomuch。Theobjectofherletterwastosavehimthetroubleofafutileperseverance,andthemfromtheannoyanceofpersecution;andthisshewishedtodowithoutmentioningherdaughter’sname。Andshewasdeterminedthatnowordshouldescapeherinwhichtherewasanytouchofseverity,anyhintofanaccusation。SomuchsheowedtoLilyinreturnforallthatLilywaspreparedtoabandon。’Thereismynote,’
shesaidatlast,offeringittoherdaughter。’Ididnotmeantoseeit,’saidLily,’and,mamma,Iwillnotreaditnow。Letitgo。Iknowyouhavebeengoodandhavenotscoldedhim。’’Ihavenotscoldedhim,certainly,’saidMrsDale。Andthentheletterwassent。
CHAPTERXXIV
MRSDOBBSBROUGHTON’SDINNER—PARTY
MrJohnEamesoftheIncome—TaxOffice,hadinthreedaysrisensohighinthatworldthatpeopleinthewest—endoftown,andveryrespectablepeopletoo——peoplelivinginSouthKensington,inneighbourhoodsnotfarfromBelgravia,andinveryhandsomehousesroundBayswater——weregladtoaskhimouttodinner。Moneyhadbeenlefttohimbyanearl,andrumourhadofcoursemagnifiedthatmoney。Hewasaprivatesecretary,whichisinitselfagreatadvanceonbeingamereclerk。Andhehadbecometheparticularintimatefriendofanartistwhohadpushedhimselfintohighfashionduringthelastyearortwo——oneConwayDalrymple,whomtherichEnglishworldwasbeginningtopetandpeltwithgiltsugar—plums,andwhoseemedtotakeverykindlytopettingandgiltsugar—plums。Idon’tknowwhetherthefriendshipofConwayDalrymplehadnotdoneasmuchtosecureJohnEameshispositionattheBayswaterdinner—tables,ashadeithertheprivatesecretaryship,ortheearl’smoney;andyet,whentheyhadfirstknoweachother,nowonlytwoorthreeyearsago,ConwayDalrymplehadbeenthepoorermanofthetwo。
Somechancehadbroughtthemtogether,andtheyhadlivedinthesameroomfornearlytwoyears。Thisarrangementhadbeenbrokenup,andtheConwayDalrympleofthesedayshadastudioofhisown,somewherenearKensingtonPalace,wherehepaintedportraitsofyoungcountesses,andinwhichhehadevenpaintedayoungduchess。Itwasthepeculiarmeritofhispictures——soatleastsaidtheart—lovingworld——thatthoughthelikenesswasalwaysgood,thestiffnessofthemodernportraitwasneverthere。TherewasalsoeversomestorytoldinDalrymple’spicturesoverandabovethestoryoftheportraiture。Thiscountesswasdrawnasafairywithwings,thatcountessasagoddesswithahelmet。Thethingtookforatime,andConwayDalrymplewaspickinguphisgiltsugar—plumswithconsiderablerapidity。
OnacertaindayheandJohnEamesweretodineouttogetheratacertainhouseinthatBayswaterdistrict。Itwasalargemansion,ifnotmadeofstoneyetlookingverystony,withthirtywindowsatleast,allofthemwithcut—stoneframes,requiring,letmesay,atleastfourthousandayearforitsmaintenance。Anditsowner,DobbsBroughton,amanverywellknownbothintheCityandoverthegrassinNorthamptonshire,wassupposedtohaveagooddealmorethanfourthousandayear。MrsDobbsBroughton,averybeautifulwoman,whocertainlywasnotyetthirty—five,letherworstenemiessaywhattheymight,hadbeenpaintedbyConwayDalrympleasaGrace。Therewere,ofcourse,threeGracesinthepicture,buteachGracewasMrsDobbsBroughtonrepeated。WeallknowhowGracesstandsometimes;twoGraceslookingoneway,andonetheother。Inthispicture,MrsDobbsBroughtonascentreGracelookedyoufullintheface。ForthisprettytoyMrConwayDalrymplehadpickedupagiltsugar—plumtothetuneofsixhundredpounds,andhad,moreover,wontheheartofbothMrandMrsDobbsBroughton。’Uponmyword,Johnny,’Dalrymplehadsaidtohisfriend,’he’sadeucedgoodfellow,hasreallyagoodglassofclaret——whichisgettingrarerandrarereveryday——andwillmountyouforaday,wheneveryouplease,downMarketHarboro’。Comeanddinewiththem。’JohnnyEamescondescended,anddidgoanddinewithMrDobbsBroughton。Iwonderwhetherheremembered,whenConwayDalrymplewastalkingoftherarityofgoodclaret,howmuchbeertheyoungpainterusedtodrinkwhentheywereouttogetherinthecountry,astheyusedtodooccasionally,threeyearsago;andhowthepainterhadthenbeenusedtocomplainthatbittercostthreepenceaglass,insteadoftwopence,whichhadhithertobeentherecognisedpriceofthearticle。
Inthosedaysthesugar—plumshadnotbeengilt,andhadbeenmuchrarer。
JohnnyEamesandhisfriendwenttogethertothehouseofMrDobbsBroughton。AsDalrymplelivedclosetotheBroughtons,Eamespickedhimupinacab。’Filthythings,thesecabsare,’saidDalrymple,ashegotintothehansom。
’Idon’tknowaboutthat,’saidJohnny。’They’reprettygood,Ithink。’
’Foulthings,’saidConway。’Don’tyoufeelwhatadraughtcomesinherebecausetheglassiscracked。I’dhaveoneofmyown,onlyIshouldneverknowwhattodowithit。’
’Thegreatestnuisanceonearth,Ishouldthink,’saidJohnny。
’Ifyoucouldalwayshaveitstandingreadyroundthecorner,’saidtheartist,’itwouldbedelightful。Butonewouldwanthalf—a—dozenhorses,andtwoorthreemenforthat。’
’Ithinkthestandsarethebest,’saidJohnny。
Theywerealittlelate——alittlelaterthantheyshouldhavebeenhadtheyconsideredthatEameswastobeintroducedtohisnewacquaintances。Buthehadalreadylivedlongenoughbeforetheworldtobequiteathiseaseinsuchcircumstances,andheenteredMrsBroughton’sdrawing—roomwithhispleasantestsmileuponhisface。Butasheenteredhesawasightwhichmadehimlookseriousinspiteofhiseffortstothecontrary。MrAdolphusCrosbie,secretarytotheBoardattheGeneralCommitteeOffice,wasstandingontherugbeforethefire。
’Whowillbethere?’Eameshadaskedofhisfriend,whenthesuggestiontogoanddinewithDobbsBroughtonhadbeenmadetohim。
’Impossibletosay,’Conwayhadreplied。’AcertainhorriblefellowbythenameofMusselbro,willalmostcertainlybethere。Healwaysiswhentheyhaveanythingofaswelldinner—party。HeisasortofpartnerofBroughton’sintheCity。Hewearsalotofchains,andhaselaboratewhiskers,andanelaboratewaistcoat,whichisworse;andhedoesn’twashhishandsasoftenasheoughttodo。’
’Anobjectionableparty,rather,Ishouldsay,’saidEames。
’Well,yes;Musselbroisobjectionable。He’sverygood—humouredyouknow,andgood—lookinginasortofway,andgoeseverywhere;thatisamongpeopleofthissort。Ofcoursehe’snothand—and—glovewithLordDerby;andIwishhecouldbemaketowashhishands。Theyhaven’tanyotherstandingdish,andyoumaymeetanybody。TheyalwayshaveaMemberofParliament;theygenerallymanagetocatchaBaronet;andIhavemetaPeerthere。OnthataugustoccasionMusselbrowasabsent。’
Soinstructed,Eames,onenteringthatroom,lookedroundatonceforMrMusselbro。’IfIdon’tseethewhiskersandchain,’hehadsaid,Ishallknowthere’saPeer。’MrMusselbrowasintheroom,butEameshaddescriedMrCrosbielongbeforehehadseenMrMusselbro。
TherewasnoreasonforconfusiononhispartinmeetingCrosbie。TheyhadbothlovedLilyDale。Crosbiemighthavebeensuccessful,butforhisownfault。Eameshadononeoccasionbeenthrownintocontactwithhim,andonthatoccasionhadquarrelledwithhimandhadbeatenhim,givinghimablackeye,andinthiswayobtainedsomemasteryoverhim。
TherewasnoreasonwhyheshouldbeashamedofmeetingCrosbie;andyet,whenhesawhim,thebloodmountedalloverhisface,andheforgottomakeanyfurthersearchforMrMusselbro。
’IamsomuchobligedtoMrDalrympleforbringingyou,’saidMrsDobbsBroughtonverysweetly,’onlyheoughttohavecomesooner。Naughtman!
Iknowitwashisfault。WillyoutakeMissDemolinesdown?MissDemolines——MrEames。’
MrDobbsBroughtonwassomewhatsulkyandhadnotwelcomedourheroverycordially。HewasbeginningtothinkthatConwaygavehimselfairsanddidnotsufficientlyunderstandthatamanwhohadhorsesatMarketHarboro’and’41Lafittewasatanyrateasgoodasapainterwhowaspeltedwithgiltsugar—plumsforpaintingcountesses。Buthewasamanwhoseill—humourneverlastedlong,andhewassoonpressinghiswineonJohnnyEamesasthoughhelovedhimdearly。
Buttherewasafewminutesbeforetheywentdowntodinner,andJohnnyEames,asheendeavouredtofindsomethingtosaytoMissDemolines——whichwasdifficult,ashedidnotintheleastknowMissDemolines’lineofconversation——wasawarethathiseffortswereimpededbythoughtsofMrCrosbie。Themanlookedolderthanwhenhehadlastseenhim——somucholderthatEameswasastonished。Hewasbald,orbecomingbald;andhiswhiskersweregrey,orwerebecominggrey,andhewasmuchfatter。JohnnyEames,whowasalwaysthinkingofLilyDale,couldnotnowkeephimselffromthinkingofAdolphusCrosbie。Hesawataglancethatthemanwasinmourning,thoughtherewasnothingbuthisshirt—studsbywhichtotellit;andheknewthathewasinmourningforhiswife。’Iwishshemighthavelivedforever,’Johnnysaidtohimself。
HehadnotyetbeendefinitelycalleduponbytheentranceoftheservanttoofferhisarmtoMissDemolines,whenCrosbiewalkedacrosstohimfromtherugandaddressedhim。
’MrEames,’saidhe,’itissometimesincewemet。’AndheofferedhishandtoJohnny。
’Yes,itis’saidJohnny,acceptingtheprofferedsalutation。’Idon’tknowexactlyhowlong,buteversolong。’
’Iamverygladtohavetheopportunityofshakinghandswithyou,’saidCrosbie;andthenheretired,asithadbecomehisdutytowaitwithhisarmreadyforMrsDobbsBroughton。Havingmarriedanearl’sdaughterhewasselectedforthathonour。Therewasabarristerintheroom,andMrsDobbsBroughtonoughttohaveknownbetter。Assheprofessedtobeguidedinsuchmattersbytheruleslaiddownbytherecognisedauthorities,sheoughttohavebeenawarethatamantakesnorankfromhiswife。ButshewasentitledIthinktomercifulconsiderationforhererror。AwomansituatedaswasMrsDobbsBroughtoncannotaltogetherignoretheseterriblerules。Shecannotletherguestsdrawlotsforprecedence。Shemustselectsomeoneforthehonourofherarm。Andamidsttheintricaciesofrankhowisitpossibleforwomantolearnandtoremembereverything?IfProvidencewouldonlysendMrsDobbsBroughtonaPeerforeverydinner—party,thethingwouldgomoreeasily;
butwhatwomanwilltellme,off—hand,whichshouldgooutofaroomfirst;aC。B。,andAdmiraloftheBlue,theDeanofBarchester,ortheDeanofArches?Whoistoknowwhowaseverybody’sfather?HowamItorememberthatyoungThompson’sprogenitorwasmadeabaronetandnotaknightwhenhewasLordMayor?PerhapsMrsDobbsBroughtonoughttohaveknownthatMrCrosbiecouldhavegainednothingbyhiswife’srank,andthebarristermaybeconsideredtohavebeennotimmoderatelyseverewhenhesimplyspokeofherafterwardsasthesilliestandmostignorantoldwomanhehadevermetinhislife。EameswiththelovelyMissDemolinesonhisarmwasthelasttomovebeforethehostess。MrDobbsBroughtonhadledthewayenergeticallywitholdLadyDemolines。TherewasnodoubtaboutLadyDemolines——ashiswifehadtoldhim,becausehertitlemarkedher。HerhusbandhadbeenaphysicianinParis,andhadbeenknightedinconsequenceofsomebenefitsupposedtohavebeendonetosomeFrenchscionofroyalty——whensuchscionsinFrancewereroyalandnotimperial。LadyDemolines’rankwasnotmuchcertainly;butitservedtomarkher,andwasbeneficial。
AshewentdownstairsEameswasstillthinkingofhismeetingwithCrosbie,andhadasyethardlysaidawordtohisneighbour,andhisneighbourhadnotsaidawordtohim。NowJohnnyunderstooddinnersquitewellenoughtoknowthatinapartyoftwelve,amongwhomsixareladies,everythingdependsofyournextneighbour,andgenerallyonthenextneighbourwhospeciallybelongstoyou;andashetookhisseathewasalittlealarmedastohisprospectforthenexttwohours。OnhisotherhandsatMrsPonsonby,thebarrister’swife,andhedidnotmuchlikethelookofMrsPonsonby。Shewasfat,heavy,andgood—looking;
withabroadspacebetweenhereyes,andlightsmoothhair;——ayouthfulBritishmatroneveryinchofher,ofwhomanybarristerwithayoungfamilyofchildrenmightbeproud。NowMissDemolines,thoughshewashardlytobecalledbeautiful,wasatanyrateremarkable。Shehadlarge,dark,well—shapedeyes,andverydarkhair,whichsheworetangledaboutinanextraordinarymanner,andshehadanexpressiveface——afacemadeexpressivebytheowner’swill。Suchpowerofexpressionisoftenattainedbydintoflabour——thoughitneverreachestotheexpressionofanythinginparticular。Shewasalmostsufficientlygood—lookingtobejustifiedinconsideringherselfabeauty。
ButMissDemolines,thoughshehadsaidnothingasyet,knewhergameverywell。Aladycannotbeginconversationtoanygoodpurposeinthedrawing—room,whensheisseatedandthemanisstanding;——norcansheknowthenhowthetablemaysubsequentlyarrangeitself。Powdermaybewasted,andofteniswasted,andthespiritrebelsagainstthenecessityofcommencingasecondenterprise。ButMissDemolines,whenshefoundherselfseated,andperceivedthatontheothersideofherwasMrPonsonby,amarriedman,commencedherenterpriseatonce,andourfriendJohnEameswasimmediatelyawarethathewouldhavenodifficultyastoconversation。
’Don’tyoulikewinterdinner—parties?’beganMissDemolines。ThiswassaidjustasJohnnywastakinghisseat,andhehadtimetodeclarethathelikeddinner—partiesatallperiodsoftheyearifthedinnerwasgoodandthepeoplepleasantbeforethehosthadmutteredsomethingwhichwasintendedtobeunderstoodtobeagrace。’ButImeanspeciallythewinter,’continuedMissDemolines。’Idon’tthinkdaylightshouldeverbeadmittedatadinner—table;andthoughyoumayshutoutthedaylight,youcan’tshutouttheheat。AndthentherearealwayssomanyotherthingstogotoinMayandJuneandJuly。DinnersshouldbestoppedbyActofParliamentforthosethreemonths。Idon’tcarewhatpeopledoafterwards,becausewealwaysflyawayonthefirstofAugust。’
’Thatisgood—naturedonyourpart。’
’I’msurewhatIsaywouldbeforthegoodofsociety;——butatthistimeoftheyearadinneriswarmandcomfortable。’
’Verycomfortable,Ithink。’
’Andpeoplegettoknoweachother’;——insayingwhichMissDemolineslookedverypleasantlyintoJohnny’sface。
’Thereisagreatdealinthat,’saidhe。’IwonderwhetheryouandI
willgettoknoweachother。’
’Ofcourseweshall;——thatis,ifI’mworthknowing。’
’Therecanbenodoubtaboutthat,Ishouldsay。’
’Timealonecantell。But,MrEames,IseethatMrCrosbieisafriendofyours。’
’Hardlyafriend。’
’Iknowverywellthatmenarefriendswhentheystepupandshakehandswitheachother。Itisthesamewhenwomenkiss。’
’WhenIseewomenkiss,Ialwaysthinkthereisdeephatredatthebottomofit。’
’AndtheremaybedeephatredbetweenyouandMrCrosbieforanythingI
knowtothecontrary,’saidMissDemolines。
’Theverydeepest,’saidJohnny,pretendingtolookgrave。
’Ah;thenIknowheisyourbosomfriend,andthatyouwilltellhimanythingIsay。Whatastrangehistorythatwasofhismarriage。’
’SoIhaveheard;——butheisnotquitebosomfriendenoughwithmetohavetoldmealltheparticulars。Iknowthathiswifeisdead。’
’Dead;oh,yes;shehasbeendeadthesetwoyearsIshouldsay。’
’Notsolongasthat,Ishouldthink。’
’Well——perhapsnot。Butit’seversolongago;——quitelongenoughforhimtobemarriedagain。Didyouknowher?’
’Ineversawherinmylife。’
’Iknewher——notwellindeed;butIamintimatewithhersister,LadyAmeliaGazebee,andIhavemetherthere。Noneofthatfamilyhavemarriedwhatyoumaycallwell。Andnow,MrEames,praylookatthemenuandtellmewhatIamtoeat。Arrangeformealittledinnerofmyown,outofthegreatbilloffareprovided。Ialwaysexpectsomegentlemantodothatforme。MrCrosbie,youknow,onlylivedwithhiswifeforonemonth。’
’SoI’vebeentold。’
’Andaterriblemonththeyhadofit。Iusedtohearofit。Hedoesn’tlookthatsortofman,doeshe?’
’Well;——no。Idon’tthinkhedoes。Butwhatsortofmandoyoumean?’
’Why,sucharegularBluebeard!OfcourseyouknowhowhetreatedanothergirlbeforehemarriedLadyAlexandrina。Shediedofit——withabrokenheart;absolutelydied;andthereheis,indifferentaspossible;——andwouldtreatmeinthesamewaytomorrowifIwouldlethim。’
JohnnyEames,findingitimpossibletotalktoMissDemolinesaboutLilyDale,tookupthecardofthedinnerandwenttoworkinearnest,recommendinghisneighbourwhattoeatandwhattopassby。’Butyouhaveskippedthepate?’saidshe,withenergy。
’Allowmetoaskyoutochoosemineformeinstead。Youaremuchmorefittodoit。’Andshedidchoosehisdinnerforhim。
Theyweresittingataroundtable,andinorderthattheladiesandgentlemenshouldalternatethemselvesproperly,MrMusselborowasoppositetothehost。NexttohimonhisrightwasoldMrsVanSiever,thewidowofaDutchmerchant,whowasveryrich。Shewasaghastlythingtolookat,aswellfromthequantityasfromthenatureofthewiggeriesshewore。Shehadnotonlyafalsefront,butlongfalsecurls,astowhichitcannotbeconceivedthatshewouldsupposethatanyonewouldbeignorantastotheirfalseness。Shewasverythin,too,andverysmall,andputtingasideherwiggeries,youwouldthinkhertobealleyes。Shewasaghastlyoldwomantothesight,andnotaltogetherpleasantinhermodeoftalking。SheseemedtoknowMrMusselboroverywell,forshecalledhimbyhisnamewithoutanyprefix。
Hehad,indeed,begunlifeasaclerkinherhusband’soffice。
’Whydoesn’tWhat’s—his—namehaverealsilverforks?’shesaidtohim。
NowMrsWhat’s—his—name——MrsDobbsBroughtonwewillcallher——wassittingontheothersideofMrMusselboro,betweenhimandMrCrosbie;
and,soplaced,MrMusselborofounditratherhardtoanswerthequestion,moreespeciallyashewasprobablyawarethatotherquestionswouldfollow。
’What’stheuse?’saidMrMusselboro。’Everybodyhastheseplatedthingsnow。What’stheuseofalotofcapitallyingdead?’
’Everybodydoesn’t。Idon’t。YouknowaswellasIdo,Musselboro,thattheappearanceofthethinggoesforagreatdeal。Capitalisn’tlyingdeadaslongaspeopleknowthatyou’vegotit。’
BeforeansweringthisMrMusselborowasdriventoreflectthatMrsDobbsBroughtonwouldprobablyhearhisreply。’Youwon’tfindthatthereisanydoubtonthatheadintheCityastoBroughton,’hesaid。
’Ishan’taskintheCity,andifIdid,Ishouldnotbelievewhatpeopletoldme。IthinktherearesillierfolksintheCitythananywhereelse。Whatdidhegiveforthatpictureupstairswhichtheyoungmanpainted?’
’What,MrsDobbsBroughton’sportrait?’
’Youdon’tcallthataportrait,doyou?Imeantheonewiththethreenakedwomen?’MrMusselboroglancedaroundwithoneeye,andfeltsurethatMrsDobbsBroughtonhadheardthequestion。Buttheoldwomanwasdeterminedtohaveananswer。’Howmuchdidhegiveforit,Musselboro?’
’Sixhundredpounds,Ibelieve,’saidMrMusselboro,lookingstraightbeforehimasheanswered,andpretendingtotreatthesubjectwithperfectindifference。
’Didheindeed,now?Sixhundredpounds!Andyethehasn’tgotsilverspoons。Howthingsarechanged!Tellme,Musselboro,whowasthatyoungmanwhocameinwiththepainter?’
MrMusselboroturnedroundandaskedMrsDobbsBroughton。’AMrJohnEames,MrsVanSiever,’saidMrsDobbsBroughton,whisperingacrossthefrontofMrMusselboro。’HeisprivatesecretarytoLord——Lord——LordI
forgetwho。SomeoneoftheMinisters,Iknow。AndhehadagreatfortunelefthimtheotherdaybyLord——Lord——Lordsomebodyelse。’