’ItisverywellforEamestogoabroad——though，uponmyword，Idon’tknowwhetherIshouldnothavegivenhimdifferentadviceifIhadknownhowmuchIwastobetormentedbyhisabsence。Thethingcouldn’thavehappenedatamoreunfortunatetime；——theMinistrygoingoutandeverything。But，asIwassaying，itisallverywellforhimtodowhathecan。Heisrelatedtothem，andisboundtosavethehonourofhisrelationsifitbepossible。Ilikehimforgoing。Ialwayslikedhim。
AsIsaidtomyfriendDeGuest，"Thatyoungmanwillmakehisway。"AndIratherfancythatthechancewordwhichIspokethentomyvaluedoldfriendwasnotthrownawayinEames’sfavour。But，mydearMissDale，wheredidMrCrawleygetthatcheque？That’swhatIwanttoknow。Ifyoucantellmethat，thenIcantellyouwhetherornohewillbeacquitted。’
LilydidnotfeelastrongprepossessioninfavourofSirRaffle，inspiteofhispraiseofJohnEames。Theharshvoiceofthemanannoyedher，andhisegotismoffendedher。When，muchlaterintheevening，hischaractercameonfordiscussionbetweenherselfandMrsThorneandEmilyDunstable，shehadnotawordtosayinhisfavour。Butstillshehadbeenpleasedtomeethim，becausehewasthemanwithwhomJohnny’slifewasmostspeciallyconcerned。Ithinkthataportionofherdisliketohimarosefromthefactthatincontinuingtheconversationhedidnotreverttohisprivatesecretary，butpreferredtoregaleherwithstoriesofhisowndoingsinwonderfulcaseswhichhadpartakenofinterestsimilartothatwhichnowattacheditselftoMrCrawley’scase。
Hehadknownamanwhohadstolenahundredpounds，andhadneverbeenfoundout；andanothermanwhohadbeenarrestedforstealingtwo—and—sixpencewhichwasfoundafterwardsstickingtoabitofbutteratthebottomofaplate。MrsThornehadheardallthis，andhadansweredhim，’Dearme，SirRaffle，’shehadsaid，’whatagreatmanythievesyouhavehadamongstyouracquaintance！’Thishadratherdisconcertedhim，andthentherehadbeennomoretalkingaboutMrCrawley。
IthadbeenarrangedonthismorningthatMrDaleshouldreturntoAllingtonandleaveLilywithMrsThorne。Somespecialneedofhispresenceathome，realorassumed，hadarisen，andhehaddeclaredthathemustshortenhisstayinLondonbyabouthalftheintendedperiod。
Theneedwouldnothavebeensopressing，probably，hadhenotfeltthatLilywouldbemorecomfortablewithMrsThornethaninhislodgingsinSackvilleStreet。Lilyhadatfirstdeclaredthatshewouldreturnwithhim，buteverybodyhadprotestedagainstthis。EmilyDunstablehadprotestedagainstitverystoutly；MrsDaleherselfhadprotestedagainstitbyletter；andMrsThorne’sprotesthadbeenquiteimperiousinitsnature。’Indeed，’mydear，you’lldonothingofthekind。I’msureyourmotherwouldn’twishit。IlookuponitasquiteessentialthatyouandEmilyshouldlearntoknoweachother。’’Butwedoknoweachother；don’twe，Emily？’saidLily。’Notquitewellyet，’saidEmily。ThenLilyhadlaughed，andsothematterwassettled。Andnow，onthispresentoccasion，MrDalewasatMrsThorne’shouseforthelasttime。HisconsciencehadbeenperplexedaboutLily’shorse，andifanythingwastobesaiditmustbesaidnow。Thesubjectwasverydisagreeabletohim，andhewasangrywithBernardbecauseBernardhaddeclinedtomanageitforhimafterhisownfashion。Buthehadtoldhimselfsooftenthatanythingwasbetterthanapecuniaryobligation，thathewasdeterminedtospeakhismindtoMrsThorne，andtobeghertoallowhimtohavehisway。SohewaitedtilltheHaroldSmithsweregone，andSirRaffleBuffle，andthen，whenLilywasapartwithEmily——forBernardDalehadleftthem——hefoundhimselfatlastalonewithMrsThorne。
’Ican’tbetoomuchobligedtoyou，’hesaid，’foryourkindnesstomygirl。’
’Oh，laws，that’snothing，’saidMrsThorne。’Welookonherasoneofusnow。’
’I’msuresheisgrateful——verygrateful；andsoamI。SheandBernardhavebeenbroughtupsomuchtogetherthatitisverydesirablethatsheshouldnotbeunknowntoBernard’swife。’
’Exactly——that’sjustwhatImean。Blood’sthickerthanwater；isn’tit？Emily’schild，ifshehasone，willbeLily’scousin。’
’Herfirst—cousinonceremoved，’saidthesquire，whowasaccurateinthesematters。Thenhedrewhimselfupinhisseatandcompressedhislipstogether，andpreparedhimselfforhistask。Itwasverydisagreeable。Nothing，hethought，couldbemoredisagreeable。’Ihavealittlethingtospeakabout，’hesaidatlast，’whichIhopewillnotoffendyou。’
’AboutLily？’
’Yes；aboutLily。’
’I’mnotveryeasilyoffended，andIdon’tknowhowIcouldpossiblybeoffendedabouther。’
’I’manold—fashionedman，MrsThorne，anddon’tknowmuchaboutthewaysoftheworld。Ihavealwaysbeendowninthecountry，andmaybeI
haveprejudices。Youwon’trefusetohumouroneofthem，Ihope？’
’You’rebeginningtofrightenme，MrDale；whatisit？’
’AboutLily’shorse。’
’Lily’shorse！Whataboutherhorse？Ihopehe’snotvicious？’
’Sheisridingeverydaywithyourniece，’saidthesquire，thinkingitbesttosticktohisownpoint。
’Itwilldoherallthegoodintheworld，’saidMrsThorne。
’Verylikely。Idon’tdoubtit。Idonotintheleastdisapproveherriding。But——’
’Butwhat，MrDale？’
’IshouldbemuchobligedifImightbeallowedtopaythelivery—stablekeeper’sbill。’
’Oh，lawsa’mercy。’
’Idaresayitmaysoundodd，butasIhaveafancyaboutit，I’msureyou’llgratifyme。’
’OfcourseIwill。I’llrememberit。I’llmakeitallrightwithBernard。BernardandIhavenoendofaccounts——orshallhavebeforelong——andwe’llmakeanitemofit。ThenyoucanarrangewithBernardafterwards。’
MrDaleashegotuptogoawayfeltthathewasbeaten，buthedidnotknowhowtocarrythebattleanyfurtheronthatoccasion。Hecouldnottakeouthispurseandputdownthecostofthehorseonthetable。’I
willthenspeaktomynephewaboutit，’hesaid，verygravely，ashewentaway。Andhedidspeaktohisnephewaboutit，andevenwrotetohimmorethanonce。Butitwasalltonopurpose。MrPottscouldnotbeinducedtogiveaseparatebill，and——sosaidBernard——sworeatlastthathewouldfurnishnoaccounttoanybodyforhorsesthatwenttoMrsThorne’sdoorexcepttoMrsThorneherself。
ThatnightLilytookleaveofheruncleandremainedatMrsThorne’shouse。Asthingswerenowarrangedshewould，nodoubt，beinLondonwhenJohnEamesreturned。Ifheshouldfindherintown——andshetoldherselfthatisshewasintownhecertainlywouldfindher——hewould，doubtless，repeattohertheofferhehadsooftenmadebefore。Sheneverventuredtotellherselfthatshedoubtedastotheanswertobemadetohim。Thetwoletterswerewritteninthebook，andmustremainthere。ButshefeltthatshewouldhavehadmorecourageforpersistencydownatAllingtonthanshewouldbeabletosummontoherassistanceupinLondon。Sheknewshewouldbeweak，shouldshebefoundbyhimaloneinMrsThorne’sdrawing—room。Itwouldbebetterforhertomakesomeexcuseandgohome。Shewasresolvedthatshewouldnotbecomehiswife。
Shecouldnotextricateherselffromthedominionofafeelingwhichshebelievedtobeloveforanotherman。ShehadgivenasolemnpromisebothtohermotherandtoJohnEamesthatshewouldnotmarrythatotherman；
butindoingsoshehadmadeasolemnpromisetoherselfthatshewouldnotmarryJohnEames。Shehadswornitandwouldkeepheroath。Andyetsheregrettedit！Inwritinghometohermotherthenextday，shetoldMrsDalethatalltheworldwasspeakingwellofJohnEames——thatJohnhadwonforhimselfareputationofhisown，andwasknownfarandwidetobeanoblefellow。ShecouldnotkeepherselffrompraisingJohnEames，thoughsheknewthatsuchpraisemight，andwould，beusedagainstheratsomefuturetime。’ThoughIcannotlovehimIwillgivehimhisdue，’shesaidtoherself。
’Iwishyouwouldmakeupyourmindtohavean"it"foryourself，’EmilyDunstablesaidtoheragainthatnight；’anice"it"，sothatIcouldmakeafriend，perhapsabrother，ofhim。’
’Ishallneverhavean"it"ifIlivetobeahundred，’saidLilyDale。
CHAPTERLIII
ROTTENROW
Lilyhadheardnothingastothedifficultyaboutherhorse，andcouldthereforeenjoyherexercisewithoutthedrawbackoffeelingthatherunclewassubjecttoanannoyance。ShewasinthehabitofgoingouteverydaywithBernardandEmilyDunstable，andtheirpartywasgenerallyjoinedbyotherswhowouldmeetthematMrsThorne’shouse。
ForMrsThornewasaveryhospitablewoman，andthereweremanywholikedwellenoughtogotoherhouse。Lateintheafternoontherewouldbeagreatcongregationofhorsesbeforethedoor——sometimesasmanyasadozen；andthenthecavalcadewouldgooffintothePark，andthereitwouldbecomescattered。AsneitherBernardnorMissDunstablewereunconscionablelovers，Lilyinthesescatteringsdidnotoftenfindherselfneglectedorlost。Hercousinwouldgenerallyremainwithher，andasinthosedaysshehadno’it’ofherownshewaswellpleasedthatheshoulddoso。
ButitsohappenedthatonacertainafternoonshefoundherselfridinginRottenRowalonewithacertainstoutgentlemanwhomsheconstantlymetatMrsThorne’shouse。HisnamewasOnesiphorusDunn，andhewasactuallycalledSiphbyhisintimatefriends。IthadseemedtoLilythateverybodywasanintimatefriendofMrDunn’s，andshewasindailyfearlestsheshouldmakeamistakeandcallhimSiphherself。Hadshedonesoitwouldnothavematteredintheleast。MrDunn，hadheobserveditatall，wouldneitherhavebeenflatteredorangry。AgreatmanyyoungladiesaboutLondondidcallhimSiph，andtohimitwasquitenaturalthattheyshoulddoso。HewasanIrishman，livingonthebestofeverythingintheworld，withapparentlynofortuneofhisown，andcertainlyneverearninganything。Everybodylikedhim，anditwasadmittedonallsidesthattherewasnosaferfriendintheworld，eitherforyoungladiesoryoungmen，thanMrOnesiphorusDunn。Hedidnotborrowmoney，andhedidnotencroach。Hedidlikebeingaskedouttodinner，andhedidthinkthattheytowhomhegavethelightofhiscountenanceintownowedhimthereturnofaweek’sruninthecountry。
Heneithershot，norhunted，norfished，norread，andyethewasneverinthewayinanyhouse。Hedidplaybilliards，andwhist，andcroquet——verybadly。Hewasagoodjudgeofwine，andwouldoccasionallycondescendtolookafterthebottlingofitonbehalfofsomeveryintimatefriend。HewasagreatfriendofMrsThorne’s，withwhomhealwaysspenttendaysintheautumnatChaldicotes。
BernardandEmilywerenotinsatiablelovers，but，nevertheless，MrsThornehadthoughtitpropertoprovideafourthintheriding—parties，andhadputMrDunnonthisduty。’Don’tbotheryourselfaboutit，Siph，’shehadsaid；’onlyifthoseloversshouldgooffphilanderingoutofsight，ourlittlecountrylassiemightfindherselftobenowhereinthePark。’Siphhadpromisedtomakehimselfuseful，andhaddoneso。
TherehadgenerallybeensolargeanumberintheirpartythattheworkimposedonMrDunnhadbeenverylight。Lilyhadneverfoundoutthathehadbeenespeciallyconsignedtoherasherowncavalier，buthadseenquiteenoughofhimtobeawarethathewasapleasantcompanion。Toher，thinking，assheeverwasthinking，aboutJohnnyEames，Siphwasmuchmoreagreeablethanmighthavebeenayoungermanwhowouldhaveendeavouredtomakeherthinkabouthimself。
ThuswhenshefoundherselfridingaloneinRottenRowwithSiphDunn，shewasneitherdisconcertednordispleased。HehadbeentalkingtoheraboutLordDeGuest，whomhehadknown——forSiphkneweverybody——andLilyhadbeguntowonderwhetherheknewJohnEames。ShewasmakinguphermindthatshewouldsaysomethingabouttheCrawleymatter——notintendingofcoursetomentionJohnEames’sname——whensuddenlyhertonguewasparalysedandshecouldnotspeak。Atthatmomenttheywerestandingnearacorner，whereaturningpathmadeanangleintheironrails，MrDunnhavingproposedthattheyshouldwaitthereforafewminutesbeforetheyreturnedhome，asitwasprobablethatBernardandMissDunstablemightcomeup。Theyhadbeenthereforsomefiveortenminutes，andLilyhadaskedherfirstquestionabouttheCrawleys——inquiringofMrDunnwhetherhehadheardofaterribleaccusationwhichhadbeenmadeagainstaclergymaninBarsetshire——whenonasuddenhertonguewasparalysed。Astheywerestanding，Lily’shorsewasturnedtowardsthedivergingpath，whereasMrDunwaslookingtheotherway，towardsAchillesandApsleyhouse。MrDunnwasnearertherailings，butthoughtheywerethuslookingdifferentwaystheyweresoplacedthateachcouldseethefaceoftheother。Then，onasudden，comingslowlytowardsheralongthedivergingpathandleaningonthearmofanotherman，shesaw——AdolphusCrosbie。
Shehadneverseenhimsinceadayonwhichshehadpartedfromhimwithmanykisses——withwarm，pressing，eagerkisses——ofwhichshehadbeennowhatashamed。Hehadthenbeentoheralmostasherhusband。Shehadtrustedhimentirely，andhadthrownherselfintohisarmswithfullreliance。Thereisoftenmuchofreticenceonthepartofawomantowardsamantowhomsheisengaged，somethingalsoofshamefacednessoccasionally。Thereexistsashadowofdoubt，atleastofthathesitationwhichshowsthatinspiteofvowsthewomanknowsthatachangemaycome，andthatprovisionforsuchpossiblestepsbackwardshouldalwaysbewithinherreach。ButLilyhadcastallsuchcautiontothewinds。Shehadgivenherselftothemanentirely，andhaddeterminedthatshewouldsinkorswim，standorfall，liveordie，byhimandbyhistruth。Hehadbeenasfalseashell。Shehadbeeninhisarms，clingingtohim，kissinghim，swearingthatheronlypleasureintheworldwastobewithhim——withhim，hertreasure，herpromisedhusband；
andwithinamonth，aweek，hehadbeenfalsetoher。Therehadcomeuponhercrushingtidings，andshehadfordayswonderedatherselfthattheyhadnotkilledher。Butshehadlived，andhadforgivenhim，whichhadbeenansweredasthereaderknows。ButshehadneverseemhimsincethedayonwhichshehadpartedfromhimatAllington，withoutadoubtastohisfaith。Nowhewasbeforeher，walkingonthefootpath，almostwithinreachofherwhip。
Hedidnotrecogniseher，butashepassedonhedidrecogniseMrOnesiphorusDunn，andstoppedtospeaktohim。OritmighthavebeenthatCrosbie’sfriendFowlerPrattstoppedwiththisspecialobject——forSiphDunnwasanintimatefriendofFowlerPratt’s。CrosbieandSiphwerealsoacquainted，butinthosedaysCrosbiedidnotcaremuchforstoppinghisfriendsintheParkorelsewhere。Hehadbecomemoodyanddiscontented，andwasgenerallyseengoingabouttheworldalone。OnthisspecialoccasionhewashavingalittlespecialconversationaboutmoneywithhisveryoldfriendFowlerPratt。
’What，Siph，isthisyou？You’realwaysonhorsebacknow，’saidFowlerPratt。
’Well，yes；Ihavegoneinagooddealforcavalryworkthislastmonth。
I’vebeenluckyenoughtohaveayoungladytoridewithme。’Thishesaidinawhisper，whichthedistanceofLilyjustified。’Howd’yedo，Crosbie？Onedoesn’toftenseeyouonhorsebackoronfooteither。’
’I’vesomethingtodobesidesgoingtolookortobelookedat，’saidCrosbie。ThenheraisedhiseyesandsawLily’sside—face，andrecognisedher。HadheseenherbeforehehadbeenstoppedonhiswayI
thinkhewouldhavepassedon，endeavouringtoescapeobservation。Butasitwas，hisfeethadbeenarrestedbeforeheknewofherclosevicinity，andnowitwouldseenthathewasafraidofher，andwasflyingfromher，wereheatoncetowalkoff，leavinghisfriendbehindhim。Andheknewthatshehadseenhim，andhadrecognisedhim，andwasnowsufferingfromhispresence。Hecouldnotbutperceivethatitwassofromthefixednessofherface，andfromtheconstrainedmannerinwhichshegazedbeforeher。HisfriendFowlerPratthadneverseenMissDale，thoughheknewverymuchofherhistory。SiphDunnknewnothingofthehistoryofCrosbieandhislove，andwasunawarethatheandLilyhadeverseeneachother。Therewasthusnohelpnearhertoextricateherfromherdifficulty。
’Whenamanhasanyworktodointheworld，’saidSiph，’healwaysboastsofittohisacquaintance，andcurseshislucktohimself。Ihavenothingtodoandcangoabouttoseeandbeseen；——andImustownthatIlikeit。’
CrosbiewasstilllookingatLily。Hecouldnothelphimself。Hecouldnottakehiseyesfromoffher。Hecouldseethatshewasasprettyasever，thatshewasbutverylittlealtered。Shewas，intruth，somewhatstouterthanintheolddays，butofthathetooknospecialnotice。
Shouldhespeaktoher？Shouldhetrytocatchhereye，andthenraisehishat？Shouldhegouptoherhorse’sheadboldly，andaskhertoletbygonesbebygones？Hehadanideathatofallcourseswhichhecouldpursuethatwastheonewhichshewouldapprovethebest——whichwouldbemostefficaciousforhim，ifwithheranythingfromhimmighthaveanyefficacy。Buthecouldnotdoit。Hedidnotknowwhatwordshemightbestuse。Woulditbecomehimhumblytosuetoherforpardon？Orshouldhestrivetoexpresshisunalteredlovebysometoneofhisvoice？Orshouldhesimplyaskherafterherhealth？Hemadeonesteptowardsher，andhesawthatthefacebecamemorerigidandmorefixedthanbefore，andthenhedesisted。Hetoldhimselfthathewassimplyhatefultoher。
Hethoughtthathecouldperceivethattherewasnotendernessmixedwithherunabatedanger。
AtthismomentBernardDaleandEmilycamecloseuponhim，andBernardsawhimatonce。ItwasthroughBernardthatLilyandCrosbiehadcometoknoweachother。HeandBernardDalehadbeenfastfriendsinoldtimes，andhad，ofcourse，beenbitterenemiessincethedayofCrosbie’streachery。Theyhadneverspokensince，thoughtheyhadoftenseeneachother，andDalewasnotatalldisposedtospeaktohimnow。
ThemomentthatherecognisedCrosbiehelookedacrosstohiscousin。
Foraninstant，anideaflashedacrosshimthathewastherebyherpermission——withherassent；butitrequirednosecondglancetoshowhimthatthiswasnotthecase。’Dunn，’hesaid，’Ithinkwewillrideon，’andheputhishorseintoatrot。Siph，whoseearwasveryaccurate，andwhoknewthatsomethingwaswrong，trottedonwithhim，andLily，ofcourse，wasnotleftbehind。’Isthereanythingthematter？’saidEmilytoherlover。
’Nothingspeciallythematter，’hereplied；’butyouwerestandingincompanywiththegreatestblackguardthateverylived，andIthoughtwehadbetterchangeourground。’
’Bernard！’saidLily，flashingonhimwithallthefirewhichhereyescouldcommand。Thensherememberedthatshecouldnotreprimandhimfortheoffenceofsuchabuseinsuchacompany；soshereinedinherhorseandfella—weeping。
SiphDunn，withhiswickedcleverness，knewthewholestoryatonce，rememberingthathehadonceheardsomethingofCrosbiehavingbehavedveryilltosomeonebeforehemarriedLadyAlexandraDeCourcy。Hestoppedhishorsealso，fallingalittlebehindLily，sothathemightnotbesupposedtohaveseenhertears，andbegantohumatune。Emilyalso，thoughnotwickedlyclever，understoodsomethingofit。’IfBernardsaysanythingtomakeyouangry，Iwillscoldhim，’shesaid。
Thenthetwogirlsrodeontogetherinfront，whileBernardfellbackwithSiphDunn。
’Pratt，’saidCrosbie，puttinghishandonhisfriend’sshoulderassoonasthepartyhadriddenoutofhearing，’doyouseethatgirlthereinthedarkbluehabit？’
’What，theonenearesttothepath？’
’Yes；theonenearesttothepath。ThatisLilyDale。’
’LilyDale！’saidFowlerPratt。
’Yes，thatisLilyDale。’
’Didyouspeaktoher？’Prattasked。
’No；shegavemenochance。Shewastherebutamoment。Butitwasherself。ItseemssooddtomethatIshouldhavebeenthussonearheragain。’IftherewasanymantowhomCrosbiecouldhavespokenfreelyaboutLilyDaleitwasthisman，FowlerPratt。Prattwastheoldestfriendhehadintheworld，andithadhappenedthatwhenhefirstwoketothemiserythathehadpreparedforhimselfinthrowingoverLilyandbetrothinghimselftohislatewife，Pratthadbeenthefirstpersontowhomhehadcommunicatedhissorrow。Notthathehadeverbeenreallyopeninhiscommunications。ItwasnotgiventosuchmenasCrosbietospeakopenlyofthemselvestotheirfriends。Nor，indeed，wasFowlerPrattonewhowasfondoflisteningtosuchtales。Hehadnosuchtalestotellofhimself，andhethoughtthatmenandwomenshouldgothroughtheworldquietly，notsubjectingthemselvesortheiracquaintancestoanxietiesandemotionsfrompeculiarconduct。Buthewasconscientious，andcourageousalsoaswellasprudent，andhehaddaredtotellCrosbiethathewasbehavingverybadly。Hehadspokenhismindplainly，andhadthengivenalltheassistanceinhispower。
Hepausedamomentbeforehereplied，weighing，likeaprudentman，theforceofthewordshewasabouttoutter。’Itismuchbetterasitis，’
hesaid。’Itismuchbetterthatyoushouldbestrangersforthefuture。’
’Idonotseethatatall，’saidCrosbie。Theywerebothleaningontherails，andsotheyremainedforthenexttwentyminutes。’Idonotseethatatall。’
’Ifeelsureofit。Whatcouldcomeofanyrenewedintercourse——evenifshewouldallowit？’
’Imightmakehermywife。’
’Anddoyouthinkthatyouwouldbehappywithher，orshewithyou，afterwhathaspassed？’
’Idothinkso。’
’Idonot。Itmightbepossiblethatshecouldbringherselftomarryyou。Womendelighttoforgiveinjuries。Theyliketheexcitementofgenerosity。Butshecouldneverforgetthatyouhadaformerwife，orthecircumstancesunderwhichyouweremarried。Andasforyourself，youwouldregretitafterthefirstmonth。Howcouldyoueverspeaktoherofyourlovewithoutspeakingalsoofyourshame？Ifamandoesmarryheshouldatleastbeabletoholduphisheadbeforehiswife。’
Thiswasverysevere，butCrosbieshowednoanger。’IthinkIshoulddoso，’hesaid——’afterawhile。’
’Andthen，aboutmoney？Ofcourseyouwouldhavetotellhereverything。’
’Everything——ofcourse。’
’Itislikeenoughthatshemightnotregardthat——exceptthatshewouldfeelthatifyoucouldnotaffordtomarryherwhenyouwereunembarrassed，youcanhardlyaffordtodosowhenyouareoveryourheadandearsindebt。’
’Shehasmoneynow。’
’AfterallthathascomeandgoneyouwouldhardlyseekLilyDalebecauseyouwanttomarryafortune。’
’Youaretoohardonme，Pratt。YouknowthatmyonlyreasonforseekingheristhatIloveher。’
’Idonotmeantobehard。ButIhaveaverystrongopinionthatthequarrelsoflovers，whentheyareofsoveryseriousanature，areabadbasisfortherenewaloflove。Come，letusgoanddressfordinner。I
amgoingtodinewithMrsThorne，themillionaire，whomarriedacountrydoctor，andwhousedtobecalledMissDunstable。’
’Ineverdineoutanywherenow，’saidCrosbie。AndthentheywalkedoutoftheParktogether。Neitherofthem，ofcourse，knewthatLilyDalewasstayingatthehouseatwhichFowlerwasgoingtodine。
Lily，assherodehome，didnotspeakaword。Shewouldhavegivenworldstobeabletotalk，butshecouldnotevenmakeabeginning。SheheardBernardandSiphDunnchattingbehindher，hadhopedtheywouldcontinuetodosotillshewassafewithinthehouse。Theyallusedherwell，fornoonetriedtodrawherintoconversation。OnceEmilysaidtoher，’Shallwetrotalittle，Lily？’Andthentheymovedonquickly，andthemiserywassoonover。AssoonasshewasupstairsinthehouseshegotEmilybyherself，andexplainedallthemysteryinawordortwo。’I
fearIhavemadeafoolofmyself。ThatwasthemantowhomIwasonceengaged。’’What，MrCrosbie？’saidEmily，whohadheardthewholestoryfromBernard。’Yes，MrCrosbie；praydonotsayawordofittoanybody——noteventoyouraunt。Iambetternow，butIwassuchafool。
No，dear；Iwon’tgointothedrawing—room。I’llgoupstairs，andcomedownreadyfordinner。’