’Allamongthelords，Isee，’saidMrsVanSiever。ThenMrsDobbsBroughtondrewherselfback，rememberingsomelittleattackwhichhadbeenmadeonherbyMrsVanSieverwhensheherselfhadhadthereallordtodinewithher。
TherewasaMissVanSievertherealso，sittingbetweenCrosbieandConwayDalrymple。ConwayDalrymplehadbeenspeciallybroughttheretositnexttoMissVanSiever。’There’snoknowinghowmuchshe’llhave，’
saidMrsDobbsBroughton，inthewarmthoftheirfriendship。’Butit’sallreal。Itis，indeed，。Themotherisawfullyrich。’
’Butshe’sawfulinanotherway，too，’saidDalrymple。
’Indeedsheis，Conway。’MrsDobbsBroughtonhadgotintoawayofcallingheryoungfriendbyhisChristianname。’AlltheworldcallshimConway，’shehadsaidtoherhusbandoncewhenherhusbandhadcaughtherdoingso。’Sheisawful。HerhusbandmadethebusinessintheCity，whenthingswereverydifferentfromwhattheyarenow，andIcan’thelphavingher。ShehastransactionsofbusinesswithDobbs。Butthere’snomistakeaboutthemoney。’
’Sheneedn’tleaveittoherdaughter，Isuppose？’
’Butwhyshouldn’tshe？Shehasnobodyelse。Youmightoffertopainther，youknow。She’dmakeanexcellentpicture。Somuchcharacter。Youcomeandseeher。’
ConwayDalrymplehadexpressedhiswillingnesstomeetMissVanSiever，sayingsomething，however，astohispresentpositionbeingonewhichdidnotadmitofanymatrimonialspeculation。ThenMrsDobbsBroughtonhadtoldhim，withmuchseriousness，thathewasaltogetherwrong，andthatwerehetoforgethimself，orcommithimself，ormisbehavehimself，theremustbeanendtotheirpleasantintimacy。Inanswertowhich，MrDalrymplehadsaidthathisGracewassurelyofallGracestheleastgracious。AndnowhehadcometomeetMissVanSiever，andwasnowseatednexttoherattable。
MissVanSiever，whoatthistimehadperhapsreachedhertwenty—fifthyear，wascertainlyahandsomeyoungwoman。Shewasfairandlarge，bearingnolikenesswhatevertohermother。Herfeatureswereregular，andherfull，cleareyeshadabrillianceoftheirown，lookingatyoualwayssteadfastlyandboldly，thoughveryseldompleasantly。Hermouthwouldhavebeenbeautifulhaditnotbeentoostrongforfemininebeauty。Herteethwereperfect——tooperfect——lookinglikeminiaturewallsofcarvedivory。Sheknewthefaultofthisperfection，andshowedherteethaslittleasshecould。Hernoseandchinwerefinelychiselled，andherheadstoodwelluponhershoulders。Buttherewassomethinghardaboutitallwhichrepelledyou。Dalrymple，whenhesawher，recoiledfromher，notoutwardly，butinwardly。Yes，shewashandsome，asmaybehorseoratiger；buttherewasabouthernothingoffemininesoftness。HecouldnotbringhimselftothinkoftakingClaraVanSieverasthemodelthatwastositbeforehimfortherestofhislife。Hecertainlycouldmakeapictureofher，ashadbeensuggestedbyhisfriend，MrsBroughton，butitmustbeasJudithwiththedisseveredhead，ofasJaelusingherhammeroverthetempleofSisera。Yes——hethoughtshewoulddoasJael；andifMrsVanSieverwouldthrowhimasugar—plum——forhewouldwantthesugar—plum，seeingthatanyotherresultwasoutofthequestion——thethingmightbedone。SuchwastheideaofMrConwayDalrymplerespectingMissVanSiever——beforeheledherdowntodinner。
Atfirsthefoundithardtotalktoher。Sheansweredhim，andnotwithmonosyllables。Butsheansweredhimwithoutsympathy，orapparentpleasureintalking。Nowtheyoungartistwasinthehabitofbeingflatteredbyladies，andexpectedtohavehissmalltalkmadeveryeasyforhim。Helikedtogivehimselflittleairs，andwasnotgenerallydisposedtolabourveryhardatthetaskofmakinghimselfagreeable。
’Wereyoueverpaintedyet？’heaskedaftertheyhadbothbeensittingsilentfortwoorthreeminutes。
’WasIever——painted？Inwhatway？’
’Idon’tmeanrouged，orenamelled，orgotupbyMadameRachel；buthaveyoueverhadyourportraittaken？’
’Ihavebeenphotographedofcourse。’
’That’swhyIaskedyouifyouhadbeenpainted——soastomakesomelittledistinctionbetweenthetwo。Iamapainterbyprofession，anddoportraits。’
’SoMrsBroughtontoldme。’
’Iamnotaskingforajob，youknow。’
’Iamquitesureofthat。’
’ButIshouldhavethoughtyouwouldhavebeensuretohavesattosomebody。’
’Ineverdid。Ineverthoughtofdoingso。Onedoesthosethingsattheinstigationofone’sintimatefriends——fathers，mothers，uncles，andauntsandthelike。’
’Orhusbands，perhaps——orlovers？’
’Well，yes；myintimatefriendismymother，andshewouldneverdreamofsuchathing。Shehatespictures。’
’Hatespictures！’
’Andespeciallyportraits。AndI’mafraid，MrDalrymple，shehatesartists。’
’Goodheavens；howcruel！Isupposethereissomestoryattachedtoit。
Therehasbeensomefatallikeness——someterriblepicture——somethinginherearlydays。’
’Nothingofthekind，MrDalrymple。Itismerelythefactthathersympathiesarewithuglythings，ratherthanwithprettythings。Ithinkshelovesthemahoganydinner—tablebetterthananythingelseinthehouse；andshelikestohaveeverythingdark，andplain，andsolid。’
’Andgood？’
’Goodofitskind，certainly。’
’Ifeveryonewaslikeyourmother，howwouldtheartistlive？’
’Therewouldbenone。’
’Andtheworld，youthink，wouldbenonethepoorer？’
’Ididnotspeakformyself。Ithinktheworldwouldbeverymuchthepoorer。Iamveryfondofancientmasters，thoughIdonotsupposethatIunderstandthem。’
’Theyareeasierunderstoodthanthemodern，Icantellyou。Perhapsyoudon’tcareformodernpictures？’
’Notincomparison，certainly。Ifthatisuncivil，youhavebroughtitonyourself。ButIdonotintruthmeananythingderogatorytothepaintersoftheday。Whentheirpicturesareold，they——thatisthegoodonesamongthem——willbenicealso。’
’Picturesarelikewine，andwantage，youthink？’
’Yes，andstatuestoo，andbuildingsaboveallthings。Thecoloursofnewpaintingsaresoglaring，andthefacesaresobrightandself—conscious，thattheylooktomewhenIgototheexhibitionlikecolouredprintsinachild’snewpicture—book。Itisthesamethingwithbuildings。Oneseesallthepoints，andnothingislefttotheimagination。’
’IfindIhavecomeacrossarealcritic。’
’Ihopeso，atanyrate，Iamnotashamone’andMissVanSieverasshesaidthislookedverysavage。
’Ishouldn’ttakeyoutobeshaminanything。’
’Ah，thatwouldbesayingagreatdealformyself。Whocanundertaketosaythatheisnotashaminanything？’
Asshesaidthistheladiesweregettingup。SoMissVanSieveralsogotup，andleftMrConwayDalrympletoconsiderwhetherhecouldsayorcouldthinkofhimselfthathewasnotashaminanything。AsregardedMissClaraVanSiever，hebegantothinkthathecouldnotobjecttopaintherportrait，eventhoughtheremightbenosugar—plum。HewouldcertainlydoitasJael；andhewould，ifhedared，insertdimlyinthebackgroundsomeideaofthefaceofthemother，half—appearing，half—vanishing，asthespiritofthesacrifice。Hewascomposingthepicture，whileMrDobbsBroughtonwasarranginghimselfandhisbottles。
’Musselboro，’hesaid，’I’llcomeupbetweenyouandCrosbie。MrEames，thoughIrunawayfromyou，theclaretshallremain；or，rather，itshallflowbackwardsandforwardsasrapidlyasyouwill。’
’I’llkeepitmoving，’saidJohnny。
’Do；there’sagoodfellow。It’saniceglassofwineisn’tit？OldRamsby，whokeepsasgoodastockofstuffasanywine—merchantinLondon，gavemeahint，threeorfouryearsago，thathe’dalotoftidyBordeaux。It’s’41，youknow。Hehadninetydozen，andItookitall。’
’Whatwasthefigure，Broughton？’saidCrosbie，askingthequestionwhichheknewwasexpected。
’Well，Ionlygaveonehundredandfourforitthen；it’sworthahundredandtwentynow。Iwouldn’tsellabottleofitforanymoney。
Come，Dalrymple，passitround；butfillyourglassfirst。’
’Thankyou，no；Idon’tlikeit。I’lldrinksherry。’
’Don’tlikeit！’saidDobbsBroughton。
’It’sstrange，isn’tit？ButIdon’t。’
’Ithoughtyouparticularlytoldmetodrinkhisclaret？’saidJohnnytohisfriendafterwards。
’SoIdid，’saidConway；’andwonderfullygoodwineitis。ButImakeitarulenevertoeatordrinkanythinginaman’shousewhenhepraiseshimselfandtellsmethepriceofit。’
’AndImakeitarulenevertocutthenoseoffmyownface，’saidJohnny。
Beforehewent，JohnnyEameshadbeenspeciallyinvitedtocallonLadyDemolines，andhadsaidthathewoulddoso。’WeliveinPorchesterGardens，’saidMissDemolines。’Uponmyword，IbelievethatthefartherLondonstretchesinthatdirection，thefarthermammawillgo。Shethinkstheairsomuchbetter。Iknowit’salongway。’
’Distanceisnothingtome，’saidJohnny；’Icanalwayssetoffovernight。
ConwayDalrympledidnotgetinvitedtocallonMrsVanSiever，butbeforeheleftthehousehedidsayawordortwomoretohisfriendMrsBroughtonastoClaraVanSiever。’Sheisafineyoungwoman，’hesaid；
’sheisindeed。’
’Youhavefounditout，haveyou？’
’Yes；Ihavefounditout。Idonotdoubtthatsomedayshe’llmurderherhusbandorhermother，orstartletheworldbysomenewly—inventedcrime；butthatonlymakesherthemoreinteresting。’
’Andwhenyouaddtothatalltheoldwoman’smoney，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton，’youthinkthatshemightdo？’
’Forapicture，certainly。I’mspeakingofhersimplyasamodel。Couldwenotmanageit？Getheroncehere，withouthermotherknowingit，orBroughton，oranyone。I’vegotthesubject——JaelandSisera，youknow。
IshouldliketoputMusselboroinasSisera，withthenailhalfdrivenin。’MrsDobbsBroughtondeclaredthattheschemewasagreatdealtoowickedforherparticipation，butatlastshepromisedtothinkofit。
’Youmightaswellcomeupandhaveacigar，’Dalrymplesaid，asheandhisfriendleftMrsBroughton’shouse。Johnnysaidthathewouldgoupandhaveacigarortwo。’AndnowtellmewhatyouthinkifMrsDobbsBroughtonandherset，’saidConway。
’Well；I’lltellyouwhatIthinkofthem。Ithinktheystinkofmoney，aspeoplesay；butI’mnotsurethatthey’vegotanyallthesame。’
’Ishouldsupposehemakesalargeincome。’
’Verylikely，andperhapsspendsmorethanhemakes。Agooddealofitlookedtomelikemake—believe。There’snotdoubtabouttheclaret，butthechampagnewasexecrable。Amanisacriminaltohavesuchstuffhandedroundtohisguests。Andthereisn’ttheringofrealgoldaboutthehouse。’
’Ihatetheringofgold，asyoucallit，’saidtheartist。
’SodoI——Ihateitlikepoison；butifitisthere，Ilikeittobetrue。Thereisasortofpersonsgoingnow——andonemeetsthemouthereandthereeverydayinone’slife——whoaredownrightBrummagemassuchattheveryfirstmoment。Myhonouredlordandmaster，SirRaffle，isonesuch。Thereisnomistakinghim。Claphimdownuponthecounter，andheringsdullanduntrueatonce。Pardonme，mydearConway，ifIsaythesameofyourexcellentfriendMrDobbsBroughton。’
’Ithinkyougoalittletoofar，butIdon’tdenyit。Whatyoumeanis，thathe’snotagentleman。’
’Imeanagreatdealmorethanthat。Blessyou，whenyoucometotalkofagentleman，whoistodefinetheword？HowdoIknowwhetherornoI’magentlemanmyself？WhenIusedtobeinBurtonCrescent，Iwashardlyagentlementhen——sittingatthesametablewithMrsRoperandtheLupexes；——doyourememberthem，andthelovelyAmelia？’
’Isupposeyouwereagentleman，then，aswellasnow？’
’You，ifyouhadbeenpaintingduchessesthen，withastudioinKensingtonGardens，wouldhavesaidso，ifyouhadhappenedtocomeacrossme。Ican’tdefineagentleman，eveninmyownmind；——butIcandefineamanwithwhomIthinkIcanlivepleasantly。’
’AndpoorDobbsdoesn’tcomewithintheline？’
’N—o，notquite；averynicefellow，I’mquitesure，andI’mverymuchobligedtoyoufortakingmethere。’
’Ineverwilltakeyoutoanyhouseagain。Andwhatdidyouthinkofthewife？’
’That’sahorseofanothercolouraltogether。Aprettywomanwithsuchafinefigureashershasgotarighttobeanythingshepleases。Iseeyouareagreatfavourite。’
’No，I’mnot；——notespecially。Idolikeher。ShewantstomakeupamatchbetweenmeandthatMissVanSiever。MissVanistohavegoldbytheingot，andjewelsbythebushel，andahatfulofbackshares，andawholemineinCornwall，forherfortune。’
’Andisveryhandsomeintothebargain。’
’Yes；she’shandsome。’
’Soishermother，’saidJohnny。’Ifyoutakethedaughter，I’lltakethemother，andseeifIcan’tdoyououtofamineortwo。Good—night，oldfellow。I’monlyjokingaboutoldDobbs。I’llgoanddinethereagaintomorrow，ifyoulikeit。’
CHAPTERXXV
MISSMADELINEDEMOLINES
’Idon’tthinkyoucaretwostrawsabouther，’ConwayDalrymplesaidtohisfriendJohnEames，twodaysafterthedinner—partyatMrsDobbsBroughton’s。Thepainterwasatworkinhisstudio，andtheprivatesecretaryfromtheIncome—TaxOffice，whowasnodoubtengagedonsomespecialmissiontotheWestEndonthepartofSirRaffleBuffle，wassittinginalounging—chairandsmokingacigar。
’BecauseIdon’tgoaboutwithmystockingscross—gartered，anddothatkindofbusiness？’
’Well，yes；becauseyoudon’tdothatkindofbusiness，moreorless。’
’Itisn’tinmyline，mydearfellow。Iknowwhatyoumean，verywell。
Idaresay，artisticallyspeaking——’
’Don’tbeanass，Johnny。’
’Wellthen，poetically，orromantically，ifyoulikethatbetter——I
daresaythatpoeticallyorromanticallyIamdeficient。Ieatmydinnerverywell，andIdon’tsupposeIoughttodothat；and，ifyou’llbelieveme，Ifindmyselflaughingsometimes。’
’Ineverknewamanwholaughedsomuch。You’realwayslaughing。’
’Andthat，youthink，isabadsign？’
’Idon’tbelieveyoureallycareabouther。Ithinkyouareawarethatyouhavegotalove—affaironhand，andthatyouhangontoitratherpersistently，havinginsomewaycometoaresolutionthatyouwouldbepersistent。Butthereisn’tmuchheartinit。Idaresaytherewasonce。’
’Andthatisyouropinion？’
’Youarejustlikesomeofthosemenwhoforyearspasthavebeengoingtowriteabookonsomenewsubject。Theintentionhasbeensincereatfirst，anditneveraltogetherdiesaway。Butthewould—beauthor，thoughhestilltalksofhiswork，knowsthatitwillneverbeexecuted，andisverypatientunderhisdisappointment。Allenthusiasmaboutthethingisgone，butheisstillknownasthemanwhoisgoingtodoitsomeday。YouarethemanwhomeanstomarryMissDaleinfive，ten，ortwentyyears’time。’
’Now，Conway，allthatisthoroughlyunfair。Thewould—beauthortalksofhiswould—bebooktoeverybody。IhavenevertalkedofMissDaletoanyonebutyou，andoneortwoveryoldfamilyfriends。Andfromyeartoyear，andfrommonthtomonth，Ihavedoneallthathasbeeninmypowertowinher。Idon’tthinkIshalleversucceed，andyetIamasdeterminedaboutitasIwaswhenIfirstbeganit——orrathermuchmoreso。IfIdonotmarryLily，Ishallnevermarryatall，andifanybodyweretotellmetomorrowthatshehadmadeuphermindtohaveme，I
shouldwellnighgomadforjoy。ButIamnotgoingtogiveupallmylifeforlove。IndeedthelessIcanbringmyselftogiveupforit，thebetterIshallthinkofmyself。NowI’llgoawayandcallonoldLadyDemolines。’
’Andflirtwithherdaughter。’
’Yes；——flirtwithherdaughter，ifIgettheopportunity。Whyshouldn’tIflirtwithherdaughter？’
’Whynot，ifyoulikeit？’
’Idon’tlikeit——notparticularly，thatis；becausetheyoungladyisnotverypretty，noryetverygraceful，notyetverywise。’
’Sheisprettyafterafashion，’saidtheartist，’andifnotwise，sheisatanyrateclever。’
’Nevertheless，Idonotlikeher，’saidJohnEames。
’Thenwhydoyougothere？’
’Onehastobeciviltopeoplethoughtheyareneitherprettynorwise。
Idon’tmeantoinsinuatethatMissDemolinesisparticularlybad，orindeedthatsheisworsethanyoungladiesingeneral。Ionlyabusedherbecausetherewasaninsinuationinwhatyousaid，thatIwasgoingtoamusemyselfwithMissDemolinesintheabsenceofMissDale。Theonethinghasnothingtodowiththeotherthing。NothingthatIshallsaytoMissDemolineswillatallmilitateagainstmyloyaltytoLily。’
’Allright，oldfellow；——Ididn’tmeantoputyouonyourpurgation。I
wantyoutolookatthatsketch。Doyouknowforwhomitisintended？’
Johnnytookupascrapofpaper，andhavingscrutiniseditforaminuteortwodeclaredthathehadnottheslightestideawhowasrepresented。
’Youknowthesubject——thestorythatisintendedtobetold？’saidDalrymple。
’Uponmyword，Idon’t。There’ssomeoldfellowseemstobecatchingitoverthehead；butit’sallsoconfused，Ican’tmakemuchofit。Thewomanseemstobeuncommonangry。’
’DoyoueverreadyourBible？’
’Ahdear！notasoftenasIoughttodo。Al，Isee；it’sSisera。I
nevercouldquitebelievethatstory。JaelmighthavekilledCaptainSiserainhissleep——forwhich，by—the—by，sheoughttohavebeenhung，andshemightpossiblyhavedoneitwithahammerandanail。Butshecouldnothavedrivenitthrough，andstakedhimtotheground。’
’I’vewarrantenoughforputtingitintoapicture，atanyrate。MyJaelthereisintendedforMissVanSiever。’
’MissVanSiever！Well，itislikeher。Hasshesatforit？’
’Ohdear，no；notyet。Imeantogethertodoso。There’sastrengthabouther，whichwouldmakehersitthepartadmirably。AndIfancyshewouldliketobedrivinganailintoafellow’shead。IthinkIshalltakeMusselboroforaSisera。’
’You’renotinearnest？’
’Hewouldjustdoforit。ButofcourseIshan’taskhimtosit，asmyJaelwouldnotlikeit。Shewouldnotconsenttooperateonsobaseasubject。SoyoureallyaregoingtoGuestwick？’
’Yes；Istarttomorrow。Good—bye，oldfellow。I’llcomeandsitforSiseraifyou’llletme；——onlyMissVanJaelshallhaveabluntednail，ifyouplease。’
ThenJohnnylefttheartist’sroomandwalkedfromKensingtontoLadyDemoline’shouse。AshewenthepartlyaccusedhimselfandpartlyexcusedhimselfinthatmatterofhisloveforLilyDale。Thereweremomentsofhislifeinwhichhefeltthathewouldwillinglydieforher——thatlifewasnotworthhavingwithouther——inwhichhewentaboutinwardlyreproachingfortuneforhavingtreatedhimsocruelly。Whyshouldshenotbehis？Hehalfbelievedthatshelovedhim。Shehadalmosttoldhimso。Shecouldnotsurelystilllovethatothermanwhohadtreatedherwithsuchvilefalsehood？Asheconsideredthequestioninallitsbearingsheassuredhimselfoverandoveragainthattherewouldbenownofearofthatrival；——andyethehadsuchfears，andhatedCrosbiealmostasmuchasever。Itwasathousandpities，certainly，thatthemanshouldhavebeenmadefreebythedeathofhiswife。ButitcouldhardlybethatheshouldseektoseeLilyagain，orthatLily，ifsosought，shouldevenlistentohim。Butyettherehewas，freeoncemore——anodiousbeing，whomJohnnywasdeterminedtosacrificetohisvengeance，ifcauseforsuchsacrificeshouldoccur。
Andthusthinkingoftherealtruthofhislove，heendeavouredtoexcusehimselftohimselffromthatchargeofvaguenessandlaxnesswhichhisfriendConwayDalrymplehadbroughtagainsthim。Andthenagainheaccusedhimselfofthesamesin。Ifhehadbeenpositivelyinearnest，withdownrightmanlyearnestness，wouldhehaveallowedthethingtodragitselfwithaweakuncertainlife，asithaddoneforthelasttwoorthreeyears？LilyDalehadbeenadreamtohiminhisboyhood；andhehadmadearealityofhisdreamassoonashehadbecomeaman。Butbeforehehadbeenable，asaman，totellhislovetothegirlwhomhehadlovedasachild，anothermanhadintervened，andhisprizehadbeentakenfromhim。Thenthewretchedvictorhadthrownhistreasureaway，andhe，JohnEames，hadbeencontenttostooptopickitup——wascontenttodosonow。Buttherewassomethingwhichhefelttobeunmanlyintheconstantstooping。Dalrymplehadtoldhimthathewaslikeamanwhoiseverwritingabookandyetneverwritesit。HewoulddohisverybesttomakeLilyhisown。Butifhefailednow，hewouldhavedonewithit。Itseemedtohimtobebelowhisdignityasamantobealwayscovetingathingwhichhecouldnotobtain。
Johnnywasinformedbytheboyinbuttons，whoopenedthedoorforhimatLadyDemolines’，thattheladieswereathome，andhewasshownupintothedrawing—room。Herehewasallowedfulltenminutestoexploretheknick—knacksonthetable，andopenthephotographbook，andexaminethefurniture，beforeMissDemolinesmadeherappearance。Whenshedidcome，herhairwastangledmoremarvellouslyeventhanwhenhesawatthedinner—party，andhereyesweredarker，andhercheeksthinner。’I’mafraidmammawon’tbeabletocomedown，’saidMissDemolines。’Shewillbesosorrybutsheisnotquitewelltoday。Thewindisintheeast，shesays，andwhenshesaysthewindisintheeastshealwaysrefusestobewell。’
’ThenIshouldtellheritisinthewest。’
’Butitisintheeast。’
’Ah，thereIcan’thelpyou，MissDemolines。Ineverknowwhichiseast，andwhichiswest；andifIdid，Ishouldn’tknowfromwhichpointthewindblew。’
’Atanyratemammacan’tcomedownstairs，andyoumustexcuseher。WhataverynicewomanMrsDobbsBroughtonis。’JohnnyacknowledgedthatMrsDobbsBroughtonwascharming。’AndMrBroughtonissogood—natured！’
Johnnyagainassented。’Ilikehimofallthings，’saidMissDemolines。
’SodoI，’saidJohnny；——’Ineverlikedanybodysomuchinmylife。I
supposeoneisboundtosaythatkindofthing。’’Oh，youill—naturedman，’saidMissDemollines。’IsupposeyouthinkthatpoorMrBroughtonisalittle——justalittle——youknowwhatImean。’
’Notexactly，’saidJohnny。
’Yes，youdo；youknowverywellwhatImean。Andofcourseheis。Howcanhehelpit？’
’Poorfellow——no。Idon’tsupposehecanhelpit，orhewould；
——wouldn’the？’
’OfcourseMrBroughtonhadnottheadvantageofbirthormuchearlyeducation。Allhisfriendsknowthat，andmakeallowanceaccordingly。
Whenshemarriedhim，shewasawareofhisdeficiency，andmadeuphermindtoputupwithit。’
’Itwasverykindofher；don’tyouthinkso？’
’IknewMariaClutterbuckforyearsbeforeshewasmarried。Ofcourseshewasverymuchmysenior，but，nevertheless，wewerefriends。IthinkIwashardlymorethantwelveyearsoldwhenIfirstbegantocorrespondwithMaria。Shewasthenpasttwenty。Soyousee，MrEames，Imakenosecretofmyage。’
’Whyshouldyou？’