MrThumblescrambledintothereading—desksometenminutesafterthepropertime，andwentthroughthemorningserviceunder，whatmustbeadmittedtobe，seriousdifficulties。ThereweretheeyesofMrCrawleyfixeduponhimthroughoutthework，andafeelingpervadedhimthateverybodythereregardedhimasanintruder。AtfirstthiswassostronguponhimthatMrCrawleypitiedhim，andwouldhaveencouragedhimhaditbeenpossible。Butastheworkprogressed，andascustomandthesoundofhisownvoiceemboldenedhim，therecametothemansometouchesofthearrogancewhichsogenerallyaccompaniescowardice，andMrCrawley’sacuteeardetectedthemomentwhenitwasso。Anobservermighthaveseenthatthemotionofhishandswasalteredastheywereliftedinprayer。Thoughhewaspraying，eveninprayerhecouldnotforgetthemanwhowasoccupyingthedesk。
Thencamethesermon，preachedveryoftenbefore，lastingexactlyhalf—an—hour，andthenMrThumble’sworkwasdone。Itinerantclergymen，whopreachnowhereandnowthere，asithadbeenthelotofMrThumbletodo，haveatanyratethisrelief——thattheycanpreachtheirsermonsoften。Fromthecommunion—tableMrThumblehadstatedthat，inthepresentpeculiarcircumstancesoftheparish，therewouldbenosecondserviceatHogglestockforthepresent；andthiswasallhesaidordidpeculiartotheoccasion。Themomentoftheservicewasoverandhegotintohisgig，andwasdrivenbacktoBarchester。
’Mamma，’saidJane，astheysatatdinner，’suchasermonIamsurewasneverheardinHogglestockbefore。Indeed，youcanhardlycallitasermon。Itwasdownrightnonsense。’
’Mydear，’saidMrCrawleyenergetically，’keepyourcriticismsformattersthatareprofane；then，thoughtheybechildishandsilly，theymayatleastbeinnocent。BecriticalofEurypides，ifyoumustbecritical。’ButwhenJanekissedherfatherafterdinner，she，knowinghishumourwell，feltassuredthatherremarkshadnotbeentakenaltogetherinillpart。
MrThumblewasneitherseennorheardofagainintheparishduringtheentireweek。
CHAPTERLXX
MRSARABINISCAUGHT
OnemorningaboutthemiddleofAprilMrToogoodreceivedatelegramfromVenicewhichcausedhiminstantlytoleavehisbusinessinBedfordRowandtakethefirsttrainforSilverbridge。’Itseemstomethatthisjobwillbeadealoftimeandverylittlemoney，’saidhispartnertohim，whenToogoodonthespurofthemomentwasmakingarrangementsforhissuddendepartureanduncertainperiodofabsence。’That’saboutit，’
saidToogood。’Adealoftime，someexpense，andnoreturns。Itisnotthekindofbusinessamancanliveupon，isit？’Thepartnergrowled，andToogoodwent。ButwemustgowithMrToogooddowntoSilverbridge，andaswecannotmakethejourneyinthischapter，wewilljustindicatehisdepartureandthengobacktoJohnEames，who，aswillberemembered，wasjuststartingforFlorencewhenwelastsawhim。
OurdearoldfriendJohnnyhadbeenratherproudofhimselfashestartedfromLondon。HehadgottenanabsolutevictoryoverSirRaffleBuffle，andthatalonewasgratifyingtohisfeelings。Helikedtheexcitementofajourney，andespeciallyajourneytoItaly；andtheimportanceofthecauseofhisjourneywassatisfactorytohim。ButaboveallthingshewasdelightedathavingfoundthatLilyDalewaspleasedathisgoing。Hehadseenclearlythatshewasmuchpleased，andthatshehadmadesomethingofaheroofhimbecauseofhisalacrityinthecauseofhiscousin。Hehadpartiallyunderstood——andhadunderstoodinadimsortofway——thathiswantoffavourinLily’seyeshadcomefromsomedeficiencyofhisowninthisrespect。Shehadnotfoundhimtobeahero。Shehadknownhimfirstasaboy，withboyishbelongingsaroundhim，andshehadseenhimfromtimetotimeashebecameaman，almostwithtoomuchintimacyforthecreationofthatlovewithwhichhewishedtofillherheart。HisrivalhadcomebeforehereyesforthefirsttimewithallthegloriesofPallMallheroismabouthim，andLilyinherweaknesshadbeenconqueredbythem。Sincethatshehadlearnedhowweakshehadbeen——howsilly，howchildish，shewouldsaytoherselfwhensheallowedhermemorytogobacktothedetailsofherownstory；
butnotthelessonthataccountdidshefeelthewantofsomethingheroicinamanbeforeshecouldteachherselftolookuponhimasmoreworthyofherregardthanothermen。ShehadstillunconsciouslyhopedinregardtoCrosbie，butnowthathopehadbeendispelledasunconsciously，bysimplybyhisappearance。TherehadbeenmomentsinwhichJohnEameshadalmostrisentothenecessarypoint——hadalmostmadegoodhisfootingonthetopofsomemoderate，butstillsufficientmountain。Buttherehadstillbeasuccessionoflittletumbles——unfortunatelyslipsforwhichhehimselfshouldnotalwayshavebeenheldresponsible；andhehadneverquitestooduprightonhispinnacle，visibletoLily’seyesasbeingreallyexcelsior。OfallthisJohnEameshimselfhadaninklingwhichhadoftenmadehimuncomfortable。Whatthemischiefwasitshewantedofhim；andwhatwashetodo？Thedaysforpluckinggloryfromthenettledangerwerecleangoneby。Hewaswelldressed。Heknewagoodmanyoftherightsortofpeople。Hewasnotindebt。Hehadsavedanoldnobleman’slifeonceuponatime，andhadbeenagooddealtalkedaboutonthatscore。Hehadeventhrashedthemanwhohadill—treatedher。HisconstancyhadbeenastheconstancyofJacob！
Whatwasitthatshewantedofhim？Butinacertainwayhedidknowwhatwaswanted；andnow，ashestartedforFlorence，intendingtostopnowheretillhereachedthatcity，hehopedthatbythischivalrousjourneyhemightevenyetachievethethingnecessary。
ButonreachingParisheheardtidingsofMrsArabinwhichinducedhimtochangehisplansandmakeforVeniceinsteadofforFlorence。A
bankeratParis，whowhomhehadbroughtaletter，toldhimthatMrsArabinwouldnowbefoundatVenice。Thisdidnotperplexhimatall。ItwouldhavebeendelightfultohaveseenFlorence——butwasmoredelightfulstilltoseeVenice。HisjourneywasthesameasfarasTurin；butfromTurinheproceededthroughMilantoVenice，insteadofgoingtoBolognatoFlorence。HehadfortunatelycomearmedwithanAustrianpassport——aswasnecessaryinthosebygonedaysofVenice’sthraldom。Hewasalmostproudofhimself，asthoughhehaddonesomethinggreat，whenhetumbledintohisinnatVenice，withouthavingbeeninbedsinceheleftLondon。
Buthewasbarelyallowedtoswiminagondola，foronreachingVenicehefoundthatMrsArabinhadgonebacktoFlorence。HehadbeendirectedtothehotelwhichMrsArabinhadused，andwastheretoldthatshehadstartedthedaybefore。Shehadreceivedsomeletter，fromherhusbandasthelandlordthought，andhaddoneso。Thatwasallthelandlordknew。Johnnywasvexed，butbecamealittleprouderthanbeforeashefeltittobehisdutytogoontoFlorencebeforehewenttobed。Therewouldbeanothernightinarailwaycarriage，buthewouldlivethroughit。Therewasjusttimetohaveatub，andabreakfast，toswiminagondola，tolookattheoutsideoftheDoge’spalace，andtowalkupanddownthepiazzabeforehestartedagain。Itwashardwork，butIthinkhewouldhavebeenpleasedhadheheardthatMrsArabinhadretreatedfromFlorencetoRome。Hadsuchbeenthecase，hewouldhavefoldedhiscloakaroundhim，andhavegoneon——regardlessofbrigands——thinkingofLily，andwonderingwhetheranybodyelsehadeverdonesomuchbeforewithoutgoingtobed。Asitwas，hefoundthatMrsArabinwasatthehotelinFlorence——stillinbed，ashehadarrivedearlyinthemorning。
Sohehadanothertub，anotherbreakfast，andsentuphiscard——’MrJohnEames’——andacrossthetopofithewrote，’hascomefromEnglandaboutMrCrawley。’Thenhethrewhimselfonasofainthehotelreading—room，andwentfasttosleep。
Johnhadfoundanopportunityoftalkingtoayoungladyinthebreakfast—room，andhadtoldherofhisdeeds。’IonlyleftLondononTuesdaynight，andIhavecomeheretakingVeniceontheroad。’
’Thenyouhavetravelledfast，’saidtheyounglady。
’Ihaven’tseenabed，ofcourse，’saidJohn。
Theyoungladyimmediatelyafterwardstoldherfather。’IsupposehemustbeoneoftheForeignOfficemessengers，’saidtheyounglady。
’Anythingbutthat，’saidthegentleman。’Peoplenevertalkabouttheirowntrades。He’sprobablyaclerkwithafortnight’sleaveofabsence，seeinghowmanytownshecandointhetime。It’stheusualwayoftravellingnowadays。WhenIwasyoungandtherewerenorailways，I
remembergoingfromParistoViennawithoutsleeping。’Luckilyforhispresenthappiness，Johndidnothearthis。
HewasstillfastasleepwhenaservantcametohimfromMrsArabintosaythatshewouldseehimatonce。’Yes，yes；I’mquitereadytogoon，’saidJohnny，jumpingup，andthinkingofthejourneytoRome。ButtherewasnojourneytoRomebeforehim。MrsArabinwasalmostinthenextroom，andtherehefoundher。
Thereaderwillunderstandthattheyhadnevermetbefore，andhithertoknewnothingofeachother。MrsArabinhadneverheardthenameofJohnEamestillJohn’scardwasputintoherhands，andwouldnothaveknownofhisbusinesswithherhadhenotwrittenthosefewwordsuponit。
’YouhavecomeaboutMrCrawley？’shesaidtohimeagerly。’Ihaveheardfrommyfatherthatsomebodywascoming。’
’Yes，MrsArabin；ashardasIcouldtravel。IhadexpectedtofindyouatVenice。’
’HaveyoubeentoVenice？’
’IhavejustarrivedfromVenice。TheytoldmeatParisIshouldfindyouhere。However，thatdoesnotmatter，asIhavefoundyouhere。I
wonderwhetheryoucanhelpus？’
’DoyouknowMrCrawley？Areyouafriendofhis？’
’Ineversawhiminmylife；buthemarriedmycousin。’
’Igavehimthecheque，youknow，’saidMrsArabin。
’What！’exclaimedEames，literallyalmostknockedbackwardsbytheeasinessofthewordswhichcontainedasolutionforsoterribleadifficulty。TheCrawleycasehadassumedsuchmagnitude，andthetroublesoftheCrawleyfamilyhadbeensoterrible，thatitseemedtohimtobealmostsacrilegiousthatwordssosimplyutteredshouldsufficetocureeverything。Hehadhardlyhoped——hadatleastbarelyhoped——thatMrsArabinmightbeabletosuggestsomethingwhichwouldputthemallonatracktowardsthediscoveryofthetruth。Buthefoundthatshehadtheclueinherhand，andthatthecluewasonewhichrequirednofurtherdelicacyofinvestigation。Therewouldbenothingmoretounravel；nojourneytoJerusalemwouldbenecessary！
’Yes，’saidMrsArabin，’Igaveittohim。Theyhavebeenwritingtomyhusbandaboutit，andneverwrotetome；andtillIreceivedaletteraboutitfrommyfather，andanotherfrommysister，atVenicethedaybeforeyesterday，IknewnothingoftheparticularsofMrCrawley’strouble。’
’Hadyounotheardthathehadbeentakenbeforethemagistrates？’
’No；notsomuchevenasthat。Ihadseenin"Galignani"somethingaboutaclergyman，butIdidnotknowwhatclergyman；andIheardthattherewassomethingwrongaboutMrCrawley’smoney，buttherehasalwaysbeensomethingwrongaboutmoneywithpoorMrCrawley；andasIknewthatmyhusbandhadbeenwrittentoalso，Ididnotinterfere，furtherthantoasktheparticulars。Mylettershavefollowedmeabout，andI
onlyheardatVenice，justbeforeIcamehere，whatwasthenatureofthecase。’
’Anddidyoudoanything？’
’ItelegraphedatoncetoMrToogood，whoIunderstandisactingasMrCrawley’ssolicitor。Mysistersentmehisaddress。’
’Heismyuncle。’
’Itelegraphedtohim，tellinghimthatIhadgivenMrCrawleythecheque，andthenIwrotetoArchdeaconGrantlygivinghimthewholehistory。IwasobligedtocomeherebeforeIcouldreturnhome，butI
intendedtostartthisevening。’
’Andwhatisthewholehistory？’askedJohnEames。
Thehistoryofthegiftofthechequewasverysimple。IthasbeentoldhowMrCrawleyinhisdiredistresshadcalleduponhisoldfriendatthedeaneryaskingforpecuniaryassistance。Thishehaddonewithsomuchreluctancethathisspirithadgivenwaywhilehewaswaitinginthedean’slibrary，andhehadwishedtodepartwithoutacceptingwhatthedeanwasquitewillingtobestowuponhim。Fromthiscauseithadcometopasstherehadbeennotimeforexplanatorywords，evenbetweenthedeanandhiswife——fromwhoseprivatefundshadintruthcomethemoneywhichhadbeengiventoMrCrawley。FortheprivatewealthofthefamilybelongedtoMrsArabin，andnottothedean；andwasleftentirelyinMrsArabin’shands，tobedisposedofasshemightplease。
PreviouslytoMrCrawley’sarrivalatthedeanerythismatterhadbeendiscussedbetweenthedeanandhiswife，andithadbeenagreedbetweenthemthatasumoffiftypoundsshouldbegiven。ItshouldbegivenbyMrsArabin，butitwasthoughtthatthegiftwouldcomewithmorecomforttotherecipientfromthehandsofhisoldfriendthanfromthoseofhiswife。Therehadbeenmuchdiscussionbetweenthemastothemodeinwhichthismightbedonewiththeleastoffencetotheman’sfeelings——fortheyknewMrCrawleyandhispeculiaritieswell。Atlastitwasagreedthatthenotesshouldbeputintoanenvelope，whichenvelopethedeanshouldhavereadywithhim。Butwhenthemomentcamethedeandidnothavetheenvelopeready，andwasobligedtoleavetheroomtoseekhiswife。AndMrsArabinexplainedtoJohnEamesthatevenshehadnothaditready，andhadbeenforcedtogotoherowndesktofetchit。Then，atthelastmoment，withthedesireofincreasingthegoodtobedonetopeoplewhoweresoterriblyinwant，sheputthechequefortwentypounds，whichwasinherpossessionasmoneyofherown，alongwiththenotes，andinthiswaythechequehadbeengivenbythedeantoMrCrawley。’Ishallneverforgivemyselffornottellingthedean，’shesaid。’HadIdonethatallthistroublewouldhavebeensaved。’
’Butwheredidyougetthecheque？’Eamesaskedwithnaturalcuriosity。
’Exactly，’saidMrsArabin。’IhavegottoshownowthatIdidnotstealit——haveInot？MrSoameswillindictmenow。And，indeed，Ihavehadsometroubletorefreshmymemoryastoalltheparticulars，foryouseeitismorethanayearpast。’ButMrsArabin’smindwascleareronsuchmattersthanMrCrawley’s，andshewasabletoexplainthatshehadtakenthechequeaspartoftherentduetoherfromthelandlordof’TheDragonofWantly’，whichinnwasherproperty，havingbeenthepropertyofherfirsthusband。Forsomeyearspasttherehadbeenadifficultyabouttherent，thingsnothavinggoneat’TheDragonofWantly’assmoothlyastheyhadusedtogo。Atoncetimethemoneyhadbeenpaidhalf—yearlybythelandlord’schequeonthebankofBarchester。Forthelastyear—and—a—halfthishadnotbeendone，andthemoneyhadcomeintoMrsArabin’shandsatirregularperiodsandinirregularsums。Therewasatthismomentrentduefortwelvemonths，andMrsArabinexpressedherdoubtwhethershewouldgetitonherreturntoBarchester。Ontheoccasiontowhichshewasnowalluding，themoneyhadbeenpaidintoherownhands，inthedeanerybreakfast—parlour，byamansheknewverywell——notthelandlordhimself，butonebearingthelandlord’sname，whomshebelievedtothelandlord’sbrother，oratleasthiscousin。ThemaninquestionwasnamedDanielStringer，andhehadbeenemployedin’TheDragonofWantly’，asasortofclerkormanagingman，aslongasshehadknownit。TherenthadbeenpaidtoherbyDanielStringerquiteasoftenasbyDaniel’sbrotherorcousin，JohnStringer，whowas，intruth，thelandlordofthehotel。WhenquestionedbyJohnrespectingthepersonsemployedattheinn，shesaidthatshedidbelievethattherehadbeenrumoursofsomethingwrong。ThehousehadbeeninthehandsoftheStringersformanyyears——beforethepropertyhadbeenpurchasedbyherhusband’sfather——andthereforehadbeenanunwillingnesstoremovethem；butgradually，soshesaid，therehadcomeuponherandherhusbandafeelingthatthehousemustbeputintootherhands。’Yes，Isaidagooddealaboutit。IaskedwhyachequeofMrSoames’swasbroughttome，insteadofbeingtakentothebankformoney；andStringerexplainedtomethattheywerenotveryfondofgoingtothebank，astheyowedmoneythere，butthatIcouldpayitintomyaccount。OnlyIkeptmyaccountattheotherbank。’
’Youmighthavepaiditinthere？’saidJohnny。
’IsupposeImight，butIdidn’t。IgaveittopoorMrCrawleyinstead——likeafool，asIknownowthatIwas。AndsoIhavebroughtallthistroubleonhimandonher；andnowImustrushhome，withoutwaitingforthedean，asfastasthetrainswillcarryme。’
Eamesofferedtoaccompanyher，andthisofferwasaccepted。’Itisharduponyou，though，’shesaid；’youwillseenothingofFlorence。
ThreehoursinVenice，andsixinFlorence，andnohoursatallanywhereelse，willbeahardfatetoyouonyourfirsttriptoItaly。’ButJohnnysaid’Exelsior’tohimselfoncemore，andthoughtofLilyDale，whowasstillinLondon，hopingthatshemighthearofhisexertions；
andhefelt，perhaps，also，thatitwouldbepleasanttoreturnwithadean’swife，andneverhesitated。Norwoulditdo，hethought，forhimtobeabsentintheexcitementcausedbythenewsofMrCrawley’sinnocenceandinjuries。’Idon’tcareabitaboutthat，’hesaid。’Ofcourse，IshouldliketoseeFlorence，and，ofcourse，Ishouldliketogotobed；butIwillliveinhopesthatImaydobothsomeday。’AndsotheregrewtobeafriendshipbetweenhimandMrsArabinevenbeforetheystarted。
HehaddriventhroughFlorence；hesawtheVenusde’Medici，andhesawtheSeggolia；helookedupfromthesideoftheDuomotothetopoftheCampanile，andhewalkedroundthebackofthecathedralitself；hetriedtoinspectthedoorsoftheBaptistry，anddeclaredthatthe’David’wasveryfine。Thenhewentbacktothehotel，dinedwithMrsArabin，andstartedforEngland。
ThedeanwastohavejoinedhiswifeatVenice，andthentheyweretohavereturnedtogether，comingroundbyFlorence。MrsArabinhadnot，therefore，takenherthingsawayfromFlorencewhensheleftit，andhadbeenobligedtoreturntopickthemuponherjourneyhomewards。He——thedean——hadbeendelayedinhisEasterntravels。NeitherSyriaorConstantinoplehadgotthemselvesdoneasquicklyashehadexpected，andhehad，consequently，twicewrittentohiswife，begginghertopardonthetransgressionofhisabsenceforevenyetafewdayslonger。
’Everything，therefore，’asMrsArabinsaid，’hasconspiredtoperpetuatethismystery，whichawordfrommewouldhavesolved。IowemoretoMrCrawleythanIcaneverpayhim。’
’Hewillbeverywellpaid，Ithink，’saidJohn，’whenhehearsthetruth。Ifyoucouldseetheinsideofhismindatthismoment，I’msureyou’dfindthathethinkshestolethecheque。’
’Hecannotthinkthat，MrEames。Besides，atthismomentIhopehehasheardthetruth。’
’Thatmaybe，buthedidthinkso。Idobelievethathehadnottheslightestnotionwherehegotit；and，whichismore，notasinglepersoninthewholecountyhadanotion。Peoplethoughtthathehadpickeditup，anduseditinhisdespair。Andthebishophasbeensoharduponhim。’
’Oh，MrEames，thatistheworstofall。’
’SoIamtold。Thebishophasawife，Ibelieve。’
’Yes，hehasawife，certainly，’saidMrsArabin。
’Andpeoplesaythatsheisnotverygood—natured。’
’TherearesomeofusatBarchesterwhodonotloveherverydearly。I
cannotsaythatsheisoneofmyownespecialfriends。’
’IbelieveshehasbeenveryhardonMrCrawley，’saidJohnEames。
’Ishouldnotbeintheleastsurprised，’saidMrsArabin。
ThentheyreachedTurin，andthere，takingup’Galignani’sMessenger’inthereading—roomofTrompetta’sHotel，JohnEamessawthatMrsProudiewasdead。’Lookatthat，’saidhe，takingtheparagraphtoMrsArabin；
’MrsProudieisdead！’’MrsProudiedead！’sheexclaimed。’Poorwoman！
ThentherewillbepeaceatBarchester！’’Ineverknewherveryintimately，’sheafterwardssaidtohercompanion，’andIdonotknowthatIhavearighttosaythatsheeverdidmeaninjury。ButI
rememberwellherfirstcomingintoBarchester。Mysister’sfather—in—law，thelatebishop，wasjustdead。Hewasamild，kind，dearoldman，whommyfatherlovedbeyondalltheworld，excepthisownchildren。Youmaysupposewewereallalittlesad。Iwasnotspeciallyconnectedwiththecathedralthen，exceptthroughmyfather’——andMrsArabin，asshetoldallthis，rememberedthatinthedaysofwhichshewasspeakingshewasayoungmourningwidow——’butIthinkIcanneverforgetthesortofharsh—tonedpaeanoflow—churchtrumpetswithwhichthatpoorwomanmadeherentryintothecity。Shemighthavebeenmorelenient，aswehadneversinnedbybeingveryhigh。Shemight，atanyrate，havebeenmoregentlewithusatfirst。Ithinkwehadneverattemptedmuchbeyonddecency，good—willandcomfort。Ourcomfortsheutterlydestroyed。Good—willwasnottohertaste。Andasfordecency，whenIremembersomethings，Imustsaythatwhenthecomfortandgood—willwent，thedecencywentalongwiththem。Andnowsheisdead！I
wonderhowthebishopwillgetonwithouther。’
’Likeahouseinfire，Ishouldthink，’saidJohnny。
’Fie，MrEames；youshouldn’tspeakinsuchawayonsuchasubject。’
MrsArabinandJohnnybecamefastfriendsastheyjourneyedhome。Therewasasweetnessinhischaracterwhichendearedhimreadilytowomen；
though，aswehaveseen，therewasawantofsomethingtomakeonewomanclingtohim。Hecouldbesoftandpleasant—mannered。Hewasfondofmakinghimselfuseful，andwasaperfectmasterofallthoselittlecaressingmodesofbehaviourinwhichthecaressisquiteimpalpable，andofwhichmostwomenknowthevalueandappreciatethecomfort。BythetimethattheyhadreachedParisJohnhadtoldthewholestoryofLilyDaleandCrosbie，andMrsArabinhadpromisedtoassisthim，ifanyassistancemightbeinherpower。
’OfcourseIhaveheardofLilyDale，’shesaid，’becauseweknowtheDeCourcys。’Thensheturnedawayherface，almostblushing，assherememberedthefirsttimethatshehadseenthatLadyAlexandrinaDeCourcywhomMrCrosbiehadmarried。IthadbeenatMrThorne’shouseatUllathorne，andonthatdayshehaddoneathingwhichshehadneversincerememberedwithoutblushing。Butitwasanoldstorynow，andastoryofwhichhercompanionknewnothing——ofwhichhenevercouldknowanything。ThatdayatUllathorneMrsArabin，thewifeoftheDeanofBarchester，thanwhomtherewasnomorediscreetclericalmatroninthediocese，had——boxedaclergyman’sears！
’Yes，’saidJohn，speakingofCrosbie，’hewasawisefellow；heknewwhathewasabout；hemarriedanearl’sdaughter。’
’AndnowIrememberhearingthatsomebodygavehimaterriblebeating。
Perhapsitwasyou？’
’Itwasn’tterribleatall，’saidJohnny。
’Thenitwasyou？’
’Oh，yes；itwasI。’
’ThenitwasyouwhosavedpooroldLordDeGuestfromthebull？’
’Goon，MrsArabin。ThereisnoendtothegrandthingsI’vedone。’
’You’requiteaheroofromance。’
Hebithislipashetoldhimselfthathewasnotenoughofahero。’I
don’tknowaboutthat，’saidJohnny。’Ithinkwhatamanoughttodointhesedaysistoseemnottocarewhatheeatsanddrinks，andtohavehislinenverywellgotup。Thenhe’llbeahero。’ButthatwasharduponLily。
’IsthatwhatMissDalerequires？’saidMrsArabin。
’Iwasnotthinkingaboutherparticularly，’saidJohnny，lying。
TheysleptanightatParis，astheyhaddonealsoatTurin——MrsArabinnotfindingherselfabletoaccomplishsuchmarvelsinthewayoftravellingashercompanionhadachieved——andthenarrivedinLondonintheevening。ShewastakentoacertainquietclericalhotelatthetopofSuffolkStreet，muchpatronisedbybishopsanddeansofthebettersort，expectingtofindamessagetherefromherhusband。Andtherewasthemessage——justarrived。ThedeanhadreachedFlorencethreedaysafterherdeparture；andashewoulddothejourneyhomeintwenty—fourhourslessthanshehadtaken，hewouldbethere，atthehotel，onthedayaftertomorrow。’IsupposeImaywaitforhim，MrEames？’saidMrsArabin。
’IwillseeMrToogoodtonight，andIwillcallheretomorrow，whetherI
seehimornot。Atwhathourwillyoubein？’
’Don’ttroubleyourselftodothat。YoumusttakecareofSirRaffleBuffle，youknow。’