’Perhapshethinksheisofferingaremedyforyourmisery。’
Asthiswassaid，Lilyturnedroundslowlyandlookedupintohermother’sface。’Mamma，’shesaid，’thatisverycruel。Ididnotthinkyoucouldbesocruel。Howcanyou，whobelievehimtobesoselfish，thinkthat？’
’Itisveryhardtojudgeofmen’smotives。Ihaveneversupposedhimtobesoblackthathewouldnotwishtomakeatonementfortheevilhehasdone。’
’IfIthoughtthattherecertainlycouldbenoanswer。’
’Whocanlookintoaman’sheartandjudgeallthesourcesofhisactions？Therearemixedfeelingsthere，nodoubt。Remorseforwhathehasdone；regretforwhathehaslost；——something，perhaps，ofthepurityoflove。’
’Yes，something——Ihopesomething——forhissake。’
’Butwhenahorsekicksandbites，youknowhisnatureanddonotgonearhim。Whenamanhascheatedyouonce，youthinkhewillcheatyouagain，andyoudonotdealwithhim。Youdonotlooktogathergrapesfromthistles，afteryouhavefoundthattheyarethistles。’
’IstillgofortherosesthoughIhaveoftentornmyhandwiththornsinlookingforthem。’
’Butyoudonotpluckthosethathavebecomecankeredintheblowing。’
’Becausehewasonceatfault，willhebecankeredalways？’
’Iwouldnottrusthim。’
’Now，mamma，seehowdifferentweare；or，rather，howdifferentitiswhenonejudgesforoneselforanother。Ifitweresimplymyself，andmyownfuturefateinlife，Iwouldtrusthimwithitalltomorrow，withoutaword。Ishouldgotohimasagamblergoestothegaming—table，knowingthatIloseeverything，IcouldhardlybepoorerthanIwasbefore。ButIshouldhaveabetterhopethanthegamblerisjustifiedinhaving。That，however，isnotmydifficulty。AndwhenIthinkofhimI
canseeaprospectforsuccessforthegambler。Ithinksowellofmyselfthat，lovinghim，asIdo；——yes，mamma，donotbeuneasy；——lovinghimasIdo，IbelieveIcouldbeacomforttohim。Ithinkthathemightbebetterwithmethanwithoutme。Thatis，hewouldbeso，ifhecouldteachhimselftolookbackuponthepastasIcando，andtojudgeofmeasIcanjudgeofhim。’
’Hehasnothing，atleast，forwhichtocondemnyou。’
’Buthewouldhave，wereItomarryhimnow。HewouldcondemnmebecauseIhadforgivenhim。HewouldcondemnmebecauseIhadbornewhathehaddonetome，andhadstilllovedhim——lovedhimthroughitall。Hewouldfeelandknowtheweakness——andthereisweakness。Ihavebeenweakinnotbeingabletoridmyselfofhimaltogether。Hewouldrecognisethisafterawhile，andwoulddespisemeforit。Buthewouldnotseewhatthereisofdevotiontohiminmybeingabletobearthetauntsoftheworldingoingbacktohim，andtoyourtaunts，andmyowntaunts。Ishouldhavetobearhisalso——notspokenaloud，buttobeseeninhisfaceandheardinhisvoice——andthatIcouldnotendure。Ifhedespisedme，andhewould，thatwouldmakeusbothunhappy。Therefore，mamma，tellhimnottocome；tellhimthathecannevercome；but，ifitbepossible，tellhimtenderly。’Thenshegotupandwalkedaway，asthoughsheweregoingoutoftheroom，buthermotherhadcaughtherbeforethedoorwasopened。
’Lily，’shesaid，’ifyouthinkyoucanbehappywithhim，heshallcome。’
’No，mamma，no。IhavebeenlookingforthelighteversinceIreadhisletter，andIthinkIseeit。Andnow，mamma，Iwillmakeacleanbreastofit。FromthemomentinwhichIheardthatthatpoorwomanwasdead，I
havebeeninastateofflutter。Ithasbeenweakofme，andsilly，andcontemptible。ButIcouldnothelpit。Ikeptonaskingmyselfwhetherhewouldeverthinkofmenow。Well；hehasansweredthequestion；andhassodoneitthathehasforceduponmethenecessityofaresolution。
Ihaveresolved，andIbelievethatIshallbethebetterforit。’
TheletterwhichMrsDalewrotetoMrCrosbiewasasfollows：—
’MrsDalepresentshercomplimentstoMrCrosbie，andbegstoassurehimthatitwillnotnowbepossiblethatheshouldrenewtherelationswhichwerebrokenoffthreeyearsago，betweenhimandMrsDale’sfamily。’Itwasveryshort，certainly，anditdidnotbyanymeanssatisfyMrsDale。Butshedidnotknowhowtosaymorewithoutsayingtoomuch。Theobjectofherletterwastosavehimthetroubleofafutileperseverance，andthemfromtheannoyanceofpersecution；andthisshewishedtodowithoutmentioningherdaughter’sname。Andshewasdeterminedthatnowordshouldescapeherinwhichtherewasanytouchofseverity，anyhintofanaccusation。SomuchsheowedtoLilyinreturnforallthatLilywaspreparedtoabandon。’Thereismynote，’
shesaidatlast，offeringittoherdaughter。’Ididnotmeantoseeit，’saidLily，’and，mamma，Iwillnotreaditnow。Letitgo。Iknowyouhavebeengoodandhavenotscoldedhim。’’Ihavenotscoldedhim，certainly，’saidMrsDale。Andthentheletterwassent。
CHAPTERXXIV
MRSDOBBSBROUGHTON’SDINNER—PARTY
MrJohnEamesoftheIncome—TaxOffice，hadinthreedaysrisensohighinthatworldthatpeopleinthewest—endoftown，andveryrespectablepeopletoo——peoplelivinginSouthKensington，inneighbourhoodsnotfarfromBelgravia，andinveryhandsomehousesroundBayswater——weregladtoaskhimouttodinner。Moneyhadbeenlefttohimbyanearl，andrumourhadofcoursemagnifiedthatmoney。Hewasaprivatesecretary，whichisinitselfagreatadvanceonbeingamereclerk。Andhehadbecometheparticularintimatefriendofanartistwhohadpushedhimselfintohighfashionduringthelastyearortwo——oneConwayDalrymple，whomtherichEnglishworldwasbeginningtopetandpeltwithgiltsugar—plums，andwhoseemedtotakeverykindlytopettingandgiltsugar—plums。Idon’tknowwhetherthefriendshipofConwayDalrymplehadnotdoneasmuchtosecureJohnEameshispositionattheBayswaterdinner—tables，ashadeithertheprivatesecretaryship，ortheearl’smoney；andyet，whentheyhadfirstknoweachother，nowonlytwoorthreeyearsago，ConwayDalrymplehadbeenthepoorermanofthetwo。
Somechancehadbroughtthemtogether，andtheyhadlivedinthesameroomfornearlytwoyears。Thisarrangementhadbeenbrokenup，andtheConwayDalrympleofthesedayshadastudioofhisown，somewherenearKensingtonPalace，wherehepaintedportraitsofyoungcountesses，andinwhichhehadevenpaintedayoungduchess。Itwasthepeculiarmeritofhispictures——soatleastsaidtheart—lovingworld——thatthoughthelikenesswasalwaysgood，thestiffnessofthemodernportraitwasneverthere。TherewasalsoeversomestorytoldinDalrymple’spicturesoverandabovethestoryoftheportraiture。Thiscountesswasdrawnasafairywithwings，thatcountessasagoddesswithahelmet。Thethingtookforatime，andConwayDalrymplewaspickinguphisgiltsugar—plumswithconsiderablerapidity。
OnacertaindayheandJohnEamesweretodineouttogetheratacertainhouseinthatBayswaterdistrict。Itwasalargemansion，ifnotmadeofstoneyetlookingverystony，withthirtywindowsatleast，allofthemwithcut—stoneframes，requiring，letmesay，atleastfourthousandayearforitsmaintenance。Anditsowner，DobbsBroughton，amanverywellknownbothintheCityandoverthegrassinNorthamptonshire，wassupposedtohaveagooddealmorethanfourthousandayear。MrsDobbsBroughton，averybeautifulwoman，whocertainlywasnotyetthirty—five，letherworstenemiessaywhattheymight，hadbeenpaintedbyConwayDalrympleasaGrace。Therewere，ofcourse，threeGracesinthepicture，buteachGracewasMrsDobbsBroughtonrepeated。WeallknowhowGracesstandsometimes；twoGraceslookingoneway，andonetheother。Inthispicture，MrsDobbsBroughtonascentreGracelookedyoufullintheface。ForthisprettytoyMrConwayDalrymplehadpickedupagiltsugar—plumtothetuneofsixhundredpounds，andhad，moreover，wontheheartofbothMrandMrsDobbsBroughton。’Uponmyword，Johnny，’Dalrymplehadsaidtohisfriend，’he’sadeucedgoodfellow，hasreallyagoodglassofclaret——whichisgettingrarerandrarereveryday——andwillmountyouforaday，wheneveryouplease，downMarketHarboro’。Comeanddinewiththem。’JohnnyEamescondescended，anddidgoanddinewithMrDobbsBroughton。Iwonderwhetherheremembered，whenConwayDalrymplewastalkingoftherarityofgoodclaret，howmuchbeertheyoungpainterusedtodrinkwhentheywereouttogetherinthecountry，astheyusedtodooccasionally，threeyearsago；andhowthepainterhadthenbeenusedtocomplainthatbittercostthreepenceaglass，insteadoftwopence，whichhadhithertobeentherecognisedpriceofthearticle。
Inthosedaysthesugar—plumshadnotbeengilt，andhadbeenmuchrarer。
JohnnyEamesandhisfriendwenttogethertothehouseofMrDobbsBroughton。AsDalrymplelivedclosetotheBroughtons，Eamespickedhimupinacab。’Filthythings，thesecabsare，’saidDalrymple，ashegotintothehansom。
’Idon’tknowaboutthat，’saidJohnny。’They’reprettygood，Ithink。’
’Foulthings，’saidConway。’Don’tyoufeelwhatadraughtcomesinherebecausetheglassiscracked。I’dhaveoneofmyown，onlyIshouldneverknowwhattodowithit。’
’Thegreatestnuisanceonearth，Ishouldthink，’saidJohnny。
’Ifyoucouldalwayshaveitstandingreadyroundthecorner，’saidtheartist，’itwouldbedelightful。Butonewouldwanthalf—a—dozenhorses，andtwoorthreemenforthat。’
’Ithinkthestandsarethebest，’saidJohnny。
Theywerealittlelate——alittlelaterthantheyshouldhavebeenhadtheyconsideredthatEameswastobeintroducedtohisnewacquaintances。Buthehadalreadylivedlongenoughbeforetheworldtobequiteathiseaseinsuchcircumstances，andheenteredMrsBroughton’sdrawing—roomwithhispleasantestsmileuponhisface。Butasheenteredhesawasightwhichmadehimlookseriousinspiteofhiseffortstothecontrary。MrAdolphusCrosbie，secretarytotheBoardattheGeneralCommitteeOffice，wasstandingontherugbeforethefire。
’Whowillbethere？’Eameshadaskedofhisfriend，whenthesuggestiontogoanddinewithDobbsBroughtonhadbeenmadetohim。
’Impossibletosay，’Conwayhadreplied。’AcertainhorriblefellowbythenameofMusselbro，willalmostcertainlybethere。Healwaysiswhentheyhaveanythingofaswelldinner—party。HeisasortofpartnerofBroughton’sintheCity。Hewearsalotofchains，andhaselaboratewhiskers，andanelaboratewaistcoat，whichisworse；andhedoesn’twashhishandsasoftenasheoughttodo。’
’Anobjectionableparty，rather，Ishouldsay，’saidEames。
’Well，yes；Musselbroisobjectionable。He’sverygood—humouredyouknow，andgood—lookinginasortofway，andgoeseverywhere；thatisamongpeopleofthissort。Ofcoursehe’snothand—and—glovewithLordDerby；andIwishhecouldbemaketowashhishands。Theyhaven’tanyotherstandingdish，andyoumaymeetanybody。TheyalwayshaveaMemberofParliament；theygenerallymanagetocatchaBaronet；andIhavemetaPeerthere。OnthataugustoccasionMusselbrowasabsent。’
Soinstructed，Eames，onenteringthatroom，lookedroundatonceforMrMusselbro。’IfIdon’tseethewhiskersandchain，’hehadsaid，Ishallknowthere’saPeer。’MrMusselbrowasintheroom，butEameshaddescriedMrCrosbielongbeforehehadseenMrMusselbro。
TherewasnoreasonforconfusiononhispartinmeetingCrosbie。TheyhadbothlovedLilyDale。Crosbiemighthavebeensuccessful，butforhisownfault。Eameshadononeoccasionbeenthrownintocontactwithhim，andonthatoccasionhadquarrelledwithhimandhadbeatenhim，givinghimablackeye，andinthiswayobtainedsomemasteryoverhim。
TherewasnoreasonwhyheshouldbeashamedofmeetingCrosbie；andyet，whenhesawhim，thebloodmountedalloverhisface，andheforgottomakeanyfurthersearchforMrMusselbro。
’IamsomuchobligedtoMrDalrympleforbringingyou，’saidMrsDobbsBroughtonverysweetly，’onlyheoughttohavecomesooner。Naughtman！
Iknowitwashisfault。WillyoutakeMissDemolinesdown？MissDemolines——MrEames。’
MrDobbsBroughtonwassomewhatsulkyandhadnotwelcomedourheroverycordially。HewasbeginningtothinkthatConwaygavehimselfairsanddidnotsufficientlyunderstandthatamanwhohadhorsesatMarketHarboro’and’41Lafittewasatanyrateasgoodasapainterwhowaspeltedwithgiltsugar—plumsforpaintingcountesses。Buthewasamanwhoseill—humourneverlastedlong，andhewassoonpressinghiswineonJohnnyEamesasthoughhelovedhimdearly。
Buttherewasafewminutesbeforetheywentdowntodinner，andJohnnyEames，asheendeavouredtofindsomethingtosaytoMissDemolines——whichwasdifficult，ashedidnotintheleastknowMissDemolines’lineofconversation——wasawarethathiseffortswereimpededbythoughtsofMrCrosbie。Themanlookedolderthanwhenhehadlastseenhim——somucholderthatEameswasastonished。Hewasbald，orbecomingbald；andhiswhiskersweregrey，orwerebecominggrey，andhewasmuchfatter。JohnnyEames，whowasalwaysthinkingofLilyDale，couldnotnowkeephimselffromthinkingofAdolphusCrosbie。Hesawataglancethatthemanwasinmourning，thoughtherewasnothingbuthisshirt—studsbywhichtotellit；andheknewthathewasinmourningforhiswife。’Iwishshemighthavelivedforever，’Johnnysaidtohimself。
HehadnotyetbeendefinitelycalleduponbytheentranceoftheservanttoofferhisarmtoMissDemolines，whenCrosbiewalkedacrosstohimfromtherugandaddressedhim。
’MrEames，’saidhe，’itissometimesincewemet。’AndheofferedhishandtoJohnny。
’Yes，itis’saidJohnny，acceptingtheprofferedsalutation。’Idon’tknowexactlyhowlong，buteversolong。’
’Iamverygladtohavetheopportunityofshakinghandswithyou，’saidCrosbie；andthenheretired，asithadbecomehisdutytowaitwithhisarmreadyforMrsDobbsBroughton。Havingmarriedanearl’sdaughterhewasselectedforthathonour。Therewasabarristerintheroom，andMrsDobbsBroughtonoughttohaveknownbetter。Assheprofessedtobeguidedinsuchmattersbytheruleslaiddownbytherecognisedauthorities，sheoughttohavebeenawarethatamantakesnorankfromhiswife。ButshewasentitledIthinktomercifulconsiderationforhererror。AwomansituatedaswasMrsDobbsBroughtoncannotaltogetherignoretheseterriblerules。Shecannotletherguestsdrawlotsforprecedence。Shemustselectsomeoneforthehonourofherarm。Andamidsttheintricaciesofrankhowisitpossibleforwomantolearnandtoremembereverything？IfProvidencewouldonlysendMrsDobbsBroughtonaPeerforeverydinner—party，thethingwouldgomoreeasily；
butwhatwomanwilltellme，off—hand，whichshouldgooutofaroomfirst；aC。B。，andAdmiraloftheBlue，theDeanofBarchester，ortheDeanofArches？Whoistoknowwhowaseverybody’sfather？HowamItorememberthatyoungThompson’sprogenitorwasmadeabaronetandnotaknightwhenhewasLordMayor？PerhapsMrsDobbsBroughtonoughttohaveknownthatMrCrosbiecouldhavegainednothingbyhiswife’srank，andthebarristermaybeconsideredtohavebeennotimmoderatelyseverewhenhesimplyspokeofherafterwardsasthesilliestandmostignorantoldwomanhehadevermetinhislife。EameswiththelovelyMissDemolinesonhisarmwasthelasttomovebeforethehostess。MrDobbsBroughtonhadledthewayenergeticallywitholdLadyDemolines。TherewasnodoubtaboutLadyDemolines——ashiswifehadtoldhim，becausehertitlemarkedher。HerhusbandhadbeenaphysicianinParis，andhadbeenknightedinconsequenceofsomebenefitsupposedtohavebeendonetosomeFrenchscionofroyalty——whensuchscionsinFrancewereroyalandnotimperial。LadyDemolines’rankwasnotmuchcertainly；butitservedtomarkher，andwasbeneficial。
AshewentdownstairsEameswasstillthinkingofhismeetingwithCrosbie，andhadasyethardlysaidawordtohisneighbour，andhisneighbourhadnotsaidawordtohim。NowJohnnyunderstooddinnersquitewellenoughtoknowthatinapartyoftwelve，amongwhomsixareladies，everythingdependsofyournextneighbour，andgenerallyonthenextneighbourwhospeciallybelongstoyou；andashetookhisseathewasalittlealarmedastohisprospectforthenexttwohours。OnhisotherhandsatMrsPonsonby，thebarrister’swife，andhedidnotmuchlikethelookofMrsPonsonby。Shewasfat，heavy，andgood—looking；
withabroadspacebetweenhereyes，andlightsmoothhair；——ayouthfulBritishmatroneveryinchofher，ofwhomanybarristerwithayoungfamilyofchildrenmightbeproud。NowMissDemolines，thoughshewashardlytobecalledbeautiful，wasatanyrateremarkable。Shehadlarge，dark，well—shapedeyes，andverydarkhair，whichsheworetangledaboutinanextraordinarymanner，andshehadanexpressiveface——afacemadeexpressivebytheowner’swill。Suchpowerofexpressionisoftenattainedbydintoflabour——thoughitneverreachestotheexpressionofanythinginparticular。Shewasalmostsufficientlygood—lookingtobejustifiedinconsideringherselfabeauty。
ButMissDemolines，thoughshehadsaidnothingasyet，knewhergameverywell。Aladycannotbeginconversationtoanygoodpurposeinthedrawing—room，whensheisseatedandthemanisstanding；——norcansheknowthenhowthetablemaysubsequentlyarrangeitself。Powdermaybewasted，andofteniswasted，andthespiritrebelsagainstthenecessityofcommencingasecondenterprise。ButMissDemolines，whenshefoundherselfseated，andperceivedthatontheothersideofherwasMrPonsonby，amarriedman，commencedherenterpriseatonce，andourfriendJohnEameswasimmediatelyawarethathewouldhavenodifficultyastoconversation。
’Don’tyoulikewinterdinner—parties？’beganMissDemolines。ThiswassaidjustasJohnnywastakinghisseat，andhehadtimetodeclarethathelikeddinner—partiesatallperiodsoftheyearifthedinnerwasgoodandthepeoplepleasantbeforethehosthadmutteredsomethingwhichwasintendedtobeunderstoodtobeagrace。’ButImeanspeciallythewinter，’continuedMissDemolines。’Idon’tthinkdaylightshouldeverbeadmittedatadinner—table；andthoughyoumayshutoutthedaylight，youcan’tshutouttheheat。AndthentherearealwayssomanyotherthingstogotoinMayandJuneandJuly。DinnersshouldbestoppedbyActofParliamentforthosethreemonths。Idon’tcarewhatpeopledoafterwards，becausewealwaysflyawayonthefirstofAugust。’
’Thatisgood—naturedonyourpart。’
’I’msurewhatIsaywouldbeforthegoodofsociety；——butatthistimeoftheyearadinneriswarmandcomfortable。’
’Verycomfortable，Ithink。’
’Andpeoplegettoknoweachother’；——insayingwhichMissDemolineslookedverypleasantlyintoJohnny’sface。
’Thereisagreatdealinthat，’saidhe。’IwonderwhetheryouandI
willgettoknoweachother。’
’Ofcourseweshall；——thatis，ifI’mworthknowing。’
’Therecanbenodoubtaboutthat，Ishouldsay。’
’Timealonecantell。But，MrEames，IseethatMrCrosbieisafriendofyours。’
’Hardlyafriend。’
’Iknowverywellthatmenarefriendswhentheystepupandshakehandswitheachother。Itisthesamewhenwomenkiss。’
’WhenIseewomenkiss，Ialwaysthinkthereisdeephatredatthebottomofit。’
’AndtheremaybedeephatredbetweenyouandMrCrosbieforanythingI
knowtothecontrary，’saidMissDemolines。
’Theverydeepest，’saidJohnny，pretendingtolookgrave。
’Ah；thenIknowheisyourbosomfriend，andthatyouwilltellhimanythingIsay。Whatastrangehistorythatwasofhismarriage。’
’SoIhaveheard；——butheisnotquitebosomfriendenoughwithmetohavetoldmealltheparticulars。Iknowthathiswifeisdead。’
’Dead；oh，yes；shehasbeendeadthesetwoyearsIshouldsay。’
’Notsolongasthat，Ishouldthink。’
’Well——perhapsnot。Butit’seversolongago；——quitelongenoughforhimtobemarriedagain。Didyouknowher？’
’Ineversawherinmylife。’
’Iknewher——notwellindeed；butIamintimatewithhersister，LadyAmeliaGazebee，andIhavemetherthere。Noneofthatfamilyhavemarriedwhatyoumaycallwell。Andnow，MrEames，praylookatthemenuandtellmewhatIamtoeat。Arrangeformealittledinnerofmyown，outofthegreatbilloffareprovided。Ialwaysexpectsomegentlemantodothatforme。MrCrosbie，youknow，onlylivedwithhiswifeforonemonth。’
’SoI’vebeentold。’
’Andaterriblemonththeyhadofit。Iusedtohearofit。Hedoesn’tlookthatsortofman，doeshe？’
’Well；——no。Idon’tthinkhedoes。Butwhatsortofmandoyoumean？’
’Why，sucharegularBluebeard！OfcourseyouknowhowhetreatedanothergirlbeforehemarriedLadyAlexandrina。Shediedofit——withabrokenheart；absolutelydied；andthereheis，indifferentaspossible；——andwouldtreatmeinthesamewaytomorrowifIwouldlethim。’
JohnnyEames，findingitimpossibletotalktoMissDemolinesaboutLilyDale，tookupthecardofthedinnerandwenttoworkinearnest，recommendinghisneighbourwhattoeatandwhattopassby。’Butyouhaveskippedthepate？’saidshe，withenergy。
’Allowmetoaskyoutochoosemineformeinstead。Youaremuchmorefittodoit。’Andshedidchoosehisdinnerforhim。
Theyweresittingataroundtable，andinorderthattheladiesandgentlemenshouldalternatethemselvesproperly，MrMusselborowasoppositetothehost。NexttohimonhisrightwasoldMrsVanSiever，thewidowofaDutchmerchant，whowasveryrich。Shewasaghastlythingtolookat，aswellfromthequantityasfromthenatureofthewiggeriesshewore。Shehadnotonlyafalsefront，butlongfalsecurls，astowhichitcannotbeconceivedthatshewouldsupposethatanyonewouldbeignorantastotheirfalseness。Shewasverythin，too，andverysmall，andputtingasideherwiggeries，youwouldthinkhertobealleyes。Shewasaghastlyoldwomantothesight，andnotaltogetherpleasantinhermodeoftalking。SheseemedtoknowMrMusselboroverywell，forshecalledhimbyhisnamewithoutanyprefix。
Hehad，indeed，begunlifeasaclerkinherhusband’soffice。
’Whydoesn’tWhat’s—his—namehaverealsilverforks？’shesaidtohim。
NowMrsWhat’s—his—name——MrsDobbsBroughtonwewillcallher——wassittingontheothersideofMrMusselboro，betweenhimandMrCrosbie；
and，soplaced，MrMusselborofounditratherhardtoanswerthequestion，moreespeciallyashewasprobablyawarethatotherquestionswouldfollow。
’What’stheuse？’saidMrMusselboro。’Everybodyhastheseplatedthingsnow。What’stheuseofalotofcapitallyingdead？’
’Everybodydoesn’t。Idon’t。YouknowaswellasIdo，Musselboro，thattheappearanceofthethinggoesforagreatdeal。Capitalisn’tlyingdeadaslongaspeopleknowthatyou’vegotit。’
BeforeansweringthisMrMusselborowasdriventoreflectthatMrsDobbsBroughtonwouldprobablyhearhisreply。’Youwon’tfindthatthereisanydoubtonthatheadintheCityastoBroughton，’hesaid。
’Ishan’taskintheCity，andifIdid，Ishouldnotbelievewhatpeopletoldme。IthinktherearesillierfolksintheCitythananywhereelse。Whatdidhegiveforthatpictureupstairswhichtheyoungmanpainted？’
’What，MrsDobbsBroughton’sportrait？’
’Youdon’tcallthataportrait，doyou？Imeantheonewiththethreenakedwomen？’MrMusselboroglancedaroundwithoneeye，andfeltsurethatMrsDobbsBroughtonhadheardthequestion。Buttheoldwomanwasdeterminedtohaveananswer。’Howmuchdidhegiveforit，Musselboro？’
’Sixhundredpounds，Ibelieve，’saidMrMusselboro，lookingstraightbeforehimasheanswered，andpretendingtotreatthesubjectwithperfectindifference。
’Didheindeed，now？Sixhundredpounds！Andyethehasn’tgotsilverspoons。Howthingsarechanged！Tellme，Musselboro，whowasthatyoungmanwhocameinwiththepainter？’
MrMusselboroturnedroundandaskedMrsDobbsBroughton。’AMrJohnEames，MrsVanSiever，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton，whisperingacrossthefrontofMrMusselboro。’HeisprivatesecretarytoLord——Lord——LordI
forgetwho。SomeoneoftheMinisters，Iknow。AndhehadagreatfortunelefthimtheotherdaybyLord——Lord——Lordsomebodyelse。’