Morbidsentiment！Whyshouldshebeaccusedofmorbidsentimentbecauseshewasunabletotransferheraffectionstoamanwhohadbeenfixedonasherfuturehusbandbythelargecircleofacquaintanceswhohadinterestedthemselvesinheraffairs？Therewasnothingmorbidineitherherdesiresorherregrets。Sosheassuredherself，withsomethingverylikeangerattheaccusationmadeagainsther。Shehadbeencontented，andwascontented，toliveathomeashermotherhadlived，askingfornoexcitementbeyondthatgivenbythedailyroutineofherduties。
Therecouldbenothingmorbidinthat。ShewouldgobacktoAllingtonassoonasmightbe，andhavedonewiththisLondonlife，whichonlymadeherwretched。ThisseeingofCrosbiehadbeenterribletoher。Shedidnottellherselfthathisimagehadbeenshattered。Herideawasthatallhermiseryhadcomefromtheuntowardnessofthemeeting。Buttherewasthefactthatshehadseenthemanandheardhisvoice，andthattheseeinghimandhearinghimhadmadehermiserable。Shecertainlydesiredthatitmightneverbeherloteithertoseehimortohearhimagain。
AndasforJohnEames——inthosebittermomentsofherreflectionshealmostwishedthesameinregardtohim。Ifhewouldonlyceasetobeherlover，hemightbeverywell；buthewasnotverywelltoheraslongashispretensionsweredinnedintoherearbyeverybodywhoknewher。AndthenshetoldherselfthatJohnwouldhaveabetterchanceifhehadbeencontenttopleadforhimself。Inthis，Ithink，shewasharduponherlover。Hehadpleadedforhimselfaswellasheknewhow，andasoftenastheoccasionhadbeengiventohim。Ithadhardlybeenhisfaultthathiscasehadbeentakeninhandbyotheradvocates。HehadgivennocommissiontoMrsThornetopleadforhim。
PoorJohnny。HehadstoodinmuchbetterfavourbeforethatladyhadpresentedhercomplimentstoMissLD。Itwasthatodiousletter，andthethoughtswhichithadforceduponLily’smind，whichwerenowmostinimicaltohisinterests。WhetherLilylovedhimornot，shedidnotlovehimwellenoughtobejealousofhim。HadnaysuchletterreachedherrespectingCrosbieinthehappydaysofheryounglove，shewouldhavesimplyhavelaughedatit。Itwouldhavebeennothingtoher。Butnowshewassoreandunhappy，andanytriflewaspowerfulenoughtoirritateher。’IsMissLDengagedtomarryMrJE？’’No，’saidLily，outloud。’LilyDaleisnotengagedtomarryJohnEames，andneverwillbesoengaged。’ShewasalmosttemptedtositdownandwritetherequiredanswertoMissMD。Thoughtheletterhadbeendestroyed，shewellrememberedthenumberofthepost—officeintheEdgwareRoad。PoorJohnEames。
ThateveningshetoldEmilyDunstablethatshethoughtshewouldliketoreturntoAllingtonbeforethedaythathadbeenappointedforher。’Butwhy，’saidEmily，’shouldyoubeworsethanyourword？’
’Idaresayitwillseemsilly，butthefactisIamhomesick。I’mnotaccustomedtobeawayfrommamaforsolong。’
’Ihopeitisnotwhatoccurredtodayatthepicture—gallery。’
’Iwon’tdenythatitisthatinpart。’
’Thatwasastrangeaccident，youknow，thatmightneveroccuragain。’
’Ithasoccurredtwicealready，Emily。’
’Idon’tcalltheaffairintheparkanything。AnybodymayseeanybodyelseinthePark，ofcourse。Hewasnotbroughtnearyouthathecouldannoyyouthere。YououghtcertainlytowaittillMrEameshascomebackfromItaly。’
ThenLilydecidedthatshemustandwouldgobacktoAllingtononthenextMonday，andsheactuallydidwritealettertohermotherthatnighttosaythatsuchwasherintention。Butonthemorrowherheartwaslesssore，andtheletterwasnotsent。
CHAPTERLX
THEENDOFJAELANDSISERA
Therewastobeonemoresittingforthepicture，asthereaderwillremember，andthedayforthatsittinghadarrived。ConwayDalrymplehadinthemeantimecalledatMrsVanSiever’shouse，hopingthathemightbeabletoseeClara，andmakehisofferthere。Buthehadfailedinhisattempttoreachher。Hehadfounditimpossibletosayallthathehadtosayinthepainting—roomduringtheveryshortintervalswhichMrsBroughtonlefttohim。Amanshouldbeallowedtobealonemorethanfifteenminuteswithayoungladyontheoccasioninwhichheoffersherhishandandhisheart；buthithertohehadneverhadmorethanfifteenminutesathiscommand；andthentherehadbeentheturban！HehadalsointhemeantimecalledinMrsBroughtonwiththeintentionofexplainingtoherthatifshereallyintendedtofavourhisviewsinrespecttoMissVanSiever，sheoughttogivehimalittlemorelibertyforexpressinghimself。MrsBroughtonfounditnecessaryduringthismeetingtotalkalmostexclusivelyaboutherselfandherownaffairs。’Conway，’
shehadsaid，directlyshesawhim，’Iamsogladyouhavecome。IthinkIshouldhavegonemadifIhadnotseensomeonewhocaresforme。’Thiswasearlyinthemorning，notmuchaftereleven，andMrsBroughton，hearingfirsthisknockatthedoor，andthenhisvoice，hadmethiminthehallandtakenhimintothedining—room。
’Isanythingthematter？’heasked。
’Oh，Conway！’
’Whatisit？HasanythinggonewrongwithDobbs？’
’Everythinghasgonewrongwithhim。Heisruined。’
’Heavenandearth！Whatdoyoumean？’
’SimplywhatIsay。Butyoumustnotspeakawordofit。Idonotknowitfromhimself。’
’Howdoyouknowit？’
’Waitamoment。Sitdownthere，willyou？——andIwillsitbyyou。No，Conway；donottakemyhand。Itisnotright。There；——so。YesterdayMrsVanSieverwashere。Ineednottellyouallthatshesaidtome，evenifIcould。Shewasveryharshandcruel，sayingallmannerofthingsaboutDobbs。HowcanIhelpit，ifhedrinks？Ihavenotencouragedhim。
Andasforexpensiveliving，Ihavebeenasignorantasachild。Ihaveneveraskedforanything。Whenweweremarriedsomebodytoldmehowmuchweshouldhavetospend。Itwaseithertwothousand，orthreethousand，orfourthousand，orsomethinglikethat。Youknow，Conway，howignorantIamaboutmoney；——thatIamlikeachild。Isitnottrue？’ShewaitedforananswerandDalrymplewasobligedtoacknowledgethatitwastrue。
Andyethehadknownthetimesinwhichhisdearfriendhadbeenverysharpinhermemorywithreferencetoafewpounds。’AndnowshesaysthatDobbsoweshermoneywhichhecannotpayher，andthateverythingmustbesold。ShesaysthatMusselboromusthavethebusiness，andDobbsmustshiftforhimselfelsewhere。’
’Doyoubelievethatshehasthepowertodecidethatthingsshallgothiswayorthat——asshepleases？’
’HowamItoknow？Shesaysso，andshesaysitisbecausehedrinks。
Hedoesdrink。Thatatleastistrue；buthowcanIhelpit？Oh，Conway，whatamItodo？Dobbsdidnotcomehomeatalllastnight，butsentforhisthings——sayingthathemuststayintheCity。WhatamItodoiftheycomeandtakethehouse，andsellthefurniture，andturnmeoutintothestreet？’Thenthepoorcreaturebegantocryinearnest，andDalrymplehadtoconsoleherasbesthemight。’HowIwishIhadknownyoufirst，’shesaid。TothisDalrymplewasabletomakenodirectanswer。Hewaswiseenoughtoknowthatadirectanswermightpossibleleadhimintoterribletrouble。Hewasbynomeansanxioustofindhimself’protecting’MrsDobbsBroughtonfromtheruinwhichherhusbandhadbroughtuponher。
Beforehelefthershehadtoldhimalongstory，partlyofmattersofwhichhehadknownsomethingbefore，andpartlymadeupofthatwhichshehadheardfromtheoldwoman。Itwassettled，MrsBroughtonsaid，thatMrMusselborowastomarryClaraVanSiever。Butitappeared，asfarasDalrymplecouldlearn，thatthiswasasettlementmadesimplybetweenMrsVanSieverandMusselboro。Clara，ashethought，wasnotagirllikelytofallintosuchasettlementwithouthavinganopinionofherown。Musselborowastohavethebusiness，andDobbsBroughtonwastobe’soldup’andthenlookforemploymentintheCity。Fromherhusbandthewifehadnotheardawordonthematter，andtheabovestorywassimplywhathadbeentoldtoMrsBroughtonbyMrsVanSiever。’Formyselfitseemsthattherecanbebutonefate，’saidMrsBroughton。
Dalrymple，inhistenderestvoice，askedwhatthatonefatemustbe。
’Nevermind，’saidMrsBroughton。’Therearesomethingswhichonecannottelleventosuchafriendasyou。’Hewassittingnearherandhadallbutgothisarmbehindherwaist。Hewas，however，abletobeprudent。’Maria，’hesaid，gettinguponhisfeet，’ifitshouldreallycomeaboutthatyoushouldwantanything，youwillsendtome。Youwillpromisemethat，atanyrate？’Sherubbedatearfromhereyeandsaidthatshedidnotknow。’Therearemomentsinwhichamanmustspeakplainly，’saidConwayDalrymple；——’inwhichitwouldbeunmanlynottodoso，howeverprosaicitmayseem。Ineedhardlytellyouthatmypurseshallbeyoursifyouwantit。’Butjustatthatmomentshedidnotwanthispurse，normustitbesupposedthatshewantedtorunawaywithhimandtoleaveherhusbandtofightthebattlewithMrsVanSiever。Thetruthwasthatshedidnotknowwhatshewanted，overandbeyondanassurancefromConwayDalrymplethatshewasthemostill—used，themostinteresting，andthemostbeautifulwomaneverheardof，eitherinhistoryorromance。HadheproposedtohertopackupabundleandgooffwithhiminacabtotheLondonChatham，andDoverrailwaystation，Idonotforamomentthinkthatshewouldhavepackedupherbundle。
Shewouldhavereceivedintensegratificationfromtheoffer——somuchsothatshewouldhavebeenalmostconsoledforherhusband’sruin；butshewouldhavescoldedherlover，andwouldhaveexplainedtohimthegreatiniquityofwhichhewasguilty。ItwascleartohimthatatthispresenttimehecouldnotmakeanyspecialtermswithherastoClaraVanSiever。Atsuchamomentasthishecouldhardlyaskhertokeepoutoftheway，inorderthathemighthavehisopportunity。Butwhenhesuggestedthatprobablyitmightbebetter，inthepresentemergency，togiveuptheideaofanyfurthersittinginherroom，andproposedtosendforhiscanvas，colour—box，andeasel，shetoldhimthat，asfarasshewasconcerned，hewaswelcometohavethatoneothersittingforwhichtheyhadallbargained。’Youhadbettercometomorrow，aswehadagreed，’shesaid；’andunlessIshallhavebeenturnedoutintothestreetbythecreditors，youmayhavetheroomasyoudidbefore。Andyoumustremember，Conway，thatthoughMrsVanSieversaysthatMusselboroistohaveClara，itdoesn’tfollowthatClarashouldgiveway。’Whenweconsidereverything，wemustacknowledgethatthiswas，atanyrate，good—natured。Thentherewasatenderparting，withmanytears，andConwayDalrympleescapedfromthehouse。
HedidnotforamomentdoubtthetruthofthestorywhichMrsBroughtonhadtold，asfar，atleast，asitreferredtotheruinofDobbsBroughton。Hehadheardsomethingofthisbefore，andforsomeweekshadexpectedthatacrashwascoming。Broughton’srisehadbeenverysudden，andDalrymplehadneverregardedhisfriendasfirmlyplacedinthecommercialworld。Dobbswasoneofthosemenwhoseemborntosurprisetheworldbyaspurtofprosperity，andmight，perhaps，haveasecondspurt，orevenathird，couldhehavekepthimselffromdrinkinginthemorning。ButDalrymple，thoughhewashardlyastonishedbythestory，asitregardedBroughton，wasputoutbythatpartofitwhichhadreferencetoMusselboro。HehadknownthatMusselborohadbeenintroducedtoBroughtonbyMrsVanSiever，but，nevertheless，hehadregardedthemanasbeingnormorethanBroughton’sclerk。AndnowhewastoldthatMusselborowastomarryClaraVanSiever，andhaveallMrsVanSiever’smoney。Heresolved，atlast，thathewouldrunhisriskaboutthemoney，andtakeClaraeitherwithorwithoutit，ifshewouldhavehim。Andasforthatdifficultyinaskingher，ifMrsBroughtonwouldgivehimnoopportunityofputtingthequestionbehindherback，hewouldputitbeforeherface。Hehadnotmuchleisureforconsiderationonthesepoints，asthenextdaywasthedayforthelastsitting。
OnthefollowingmorninghefoundMissVanSieveralreadyseatedinMrsBroughton’sroomwhenhereachedit。AndatthemomentMrsBroughtonwasnotthere。AshetookClara’shandhecouldnotpreventhimselffromaskingherwhethershehadheardanything？’Heardwhat？’askedClara。
’Thenyouhavenot，’saidhe。’Nevermindnow，asMrsBroughtonishere。’ThenMrsBroughtonhadenteredtheroom。Sheseemedtobequitecheerful，butDalrympleperfectlyunderstood，fromaspecialglancewhichshegavetohim，thathewastoperceivethathercheerfulnesswasassumedforClara’sbenefit。MrsBroughtonwasshowinghowgreataheroineshecouldbeonbehalfofherfriends。’Now，mydear，’shesaid，’dorememberthatthisisthelastday。Itmaybeverywell，Conway，and，ofcourse，youknowbest；butasfarasIcansee，youhavenotmadehalfasmuchprogressasyououghttohavedone。’’Weshalldoexcellentlywell，’saidDalrymple。’Somuchthebetter，’saidMrsBroughton；’andnow，Clara，I’llplaceyou。’AndsoClarawasplacedonherknees，withtheturbanonherhead。
Dalrymplebeganhisworkassiduously，knowingthatMrsBroughtonwouldnotleavetheroomforsomeminutes。Itwascertainthatshewouldremainforaquarterofanhour，anditmightbeaswellthatheshouldreallyusethattimeonthepicture。Thepeculiarpositioninwhichhewasplacedprobablymadehisworddifficulttohim。TherewassomethingperplexinginthenecessitywhichboundhimtolookupontheyoungladybeforehimbothasJaelandasthefutureMrsConwayDalrymple，knowingashedidthatshewasatpresentsimplyClaraVanSiever。Adoublepersonificationwasnotdifficulttohim。Hehadencountereditwitheverymodelthathadsattohim，andwitheveryyoungladyhehadattemptedtowin——ifhehadevermadesuchanattemptwithonebefore。
Butthetriplecharacterjoinedtothenecessityofthedoublework，wasdistressingtohim。’Thehandalittlefurtherback，ifyoudon’tmind，’
hesaid，’andthewristmoreturnedtowardsme。Thatisjustit。Leanalittlemoreoverhim。There——thatwilldoexactly。’IfMrsBroughtondidnotgoveryquickly，hemustbegintoaddresshismodelonatotallydifferentsubject，evenwhileshewasintheactofslayingSisera。
’HaveyoumadeupyourmindwhoistobeSisera？’askedMrsBroughton。
’Notintheleast，’saidClara，speakingwithoutmovingherface——almostwithoutmovingherlips。
’Thatwillbeexcellent，’saidMrsBroughton。Shewasstillquitecheerful，andreallylaughedasshespoke。’Shallyouliketheidea，Clara，ofstrikingthenailrightthroughhishead？’
’Oh，yes；aswellashishead’sasanother’s。Ishallseemtobehavingmyrevengeforallthetroublehehasgivenme。’
Therewasaslightpause，andthenDalrymplespoke。’Youhavehadthatalready，instrikingmerightthroughtheheart。’
’Whataveryprettyspeech！Wasitnot，mydear？’saidMrsBroughton。
AndthenMrsBroughtonlaughed。TherewassomethingslightlyhystericalinherlaughwhichgratedonDalrymple’sears——somethingwhichseemedtotellhimthatatthepresentmomenthisdearfriendwasnotgoingtoassisthimhonestlyinhiseffort。
’OnlythatIshouldputhimout，Iwouldgetupandmakeacurtsey，’
saidClara。Noyoungladycouldevertalkofmakingacurtseyforsuchaspeechifshesupposedittohavebeenmadeinearnestness。AndClara，nodoubt，understoodthatamanmightmakeahundredsuchspeechesinthepresenceofathirdpersonwithoutanydangerthattheywouldbetakenasmeaninganything。AllthisDalrympleknew，andbegantothinkthathehadbetterputdownhispaletteandbrush，anddotheworkwhichhehadbeforehiminthemostprosaiclanguagethathecoulduse。Hecould，atanyrate，succeedinmakingClaraacknowledgehisintentioninthisway。Hewaitedstillforaminuteortwo，anditseemedtohimthatMrsBroughtonhadnointentionofpilingherfagotsonthepresentoccasion。Itmightbethattheremembranceofherhusband’sruinpreventedherfromsacrificingherselfintheotherdirectionalso。
’Iamnotverygoodatprettyspeeches，butIamgoodattellingthetruth，’saidDalrymple。
’Ha，ha，ha！’laughedMrsBroughton，stillwithatouchofhystericalactioninherthroat。’Uponmyword，Conway，youknowhowtopraiseyourself。’
’Hedispraiseshimselfmostunnecessarilyindenyingtheprettinessofhislanguage，’saidClara。Asshespokeshehardlymovedherlips，andDalrymplewentonpaintingfromthemodel。ItwasclearthatMissVanSieverunderstoodthatthepainting，andnottheprettyspeeches，wastheimportantbusinessonhand。
MrsBroughtonhadnowtuckedherfeetuponthesofa，andwasgazingattheartistashestoodathiswork。Dalrymple，rememberinghowhehadofferedherhispurse——anofferwhich，intheexistingcrisisofheraffairs，mightmeanagreatdeal——feltthatshewasill—natured。Hadsheintendedtodohimagoodturn，shewouldhavegonenow；butthereshelay，withherfeettuckedup，clearlyproposingtobepresentthroughthewholeofthemorning’ssitting。Hisangeragainstheraddedsomethingtohisspirit，andmadehimdeterminethathewouldcarryouthispurpose。Suddenly，therefore，hepreparedhimselfforaction。
HewasinthehabitofworkingwithaTurkishcaponhishead，andwithashortaprontiedroundhim。Therewassomethingpicturesqueaboutthecap，whichmightnothavebeenincongruouswithlove—making。ItiseasytosupposethatJuanworeaTurkishcapwhenhesatwithHaideeinLambro’sisland。Butwemaybequitesurethathedidnotwearanapron。
NowDalrymplehadthoughtofallthis，andhadmadeuphismindtoworktodaywithouthisapron；butwhenarranginghiseaselandhisbrushes，hehadputitonfromtheforceofhabit，andwasnowdisgustedwithhimselfasherememberedit。Heputdownhisbrush，divestedhisthumbofhispalette，thentookoffhiscap，andafterthatuntiedtheapron。
’Conway，whatareyougoingtodo？’saidMrsBroughton。
’IamgoingtoaskClaraVanSievertobemywife，’saidDalrymple。Atthatmomentthedoorwasopened，andMrsVanSieverenteredtheroom。
ClarahadnotrisenfromherkneelingposturewhenDalrymplebegantoputoffhistrappings。ShehadnotseenwhathewasdoingasplainlyasMrsBroughtonhaddone，havingherattentionnaturallydrawntowardsheSisera；and，besidesthis，sheunderstoodthatshewastoremainasshewasplacedtillorderstomoveweregiventoher。Dalrymplewouldoccasionallystepasidefromhiseaseltolookatherinsomealteredlight，andsuchoccasionsshewouldsimplyholdherhammersomewhatmoretightlythanbefore。When，therefore，MrsVanSieverenteredtheroomClarawasstillslayingSisera，inspiteoftheartist’sspeech。thespeech，indeed，andhermotherbothseemedtocometoheratthesametime。Theoldwomanstoodforamomentholdingtheopendoorinherhand。’Youfool！’shesaid，’whatareyoudoingthere，dressedupinthatwaylikeaguy？’ThenClaragotupfromherfeetandstoodbeforehermotherinJael’sdressandJael’sturban。Dalrymplethoughtthatthedressandturbandidnotbecomeherbadly。MrsVanSieverapparentlythoughtotherwise。’Willyouhavethegoodnesstotellme，miss，whyyouaredressedupafterthatMadBessofBedlamfashion？’
ThereaderwillnodoubtbearinmindthatClarahadotherwordsofwhichtothinkbesidesthosewhichwereaddressedtoherbyhermother。
Dalrymplehadaskedhertobehiswifeintheplainestlanguage，andshethoughtthattheveryplainnessofthelanguagebecamehimwell。Theverytakingoffofhisapron，almostashesaidthewords，thoughtohimselftheactionhadbeensodistressingasalmosttoovercomehispurpose，hadinitsomethingtoherofdirectsimpledeterminationwhichpleasedher。Whenhehadspokenofhavinganaildrivenbyherrightthroughhisheart，shehadnotbeenintheleastgratified；bythetakingoffoftheapron，andtheputtingdownofthepalette，andthedownrightwayinwhichhehadcalledherClaraVanSiever——attemptingtobeneithersentimentalwithClara，norpolitewithMissVanSiever——didpleaseher。Shehadoftensaidtoherselfthatshewouldnevergiveaplainanswertoamanwhodidnotaskheraplainquestion；——toamanwho，inaskingthisquestion，didnotsayplainlytoher，’ClaraVanSiever，willyoubecomeMrsJones？’——orMrsSmith，orMrsTomkins，asthecasemightbe。NowConwayDalrymplehadaskedhertobecomeMrsDalrympleverymuchafterthisfashion。Inspiteoftheapparitionofhermother，allthishadpassedthroughhermind。Nottheless，however，wassheobligedtoanswerhermother，beforeshecouldgiveanyreplytotheotherquestioner。InthemeantimeMrsDobbsBroughtonhaduntuckedherfeet。
’Mamma，’saidClara，’whoeverexpectedtoseeyouhere？’
’Idaresaynobodydid，’saidMrsVanSiever；’buthereIam，nevertheless。’
’Madam，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton，’youmightatanyratehavegonethroughtheceremonyofhavingyourselfannouncedbytheservant。’
’Madam，’saidtheoldwomanattemptingtomimicthetoneoftheother，’IthoughtthatonsuchaveryparticularoccasionasthisImightbeallowedtoannouncemyself。Youtomfool，youwhydon’tyoutakethatturbanoff？’ThenClara，withslowandgracefulmotion，unwoundtheturban。IfDalrymplereallymeantwhathehadsaidandwouldsticktoit，sheneednotmindbeingcalledatomfoolbyhermother。
’Conway，Iamafraidthatourlastsittingisdisturbed，’saidMrsBroughton，withherlittlelaugh。
’Conway’slastsittingiscertainlydisturbed，’saidMrsVanSiever，andthenshemimickedthelaugh。’Andyou’llallbedisturbed——Icantellyouthat。Whatanassyoumustbetogoonwiththiskindofthing，afterwhatIsaidtoyouyesterday！DoyouknowthathegotbeastlydrunkintheCitylastnight，andthatheisdrunknow，whileyouaregoingonwithyourtomfooleries？’UponhearingthisMrsDobbsBroughtonfaintedinDalrymple’sarms。
Hithertotheartisthadnotsaidaword，andhadhardlyknownwhatpartinitwouldbestbecomehimtoplay。IfheintendedtomarryClara——andhecertainlydidintendtomarryherifshewouldhavehim——itmightbeaswellnottoquarrelwithMrsVanSiever。AtanyratetherewasnothinginMrsVanSiever’sintrusion，disagreeablethatitwas，whichneedmakehimtakeuphisswordtodobattlewithher。Butnow，asheheldMrsBroughtoninhisarms，andasthehorridwordswhichtheoldwomanhadspokenrunginhisears，hecouldnotrefrainhimselfformutteringreproach。’Yououghtnottohavetoldherinthisway，beforeotherpeople，evenifitbetrue，’saidConway。
’LeavemetobemyownjudgeofwhatIoughttodo，ifyouplease，sir。
Ifshehadanyfeelingatall，whatItoldheryesterdaywouldhavekeptherfromallthis。Butsomepeoplehavenofeeling，andwillgoonbeingtomfoolsthoughthehouseisonfire。’Asthesewordswerespoken，MrsBroughtonfaintedmorepersistentlythanever——sothatDalrymplewasconvincedthatwhethershefeltornot，atanyratesheheard。Hehadnowdraggedheracrosstheroom，andlaidheruponthesofa，andClarahadcometoherassistance。’IdaresayyouthinkmeveryhardbecauseI
speakplainly，buttherearethingsmuchharderthanplainspeaking。Howmuchdoyouexpecttobepaid，sir，forthispictureofmygirl？’
’Idonotexpecttobepaidforitatall，’saidDalrymple。
’Andwhoisittobelongto？’
’Itbelongstomeatpresent。’
’Then，sir，itmustn’tbelongtoyouanylonger。Itwon’tdoforyoutohaveapictureofmygirltohangupinyourpainting—roomforallyourfriendstocomeandmaketheirjokesabout，noryettomakeashowofitinanyofyourexhibitions。Mydaughterhasbeenafool，andIcan’thelpit。Ifyou’lltellmewhat’sthecost，I’llpayyou；thenI’llhavethepicturehome，andI’lltreatitasitdeserves。’
DalrymplethoughtforamomentabouthispictureandaboutMrsVanSiever。Whathadhebetterdo？Hewantedtobehavewell，andhefeltthattheoldwomanhadsomethingofjusticeonherside。’Madam，’hesaid，’Iwillnotsellthispicture；butitshallbedestroyed，ifyouwishit。’
’Icertainlydowishit，butIwon’ttrustyou。Ifit’snotsenttomyhouseatonceyou’llhearfrommethroughmylawyers。’
ThenDalrympledeliberatelyopenedhispenknifeandslitthecanvasacross，throughthemiddleofthepictureeachway。Clara，asshesawhimdoit，feltthatintruththatshelovedhim。’There，MrsVanSiever，’hesaid；’nowyoucantakethebitshomewithyouinyourbasketifyouwishit。’Atthismoment，astherentcanvasfellandfluttereduponthestretcher，therecamealoudvoiceoflamentationfromthesofa，agroanofdespairandashriekofwrath。’Veryfineindeed，’saidMrsVanSiever。’Whenladiesfainttheyalwaysoughttohavetheireyesaboutthem。IseethatMrsBroughtonunderstandsthat。’
’Takeheraway，Conway——forGod’ssaketakeheraway，’saidMrsBroughton。
’Ishalltakemyselfawayveryshortly，’saidMrsVanSiever，’soyouneedn’ttroubleMrConwayaboutthat。NotbutthatIthoughtthegentleman’snamewassomethingelse。’
’MynameisConwayDalrymple，’saidtheartist。
’ThenIsupposeyoumustbeherbrother，orhercousin，orsomething。’
’Takeheraway，’screamedMrsDobbsBroughton。
’Waitamoment，madam。Asyou’vechoppedupyourhandiworkthere，MrConwayDalrymple，andasIsupposemydaughterhasbeenmoretoblamethananybodyelse——’