’Allamongthelords，Isee，’saidMrsVanSiever。ThenMrsDobbsBroughtondrewherselfback，rememberingsomelittleattackwhichhadbeenmadeonherbyMrsVanSieverwhensheherselfhadhadthereallordtodinewithher。
　　TherewasaMissVanSievertherealso，sittingbetweenCrosbieandConwayDalrymple。ConwayDalrymplehadbeenspeciallybroughttheretositnexttoMissVanSiever。’There’snoknowinghowmuchshe’llhave，’
　　saidMrsDobbsBroughton，inthewarmthoftheirfriendship。’Butit’sallreal。Itis，indeed，。Themotherisawfullyrich。’
　　’Butshe’sawfulinanotherway，too，’saidDalrymple。
　　’Indeedsheis，Conway。’MrsDobbsBroughtonhadgotintoawayofcallingheryoungfriendbyhisChristianname。’AlltheworldcallshimConway，’shehadsaidtoherhusbandoncewhenherhusbandhadcaughtherdoingso。’Sheisawful。HerhusbandmadethebusinessintheCity，whenthingswereverydifferentfromwhattheyarenow，andIcan’thelphavingher。ShehastransactionsofbusinesswithDobbs。Butthere’snomistakeaboutthemoney。’
　　’Sheneedn’tleaveittoherdaughter，Isuppose？’
　　’Butwhyshouldn’tshe？Shehasnobodyelse。Youmightoffertopainther，youknow。She’dmakeanexcellentpicture。Somuchcharacter。Youcomeandseeher。’
　　ConwayDalrymplehadexpressedhiswillingnesstomeetMissVanSiever，sayingsomething，however，astohispresentpositionbeingonewhichdidnotadmitofanymatrimonialspeculation。ThenMrsDobbsBroughtonhadtoldhim，withmuchseriousness，thathewasaltogetherwrong，andthatwerehetoforgethimself，orcommithimself，ormisbehavehimself，theremustbeanendtotheirpleasantintimacy。Inanswertowhich，MrDalrymplehadsaidthathisGracewassurelyofallGracestheleastgracious。AndnowhehadcometomeetMissVanSiever，andwasnowseatednexttoherattable。
　　MissVanSiever，whoatthistimehadperhapsreachedhertwenty—fifthyear，wascertainlyahandsomeyoungwoman。Shewasfairandlarge，bearingnolikenesswhatevertohermother。Herfeatureswereregular，andherfull，cleareyeshadabrillianceoftheirown，lookingatyoualwayssteadfastlyandboldly，thoughveryseldompleasantly。Hermouthwouldhavebeenbeautifulhaditnotbeentoostrongforfemininebeauty。Herteethwereperfect——tooperfect——lookinglikeminiaturewallsofcarvedivory。Sheknewthefaultofthisperfection，andshowedherteethaslittleasshecould。Hernoseandchinwerefinelychiselled，andherheadstoodwelluponhershoulders。Buttherewassomethinghardaboutitallwhichrepelledyou。Dalrymple，whenhesawher，recoiledfromher，notoutwardly，butinwardly。Yes，shewashandsome，asmaybehorseoratiger；buttherewasabouthernothingoffemininesoftness。HecouldnotbringhimselftothinkoftakingClaraVanSieverasthemodelthatwastositbeforehimfortherestofhislife。Hecertainlycouldmakeapictureofher，ashadbeensuggestedbyhisfriend，MrsBroughton，butitmustbeasJudithwiththedisseveredhead，ofasJaelusingherhammeroverthetempleofSisera。Yes——hethoughtshewoulddoasJael；andifMrsVanSieverwouldthrowhimasugar—plum——forhewouldwantthesugar—plum，seeingthatanyotherresultwasoutofthequestion——thethingmightbedone。SuchwastheideaofMrConwayDalrymplerespectingMissVanSiever——beforeheledherdowntodinner。
　　Atfirsthefoundithardtotalktoher。Sheansweredhim，andnotwithmonosyllables。Butsheansweredhimwithoutsympathy，orapparentpleasureintalking。Nowtheyoungartistwasinthehabitofbeingflatteredbyladies，andexpectedtohavehissmalltalkmadeveryeasyforhim。Helikedtogivehimselflittleairs，andwasnotgenerallydisposedtolabourveryhardatthetaskofmakinghimselfagreeable。
　　’Wereyoueverpaintedyet？’heaskedaftertheyhadbothbeensittingsilentfortwoorthreeminutes。
　　’WasIever——painted？Inwhatway？’
　　’Idon’tmeanrouged，orenamelled，orgotupbyMadameRachel；buthaveyoueverhadyourportraittaken？’
　　’Ihavebeenphotographedofcourse。’
　　’That’swhyIaskedyouifyouhadbeenpainted——soastomakesomelittledistinctionbetweenthetwo。Iamapainterbyprofession，anddoportraits。’
　　’SoMrsBroughtontoldme。’
　　’Iamnotaskingforajob，youknow。’
　　’Iamquitesureofthat。’
　　’ButIshouldhavethoughtyouwouldhavebeensuretohavesattosomebody。’
　　’Ineverdid。Ineverthoughtofdoingso。Onedoesthosethingsattheinstigationofone’sintimatefriends——fathers，mothers，uncles，andauntsandthelike。’
　　’Orhusbands，perhaps——orlovers？’
　　’Well，yes；myintimatefriendismymother，andshewouldneverdreamofsuchathing。Shehatespictures。’
　　’Hatespictures！’
　　’Andespeciallyportraits。AndI’mafraid，MrDalrymple，shehatesartists。’
　　’Goodheavens；howcruel！Isupposethereissomestoryattachedtoit。
　　Therehasbeensomefatallikeness——someterriblepicture——somethinginherearlydays。’
　　’Nothingofthekind，MrDalrymple。Itismerelythefactthathersympathiesarewithuglythings，ratherthanwithprettythings。Ithinkshelovesthemahoganydinner—tablebetterthananythingelseinthehouse；andshelikestohaveeverythingdark，andplain，andsolid。’
　　’Andgood？’
　　’Goodofitskind，certainly。’
　　’Ifeveryonewaslikeyourmother，howwouldtheartistlive？’
　　’Therewouldbenone。’
　　’Andtheworld，youthink，wouldbenonethepoorer？’
　　’Ididnotspeakformyself。Ithinktheworldwouldbeverymuchthepoorer。Iamveryfondofancientmasters，thoughIdonotsupposethatIunderstandthem。’
　　’Theyareeasierunderstoodthanthemodern，Icantellyou。Perhapsyoudon’tcareformodernpictures？’
　　’Notincomparison，certainly。Ifthatisuncivil，youhavebroughtitonyourself。ButIdonotintruthmeananythingderogatorytothepaintersoftheday。Whentheirpicturesareold，they——thatisthegoodonesamongthem——willbenicealso。’
　　’Picturesarelikewine，andwantage，youthink？’
　　’Yes，andstatuestoo，andbuildingsaboveallthings。Thecoloursofnewpaintingsaresoglaring，andthefacesaresobrightandself—conscious，thattheylooktomewhenIgototheexhibitionlikecolouredprintsinachild’snewpicture—book。Itisthesamethingwithbuildings。Oneseesallthepoints，andnothingislefttotheimagination。’
　　’IfindIhavecomeacrossarealcritic。’
　　’Ihopeso，atanyrate，Iamnotashamone’andMissVanSieverasshesaidthislookedverysavage。
　　’Ishouldn’ttakeyoutobeshaminanything。’
　　’Ah，thatwouldbesayingagreatdealformyself。Whocanundertaketosaythatheisnotashaminanything？’
　　Asshesaidthistheladiesweregettingup。SoMissVanSieveralsogotup，andleftMrConwayDalrympletoconsiderwhetherhecouldsayorcouldthinkofhimselfthathewasnotashaminanything。AsregardedMissClaraVanSiever，hebegantothinkthathecouldnotobjecttopaintherportrait，eventhoughtheremightbenosugar—plum。HewouldcertainlydoitasJael；andhewould，ifhedared，insertdimlyinthebackgroundsomeideaofthefaceofthemother，half—appearing，half—vanishing，asthespiritofthesacrifice。Hewascomposingthepicture，whileMrDobbsBroughtonwasarranginghimselfandhisbottles。
　　’Musselboro，’hesaid，’I’llcomeupbetweenyouandCrosbie。MrEames，thoughIrunawayfromyou，theclaretshallremain；or，rather，itshallflowbackwardsandforwardsasrapidlyasyouwill。’
　　’I’llkeepitmoving，’saidJohnny。
　　’Do；there’sagoodfellow。It’saniceglassofwineisn’tit？OldRamsby，whokeepsasgoodastockofstuffasanywine—merchantinLondon，gavemeahint，threeorfouryearsago，thathe’dalotoftidyBordeaux。It’s’41，youknow。Hehadninetydozen，andItookitall。’
　　’Whatwasthefigure，Broughton？’saidCrosbie，askingthequestionwhichheknewwasexpected。
　　’Well，Ionlygaveonehundredandfourforitthen；it’sworthahundredandtwentynow。Iwouldn’tsellabottleofitforanymoney。
　　Come，Dalrymple，passitround；butfillyourglassfirst。’
　　’Thankyou，no；Idon’tlikeit。I’lldrinksherry。’
　　’Don’tlikeit！’saidDobbsBroughton。
　　’It’sstrange，isn’tit？ButIdon’t。’
　　’Ithoughtyouparticularlytoldmetodrinkhisclaret？’saidJohnnytohisfriendafterwards。
　　’SoIdid，’saidConway；’andwonderfullygoodwineitis。ButImakeitarulenevertoeatordrinkanythinginaman’shousewhenhepraiseshimselfandtellsmethepriceofit。’
　　’AndImakeitarulenevertocutthenoseoffmyownface，’saidJohnny。
　　Beforehewent，JohnnyEameshadbeenspeciallyinvitedtocallonLadyDemolines，andhadsaidthathewoulddoso。’WeliveinPorchesterGardens，’saidMissDemolines。’Uponmyword，IbelievethatthefartherLondonstretchesinthatdirection，thefarthermammawillgo。Shethinkstheairsomuchbetter。Iknowit’salongway。’
　　’Distanceisnothingtome，’saidJohnny；’Icanalwayssetoffovernight。
　　ConwayDalrympledidnotgetinvitedtocallonMrsVanSiever，butbeforeheleftthehousehedidsayawordortwomoretohisfriendMrsBroughtonastoClaraVanSiever。’Sheisafineyoungwoman，’hesaid；
　　’sheisindeed。’
　　’Youhavefounditout，haveyou？’
　　’Yes；Ihavefounditout。Idonotdoubtthatsomedayshe’llmurderherhusbandorhermother，orstartletheworldbysomenewly—inventedcrime；butthatonlymakesherthemoreinteresting。’
　　’Andwhenyouaddtothatalltheoldwoman’smoney，’saidMrsDobbsBroughton，’youthinkthatshemightdo？’
　　’Forapicture，certainly。I’mspeakingofhersimplyasamodel。Couldwenotmanageit？Getheroncehere，withouthermotherknowingit，orBroughton，oranyone。I’vegotthesubject——JaelandSisera，youknow。
　　IshouldliketoputMusselboroinasSisera，withthenailhalfdrivenin。’MrsDobbsBroughtondeclaredthattheschemewasagreatdealtoowickedforherparticipation，butatlastshepromisedtothinkofit。
　　’Youmightaswellcomeupandhaveacigar，’Dalrymplesaid，asheandhisfriendleftMrsBroughton’shouse。Johnnysaidthathewouldgoupandhaveacigarortwo。’AndnowtellmewhatyouthinkifMrsDobbsBroughtonandherset，’saidConway。
　　’Well；I’lltellyouwhatIthinkofthem。Ithinktheystinkofmoney，aspeoplesay；butI’mnotsurethatthey’vegotanyallthesame。’
　　’Ishouldsupposehemakesalargeincome。’
　　’Verylikely，andperhapsspendsmorethanhemakes。Agooddealofitlookedtomelikemake—believe。There’snotdoubtabouttheclaret，butthechampagnewasexecrable。Amanisacriminaltohavesuchstuffhandedroundtohisguests。Andthereisn’ttheringofrealgoldaboutthehouse。’
　　’Ihatetheringofgold，asyoucallit，’saidtheartist。
　　’SodoI——Ihateitlikepoison；butifitisthere，Ilikeittobetrue。Thereisasortofpersonsgoingnow——andonemeetsthemouthereandthereeverydayinone’slife——whoaredownrightBrummagemassuchattheveryfirstmoment。Myhonouredlordandmaster，SirRaffle，isonesuch。Thereisnomistakinghim。Claphimdownuponthecounter，andheringsdullanduntrueatonce。Pardonme，mydearConway，ifIsaythesameofyourexcellentfriendMrDobbsBroughton。’
　　’Ithinkyougoalittletoofar，butIdon’tdenyit。Whatyoumeanis，thathe’snotagentleman。’
　　’Imeanagreatdealmorethanthat。Blessyou，whenyoucometotalkofagentleman，whoistodefinetheword？HowdoIknowwhetherornoI’magentlemanmyself？WhenIusedtobeinBurtonCrescent，Iwashardlyagentlementhen——sittingatthesametablewithMrsRoperandtheLupexes；——doyourememberthem，andthelovelyAmelia？’
　　’Isupposeyouwereagentleman，then，aswellasnow？’
　　’You，ifyouhadbeenpaintingduchessesthen，withastudioinKensingtonGardens，wouldhavesaidso，ifyouhadhappenedtocomeacrossme。Ican’tdefineagentleman，eveninmyownmind；——butIcandefineamanwithwhomIthinkIcanlivepleasantly。’
　　’AndpoorDobbsdoesn’tcomewithintheline？’
　　’N—o，notquite；averynicefellow，I’mquitesure，andI’mverymuchobligedtoyoufortakingmethere。’
　　’Ineverwilltakeyoutoanyhouseagain。Andwhatdidyouthinkofthewife？’
　　’That’sahorseofanothercolouraltogether。Aprettywomanwithsuchafinefigureashershasgotarighttobeanythingshepleases。Iseeyouareagreatfavourite。’
　　’No，I’mnot；——notespecially。Idolikeher。ShewantstomakeupamatchbetweenmeandthatMissVanSiever。MissVanistohavegoldbytheingot，andjewelsbythebushel，andahatfulofbackshares，andawholemineinCornwall，forherfortune。’
　　’Andisveryhandsomeintothebargain。’
　　’Yes；she’shandsome。’
　　’Soishermother，’saidJohnny。’Ifyoutakethedaughter，I’lltakethemother，andseeifIcan’tdoyououtofamineortwo。Good—night，oldfellow。I’monlyjokingaboutoldDobbs。I’llgoanddinethereagaintomorrow，ifyoulikeit。’
　　CHAPTERXXV
　　MISSMADELINEDEMOLINES
　　’Idon’tthinkyoucaretwostrawsabouther，’ConwayDalrymplesaidtohisfriendJohnEames，twodaysafterthedinner—partyatMrsDobbsBroughton’s。Thepainterwasatworkinhisstudio，andtheprivatesecretaryfromtheIncome—TaxOffice，whowasnodoubtengagedonsomespecialmissiontotheWestEndonthepartofSirRaffleBuffle，wassittinginalounging—chairandsmokingacigar。
　　’BecauseIdon’tgoaboutwithmystockingscross—gartered，anddothatkindofbusiness？’
　　’Well，yes；becauseyoudon’tdothatkindofbusiness，moreorless。’
　　’Itisn’tinmyline，mydearfellow。Iknowwhatyoumean，verywell。
　　Idaresay，artisticallyspeaking——’
　　’Don’tbeanass，Johnny。’
　　’Wellthen，poetically，orromantically，ifyoulikethatbetter——I
　　daresaythatpoeticallyorromanticallyIamdeficient。Ieatmydinnerverywell，andIdon’tsupposeIoughttodothat；and，ifyou’llbelieveme，Ifindmyselflaughingsometimes。’
　　’Ineverknewamanwholaughedsomuch。You’realwayslaughing。’
　　’Andthat，youthink，isabadsign？’
　　’Idon’tbelieveyoureallycareabouther。Ithinkyouareawarethatyouhavegotalove—affaironhand，andthatyouhangontoitratherpersistently，havinginsomewaycometoaresolutionthatyouwouldbepersistent。Butthereisn’tmuchheartinit。Idaresaytherewasonce。’
　　’Andthatisyouropinion？’
　　’Youarejustlikesomeofthosemenwhoforyearspasthavebeengoingtowriteabookonsomenewsubject。Theintentionhasbeensincereatfirst，anditneveraltogetherdiesaway。Butthewould—beauthor，thoughhestilltalksofhiswork，knowsthatitwillneverbeexecuted，andisverypatientunderhisdisappointment。Allenthusiasmaboutthethingisgone，butheisstillknownasthemanwhoisgoingtodoitsomeday。YouarethemanwhomeanstomarryMissDaleinfive，ten，ortwentyyears’time。’
　　’Now，Conway，allthatisthoroughlyunfair。Thewould—beauthortalksofhiswould—bebooktoeverybody。IhavenevertalkedofMissDaletoanyonebutyou，andoneortwoveryoldfamilyfriends。Andfromyeartoyear，andfrommonthtomonth，Ihavedoneallthathasbeeninmypowertowinher。Idon’tthinkIshalleversucceed，andyetIamasdeterminedaboutitasIwaswhenIfirstbeganit——orrathermuchmoreso。IfIdonotmarryLily，Ishallnevermarryatall，andifanybodyweretotellmetomorrowthatshehadmadeuphermindtohaveme，I
　　shouldwellnighgomadforjoy。ButIamnotgoingtogiveupallmylifeforlove。IndeedthelessIcanbringmyselftogiveupforit，thebetterIshallthinkofmyself。NowI’llgoawayandcallonoldLadyDemolines。’
　　’Andflirtwithherdaughter。’
　　’Yes；——flirtwithherdaughter，ifIgettheopportunity。Whyshouldn’tIflirtwithherdaughter？’
　　’Whynot，ifyoulikeit？’
　　’Idon’tlikeit——notparticularly，thatis；becausetheyoungladyisnotverypretty，noryetverygraceful，notyetverywise。’
　　’Sheisprettyafterafashion，’saidtheartist，’andifnotwise，sheisatanyrateclever。’
　　’Nevertheless，Idonotlikeher，’saidJohnEames。
　　’Thenwhydoyougothere？’
　　’Onehastobeciviltopeoplethoughtheyareneitherprettynorwise。
　　Idon’tmeantoinsinuatethatMissDemolinesisparticularlybad，orindeedthatsheisworsethanyoungladiesingeneral。Ionlyabusedherbecausetherewasaninsinuationinwhatyousaid，thatIwasgoingtoamusemyselfwithMissDemolinesintheabsenceofMissDale。Theonethinghasnothingtodowiththeotherthing。NothingthatIshallsaytoMissDemolineswillatallmilitateagainstmyloyaltytoLily。’
　　’Allright，oldfellow；——Ididn’tmeantoputyouonyourpurgation。I
　　wantyoutolookatthatsketch。Doyouknowforwhomitisintended？’
　　Johnnytookupascrapofpaper，andhavingscrutiniseditforaminuteortwodeclaredthathehadnottheslightestideawhowasrepresented。
　　’Youknowthesubject——thestorythatisintendedtobetold？’saidDalrymple。
　　’Uponmyword，Idon’t。There’ssomeoldfellowseemstobecatchingitoverthehead；butit’sallsoconfused，Ican’tmakemuchofit。Thewomanseemstobeuncommonangry。’
　　’DoyoueverreadyourBible？’
　　’Ahdear！notasoftenasIoughttodo。Al，Isee；it’sSisera。I
　　nevercouldquitebelievethatstory。JaelmighthavekilledCaptainSiserainhissleep——forwhich，by—the—by，sheoughttohavebeenhung，andshemightpossiblyhavedoneitwithahammerandanail。Butshecouldnothavedrivenitthrough，andstakedhimtotheground。’
　　’I’vewarrantenoughforputtingitintoapicture，atanyrate。MyJaelthereisintendedforMissVanSiever。’
　　’MissVanSiever！Well，itislikeher。Hasshesatforit？’
　　’Ohdear，no；notyet。Imeantogethertodoso。There’sastrengthabouther，whichwouldmakehersitthepartadmirably。AndIfancyshewouldliketobedrivinganailintoafellow’shead。IthinkIshalltakeMusselboroforaSisera。’
　　’You’renotinearnest？’
　　’Hewouldjustdoforit。ButofcourseIshan’taskhimtosit，asmyJaelwouldnotlikeit。Shewouldnotconsenttooperateonsobaseasubject。SoyoureallyaregoingtoGuestwick？’
　　’Yes；Istarttomorrow。Good—bye，oldfellow。I’llcomeandsitforSiseraifyou’llletme；——onlyMissVanJaelshallhaveabluntednail，ifyouplease。’
　　ThenJohnnylefttheartist’sroomandwalkedfromKensingtontoLadyDemoline’shouse。AshewenthepartlyaccusedhimselfandpartlyexcusedhimselfinthatmatterofhisloveforLilyDale。Thereweremomentsofhislifeinwhichhefeltthathewouldwillinglydieforher——thatlifewasnotworthhavingwithouther——inwhichhewentaboutinwardlyreproachingfortuneforhavingtreatedhimsocruelly。Whyshouldshenotbehis？Hehalfbelievedthatshelovedhim。Shehadalmosttoldhimso。Shecouldnotsurelystilllovethatothermanwhohadtreatedherwithsuchvilefalsehood？Asheconsideredthequestioninallitsbearingsheassuredhimselfoverandoveragainthattherewouldbenownofearofthatrival；——andyethehadsuchfears，andhatedCrosbiealmostasmuchasever。Itwasathousandpities，certainly，thatthemanshouldhavebeenmadefreebythedeathofhiswife。ButitcouldhardlybethatheshouldseektoseeLilyagain，orthatLily，ifsosought，shouldevenlistentohim。Butyettherehewas，freeoncemore——anodiousbeing，whomJohnnywasdeterminedtosacrificetohisvengeance，ifcauseforsuchsacrificeshouldoccur。
　　Andthusthinkingoftherealtruthofhislove，heendeavouredtoexcusehimselftohimselffromthatchargeofvaguenessandlaxnesswhichhisfriendConwayDalrymplehadbroughtagainsthim。Andthenagainheaccusedhimselfofthesamesin。Ifhehadbeenpositivelyinearnest，withdownrightmanlyearnestness，wouldhehaveallowedthethingtodragitselfwithaweakuncertainlife，asithaddoneforthelasttwoorthreeyears？LilyDalehadbeenadreamtohiminhisboyhood；andhehadmadearealityofhisdreamassoonashehadbecomeaman。Butbeforehehadbeenable，asaman，totellhislovetothegirlwhomhehadlovedasachild，anothermanhadintervened，andhisprizehadbeentakenfromhim。Thenthewretchedvictorhadthrownhistreasureaway，andhe，JohnEames，hadbeencontenttostooptopickitup——wascontenttodosonow。Buttherewassomethingwhichhefelttobeunmanlyintheconstantstooping。Dalrymplehadtoldhimthathewaslikeamanwhoiseverwritingabookandyetneverwritesit。HewoulddohisverybesttomakeLilyhisown。Butifhefailednow，hewouldhavedonewithit。Itseemedtohimtobebelowhisdignityasamantobealwayscovetingathingwhichhecouldnotobtain。
　　Johnnywasinformedbytheboyinbuttons，whoopenedthedoorforhimatLadyDemolines’，thattheladieswereathome，andhewasshownupintothedrawing—room。Herehewasallowedfulltenminutestoexploretheknick—knacksonthetable，andopenthephotographbook，andexaminethefurniture，beforeMissDemolinesmadeherappearance。Whenshedidcome，herhairwastangledmoremarvellouslyeventhanwhenhesawatthedinner—party，andhereyesweredarker，andhercheeksthinner。’I’mafraidmammawon’tbeabletocomedown，’saidMissDemolines。’Shewillbesosorrybutsheisnotquitewelltoday。Thewindisintheeast，shesays，andwhenshesaysthewindisintheeastshealwaysrefusestobewell。’
　　’ThenIshouldtellheritisinthewest。’
　　’Butitisintheeast。’
　　’Ah，thereIcan’thelpyou，MissDemolines。Ineverknowwhichiseast，andwhichiswest；andifIdid，Ishouldn’tknowfromwhichpointthewindblew。’
　　’Atanyratemammacan’tcomedownstairs，andyoumustexcuseher。WhataverynicewomanMrsDobbsBroughtonis。’JohnnyacknowledgedthatMrsDobbsBroughtonwascharming。’AndMrBroughtonissogood—natured！’
　　Johnnyagainassented。’Ilikehimofallthings，’saidMissDemolines。
　　’SodoI，’saidJohnny；——’Ineverlikedanybodysomuchinmylife。I
　　supposeoneisboundtosaythatkindofthing。’’Oh，youill—naturedman，’saidMissDemollines。’IsupposeyouthinkthatpoorMrBroughtonisalittle——justalittle——youknowwhatImean。’
　　’Notexactly，’saidJohnny。
　　’Yes，youdo；youknowverywellwhatImean。Andofcourseheis。Howcanhehelpit？’
　　’Poorfellow——no。Idon’tsupposehecanhelpit，orhewould；
　　——wouldn’the？’
　　’OfcourseMrBroughtonhadnottheadvantageofbirthormuchearlyeducation。Allhisfriendsknowthat，andmakeallowanceaccordingly。
　　Whenshemarriedhim，shewasawareofhisdeficiency，andmadeuphermindtoputupwithit。’
　　’Itwasverykindofher；don’tyouthinkso？’
　　’IknewMariaClutterbuckforyearsbeforeshewasmarried。Ofcourseshewasverymuchmysenior，but，nevertheless，wewerefriends。IthinkIwashardlymorethantwelveyearsoldwhenIfirstbegantocorrespondwithMaria。Shewasthenpasttwenty。Soyousee，MrEames，Imakenosecretofmyage。’
　　’Whyshouldyou？’