ThemajorcouldnotbuttellhimselfthatMrHardinghadbeenamaneasytoplease，easytosatisfy，and，inthatrespect，verydifferentfromhisfather。Butofcoursehesaidnothingofthis。’Iwilldomybest，’
hereplied。
’Do，myboy。Honourthyfather——thatthydaysmaybelongintheland。’
ItseemedtothemajorashedroveawayfromBarchesterthateverybodywasagainsthim；andyethewassurethathehimselfwasright。HecouldnotgiveupGraceCrawley；andunlessheweretodosohecouldnotliveatCosbyLodge。
CHAPTERLIX
ALADYPRESENTSHERCOMPLIMENTSTOMISSL。D。
OnemorningwhileLilyDalewasstayingwithMrsThorneinLondon，therewasbroughtuptoherroom，asshewasdressingfordinner，aletterwhichthepostmanhadjustleftforher。Theaddresswaswritteninafemininehand，andLilywasatonceawarethatshedidnotknowthewriting。Theangleswereveryacute，andthelineswereverystraight，andthevowelslookedtobecruelandfalse，withtheirsharppointsandtheiropeneyes。Lilyatonceknewthatitwastheperformanceofawomanwhohadbeentaughttowriteatschool，andnotathome，andshebecameprejudicedagainstthewriterbeforesheopenedtheletter。Whenshehadopenedtheletterandreadit，herfeelingstowardsthewriterwerenotofakindlynature。Itwasasfollows：—
’AladypresentshercomplimentstoMissLDandearnestlyimploresMissLDtogiveheranswertothefollowingquestion：IsMissLDengagedtomarryMrJE？TheladyinquestionpledgesherselfnottointerferewithMissLDinanyway，shouldtheanswerbeintheaffirmative。TheladyearnestlyrequeststhatareplytothisquestionmaybesenttoMD
Post—office455EdgwareRoad。InorderthatLDmaynotdoubtthatMD
hadaninterestinJE，MDenclosesthelastnoteshereceivedfromhimbeforehestartedfortheContinent。’Thentherewasascrap，whichLilywellknewtobeinthehandwritingofJohnEames，andthescrapwasasfollows：——’DearestM——punctuallyat8。30。EverandalwaysyourunalterableJE。Lily，asshereadthis，didnotcomprehendthatJohn’snotetoMDhadbeeninitselfajoke。
LilyDalehadheardofanonymouslettersbefore，buthadneverreceivedone，orevenreceivedone。Nowthatshehadoneinherhand，itseemedtoherthattherecouldbenothingmoreabominablethanthewritingofsuchaletter。Sheletitdropfromherasthoughthereceiving，andopening，andreadingithadbeenastaintoher。Asitlayonthegroundatherfeet，shetroduponit。Ofwhatsortcouldawomanbewhowrotesuchaletterasthat？Answerit！Ofcourseshewouldnotanswerit。Itneveroccurredtoherforamomentthatitcouldbecomehertoanswerit。Hadshebeenathomewithhermother，shewouldhavecalledhermothertoher，andMrsDalewouldhavetakenitfromtheground，andhavereadit，andthendestroyedit。Asitwas，shemustpickitupherself。Shedidso，anddeclaredtoherselfthatthereshouldbeanendtoit。Itmightberightthatsomebodyshouldseeit，andthereforeshewouldshowittoEmilyDunstable；afterthatitshouldbedestroyed。
Ofcoursethelettercouldhavenoeffectuponher。Soshetoldherself。Butitdidhaveaverystrongeffect，andprobablytheexacteffectwhichthewriterhadintendedthatitshouldhave。JEwas，ofcourse，JohnEames。Therewasnodoubtaboutthat。WhatafoolthewritermusthavebeentotalkofLDintheletter，whentheoutsidecoverwasplainlyaddressedtoLilyDale！Buttherearesomepeopleforwhomthepretendedmysteryofinitiallettershasacharm，andwholovethedarknessofanonymousletters。AsLilythoughtofthis，shestampedontheletteragain。WhowastheMDtowhomshewasrequiredtosendananswer——withwhomJohnEamescorrespondedinthemostaffectionateterms？ShehadresolvednoteventoaskaquestionaboutMD，andyetshecouldnotdiverthermindfromtheinquiry。Itwas，atanyrate，afactthattheremustbesomewomandesignatedbytheletters——somewomanwhohad，atanyrate，chosentocallherselfMD。andJohnEameshadcalledherM。Theremust，atanyrate，besuchawoman。Thisfemale，beshewhoshemight，hadthoughtitworthherwhiletomakethisinquiryaboutJohnEames，andhadmanifestlylearnedsomethingofLily’sownhistory。AndthewomanhadpledgedherselfnottointerferewithJohnEames，ifLDwouldonlycondescendtosaythatshewasengagedtohim！
AsLilythoughtoftheproposition，shetrodupontheletterforthethirdtime。Thenshepickeditup，andhavingnoplaceofcustodyunderlockandkeyreadytoherhandsheputitinherpocket。
Atnight，beforeshewenttobed，sheshowedthelettertoEmilyDunstable。’Isitnotsurprisingthatanywomancouldbringherselftowritesuchaletter？’saidLily。
ButMissDunstablehardlysawitinthesamelight。’IfanybodyweretowritemesuchaletteraboutBernard，’saidshe，’Ishouldshowtohimasagoodjoke。’
’Thatwouldbeverydifferent。YouandBernard，ofcourse，understandeachother。’
’AndsowillyouandMrEames——someday，Ihope。’
’Nevermorethanwedonow，dear。Thethingthatannoysmeisthatsuchawomanasthatshouldhaveevenheardmynameatall。’
’Aslongaspeoplehavegotearsandtongues，peoplewillhearotherpeople’snames。’
Lilypausedamoment，andthenspokeagain，askinganotherquestion。’I
supposethiswomandoesknowhim？Shemustknowhim，becausehehaswrittentoher。’
’Sheknowssomethingabouthim，nodoubt，andhassomereasonsforwishingthatyouwillquarrelwithhim。IfIwereyou，Ishouldtakecarenottogratifyher。AsforMrEames’snote，itisajoke。’
’Itisnothingtome，’saidLily。
’Isuppose，’continuedEmily，’thatmostgentlemenbecomeacquaintedwithsomepeoplethattheywouldnotwishalltheirfriendstoknowthattheyknew。Theygoaboutsomuchmorethanwedo，andmeetpeopleofallsorts。’
’Nogentlemanshouldbecomeintimatelyacquaintedwithawomanwhocouldwritesuchaletterasthat，’saidLily。AndasshespokesherememberedacertainepisodeinJohnEames’searlylife，whichhadreachedherfromasourcewhichshehadnotdoubted，andwhichhadgivenherpainandoffendedher。ShehadbelievedthatJohnEameshadinthatcasebehavedverycruellytoayoungwoman，andhadthoughtthatheroffencehadcomesimplyfromthatfeeling。’Butofcourseitisnothingtome，’shesaid。
’MrEamescanchoosehisfriendsashelikes。Ionlywishthatmynamemightnotbementionedtothem。’
’Itisnotfromhimthatshehasheardit。’
’Perhapsnot。AsIsaidbefore，ofcourse，itdoesnotsignify；onlythereissomethingverydisagreeableaboutthewholething。Theideaissohateful！OfcoursethiswomanmeansmetounderstandthatsheconsidersherselftohaveaclaimuponMrEames，andthatIstandinherway。’
’Andwhyshouldyounotstandinherway？’
’Iwillstandinnobody’sway。MrEameshasarighttogivehishandtoanyonethathepleases。I，atanyrate，canhavenocauseofoffenceagainsthim。TheonlythingisthatIdowishthatmynamecouldbeleftalone。’Lily，whenshewasinherownroomagain，diddestroytheletter；butbeforeshedidsoshereaditagain，anditbecamesoindeliblyimpressedonhermemorythatshecouldnotforgeteventhewordsofit。Theladywhowrotehadpledgedherself，undercertainconditions，’nottointerferewithMissLD。’’Interferewithme！’Lilysaidtoherself；’nobodyhaspowertodoso。’Assheturneditoverinhermind，herheartbecamehardagainstJohnEames。Nowomanwouldhavetroubledherselftowritesuchaletterwithoutsomecauseforthewriting。Thatthewriterwasvulgar，false，unfeminine，Lilythoughtthatshecouldperceivefromtheletteritself；butnodoubtthewomanknewJohnEameshadsomeinterestinthequestionofhismarriage，andwasentitledtosomeanswertoherquestion——onlywasnotentitledtosuchanswerfromLilyDale。
Forsomeweekspastnow，uptothehouratwhichtheanonymousletterhadreachedherhands，Lily’shearthadbeengrowingsoftandstillsoftertowardsJohnEames；andnowagainithadbecomehardened。IthinkthattheappearanceofAdolphusCrosbieinthePark，thatmomentaryvisionoftherealmanbywhichthedivinityoftheimaginaryApollohadbeendashedtotheground，haddoneaservicetothecauseofherotherlover；oftheloverwhohadneverbeenagod，butwhooflateyearshadatanyrategrownintothefulldimensionofaman。Unfortunatelyforthelatter，hehadcommencedhislove—makingwhenhewasbutlittlemorethanaboy。Lily，asshehadthoughtofthetwotogether，inthedaysofhersolitude，aftershehadbeendesertedbyCrosbie，hadeverpicturedtoherselftheloverwhomshehadpreferredashavingsomethinggodlikeinhisfavour，asbeingfarthesuperiorinwit，inmanner，inacquirement，andinpersonaladvantage。Therehadbeengood—natureandtrueheartyloveonthesideoftheotherman；butcircumstanceshadseemedtoshowthathisgood—naturewasequaltoall，andthathewasabletoshareevenhisheartyloveamongtwoorthree。Amanofsuchacharacter，knownbyagirlfromhisboyhoodasJohnEameshadbeenknownbyLilyDale，waslikelytofindmorefavourasafriendthanasalover。SoithadbeenbetweenJohnEamesandLily。WhiletheuntruememoryofwhatCrosbiewas，oreverhadbeen，waspresenttoher，shecouldhardlybringherselftoacceptinhermindtheideaofaloverwhowaslessnobleinhismanhoodthanthefalsepicturewhichthatuntruememorywaseverpaintingforher。Thenhadcomebeforehereyestheactualman；andthoughhehadbeenseenbutforamoment，thefalseimagehadbeenbrokenintoshivers。Lilyhaddiscoveredthatshehadbeendeceived，andthatherforgivenesshadbeenasked，notbyagod，butbyanordinaryhumanbeing。Asregardedtheungodlikemanhimself，thiscouldmakenodifference。Havingthoughtuponthematterdeeply，shehadresolvedthatshewouldnotmarryMrCrosbie，andhadpledgedherselftothateffecttofriendswhonevercouldhavebroughtthemselvestofeelaffectionforhim，evenhadshemarriedhim。ButtheshatteringofthefalseimagemighthavedoneJohnEamesagoodturn。
Lilyknewthatshehadatanyratefullpermissionfromallherfriendstothrowinherlotwithhis——ifshecouldpersuadeherselftodoso。
Mother，uncle，sister，brother—in—law，cousin——andnowthisnewcousin’sbridethatwastobe——togetherwithLadyJuliaandawholecrowdofAllingtonandGuestwickfriends，wereinfavourofsuchamarriage。Therehadbeennothingagainstitbutthefactthattheothermanhadbeendearertoher；andthatotherfactthatpoorJohnnylackedsomething——somethingofearnestness，somethingofmanliness，somethingofthatPhoebusdivinitywithwhichCrosbiehadcontrivedtoinvesthisownimage。But，asIhavesaidabove，Johnhadgraduallygrown，ifnotintodivinity，atleastintomanliness；andtheshatteringofthefalseimagehaddonehimyeoman’sservice。Nowhadcomethisaccursedletter，andLily，despiteherself，despiteherbetterjudgment，couldnotsweepitawayfromhermindandmaketheletterasnothingtoher。MDhadpromisednottointerferewithher！Therewasnoroomforsuchinterference，nopossibilitythatsuchinterferenceshouldtakeplace。
Shehopedearnestly——soshetoldherself——thatheroldfriendJohnEamesmighthavenothingtodowithawomansoimpudentandvulgarasmustbethisMD；butexceptasregardedoldfriendship，MDandJohnEames，apartortogether，couldbeasnothingtoher。Therefore，Isaythattheletterhadhadtheeffectwhichthewriterofithaddesired。
AllLondonwasnewtoLilyDale，andMrsThornewasveryanxioustoshowhereverythingthatcouldbeseen。ShewastoreturntoAllingtonbeforetheflowersofMaywouldhavecome，andthecrowdandtheglareandthefashionandtheartoftheAcademy’sgreatexhibitionmustthereforeremainunknowntoher；butshewastakentoseemanypictures，andamongothersshewastakentoseethepicturesbelongingtoacertainnoblemanwho，withthatmunificencewhichissoamplyenjoyedandsolittlerecognisedinEngland，keepsopenhousefortheworldtoseethetreasureswhichthewealthofhisfamilyhadcollected。Thenecessaryorderwasprocured，andonacertainbrilliantAprilafternoon，MrsThorneandherpartyfoundthemselvesinthisnobleman’sdrawing—room。
Lilywaswithher，ofcourse，andEmilyDunstablewasthere，andBernardDale，andMrsThorne’sdearfriendMrsHaroldSmith，andMrsThorne’sconstantandusefulattendant，SiphDunn。Theyhadnearlycompletedtheirdelightfulbutwearyingtaskofgazingatpictures，andMrsHaroldSmithhaddeclaredthatshewouldnotlookatanotherpaintingtilltheexhibitionwasopen；threeoftheladieswereseatedinthedrawing—room，andSiphDunnwasstandingbeforethem，lecturingaboutartasthoughhehadbeenbroughtupontheancientmasters；EmilyandBernardwerelingeringbehind，andtheothersweresimplydelayingtheirdeparturetillthetruantloversshouldhavecaughtthem。Atthismomenttwogentlemenenteredtheroomfromthegallery，andthetwogentlemenwereFowlerPrattandAdolphusCrosbie。
AllthepartyexceptMrsThorneknewCrosbiepersonally，andallofthemexceptMrsHaroldSmithknewsomethingofthestoryofwhathadoccurredbetweenCrosbieandLily。SiphDunnhadlearneditallsincethemeetinginthepark，havingnearlylearneditallfromwhathehadseenwiththerewithhiseyes。ButMrsThorne，whoknewLily’sstory，didnotknowCrosbie’sappearance。ButtherewashisfriendFowlerPratt，who，aswillberemembered，haddinedwithherbuttheotherday；andshe，withthatoutspokenandsomewhatloudimpulsewhichwasnaturaltoher，addressedhimatonceacrosstheroom，callinghimbyname。Hadshenotdoneso，thetwomenmightprobablyhaveescapedthroughtheroom，inwhichcasetheywouldhavemetBernardDaleandEmilyDunstableinthedoorway。FowlerPrattwouldhaveendeavouredsotoescape，andtocarryCrosbiewithhim，ashewasquitealivetotheexperienceofsavingLilyfromsuchameeting。But，asthingsturnedout，escapefromMrsThornewasimpossible。
’There’sFowlerPratt，’shehadsaidwhentheyfirstentered，quiteloudenoughforFowlerPratttohearher。’MrPratt，comehere。Howd’yedo？
YoudinedwithmelastTuesday，andyou’veneverbeentocall。’
’IneverrecognisethatobligationtillafterthemiddleofMay，’saidMrPratt，shakinghandswithMrsThorneandMrsSmith，andbowingtoMissDale。
’Idon’tseethejusticeofthatatall，’saidMrsThorne。’ItseemstomethatagooddinnerismuchentitledtoamorselofpasteboardinAprilasatanyothertime。Youwon’thaveanothertillyouhavecalled——unlessyou’respeciallywanted。’
Crosbiewouldhavegoneon，butthatinhisattempttodosohepassedclosebythechaironwhichMrsHaroldSmithwassitting，andthathewasaccostedbyher。’MrCrosbie，’shesaid，’Ihaven’tseenyouforanage。Hasitcometopassthatyouhaveburiedyourselfentirely？’Hedidnotknowhowtoextricatehimselfsoastomoveonatonce。Hepaused，andhesitated，andthenstopped，andmadeanattempttotalktoMrsSmithasthoughhewereathisease。Theattemptwasanythingbutsuccessful；buthavingoncestopped，hedidnotknowhowtoputhimselfinmotionagain，sothathemightescape。AtthismomentBernardDaleandEmilyDunstablecameupandjoinedthegroup；butneitherofthemhaddiscoveredwhoCrosbiewastilltheywerecloseuponhim。
LilywasseatedbetweenMrsThorneandMrsSmith，andSiphDunnhadbeenstandingimmediatelyoppositetothem。FowlerPratt，whohadbeendrawnintothecircleagainsthiswill，wasnowstandingclosetoDunn，almostbetweenhimandLily——andCrosbiewasstandingwithintwoyardsofLily，ontheothersideofDunn。EmilyandBernardhadgonebehindPrattandCrosbietoMrsThorne’ssidebeforetheyhadrecognisedthetwomen；——andinthiswayLilywascompletelysurrounded。MrsThorne，whoinspiteofhereager，impetuousways，wasasthoughtfulofothersasanywomancouldbe，assoonassheheardCrosbie’snameunderstooditall，andknewthatitwouldbewellthatsheshouldwithdrawLilyfromherplight。Crosbie，inhisattempttotalktoMrsSmith，hadsmiledandsimpered，andhadthenfeltthattosmileandsimperbeforeLilyDale，withapretendedindifferencetoherpresence，wasfalseonhispart，andwouldseemtobemean。HewouldhaveavoidedLilyforboththeirsakes，haditbeenpossible；butitwasnolongerpossible，andhecouldnotkeephiseyesfromherface。Hardlyknowingwhathedid，hebowedtoher，liftedhishat，andutteredsomewordofgreeting。
Lily，fromthemomentthatshehadperceivedhispresence，hadlookedstraightbeforeher，withsomethingoffiercenessinhereyes。BothPrattandSiphDunnhadobservedhernarrowly。IthadseemedasthoughCrosbiehadbeenaltogetheroutsidethekenofhereyes，orthenoticeofherears，andyetshehadseeneverymotionofhisbody，andhadheardeverywordwhichhadfallenfromhislips。Now，whenhesalutedher，sheturnedherfacefulluponhim，andbowedtohim。Thensherosefromherseat，andmadeherway，betweenSiphDunnandPratt，outofthecircle。Thebloodhadmountedtoherfaceandsuffuseditall，andherwholemannerwassuchthatitcouldescapetheobservationofnonewhostoodthere。EvenMrsHaroldSmithhadseenit，andhadreadthestory。
Assoonasshewasonherfeet，BernardhaddroppedEmily’shand，andofferedhisarmtohiscousin。’Lily，’hehadsaidoutloud，’youhadbetterletmetakeyouaway。Itisamisfortunethatyouhavebeensubjectedtotheinsultofsuchagreeting。’BernardandCrosbiehadbeenearlyfriends，andBernardhadbeentheunfortunatemeansofbringingCrosbieandLilytogether。Uptothisday，Bernardhadneverhadhisrevengefortheill—treatmentwhichhiscousinhadreceived。
Somemorselofthatrevengecametohimnow。Lilyalmosthatedhercousinforwhathesaid；butshetookhisarm，andwalkedwithhimfromtheroom。ItmustbeacknowledgedinexcuseforBernardDale，andasanapologyfortheapparentindiscretionofhiswords，thatallthecircumstancesofthemeetinghadbecomeapparenttoeveryonethere。Themisfortuneoftheencounterhadbecometooplaintoadmitofitsbeinghiddenunderanyoftheordinaryveilsofsociety。Crosbie’ssalutationhadbeenmadebeforetheeyesofthemall，andinthemidstofabsolutesilence，andLilyhadrisenwithsoqueen—likeademeanour，andhadmovedwithsostatelyastep，thatitwasimpossiblethatanyoneconcernedshouldpretendtoignorethefactsofthescenethathadoccurred。CrosbiewasstillstandingclosetoMrsHaroldSmith，MrsThornehadrisenfromherseat，andthewordswhichBernardDalehadutteredwerestillsoundingintheearsofthemall。’ShallIseeafterthecarriage？’saidSiphDunn。’Do，’saidMrsThorne；’or，stayamoment；thecarriagewillofcoursebethere，andwewillgotogether。
Good—morning，MrPratt。Iexpectthat，atanyrate，youwillsendmeyourcardbypost。’Thentheyallpassedon，andCrosbieandFowlerPrattwereleftamongthepictures。
’Ithinkyouwillagreewithmenowthatyouhadbettergiveherup，’
saidFowlerPratt。
’Iwillnevergiveherup，’saidCrosbie，’tillIhearthatshehasmarriedsomeoneelse。’
’Youmaytakemywordforit，thatshewillnevermarryyouafterwhathasjustoccurred。’
’Verylikelynot；butstilltheattempt，eventheideaoftheattemptwillbeacomforttome。IshallbeendeavouringtodothatwhichI
oughttohavedone。’
’Whatyouhavegottothinkof，Ishouldsuppose，ishercomfort——notyourown。’
Crosbiestoodforawhilesilent，lookingataportraitwhichwashungjustwithinthedoorwayofasmallerroomintowhichtheyhadpassed，asthoughhisattentionwereentirelyrivettedbythepicture。Buthewasthinkingofthepicturenotatall，anddidnotevenknowwhatkindofpaintingwasonthecanvasbeforehim。
’Pratt，’hesaidatlast，’youarealwayshardtome。’
’Iwillsaynothingmoretoyouonthesubject，ifyouwishmetobesilent。’
’Idowishyoutobesilentaboutthat。’
’Thatshallbeenough，’saidPratt。
’Youdonotquiteunderstandme。YoudonotknowhowthoroughlyIhaverepentedoftheevilthatIhavedone，orhowfarIwouldgotomakeretribution，ifretributionwerepossible。’
FowlerPratthavingbeentoldtoholdhistongueasregardedthatsubject，madenoreplytothis，andbegantotalkaboutthepictures。
Lily，leaningonhercousin’sarm，wasoutinthecourtyardinfrontofthehousebeforeMrsThorneandSiphDunn。Itwasbutforaminute，butstilltherewasaminuteinwhichBernardfeltthatheoughttosayawordtoher。
’Ihopeyouarenotangrywithme，Lily，forhavingspoken。’
’Iwish，ofcourse，thatyouhadnotspoken；butIamnotangry。Ihavenorighttobeangry。Imadethemisfortuneformyself。Donotsayanythingmoreaboutit，dearBernard；——thatisall。’
Theyhadwalkedtothepicture—gallery；but，byagreement，twocarriageshadcometotakethemaway——MrsThorne’sandMrsHaroldSmith’s。MrsThorneeasilymanagedtosendEmilyDunstableandBernardawaywithherfriend，andtotellSiphDunnthathemustmanageforhimself。InthiswayitwascontrivedthatnoonebutMrsThorneshouldbewithLilyDale。
’Mydear，’saidMrsThorne，’itseemedtomethatyouwerealittleputout，andsoIthoughtitbesttosendthemallaway。’
’Itwasverykind。’
’Heoughttohavepassedonandnottohavestoodaninstantwhenhesawyou，’saidMrsThorne，withindignation。’Therearemomentswhenitisaman’sdutysimplytovanish，tomeltintotheair，ortosinkintotheground——inwhichheisboundtoovercomethedifficultiesofsuchsuddenself—removal，ormusteverafterbeaccountedpoorandmean。’
’Ididnotwanthimtovanish；——ifonlyhehadnotspokentome。’
’Heshouldhavevanished。Amanissometimesboundinhonourtodoso，evenwhenhehimselfhasdonenothingwrong；——whenthesinhasbeenallwiththewoman。Herfemininityhasstillarighttoexpectthatsomuchshallbedoneinitsbehalf。Butwhenthesinhasbeenallhisown，asitwasinthiscase——andsuchdamningsintoo——’
’Praydonotgoon，MrsThorne。’
’Heoughttogooutandhanghimselfsimplyforhavingallowedhimselftobeseen。IthoughtBernardbehavedverywell，andIshalltellhimso。’
’Iwishyoucouldmanagetoforgetitall，andsaynowordmoreaboutit。’
’Iwon’ttroubleyouwithit，mydear；Iwillpromiseyouthat。But，Lily，Icanhardlyunderstandyou。Thismanwhomusthavebeenandmusteverbeabrute——’
’MrsThorne，youpromisedmethisinstantthatyouwouldnottalkofhim。’
’AfterthisIwillnot；butyoumustletmehavemywaynowforonemoment。Ihavesooftenlongedtospeaktoyou，buthavenotdonesofromfearofoffendingyou。Nowthematterhascomeupbychance，anditwasimpossiblethatwhathasoccurredshouldpassbywithoutaword。I
cannotconceivewhythememoryofthatbadmanshouldbeallowedtodestroyyourwholelife。’
’Mylifeisnotdestroyed。Mylifeisanythingbutdestroyed。Itisaveryhappylife。’
’But，mydear，ifallthatIhearistrue，thereisamostestimableyoungmanwhomeverybodylikes，andparticularlyallyourownfamily，andwhomyoulikeverymuchyourself；andyouwillhavenothingtosaytohim，thoughhisconstancyisliketheconstancyofanoldPaladin——andallbecauseofthiswretchwhojustnowcameinyourway。’
’MrsThorne，itisimpossibletoexplainitall。’
’Idonotwantyoutoexplainitall。OfcourseIwouldnotaskanyyoungwomantomarryanymanwhomshedidnotlove。Suchmarriagesareabominabletome。ButIthinkthatayoungwomanoughttogetmarriedifthethingfairlycomesinherway，andifherfriendsapprove，andifsheisfondofthemanwhoisfondofher。Itmaybethatsomememoryofwhathasgonebeforeisallowedtostandinyourway，andthatitshouldnotbesoallowed。Itsometimeshappensthatahorridmorbidsentimentwilldestroyalife。Excuseme，then，Lily，ifIsaytoomuchtoyouinmyhopethatyoumaynotsufferafterthisfashion。’
’Iknowhowkindyouare，MrsThorne。’
’Hereweareathome，andperhapsyouwouldliketogoin。IhavesomecallswhichImustmake。’Thentheconversationwasended，andLilywasalone。
Asifshehadnotthoughtofitallbefore！AsifherewasanythingnewinthiscounselwhichMrsThornehadgivenher！Shehadreceivedthesameadvicefromhermother，fromhersister，fromheruncle，andfromLadyJulia，tillshewassickofit。Howhaditcometopassthatmatterswhichwithothersaresoprivate，shouldwithherhavebecomethepublicpropertyofsolargeacircle？Anyothergirlwouldreceiveadviceonsuchasubjectfromhermotheralone，andtherethesecretwouldrest。Buthersecrethadbeenpublished，asitwere，bythetown—crierintheHighStreet！EverybodyknewthatshehadbeenjiltedbyAdolphusCrosbie，andthatitwasintendedthatsheshouldbeconsoledbyJohnEames。Andpeopleseemedtothinkthattheyhadarighttorebukeherifsheexpressedanunwillingnesstocarryoutthisintentionwhichthepublichadsokindlyarrangedforher。