’Butnevermindthat。EverybodyknowsthatMariaClutterbuckwasverymuchadmired。OfcourseI’mnotgoingtotellyouoranyothergentlemanallherhistory。’
　　’Iwasinhopesyouwere。’
　　’Thencertainlyyourhopeswillbefrustrated，MrEames。ButundoubtedlywhenshetoldusthatshewasgoingtotakeDobbsBroughton，wewerealittledisappointed。MariaClutterbuckhadbeenusedtoabetterkindoflife。YouunderstandwhatImean，MrEames？’
　　’Oh，exactly；——andyetit’snotabadkindoflife，either。’
　　’No，no；thatistrue。Ithasitsattractions。Shekeepshercarriage，seesagooddealofcompany，hasanexcellenthouse，andgoesabroadforsixweekseveryyear。Butyouknow，MrEames，thereis，perhaps，alittleuncertaintyaboutit。’
　　’Lifeisalwaysuncertain，MissDemolines。’
　　’You’requizzingnow，Iknow。Butdon’tyoufeelnow，really，thatCitymoneyisalwaysverychancy？Itcomesandgoessoquick。’
　　’Asregardsthegoing，Ithinkthat’sthesamewithallmoney，’saidJohnny。
　　’Notwithland，orthefunds。Mammahaseveryshillinglaidoutinafirst—classmortgageonlandatfourpercent。thatdoesmakeonefeelsosecure！Thelandcan’trunaway。’
　　’ButyouthinkpoorBroughton’smoneymay？’
　　’It’sallspeculation，youknow。Idon’tbelieveshemindsit；Idon’tindeed。Shelivesthatkindoffeveredlifenowthatshelikesexcitement。OfcourseweallknowthatMrDobbsBroughtonisnotwhatwecancallaneducatedgentleman。Hismannersareagainsthim，andheisveryignorant。EvendearMariawouldadmitthat。’
　　’Onewouldperhapsletthatpasswithoutaskingheropinionatall。’
　　’Shehasacknowledgedittome，twentytimes。Butheisverygood—natured，andletsherdoprettynearlyanythingthatshelikes。I
　　onlyhopeshewon’ttrespassonhisgood—nature。Ido，indeed。’
　　’Youmean，spendtoomuchmoney？’
　　’No；Ididn’tmeanthatexactly。Ofcoursesheoughttobemoderate，andIhopesheis。Tothatkindoffeveredexistenceprofuseexpenditureisperhapsnecessary。ButIwasthinkingofsomethingelse。Ifearsheisalittlegiddy。’
　　’Dearme！Ishouldhavethoughtshewastoo——too——too——’
　　’Youmeantoooldforanythingofthatkind。MariaBroughtonmustbethirty—threeifshe’saday。’
　　’Thatwouldmakeyoujusttwenty—five，’saidJohnny，feelingperfectlysureashesaidsothattheladywhomhewasaddressingwasatanyratepastthirty！
　　’Nevermindmyage，MrEames；whetherIamtwenty—five，orahundredandfive，hasnothingtodowithpoorMariaClutterbuck。ButnowI’lltellyouwhyImentionallthistoyou。YoumusthaveseenhowfoolishsheisaboutyourfriendMrDalrymple？’
　　’Uponmyword，Ihaven’t。’
　　’Nonsense，MrEames；youhave。Ifshewereyourwife，wouldyoulikehertocallamanConway？Ofcourseyouwouldnot。Idon’tmeantosaythatthere’sanythinginit。IknowMaria’sprinciplestoowelltosuspectthat。It’smerelybecauseshe’sflightyandfevered。’
　　’Thatfeveredexistenceaccountsforitall，’saidJohnny。
　　’Nodoubtitdoes，’saidMissDemolines，withanodofherhead，whichwasintendedtoshowthatshewaswillingtogiveherfriendthefullbenefitofanyexcusewhichcouldbeofferedforher。’Butdon’tyouthinkyoucoulddosomething，MrEames？’
　　’Idosomething？’
　　’Yes，you。YouandMrDalrymplearesuchfriends！Ifyouwerejusttopointouttohimyouknow——’
　　’Pointoutwhat？Tellhimthatheoughtn’ttobecalledConway？
　　Because，afterall，Isupposethat’stheworstofit。IfyoumeantosaythatDalrympleisinlovewithMrsBroughton，younevermadeagreatermistakeinyourlife。’
　　’Oh，no；notinlove。Thatwouldbeterrible，youknow。’AndMissDemolinesshookherheadsadly。’Buttheremaybesomuchmischiefdonewithoutanythingofthatkind！Thoughtlessness，youknow，MrEames——purethoughtlessness！ThinkofwhatIhavesaid，andifyoucanspeakawordtoyourfriend，do。AndnowIwanttoaskyousomethingelse。I’msogladyouarecome，becausecircumstanceshaveseemedtomakeitnecessarythatyouandIshouldknoweachother。Wemaybeofsomuchuseifweputourheadstogether。’Johnnybowedwhenheheardthis，butmadenoimmediatereply。’Haveyouheardanythingaboutacertainpicturethatisbeingplanned？’Johnnydidnotwishtoanswerthisquestion，butMissDemolinespausedsolong，andlookedsoearnestlyintohisface，thathefoundhimselfforcedtosaysomething。
　　’Whatpicture？’
　　’Acertainpicturethatis——，or，perhaps，thatisnottobe，paintedbyMrDalrymple？’
　　’IhearsomuchaboutDalrymple’spictures！Youdon’tmeantheportraitofLadyGlencoraPalliser？Thatisnearlyfinished，andwillbeintheExhibitionthisyear。’
　　’Idon’tmeanthatatall。Imeanapicturethathasnotyetbeenbegun。’
　　’Aportrait，Isuppose？’
　　’AstothatIcannotquitesay。Itisatanyratetobealikeness。I
　　amsureyouhaveheardofit。Come，MrEames，itwouldbebetterthatweshouldbecandidwitheachother。YourememberMissVanSiever，ofcourse？’
　　’IrememberthatshedinedattheBroughtons。’
　　’AndyouhaveheardofJael，Isuppose，andSisera？’
　　’Yes；inageneralway——intheBible。’
　　’AndnowwillyoutellmewhetheryouhavenotheardthenamesofJaelandMissVanSievercoupledtogether？Iseeyouknowallaboutit。’
　　’Ihaveheardofitcertainly。’
　　’Ofcourseyouhave。SohaveI，asyouperceive。Now，MrEames，’——andMissDemoline’svoicebecametremulouslyeagerassheaddressedhim——’itisyourduty，anditismyduty，totakecarethatthatpicturewillneverbepainted。’
　　’Butwhyshoulditnotbepainted？’
　　’Youdon’tknowMissVanSiever，yet。’
　　’Notintheleast。’
　　’NorMrsVanSiever。’
　　’Ineverspokeawordtoher。’
　　’Ido。Iknowthemboth——well。’TherewassomethingalmostgrandlytragicinMissDemoline’svoiceasshethusspoke。’Yes，MrEames，I
　　knowthemwell。Ifthatschemebecontinued，itwillworkterriblemischief。YouandImustpreventit。’
　　’ButIdon’tseewhatharmitwilldo。’
　　’ThinkofConwayDalrymplepassingsomanyhoursinMaria’ssitting—roomupstairs！Thepictureistobepaintedthere，youknow。’
　　’ButMissVanSieverwillbepresent。Won’tthatmakeitallright？
　　WhatistherewrongaboutMissVanSiever？’
　　’Iwon’tdenythatClaraVanSieverhasacertainbeautyofherown。TomesheiscertainlythemostunattractivewomanthatIevercamenear。
　　Sheissimplyrepulsive！’HereuponMissDemolinesheldupherhandasthoughshewerebanishingMissVanSieverforeverfromhersight，andshudderedslightly。’Menthinkherhandsome，andsheishandsome。Butsheisfalse，covetous，malicious，cruel，anddishonest。’
　　’Whatafiendinpetticoats！’
　　’Youmaysaythat，MrEames。Andthenhermother！Hermotherisnotsobad。Hermotherisdifferent。Butthemotherisanodiouswoman，too。ItwasanevildayforMariaClutterbuckwhenshefirstsaweitherthemotherorthedaughter。Itellyouthatinconfidence。’
　　’ButwhatcanIdo？’saidJohnny，whobegantobeshatteredandalmostinterestedbytheeagernessofthewoman。
　　’I’lltellyouwhatyoucando。Don’tletyourfriendgotoMrBroughton’shousetopaintthepicture。Ifhedoesdoit，therewillbemischiefcomeofit。Ofcourseyoucanpreventhim。’
　　’IshouldnotthinkoftryingtopreventhimunlessIknewwhy。’
　　’She’sanastyproudminx，anditwouldsetherupeversohigh——tothinkthatshewasbeingpaintedbyMrDalrymple！Butthatisn’tthereason。Mariawouldgetintoterribletroubleaboutit，therewouldbenoendofmischief。Imustnottellyoumorenow，andifyoudonotbelieveme，Icannothelpit。Surely，MrEames，mywordmaybetakenasgoingforsomething？AndwhenIaskyoutohelpmeinthis，Idoexpectthatyouwillnotrefuseme。’BythistimeMissDemolineswassittingclosetohim，andhadmorethanonceputherhanduponhisarmintheenergyofhereloquence。ThenasherememberedthathehadneverseenMissDemolinestilltheotherday，ofMissVanSiever，orevenMrsDobbsBroughton，hebethoughthimselfthatitwasallverydroll。NeverthelesshehadnotobjectiontoMissDemolinesputtingherhanduponhisarm。
　　’Ineverliketointerfereinanythingthatdoesnotseemtobemyownbusiness，’saidJohnny。
　　’Isnotyourfriend’sbusinessyourownbusiness？Whatdoesfriendshipmeanifitnotso？AndwhenItellyouthatitismybusiness，mineofright，doesthatgofornothingwithyou？IthoughtImightdependuponyou，MrEames；Ididindeed。’Thenagainsheputherhanduponhisarm，andashelookedintohereyeshebegantothinkthatafterallshewasgood—lookinginacertainway。Atanyrateshehadfineeyes，andtherewassomethingpicturesqueabouttheentanglementofherhair。’Thinkofit，andthencomebackandtalktomeagain，’saidMissDemolines。
　　’ButIamgoingoutoftowntomorrow。’
　　’Forhowlong？’
　　’Fortendays。’
　　’Nothingcanbedoneduringthattime。ClaraVanSieverisgoingawayinaday，andwillnotbebackforthreeweeks。Ihappentoknowthat；
　　sowehaveplentyoftimeforworking。Itwouldbeverydesirablethatsheshouldneverevenhearofit；butthatcannotbehoped，asMariahassuchatongue！Couldn’tyouseeMrDalrympletonight？’
　　’Well，no；Idon’tthinkIcould。’
　　’Mind，atleast，thatyoucometomeassoonaseveryoureturn。’
　　Beforehegotoutofthehouse，whichhedidafteramostaffectionatefarewell，JohnnyfelthimselfcompelledtopromisethathewouldcometoMissDemolinesagainassoonashegotbacktotown；andasthedoorwasclosedbehindhimbytheboyinbuttons，hemadeuphismindthathecertainlywouldcallassoonashereturnedtoLondon。’It’sasgoodasaplay，’hesaidtohimself。NotthathecaredintheleastforMissDemolines，orthathewouldtakeanystepswiththeintentionofpreventingthepaintingofthepicture。MissDemolineshadsomebattletofight，andhewouldleavehertofightitwithherownweapons。IfhisfriendchosetopaintapictureofJael，andtakeMissVanSieverasamodel，itwasnobusinessofhis。NeverthelesshewouldcertainlygoandseeMissDemolinesagain，because，ashesaid，shewasasgoodasaplay。
　　CHAPTERXXVI
　　THEPICTURE
　　OnthatsameafternoonConwayDalrymplerolleduphissketchofJaelandSisera，putitintohispocket，dressedhimselfwithsomeconsiderablecare，puttingonavelvetcoatwhichhewasinthehabitofwearingoutofdoorswhenhedidnotintendtowanderbeyondKensingtonGardens，andtheneighbourhoodandwhichwassupposedtobecomehimwell，yellowgloves，andacertainSpanishhatofwhichhewasfond，andslowlysaunteredacrosstothehouseofhisfriendMrsDobbsBroughton。Whenthedoorwasopenedtohimhedidnotaskoftheladywereathome，butmutteringsomewordtotheservant，madehiswaythroughthehall，upstairs，toacertainsmallsitting—roomlookingtothenorthwhichwasmuchusedbythemistressofthehouse。ItwasquiteclearthatConwayDalrymplehadarrangedhisvisitbeforehand，andthathewasexpected。
　　Heopenedthedoorwithoutknocking，and，thoughtheservanthadfollowedhim，heenteredwithoutbeingannounced。’I’mafraidI’mlate，’
　　hesaid，ashegavehishandtoMrsBroughton；’butforthelifeIcouldnotgetawaysooner。’
　　’Youarequiteintime，’saidthelady，’foranygoodthatyouarelikelytodo。’
　　’Whatdoesthatmean？’
　　’Itmeansthis，myfriend，thatyouhadbettergivetheideaup。Ihavebeenthinkingofitallday，andIdonotapproveofit。’
　　’Whatnonsense！’
　　’Ofcourseyouwillsayso，Conway。IhaveobservedoflatethatwhateverIsaytoyouiscallednonsense。Isupposeitisthenewfashionthatgentlemenshouldsoexpressthemselves，butIamnotquitesurethatIlikeit。’
　　’YouknowwhatImean。Iamveryanxiousaboutthispicture，andI
　　shallbemuchdisappointedifitcannotbedonenow。Itwasyouputitintomyheadfirst。’
　　’Iregretitverymuch，Icanassureyou；butitwillnotbegenerousinyoutourgethatagainstme。’
　　’Butwhyshouldn’titsucceed？’
　　’Therearemanyreasons——somepersonaltomyself。’
　　’Idonotknowwhattheycanbe。YouhintedatsomethingwhichIonlytookashavingbeensaidinjoke。’
　　’IfyoumeanaboutMissVanSieverandyourself，Iwasquiteinearnest，Conway。Idonotthinkyoucoulddobetter，andIshouldbegladtoseeitofallthings。NothingwouldpleasememorethantobringMissVanSieverandyoutogether。’
　　’Andnothingwouldpleasemeless。’
　　’Butwhyso？’
　　’Because——because——Icandonothingbuttellyouthetruth，carina；itisbecausemyheartisnotfreetopresentitselfatMissVanSiever’sfeet。’
　　’Itoughttobeso，Conway，andyoumustmakeitfree。Itwillbewellthatyoushouldbemarried，andwellforothersbesidesyourself。Itellyousoasyourfriend，youhavenotruerfriend。Sitwhereyouare，ifyouplease。Youcansayanythingyouhavetosaywithoutstalkingabouttheroom。’
　　’Iwasnotgoingtostalk——asyoucallit。’
　　’Youwillbesaferandquieterwhileyouaresitting。Iheardaknockatthedoor，andIdonotdoubtthatitwillbeClara。Shesaidshewouldbehere。’
　　’Andyouhavetoldheraboutthepicture？’
　　’Yes；Ihavetoldher。Shesaidthatitwouldbeimpossible，andthathermotherwouldnotallowit。Heresheis。’ThenMissVanSieverwasshownintotheroom，andDalrympleperceivedthatshewasagirlthepeculiarityofwhosecomplexionboredaylightbettereventhancandlelight。Therewassomethinginhercountenancewhichseemedtodeclarethatshecouldbearanylighttowhichitmightbesubjected，withoutflinchingfromit。Andherbonnet，whichwasveryplain，andhersimplebrownmorninggown，suitedherwell。Shewasonewhorequirednoneofthecircumstancesofstudieddresstocarryoffaughtinherownappearance。Shecouldlookherbestwhenotherwomenlooktheirworst，andcoulddaretobeseenatalltimes。Dalrymple，withanartist’seye，sawthisatonce，andimmediatelyconfessedtohimselfthattherewassomethinggreatabouther。Hecouldnotdenyherbeauty。Buttherewaseverpresenttohimthatlookofhardnesswhichhadstruckhimwhenhefirstsawher。Hecouldnotbutfancythatthoughattimesshemightbeplayful，andallowthefurofhercoattobestrokedwithgood—humour——shewouldbeadangerousplaything，usingherclawsunpleasantlywhenthegood—humourshouldhavepassedaway。Butnotthelesswasshebeautiful，and——beyondthatandbetterthanthat，forhispurpose——shewaspicturesque。
　　’Clara，’saidMrsBroughton，’hereisthismadpainter，andhesaysthathewillhaveyouonhiscanvaseitherwithyourwillorwithoutit。’
　　’Evenifhecoulddothat，Iamsurehewouldnot，’saidMissVanSiever。
　　’ToprovetoyouthatIcan，IthinkIneedonlyshowyouthesketch，’
　　saidDalrymple，takingthedrawingoutofhispocket。’Asregardstheface，Iknowitsowellbyheartalready，thatIfeelcertainIcouldproducealikenesswithoutevenasitting。Whatdoyouthinkofit，MrsBroughton？’
　　’Itisclever，’saidshe，lookingatitwithalltheenthusiasmwhichwomenareabletothrowintotheireyesonsuchoccasions；’veryclever。
　　Thesubjectwouldjustsuither。Ihaveneverdoubtedthat。’
　　’Eamessaysthatitisconfused，’saidtheartist。
　　’Idon’tseethatatall，’saidMrsBroughton。
　　’Ofcourseasketchmustberough。Thisonehasbeenrubbedaboutandaltered——butIthinkthereissomethinginit。’
　　’Animmensedeal，’saidMrsBroughton。’Don’tyouthinkso，Clara？’
　　’Iamnotajudge。’
　　’Butyoucanseethewoman’sfixedpurpose；andherstealthinessaswell；——andthemansleepslikealog。Whatisthatdimoutline？’
　　’Nothinginparticular，’saidDalrymple。ButthedimoutlinewasintendedtorepresentMrsVanSiever。
　　’Itisverygood——unquestionablygood，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton。’Idonotforamomentdoubtthatyouwillmakeagreatpictureofit。Itisjustthesubjectforyou，Conway；somuchimagination，andyetsuchascopeforportraiture。Itwouldbefullofaction，andyetsuchperfectrepose。Andthelightsandshadowswouldbeexactlyinyourline。Icanseeataglancehowyouwouldmanagethelightinthetent，andbringitdownjustonthenail。Andthentheposeofthewomanwouldbesogood，somuchstrength，andyetsuchgrace！Youshouldhavethebowlhedrankthemilkoutof，soastotellthewholestory。Nopainterlivingtellsastorysowellasyoudo，Conway。’ConwayDalrympleknewthatthewomanwastalkingnonsensetohim，andyethelikedit，andlikedherfortalkingit。
　　’ButMrDalrymplecanpainthisSiserawithoutmakingmeJael，’saidMissVanSiever。
　　’Ofcoursehecan，’saidMrsBroughton。
　　’ButIneverwill，’saidtheartist。’Iconceivedthesubjectasconnectedwithyou，andIwillneverdisjointhetwoideas。’
　　’Ithinkitnocompliment，Icanassureyou，’saidMissVanSiever。
　　’Andnonewasintended。Butyoumayobservethatartistsinallageshavesoughtforhighertypesofmodelsinpaintingwomenwhohavebeenviolentorcriminal，thanhavesufficedforthemintheirportraituresofgentlenessandvirtue。LookatalltheJudithsandtheLucretias，andtheCharlotteCordays；howmuchfinerthewomenarethantheMadonnasandtheSaintCecilias。’
　　’Afterthat，Clara，youneednotscrupletobeaJael，’saidMrsBroughton。
　　’ButIdoscruple——verymuch；sostronglythatIknowInevershalldoit。InthefirstplaceIdon’tknowwhyMrDalrymplewantsit。’
　　’Wantit！’saidConway。’Iwanttopaintastrikingpicture。’
　　’Butyoucandothatwithoutputtingmeintoit。’
　　’No；——notthispicture。Andwhyshouldyouobject？Itisthecommonestthingintheworldforladiestosittoartistsinthatmanner。’
　　’Peoplewouldknowit。’
　　’Nobodywouldknowit，sothatyouneedcareaboutit。Whatwoulditmatterifeverybodyknewit？Wearenotproposinganythingimproper；——arewe，MrsBroughton？’
　　’Sheshallnotbepressedifshedoesnotlikeit，’saidMrsBroughton。
　　’YouknowItoldyoubeforeClaracamein，thatIwasafraiditcouldnotbedone。’
　　’AndIdon’tlikeit，’saidMissVanSiever，withsomelittlehesitationinhervoice。
　　’Idon’tseeanythingimproperinit，ifyoumeanthat，’saidMrsBroughton。
　　’But，mamma！’
　　’Wellyes；thatisthedifficulty，nodoubt。Theonlyquestionis，whetheryourmotherisnotsoverysingular，astomakeitimpossiblethatyoushouldcomplywithherineverything。’
　　’IamafraidthatIdonotcomplywithherinverymuch，’saidMissVanSieverinhergentlestvoice。
　　’Oh，Clara！’
　　’Youdrivemetosayso，otherwiseIshouldbeahypocrite。OfcourseI
　　oughtnottohavesaiditbeforeMrDalrymple。’
　　’YouandMrDalrymplewillunderstandallaboutthat，Idaresay，beforethepictureisfinished，’saidMrsBroughton。
　　ItdidnottakemuchpersuasiononthepartofConwayDalrympletogettheconsentoftheyoungerladytobepainted，oroftheeldertoallowthesittingtogooninherroom。Whenthequestionofeaselsandotherapparatuscametobeconsidered，MrsBroughtonwasratherflustered，andagaindeclaredwithenergythatthewholethingmustfalltotheground；
　　butafeworewordsfromthepainterrestoredher，andatlastthearrangementsweremade。AsMrsDobbsBroughton’sdearfriend，MadalinaDemolineshadsaid，MrsDobbsBroughtonlikedafeveredexistence。’WhatwillDobbsBroughtonsay？’sheexclaimedmorethanonce。AnditwasdecidedatlastthatDobbsshouldknownothingaboutitaslongasitcouldbekeptfromhim。’Ofcourseheshallbetoldatlast，’saidhiswife。’Iwouldn’tkeepanythingfromthedearfellowforalltheworld。
　　ButifheknewitatfirstitwouldbesuretogetthroughMusselborotoyourmother。’
　　’IcertainlyshallbegthatMrBroughtonmaynotbetakenintoconfidenceifMrMusselboroistofollow，’saidClara。’AnditmustbeunderstoodthatImustceasetositimmediately，whatevermaybetheinconvenience，shouldmammaspeaktomeaboutit。’
　　Thisstipulationwasmadeandconceded，andthenMissVanSieverwentaway，leavingtheartistwithMrsDobbsBroughton。’Andnow，ifyouplease，Conway，youhadbettergotoo，’saidthelady，assoonastherehadbeentimeforMissVanSievertogetdownstairsandoutofthehall—door。
　　’Ofcourseyouareinahurrytogetridofme。’
　　’Yes，Iam。’
　　’AlittlewhileagoIimproperlysaidthatsomesuggestionofyourswasnonsenseandyourebukedmeformybluntincivility。MightnotIrebukeyounowwithequaljustice？’
　　’Doso，ifyouwill；——butleaveme。Itellyou，Conway，thatinthesemattersyoumusteitherbeguidedbyme，oryouandImustceasetoseeeachother。Itdoesnotdothatyoushouldremainherewithmelongerthanthetimeusuallyallowedforamorningcall。Clarahascomeandgone，andyoualsomustgo。Iamsorrytodisturbyou，foryouseemtobesoverycomfortableinthatchair。’
　　’Iamcomfortable——andIcanlookatyou。Come；——therecanbenoharminsayingthat，ifIsaynothingelse。Well；——there，nowIamgone。’
　　Whereuponhegotupfromhisarm—chair。
　　’Butyouarenotgonewhileyoustandthere。’
　　’Andyouwouldreallywishmetomarrythisgirl？’
　　’Ido——ifyoucanloveher。’
　　’Andwhataboutherlove？’
　　’Youmustwinit，ofcourse。Sheistobewon，likeanyotherwoman。
　　Thefruitwon’tfallintoyourmouthmerelybecauseyouopenyourlips。
　　Youmustclimbthetree。’
　　’StillclimbingtreesintheHesperides，’saidConway。’Lovedoesthat，youknow；butitishardtoclimbthetreeswithoutthelove。ItseemstomethatIhavedonemyclimbing——haveclombashighasIknewhow，andthattheboughsarebreakingwithme，andthatIamlikelytogetafall。Doyouunderstandme？’
　　’Iwouldrathernotunderstandyou。’
　　’Thatisnoanswertomyquestion。DoyouunderstandthatatthismomentIamgettingafallwhichwillbreakeveryboneinmyskinandputanyotherclimbingoutofthequestionasfarasIamconcerned？Doyouunderstandthat？’
　　’No；Idonot，’saidMrsBroughton，inatremulousvoice。
　　’ThenI’llgoandmakeloveatoncetoClaraVanSiever。There’senoughofpluckleftinmetoaskhertomarryme，andIsupposeIcouldmanagetogothroughtheceremonyifsheacceptedme。’
　　’ButIwantyoutoloveher，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton。
　　’IdaresayIshouldloveherwellenoughafterabit；——thatis，ifshedidn’tbreakmyheadorcombmyhair。IsupposetherewillbenoobjectiontomysayingthatyousentmewhenIaskher？’
　　’Conway，youwillofcoursenotmentionmynametoher。IhavesuggestedtoyouamarriagewhichIthinkwouldtendtomakeyouhappy，andwouldgiveyouastabilityinlifewhichyouwant。ItisperhapsbetterthatIshouldbeexplicitatonce。AsanunmarriedmanIcannotcontinuetoknowyou。Youhavesaidwordsoflatewhichhavedrivenmetothisconclusion。Ihavethoughtaboutitmuch——toomuchperhaps，andIknowthatIamright。MissVanSieverhasbeautyandwealthandintellect，andIthinkthatshewouldappreciatetheloveofsuchamanasyouare。Nowgo。’AndMrsDobbsBroughton，standingupright，pointedtothedoor。ConwayDalrympleslowlytookhisSpanishhatfromofthemarbleslabonwhichhehadlaidit，andlefttheroomwithoutsayingaword。Theinterviewhadbeenquitelongenough，andtherewasnothingelsewhichheknewhowtosaywitheffect。