’Idon’tseethat，mydear。’
　　’IfeeltobetoooldtothinkthatIshalleverlikeanymorenewpeople。ThreeyearsagoIshouldhavebeenquitesurethatIshouldloveanewcousin。Itwouldhavebeenlikehavinganewdress。ButI’vecometothinkthatanolddressisthemostcomfortable，andanoldcousincertainlythebest。’
　　ThesquirehadtakenforthemagloomylodginginSackvilleStreet。
　　LodgingsinLondonarealwaysgloomy。Gloomycolourswearbetterthanbrightonesforcurtainsandcarpets，andthekeepersoflodgingsinLondonseemtothinkthatacertaindinginessofappearanceisrespectable。IneversawaLondonlodginginwhichanyattemptatcheerfulnesshadbeenmade，andIdonotthinkthatanysuchattempt，ifmade，wouldpay。Thelodging—seekerwouldbefrightenedanddismayed，andwouldunconsciouslybeledtofancythatsomethingwaswrong。Ideasofburglarsandimproperpersonswouldpresentthemselves。ThisissocertainlythecasethatIdoubtwhetheranywell—conditionedlodging—housematroncouldbeinducedtoshowroomsthatwereprettilydrapedorpleasantlycoloured。Thebigdrawing—roomandtwolargebedroomswhichthesquiretookwereallthatwasproper，andwereasbrown，andasgloomy，andasill—suitedforthecomfortsofordinarylifeasthoughtheyhadbeenpreparedfortwoprisoners。ButLilywasnotsoignorantastoexpectcheerfullodgingsinLondon，andwassatisfied。’Andwhatarewetodonow？’saidLily，assoonastheyfoundthemselvessettled。ItwasstillMarch，andwhatevermayhavebeenthenatureoftheweatheratAllington，itwasverycoldinLondon。TheyreachedSackvilleStreetaboutfiveintheevening，andanhourwastakenupinunpackingtheirtrunksandmakingthemselvesascomfortableastheircircumstancesallowed。’Andnowwhatarewetodonow？’saidLily。
　　’Itoldthemtohavedinnerforusathalf—pastsix。’
　　’Andwhatafterthat？Won’tBernardcometoustonight？Iexpectedhimtobestandingonthedoor—stepswaitingforuswithhisbrideinhishand。’
　　’Idon’tsupposeBernardwillbeheretonight，’saidthesquire。’Hedidnotsaythathewould，andasforMissDunstable，Ipromisedtotakeyoutoheraunt’shousetomorrow。’
　　’ButIwantedtoseehertonight。Well；——ofcoursebridesmaidsmustwaituponbrides。Andladieswithtwentythousandpoundscan’tbeexpectedtorunaboutlikecommonpeople。AsforBernard——butBernardneverwasinahurry。’Thentheydined，andwhenthesquirehadverynearlyfallenasleepoverabottleofportwinewhichhadbeensentinforhimfromsomeneighbouringpublic—house，Lilybegantofeelthatitwasverydull。Andshelookedroundtheroom，andshethoughthatitwasveryugly。Andshecalculatedthatthirtyeveningssospentwouldseemtobeverylong。AndshereflectedthatthehourswereprobablygoingmuchmorequicklywithEmilyDunstable，who，nodoubt，atthismomenthadBernardDalebyherside。Andthenshetoldherselfthatthehourswerenottediouswithherathome，whilesittingwithhermother，withallherdailyoccupationswithinherreach。Butinsotellingherselfshetookherselftotask，inquiringofherselfwhethersuchanassurancewasaltogethertrue。Werenotthehourssometimestediousevenathome？
　　Andinthiswayhermindwanderedofftothoughtsuponlifeingeneral，andsherepeatedtoherselfoverandoveragainthetwowordswhichshehadtoldJohnEamesthatshewouldwriteinherjournal。Thereaderwillrememberthosetwowords——OldMaid。Andshehadwrittentheminherbook，makingeachletteracapital，androundthemshehaddrawnascroll，ornamentedafterherownfashion，andshehadaddedthedateinquaintlyformedfigures——forinsuchmattersLilyhadsomelittleskillandadashoffuntodirectit；andshehadinscribedbelowitanItalianmotto：——’Whogoessoftly，goessafely’；andaboveherworkofartshehadputaheading——AsarrangedfateforL。D。’Nowshethoughtofallthis，andreflectedwhetherEmilyDunstablewasintruthveryhappy。
　　Presentlythetearscameintohereyes，andshegotupandwenttothewindow，asthoughshewereafraidthatherunclemightwakeandseethem。Andasshelookedoutontheblankstreet，shemutteredawordortwo——’Dearmother！Dearestmother！’Thenthedoorwasopened，andhercousinBernardannouncedhimself。Shehadnotheardhisknockatthedoorasshehadbeenthinkingofthetwowordsinherbook。
　　’What；Bernard！——ah，yes，ofcourse，’saidthesquire，rubbinghiseyesashestrovetowakehimself。’Iwasn’tsureyouwouldcome，butI’mdelightedtoseeyou。Iwishyoujoywithallmyheart——withallmyheart。’
　　’Ofcourse，Ishouldcome，’saidBernard。’DearLily，thisissogoodofyou。Emilyissodelighted。’ThenLilyspokehercongratulationswarmly，andtherewasnotraceofatearinhereyes，andshewasthoroughlyhappyasshesatbyhercousin’sside，andlistenedtohisrapturesaboutEmilyDunstable。’Andyouwillbesofondofheraunt，’
　　hesaid。
　　’Butisshenotawfullyrich？’saidLily。
　　’Frightfullyrich，’saidBernard；’butreallyyouwouldhardlyfinditoutifnobodytoldyou。Ofcourseshelivesinabighouse，andhasaheapofservants；butshecan’thelpthat。’
　　’Ihateaheapofservants，’saidLily。
　　Thentherecameanotherknockatthedoor，andwhoshouldentertheroombutJohnEames。Lilyforamomentwastakenaback，butitwasonlyforamoment。Shehadbeenthinkingsomuchofhimthathispresencedisturbedherforaninstant。’HeprobablywillnotknowthatIamhere，’shehadsaidtoherself；butshehadnotyetbeenthreehoursinLondon，andhewasalreadywithher！Atfirsthehardlyspoketoher，addressinghimselftothesquire。’LadyJuliatoldmeyouweretobehere，andasI
　　startfortheContinentearlytomorrowmorning，IthoughtyouwouldletmecomeandseeyoubeforeIwent。’
　　’I’malwaysgladtoseeyou，John，’saidthesquire——’veryglad。Andsoyouaregoingabroad，areyou？’
　　ThenJohnnycongratulatedhisoldacquaintance，BernardDale，astohiscomingmarriage，andexplainedtothemhowLadyJuliainoneofherlettershadtoldhimallaboutit，andhadevengivenhimthenumberinSackvilleStreet。’Isupposeshelearneditfromyou，Lily，’saidthesquire。’Yesuncle，shedid。’AndthentherecamequestionsastoJohn’sprojectedjourneytotheContinent，andheexplainedthathewasgoingonlaw—business，onbehalfofMrCrawley，tocatchthedeanandMrsArabin，ifitmightbepossible。’Yousee，sir，MrToogood，whoisMrCrawley’scousin，andalsohislawyer，ismycousintoo；andthat’swhyI’mgoing。’AndstilltherehadbeenhardlyawordspokenbetweenhimandLily。
　　’Butyou’renotalawyer，John；areyou？’saidthesquire。
　　’No。I’mnotalawyermyself。’
　　’Noralawyer’sclerk？’
　　’Certainlynotalawyer’sclerk，’saidJohn，laughing。
　　’Thenwhyshouldyougo？’askedBernardDale。
　　ThenJohnnyhadtoexplain，andindoingsohebecameveryeloquentastothehardshipsofMrCrawley’scase。’Yousee，sir，nobodycanpossiblybelievethatsuchamanasthatstoletwentypounds。’
　　’Idonotforone，’saidLily。
　　’GodforbidthatIshouldsayhedid，’saidthesquire。
　　’I’mquitesurehedidn’t，’saidJohnny，warmingtohissubject。’Itcouldn’tbethatsuchamanasthatshouldbecomeathiefallatonce。
　　It’snothumannature，sir；isit？’
　　’It’sveryhardtoknowwhathumannatureis，’saidthesquire。
　　’It’sthegeneralopiniondowninBarsetshirethathedidstealit，’
　　saidBernard。’DrThornewasoneofthemagistrateswhocommittedhim，andIknowhethinksso。’
　　’Idon’tblamethemagistratesintheleast，’saidJohnny。
　　’That’skindofyou，’saidthesquire。
　　’Ofcourseyou’lllaughatme，sir；butyou’llseethatweshallcomeoutright。There’ssomemysteryinitofwhichwehaven’tgotatthebottomasyet；andifthereisanybodythatcanhelpusitisthedean。’
　　’Ifthedeanknowsanything，whyhashenotwrittenandtoldwhatheknows？’saidthesquire。
　　’That’swhatIcan’tsay。Thedeanhasnothadanopportunityofwritingsinceheheard——evenifhehasyetheard——thatMrCrawleyistobetried。AndthenheandMrsArabinarenottogether。It’salongstory，andIwillnottroubleyouwithitall；butatanyrateI’mgoingofftomorrow。Lily，canIdoanythingforyouinFlorence？’
　　’InFlorence？’saidLily；’andareyoureallygoingtoFlorence？HowI
　　envyyou。’
　　’Andwhopaysyourexpenses，’saidthesquire。
　　’Well；——astomyexpenses，theyaretobepaidbyapersonwhowon’traiseanyunpleasantquestionsabouttheamount。’
　　’Idon’tknowwhatyoumean，’saidthesquire。
　　’Hemeanshimself，’saidLily。
　　’I’mgoingtohaveatripformyownfun，’saidJohnny，’andIshallpickupevidenceontheroad，asI’mgoing——that’sall。’
　　ThenLilybegantotakeanactivepartintheconversation，andagreatdealwassaidaboutMrCrawley，andaboutGrace，andLilydeclaredthatshewouldbeveryanxioustohearanynewswhichJohnEamesmightbeabletosend。’Youknow，John，howfondweareofyourcousinGrace，atAllington？Arewenot，uncle？’
　　’Yes，indeed，’saidthesquire。’Ithoughtheraverynicegirl。’
　　’Ifyoushouldbeabletolearnanythingthatmaybeofuse，John，howhappyyouwillbe。’
　　’Yes，Ishall，’saidJohn。
　　’AndIthinkit’ssogoodofyoutogo，John。Butitisjustlikeyou。
　　Youwerealwaysgenerous。’Soonafterthathegotupandwent。ItwasverycleartohimthathewouldhavenomomentinwhichtosayawordalonetoLily；andifhecouldfindsuchamoment，whatgoodwouldsuchaworddohim？Itwasasyetbutafewweekssinceshehadpositivelyrefusedhim。Andhetoorememberedverywellthosetwowordswhichshehadtoldhimshewouldwriteinherbook。Ashehadbeencomingtothehousehehadtoldhimselfthathiscomingwouldbe——couldbeofnouse。
　　Andyethewasdisappointedwiththeresultofhisvisit，althoughshehadspokentohimsosweetly。
　　’Isupposeyou’llbegonewhenIgetback，’hesaid。
　　’Weshallbehereamonth，’saidthesquire。
　　’Ishallbebacklongbeforethat，Ihope，’saidJohnny。’Good—bye，sir。Good—bye，Dale。Good—bye，Lily。’Andheputouthishandtoher。
　　’Good—bye，John。’Andthensheadded，almostinawhisper。’Ithinkyouarevery，veryrighttogo。’Howcouldhefailafterthattohopeashewalkedhomethatshemightstillrelent。Andshealsothoughtmuchofhim，butherthoughtsofhimmadeherclingmorefirmlythanevertothosetwowords。Shecouldnotbringherselftomarryhim；but，atleast，shewouldnotbreakhisheartbybecomingthewifeofanyoneelse。SoonafterthisBernardDalewentalso。IamnotsurethathehadbeenwellpleasedatseeingJohnEamesbecomesuddenlytheheroofthehour。Whenayoungmanisgoingtoperformsoimportantanactasmarriageheisapttothinkthatheoughttobetheheroofthehourhimself——atanyrateamonghisownfamily。
　　EarlyonthenextmorningLilywastakenbyheruncletocalluponMrsThorne，andtoseeEmilyDunstable。Bernardwastomeetthemthere，butithadbeenarrangedthattheyshouldreachthehousefirst。’Thereisnothingsoabsurdastheseintroductions，’Bernardhadsaid。’Yougoandlookather，andwhenyou’vehadtimetolookather，thenI’llcome！’
　　SothesquireandLilywentofftolookatEmilyDunstable。
　　’Youdon’tmeantosaythatshelivesinthathouse？’saidLily，whenthecabwasstoppedbeforeanenormousmansioninoneofthemostfashionableoftheLondonsquares。
　　’Ibelieveshedoes，’saidthesquire。
　　’Inevershallbeabletospeaktoanybodylivinginsuchahouseasthat，’saidLily。’Adukecouldn’thaveanythinggrander。’
　　’MrsThorneisricherthanhalfthedukes，’saidthesquire。Thenthedoorwasopenedbyaporter，andLilyfoundherselfwithinthehall。
　　Everythingwasverygreat，andverymagnificent，and，asshethought，veryuncomfortable。Presentlysheheardaloudjovialvoiceonthestairs。’MrDale，I’mdelightedtoseeyou。AndthisisyournieceLily。
　　Comeup，mydear。Thereisayoungwomanupstairsdyingtoembraceyou。
　　Nevermindtheumbrella。Putitdownanywhere。Iwanttohavealookatyou，becauseBernardswearsthatyou’resopretty。’ThiswasMrsThorne，onceMissDunstable，therichestwomaninEngland，andtheauntofBernard’sbride。ThereadermayperhapsremembertheadvicewhichsheoncegavetoMajorGrantly，andherenthusiasmonthatoccasion。’Theresheis，MrDale；whatdoyouthinkofher？’saidMrsThorneassheopenedthedoorofasmallsitting—roomwedgedinbetweentwolargesaloons，inwhichEmilyDunstablewassitting。
　　’AuntMartha，howcanyoubesoridiculous？’saidtheyounglady。
　　’Isupposeitisridiculoustoaskthequestiontowhichonereallywantstohaveananswer，’saidMrsThorne。’ButMrDalehas，intruth，cometoinspectyou，andtoformanopinion；and，inhonesttruth，I
　　shallbeveryanxioustoknowwhathethinks——though，ofcourse，hewon’ttellme。’
　　Theoldmantookthegirlinhisarms，andkissedheronbothcheeks。
　　’IhavenodoubtyouwillfindoutwhatIthink，’hesaid，’thoughI
　　shouldnevertellyou。’
　　’Igenerallydofindoutwhatpeoplethink，’shesaid。’Andsoyou’reLilyDale？’
　　’Yes，I’mLilyDale。’
　　’Ihavesooftenheardofyou，particularlyoflate；foryoumustknowthatacertainMajorGrantlyisafriendofmine。Wemusttakecarethatthataffaircomesoffallright，mustwenot？’
　　’Ihopeitwill。’ThenLilyturnedtoEmilyDunstable，and，takingherhand，wentupandsatbesideher，whileMrsThorneandthesquiretalkedofthecomingmarriage。’Howlonghaveyoubeenengaged？’saidLily。
　　’Reallyengagedaboutthreeweeks。Ithinkitisnotmorethanthreeweeksago。’
　　’HowverydiscreetBernardhasbeen。Heneversaidawordaboutitwhileitwasgoingon。’
　　’Menneverdotell，Isuppose，’saidEmilyDunstable。
　　’Ofcourseyoulovehimdearly？’saidLily，notknowingwhatelsetosay。
　　’OfcourseIdo。’
　　’Andsodowe。Youknowhe’salmostabrothertous；thatis，tomeandmysister。Weneverhadabrotherofourown。’AndsothemorningwaspassedtillLilywastoldbyheruncletocomeaway，andwastoldalsobyMrsThornethatshewastodinewiththeminthesquareonthatday。
　　’Youmustnotbesurprisedthatmyhusbandisnothere，’shesaid。’He’saveryoddsortofman，andhenevercomestoLondonifhecanhelpit。’
　　CHAPTERXLVI
　　THEBAYSWATERROMANCE
　　EameshadbynomeansdonehisworkforthateveningwhenheleftMrDaleandLilyattheirlodgings。Hehadotherbusinessinhandtowhichhehadpromisedtogiveattention，andanotherpersontoseewhowouldwelcomehiscomingquiteaswarmly，thoughbynomeansaspleasantly，asLilyDale。Itwasthenjustnineo’clock，andashehadtoldMissDemolines——Madalinawemayaswellcallhernow——thathewouldbeinPorchesterTerracebynineatthelatest，itwasincumbentonhimtomakehaste。Hegotintoacab，andbidthecabmandrivehard，andlightingacigar，begantoinquireofhimselfoverandoveragainwhetheritwaswellforhimtohurryawayfromthepresenceofLilyDaletothatofMadalinaDemolines。Hefeltthathewashalf—ashamedofwhathewasdoing。Thoughhedeclaredtohimselfoverandoveragainthatheneverhadsaidaword，andneverintendedtosayaword，toMadalina，whichalltheworldmightnothear，yetheknewthathewasdoingamiss。
　　Hewasdoingamiss，andhalfrepentedit，andhewashalfproudofit。
　　HewasmostanxioustobeabletogivehimselfcreditforhisconstancytoLilyDale；tobeabletofeelthathewassteadfastinhispassion；
　　andyethelikedtheideaofamusinghimselfwithhisBayswaterromance，ashewouldcallit，andwasnotwithoutsomethingofconceitashethoughtoftheprogresshehadmadeinit。’Loveisonethingandamusementisanother，’hesaidtohimselfashepuffedthecigarsmokeoutofhismouth；andinhishearthewasproudofhisowncapacityforenjoyment。Hethoughtitafinething，althoughatthesamemomentheknewittobeanevilthing——thishurryingawayfromtheyoungladywhomhereallylovedtoanotherastowhomhethoughtitverylikelythatheshouldbecalledupontopretendtoloveher。Andhesangalittlesongashewent，’Ifshebenotfairtome，whatcareIhowfairshebe。’
　　ThatwasintendedtoapplytoLily，andwasusedasanexcuseforhisficklenessingoingtoMissDemolines。Andhewasperhaps，too，alittleconceitedastohismissiontotheContinent。Lilyhadtoldhimthathewasverygladthathewasgoing；thatshethoughthimveryrighttogo。
　　Thewordshadbeenverypleasanttohisears，andLilyhadneverlookedprettierinhiseyesthanwhenshehadspokenthem。Johnny，therefore，wasratherproudofhimselfashesatinthecabsmokinghiscigar。Hehad，moreover，beatenhisoldenemySirRaffleBuffleinanothercontest，andhefeltthattheworldwassmilingonhim；——thattheworldwassmilingonhiminspiteofhiscruelfateinthematterofhisreallovesuit。
　　TherewasamysteryabouttheBayswaterromancewhichwasnotwithoutitsallurement，andaportionofthemysterywasconnectedwithMadalina’smother。LadyDemolineswasveryrarelyseen，andJohnEamescouldnotquiteunderstandwhatwasthemanneroflifeofthatunfortunatelady。Herdaughterusuallyspokeofherwithaffectionateregretasbeingunabletoappearonthatparticularoccasiononaccountofsomepassingmalady。Shewassufferingfromanervousheadache，orwasafflictedwithbronchitis，orhadbeentouchedwithrheumatism，sothatshewasseldomonthescenewhenJohnnywaspassinghistimeatPorchesterTerrace。Andyetheheardofherdiningout，andgoingtoplaysandoperas；andwhenhedidchancetoseeher，hefoundthatshewasasprightlyoldwomanenough。IwillnotventuretosaythathemuchregrettedtheabsenceofLadyDemolines，orthathewaskeenlyalivetotheimproprietyofbeingleftalonewiththegentleMadalina；butthecustomaryabsenceoftheelderladywasanincidentintheromancewhichdidnotfailtostrikehim。
　　Madalinawasalonewhenhewasshownuponintothedrawing—roomontheeveningofwhichwearespeaking。
　　’MrEames，’shesaid，’willyoukindlylookatthatwatchwhichislyingonthetable。’Shelookedfullathimwithhergreateyeswideopen，andthetoneofhervoicewasintendedtoshowhimthatshewasaggrieved。
　　’Yes，Iseeit，’saidJohn，lookingdownonMissDemolines’littlegoldGenevawatch，withwhichhehadalreadymadesufficientacquaintancetoknowthatitwasworthnothing。’ShallIgiveityou？’
　　’No，MrEames；letitremainthere，thatitmayremindme，ifitdoesnotremindyou，byhowlongatimeyouhavebrokenyourword。’
　　’UponmywordIcouldn’thelpit；——uponmyhonourIcouldn’t。’
　　’Uponyourhonour，MrEames？’
　　’Iwasobligedtogoandseeafriendwhohasjustcometotownfrommypartofthecountry。’
　　’Thatisthefriend，Isuppose，ofwhomIhaveheardfromMaria。’ItistobefearedthatConwayDalrymplehadnotbeensoguardedasheshouldhavebeeninsomeofhisconversationswithMrsDobbsBroughton，andthatawordortwohadescapedfromhimastotheloveofJohnEamesforLilyDale。
　　’Idon’tknowwhatyoumayhaveheard，’saidJohnny，’butIwasobligedtoseethesepeoplebeforeIlefttown。Thereisgoingtobeamarriageandallthatsortofthing。’
　　’Whoisgoingtobemarried？’
　　’OneCaptainDaleisgoingtobemarriedtoMissDunstable。’
　　’Oh！AndastooneMissLilyDale——isshetobemarriedtoanybody？’
　　’NotthatIhaveheardof，’saidJohnny。
　　’SheisnotgoingtobethewifeofoneMrJohnEames？’
　　HedidnotwishtotalktoMissDemolinesaboutLilyDale。Hedidnotchoosetodisowntheimputation，ortoacknowledgeitstruth。
　　’Silencegivesconsent，’shesaid。’Ifitbeso，Icongratulateyou。I
　　havenodoubtsheisthemostcharmingyoungwoman。Itisaboutsevenyears，Ibelieve，sincethatlittleaffairwithMrCrosbie，andthereforethat，Isuppose，maybeconsideredasforgotten。’
　　’Itisonlythreeyears，’saidJohnny，angrily。’Besides，Idon’tknowwhatthathastodowithit。’
　　’Youneednotbeashamed，’saidMadalina。’Ihaveheardhowwellyoubehavedonthatoccasion。Youwerequitethepreuxchevalier；andifanygentlemaneverdeservedwellofaladyyoudeservedwellofher。I
　　wonderhowMrCrosbiefeltwhenhemetyoutheotherdayatMaria’s。I
　　hadnotheardanythingaboutitthen，orIshouldhavebeenmuchmoreinterestedinwatchingyourmeeting。’
　　’Ireallycan’tsayhowhefelt。’
　　’Idaresaynot；butIsawhimshakehandswithyou。AndsoLilyDalehascometotown。’
　　’Yes——MissDaleisherewithheruncle。’
　　’Andyouaregoingawaytomorrow？’
　　’Yes——andIamgoingawaytomorrow。’
　　Afterthattherewasapauseintheconversation。Eameswassickofit，andwasveryanxioustochangetheconversation。MissDemolineswassittingintheshadow，awayfromthelight，withherfacehalfhiddenbyherhands。Atlastshejumpedup，andcameroundandstoodoppositetohim。’Ichargeyoutotellmetruly，JohnEames，’shesaid，’whetherMissLilianDaleisengagedtoyouasyourfuturewife？’Helookedupintoherface，butmadenoimmediateanswer。Thensherepeatedherdemand。
　　’IaskyouwhetheryouareengagedtomarryMissLilianDale，andI
　　expectareply。’
　　’Whatmakesyouaskmesuchaquestionasthat？’
　　’Whatmakesmeaskyou？Doyoudenymyrighttofeelsomuchinterestinyouastodesiretoknowwhetheryouareabouttomarried？Ofcourseyoucandeclinetotellmeifyouchoose。’
　　’AndifIweretodecline？’
　　’Ishouldknowthenthatitwastrue，andIshouldthinkyouwereacoward。’
　　’Idon’tseeanycowardiceinthematter。Onedoesnottalkaboutthatkindofthingtoeverybody。’
　　’Uponmyword，MrEames，youarecomplimentary；——indeedyouare。Toeverybody！Iameverybody——amI？Thatisyourideaof——friendship！YoumaybesurethatafterthatIshallasknofurtherquestions。’
　　’Ididn’tmeanitthewayyouhavetakenit，Madalina。’
　　’Inwhatwaydidyoumeanit，sir？Everybody！MrEames，youmustexcusemeifIsaythatIamnotwellenoughthiseveningtobearthecompanyof——everybody。Ithinkyouhadbetterleaveme。Ithinkthatyouhadbettergo。’
　　’Areyouangrywithme？’
　　’Yes，Iam——veryangry。BecauseIhavecondescendedtofeelaninterestinyourwelfare，andhaveaskedyouaquestionwhichIthoughtthatourintimacyjustified，youtellmethatthatisakindofthingthatyouwillnottalkaboutto——everybody。IbegyoutounderstandthatIwillnotbeyoureverybody。MrEames，thereisthedoor。’
　　Thingshadnowbecomeveryserious。HithertoJohnnyhadbeenseatedcomfortablyinthecornerofasofa，andhadnotfoundhimselfboundtomove，thoughMissDemolineswasstandingbeforehim。Butnowitwasabsolutelynecessarythatheshoulddosomething。Hemusteithergo，orelsehemustmakeentreatytobeallowedtoremain。Woulditnotbeexpedientthatheshouldtaketheladyatherwordandescape？Shewasstillpointingtothedoor，andthewaywasopentohim。Ifheweretowalkoutnowofcoursehewouldneverreturn，andtherewouldbetheendoftheBayswaterromance。Ifheremaineditmightbethattheromancewouldbecometroublesome。Hegotupfromhisseat，andhadalmostresolvedthathewouldgo。Hadshenotsomewhatrelaxedthemajestyofherangerasherose，hadthefireofhereyenotbeensomewhatquenchedandthelinesofhermouthsoftened，Ithinkthathewouldhavegone。
　　Theromancewouldhavebeenover，andhewouldhavefeltithadcometoaningloriousend；butitwouldhavebeenwellforhimthatheshouldhavegone。Thoughthefirewassomewhatquenchedandthelinesweresomewhatsoftened，shewasstillpointingatthedoor。
　　’Doyoumeanit？’hesaid。
　　’Idomeanit——certainly。’
　　’Andthisistobetheendofeverything？’
　　’Idonotknowwhatyoumeanbyeverything。Itisaverylittleeverythingtoyou，Ishouldsay。Idonotquiteunderstandyoureverythingandyoureverybody。’
　　’Iwillgoifyouwishmetogoofcourse。’
　　’Idowishit。’
　　’ButbeforeIgo，youmustpermitmetoexcusemyself。Ididnotintendtooffendyou。Imerelymeant——’
　　’Youmerelymeant！Givemeanhonestanswertoadownrightquestion。
　　AreyouengagedtoMissLilianDale？’
　　’No；——Iamnot。’
　　’Uponyourhonour？’