shesaid；’thatmustbemyprotection。’SoshefollowedMissVanSieverdownstairs，leavingMrDalrympleinpossessionofherboudoir。’Ishallgiveyoujustonehour，’shesaid，’andthenIshallcomeandturnyouout。’Soshewentdown，and，asMissVanSieverwouldnotstaytolunchwithher，sheateherlunchbyherself，sendingaglassofsherryandabiscuituptothepoorpainterathiswork。
　　Exactlyattheendofthehourshereturnedtohim。’Now，Conway，youmustgo，’shesaid。
　　’Butwhyinsuchahurry？’
　　’BecauseIsaythatitmustbeso。WhenIsayso，prayletthatbesufficient。’ButstillDalrymplewentonpainting。
　　’Conway，’shesaid，’howcanyoutreatmewithsuchdisdain？’
　　’Disdain，MrsBroughton！’
　　’Yes，disdain。HaveInotbeggedyoutounderstandthatIcannotallowyoutoremainhere，andyetyoupaynoattentiontomywishes。’
　　’Ihavedonenow’；andhebegantoputhisbrushesandpaintstogether。
　　’Isupposeallthesethingsmayremainhere？’
　　’Yes；theymayremain。Theymustdoso，ofcourse。There；ifyouwillputtheeaselinthecorner，withthecanvasbehindit，theywillnotbeseenifheshouldchancetocomeintotheroom。’
　　’Hewouldnotbeangry，Isuppose，ifheshouldsawthem？’
　　’Thereisnoknowing。Menaresounreasonable。Allmenare，Ithink。
　　AllthosearewhomIhavehadthefortunetoknow。Womengenerallysaythatmenareselfish。Idonotcomplainsomuchthattheyareselfishasthattheyarethoughtless。Theyareheadstronganddonotlookforwardtoresults。Nowyou——Idonotthinkyouwouldwillinglydomeaninjury？’
　　’IdonotthinkIwould。’
　　’Iamsureyouwouldnot；——butyetyouwouldforgettosavemefromone。’
　　’Whatinjury？’
　　’Oh，nevermind。Iamnotthinkingofanythinginparticular。Frommyself，forinstance。Butwewillnottalkaboutthat。Thatwaymadnesslies。Tellme，Conway；——whatdoyouthinkofClaraVanSiever？’
　　’Sheisveryhandsome，certainly。’
　　’Andclever？’
　　’Decidedlyclever。Ishouldthinkshehasatemperofherown。’
　　’Whatwomanisthereworthastrawthathasnot？IfClaraVanSieverwereill—used，shewouldresentit。Idonotdoubtthatforamoment。I
　　shouldnotliketobethemanwhowoulddoit。’
　　’NorI，either，’saidConway。
　　’Butthereisplentyoffemininesoftnessinthatcharacter，ifsheweretreatedwithloveandkindness。Conway，ifyouwilltakemyadviceyouwillaskClaraVanSievertobeyourwife。Butperhapsyouhavealready。’
　　’Who；I？’
　　’Yes；you。’
　　’Ihavenotdoneityet，certainly，MrsBroughton。’
　　’Andwhyshouldyounotdoit？’
　　’Therearetwoorthreereasons；——butperhapsnoneofanygreatimportance。Doyouknowofnone，MrsBroughton？’
　　’Iknowofnone，’saidMrsBroughtoninaveryserious——inalmostatragictone；——’ofnonethatshouldweighforamoment。AsfarasIamconcerned，nothingwouldgivememorepleasure。’
　　’Thatissokindofyou！’
　　’Imeantobekind。Ido，indeed，Conway。Iknowitwillbebetterforyouthatyoushouldbesettled——verymuchbetter。Anditwillbebetterforme。Idonotmindadmittingthat；——thoughinsayingsoItrustgreatlytoyourgenerositytointerpretmywordsproperly。’
　　’Ishallnotflattermyself，ifyoumeanthat。’
　　’Thereisnoquestionofflattery，Conway。Thequestionissimplyoftruthandprudence。Doyounotknowthatitwouldbebetterforyourselfthatyoushouldbemarried？’
　　’Notunlessacertaingentlemanweretodiefirst，’saidConwayDalrymple，ashedepositedthelastofhispaintingparaphernaliaintherecesswhichhadbeenpreparedforthembyMrsBroughton。
　　’Conway，howcanyouspeakinthatwicked，wickedway？’
　　’IcanassurethatIdonotwishthegentlemaninquestiontheslightestharmintheworld。Ifhiswelfaredependedonme，heshouldbesafeastheBankofEngland。’
　　’Andyouwillnottakemyadvice？’
　　’Whatadvice？’
　　’AboutClara？’
　　’MrsBroughton，matrimonyisaveryimportantthing。’
　　’Indeed，itis；——oh，whocansayhowimportant！Therewasatime，Conway，whenIthoughtthatyouhadgivenyourhearttoMadelinaDemolines。’
　　’Heavenforbid！’
　　’AndIgrieved，becauseIthoughtthatshewasnotworthyofyou。’
　　’Therewasneveranythinginthat，MrsBroughton。’
　　’Shethoughtthattherewas。Atanyrate，shesaidso。Iknowthatforcertain。Shetoldmesoherself。Butletthatpass。ClaraVanSieverisineveryrespectverydifferentfromMadalina。Clara，Ithink，isworthyofyou。AndConway——ofcourseitisnotformetodictatetoyou；butthisImusttellyou——’
　　’Whatmustyoutellme？’
　　’Iwilltellyounothingmore。IfyoucannotunderstandwhatIhavesaid，youmustbemoredullofcomprehensionthanIbelieveyoutobe。
　　Nowgo。Whyareyounotgonethishalf—hour？’
　　’HowcouldIgowhileyouweregivingmeallthisgoodadvice？’
　　’Ihavenotaskedyoutostay。Gonow，atanyrate。And，remember，Conway，ifthispictureistogoon，Iwillnothaveyouremaininghereaftertheworkisdone。Willyourememberthat？’Andsheheldhimbythehandwhilehedeclaredthathewouldrememberit。
　　MrsDobbsBroughtonwasnomoreinlovewithConwayDalrymplethanshewasinlovewithKingCharlesonhorsebackatCharingCross。And，overandbeyondtheprotectionwhichcametoherinthecourseofnaturefromimpassionedfeelingsinthisspecialphaseofherlife——andindeed，ifI
　　maysay，ineveryphaseofherlife——itmustbeacknowledgedonherbehalfthatshedidenjoythatprotectionwhichcomesfromwhatwecallprinciple——thoughtheprinciplewasnotperhapsveryhighofitskind。
　　MadalinaDemolineshadbeenrightwhenshetalkedofherfriendMaria’sprinciples。DobbsBroughtonhadbeensofarluckyinthatjumpinthedarkwhichhadmadeintakingawifetohimself，thathehadnotfallenuponareallyviciouswoman，oruponawomanofstrongfeeling。IthadcometobethelotofMrsDobbsBroughtontohavesixhours’workeverydayofherlife，Ithinkthattheworkwouldhavebeendonebadly，butthatitwouldhavekeptherfiresfromalldanger。Asitwasshehadnothingtodo。Shehadnochild。Shewasnotgiventomuchreading。Shecouldnotsitwithaneedleinherhandallday。ShehadnoaptitudeforMaymeetings，ortheexcitementofcharitablegoodworks。Lifewithherwasverydull，andshefoundnoamusementwithinherreachsoeasyandsopleasantastheamusementofpretendingtobeinlove。Ifallthatshedidandallthatshesaidcouldonlyhavebeentakenforitsworthandfornothingmore，bythedifferentpersonsconcerned，therewasverylittleinittoflatterMrDalrympleortogivecausefortribulationtoMrBroughton。Sheprobablycaredbutlittleforeitherofthem。Shewasoneofthosewomentowhomitisnotgivenbynaturetocareverymuchforanybody。But，ofthetwo，shecertainlycaredthemostforMrDobbsBroughton——becauseMrDobbsBroughtonbelongedtoher。AstoleavingMrDobbsBroughton’shouse，andputtingherselfintothehandsofanotherman——noImogenofawifewaseverlesslikelytotakestepsowicked，sodangerous，andsogenerallydisagreeabletoallthepartiesconcerned。
　　ButConwayDalrymple——thoughnowandagainhehadgotasideglanceathertruecharacterwithaclear—seeingeye——didallowhimselftobeflatteredanddeceived。Heknewthatshewasfoolishandignorant，andthatsheoftentalkedwonderfulnonsense。Heknewalsothatshewascontinuallycontradictingherself——aswhenshewouldstrenuouslybeghimtoleaveher，whileshewouldcontinuetotalktohiminastrainthatpreventedthepossibilityofhisgoing。But，nevertheless，hewasflattered，andhedidbelievethatshelovedhim。Astohisloveforher——heknewverywellthatitamountedtonothing。Nowandagain，perhaps，twiceaweek，ifhesawherasoften，hewouldsaysomethingwhichwouldimplyadeclarationofaffection。Hefeltthatasmuchasthatwasexpectedfromhim，andthatheoughtnottohopetogetoffcheaper。AndnowthatthislittleplaywasgoingonaboutMissVanSiever，hedidthinkthatMrsDobbsBroughtonwasdoingherverybesttoovercomeanunfortunateattachment。Itissogratifyingtoayoungman’sfeelingstosupposethatanotherman’swifehasconceivedanunfortunateattachmentforhim！ConwayDalrympleoughtnottohavebeenfooledbysuchawoman；butIfearthathewasfooledbyher。
　　AshereturnedhometodayfromMrsBroughton’shousetohisownlodgingsherambledoutforawhileintoKensingtonGardens，andthoughtofhispositionseriously。’Idon’tseewhyIshouldnotmarryher，’hesaidtohimself，thinkingofcourseofMissVanSiever。’IfMariaisnotinearnestitisnotmyfault。Anditwouldbemywishthatsheshouldbeinearnest。IfIsupposehertobeso，andtakeheratherword，shecanhavenorighttoquarrelwithme。PoorMaria！Atanyrateitwillbebetterforher，fornogoodcancomeofthiskindofthing。And，byheavens，withawomanlikethat，ofstrongfeelings，oneneverknowswhatmayhappen。’Andthenhethoughtoftheconditionhewouldbein，ifheweretofindhersomefinedayinhisownrooms，andifsheweretotellhimthatshecouldnotgohomeagain，andthatshemeanttoremainwithhim！
　　InthemeantimeMrsDobbsBroughtonhasgonedownintoherowndrawing—room，hadtuckedherselfuponthesofa，andhadfallenfastasleep。
　　CHAPTERXXXIX
　　ANEWFLIRTATION
　　JohnEamessatathisofficeonthedayafterhisreturntoLondon，andansweredthevariousletterswhichhehadfoundwaitingforhimathislodgingsonthepreviousevening。ToMissDemolineshehadalreadywrittenfromhisclub，asingleline，whichheconsideredtobeappropriatetothemysteriousnecessitiesoftheoccasion。’Iwillbewithyouataquartertosixtomorrow。——JE。Justreturned。’Therewasnotanotherword；andashescrawleditatoneoftheclubtableswhiletwoorthreeothermenweretalkingtohim，hefeltratherproudofhiscorrespondence。’Itwascapitalfun，’hesaid；’andafterall’——the’all’onthisoccasionbeingLilyDale，andthesadnessofhisdisappointmentatAllington——’afterall，letafellowbeeversodowninthemouth，alittleamusementshoulddohimgood。’Andhereflectedfurtherthatthemoreafellowbe’downinthemouth’，themoregoodtheamusementwoulddohim。Hesentoffhisnote，therefore，withsomelittleinwardrejoicing——andawordoftwoalsoofspokenrejoicing。
　　’Whatfunwomenaresometimes，’hesaidtooneofhisfriends——afriendwithwhomhewasveryintimate，callinghimalwaysFred，andslappinghisback，butwhomheneverbyanychancesawoutofhisclub。
　　’Whatuptonow，Johnny？Somegoodfortune？’
　　’Goodfortune，no。Ineversawgoodfortuneofthatkind。ButI’vegotholdofayoungwoman——orratherayoungwomanhasgotholdofme，whoinsistsonhavingmysterywithme。Inthemysteryitselfthereisnottheslightestinterest。Butthemysteriousnessofitischarming。Ihavejustwrittentoherthreewordstosettleanappointmentfortomorrow。
　　Wedon’tsignournameslestthePostmasterGeneralshouldfindoutaboutit。’
　　’Isshepretty？’
　　’Well；——sheisn’tugly。Shehasjustenoughofgoodlookstomakethesortofthingpassoffpleasantly。Amysterywithadownrightuglyyoungwomanwouldbeunpleasant。’
　　AfterthisfashionthenotefromMissDemolineshadbeenreceived，andansweredatonce，buttheotherlettersremainedinhispockettillhereachedhisofficeonthefollowingmorning。SirRafflehadbeggedhimtobethereathalf—pastnine。Thishehadswornhewouldnotdo；buthedidseathimselfinhisroomattenminutesbeforeten，findingofcoursethewholebuildinguntenantedatthatearlyhour——thatunearthlyhour，asJohnnycalledithimself。’Ishouldn’twonderifhereallyisherethismorning，’Johnnysaid，asheenteredthebuilding，’justthathemayhavetheopportunityofjumpingonme。’ButSirRafflewasnotthere，andthenJohnnybegantoabuseSirRaffle。’IfIevercomehereearlytomeethimagain，becausehesayshemeanstobeherehimself，I
　　hopeImaybe——blessed。’OnthatespecialmorningitwastwelvebeforeSirRafflemadehisappearance，andJohnnyavengedhimself——Iregrettohavetotellit——byafib。ThatSirRafflefibbedfirst，wasnovalidexcusewhateverforEames。
　　’I’vebeenatiteversincesixo’clock，’saidSirRaffle。
　　’Atwhat？’saidJohn。
　　’Work，tobesure；——andveryhardworktoo。IbelievetheChancelloroftheExchequerthinksthathecancalluponmetoanyextentthathepleases；——justanyextentthathepleases。Hedoesn’tgivemecreditforadesiretohaveasinglehourtomyself。’
　　’Whatwouldhedo，SirRaffle，ifyouweretogetill，orwearyourselfout？’
　　’HeknowsI’mnotoneofthewearing—outsortofmen。Yougotmynotelastnight？’
　　’Yes；Igotyournote。’
　　’I’msorrythatItroubledyou；butIcouldn’thelpit。Ididn’texpecttogetaboxfullofpapersateleveno’clocklastnight。’
　　’Youdidn’tputmeout，SirRaffle；Ihappenedtohavebusinessofmyownwhichpreventedthepossibilityofmybeinghereearly。’
　　ThiswasthewayinwhichJohnEamesavengedhimself。SirRaffleturnedhisfaceuponhisprivatesecretary，andhisfacewasveryblack。Johnnyborethegazewithoutdroppinganeyelid。’I’mnotgoingtostandit，andhemayaswellknowthatatonce，’Johnnysaidtooneofhisfriendsintheofficeafterwards。’Ifheeverwantsanythingreallydone，I’lldoit；——thoughitshouldtakemetwelvehoursatastretch。ButI’mnotgoingtopretendtobelieveallthelieshetellsmeabouttheChancelloroftheExchequer。Ifthatistobepartoftheprivatesecretary’sbusiness，hehadbettergetsomebodyelse。’ButnowSirRafflewasveryangry，andhiscountenancewasfullofwrathashelookeddownuponhissubordinateminister。’IfIhadcomehere，MrEames，andhadfoundyouabsent，Ishouldhavebeenverymuchannoyed，verymuchannoyedindeed，afterhavingwrittenasIdid。’
　　’Youwouldhavefoundmeabsentatthehouryounamed。AsIwasn’ttherethen，Ithinkit’sonlyfairtosayso。’
　　’I’mafraidyoubegrudgeyourtimetotheservice，MrEames。’
　　’Idobegrudgeitwhentheservicedoesn’twantit。’
　　’Atyourage，MrEames，that’snotforyoutojudge。IfIhadactedinthatwaywhenIwasyoungIshouldneverhavefilledthepositionInowhold。IalwaysrememberedinthosedaysthatasIwasthehandandnotthehead，Iwasboundtoholdmyselfinreadinesswhetherworkmightberequiredofmeornot。’
　　’IfI’mwantedashandnow，SirRaffle，I’mready。’
　　’That’sallverywell；——butwhywereyounothereatthehourInamed？’
　　’Well，SirRaffle，IcannotsaythattheChancelloroftheExchequerdetainedme；——buttherewasbusiness。AsI’vebeenhereforthelasttwohours，Iamhappytothinkthatinthisinstancethepublicservicewillnothavesufferedbymydisobedience。’
　　SirRafflewasstillstandingwithhishaton，andwithhisbacktothefire，andhiscountenancewasfullofwrath。ItwasonhistonguetotellJohnnythathehadbetterreturntohisformerworkintheouteroffice。Hegreatlywantedthecomfortofaprivatesecretarywhowouldbelieveinhim——oratleastpretendtobelieveinhim。Therearemenwho，thoughtheyhavenotsenseenoughtobetrue，haveneverthelesssenseenoughtoknowthattheycannotexpecttobereallybelievedinbythosewhoarenearenoughtothemtoknowthem。SirRaffleBufflewassuchaone。Hewouldhavegreatlydelightedintheservicesofsomeonewhowouldtrusthimimplicitly——ofsomeyoungmanwhowouldreallybelieveallthathesaidofhimselfandoftheChancelloroftheExchequer；buthewaswiseenoughtoperceivethatnosuchyoungmanwastobehad；orthatanysuchman——couldsuchaonebefound——wouldbeabsolutelyuselessforanypurposesofwork。Heknewhimselftobealiarwhomnobodytrusted。Andheknewhimselfalsotobeabully——thoughhecouldnotthinksolowofhimselfastobelievethathewasabullywhomnobodyfeared。Aprivatesecretarywasattheleastboundtopretendtobelieveinhim。Thereisadecencyinsuchthings，andthatdecencyJohnEamesdidnotobserve。HethoughtthathemustgetridofJohnEames，inspiteofcertainattractionswhichbelongedtoJohnny’sappearanceandgeneralmanners，andsocialstanding，andreputedwealth。
　　Butitwouldnotbewisetopunishamanonthespotforbreakinganappointmentwhichhehimselfhadnotkept，andthereforehewouldwaitforanotheropportunity。’Youhadbettergotoyourownroomnow，’hesaid。’IamengagedonamatterconnectedwiththeTreasury，inwhichI
　　willnotaskforyourassistance。’HeknewthatEameswouldnotbelieveawordastowhathesaidabouttheTreasury——notevensomeverytriflingbaseoftruthwhichdidexist；buttheboastgavehimanopportunityofputtinganendtotheinterviewafterhisownfashion。
　　ThenJohnEameswenttohisownroomandansweredtheletterswhichhehadinhispocket。
　　Totheclubdinnerhewouldnotgo。’What’stheuseofpayingtwoguineasforadinnerwithfellowsyouseeeverydayofyourlife？’hesaid。ToLadyGlencora’shewouldgo，andhewrotealinetohisfriendDalrympleproposingthattheyshouldgotogether。AndhewoulddinewithhiscousinToogoodinTavistockSquare。’Onemeetsthequeerestpeopleintheworldthere，’hesaid；’butTommyToogoodissuchagoodfellowhimself！’Afterthathehadhislunch。Thenhereadthepaper，andbeforehewentawayhewroteadozenortwoofprivatenotes，presentingSirRaffle’scomplimentsrightandleft，andgivinginnoonenoteasinglewordofinformationthatcouldbeofanyusetoanyperson。
　　Havingthusearnedhissalarybyhalf—pastfouro’clockhegotintoahansomcabandhadhimselfdriventoPorchesterTerrace。MissDemolineswasathome，ofcourse，andhesoonfoundhimselfclosetedwiththatinterestingyoungwoman。
　　’Ithoughtyouneverwouldhavecome。’Thesewerethefirstwordsshespoke。
　　’MydearMissDemolines，youmustnotforgetthatIhavemybreadtoearn。’
　　’Fiddlesticks！——Bread！AsifIdidn’tknowthatyoucangetawayfromyourofficewhenyouchoose。’
　　’But，indeed，Icannot。’
　　’Whatistheretopreventyou，MrEames？’
　　’I’mnottieduplikeadog，certainly；butwhodoyousupposewilldomyworkifIdonotdoitmyself？Itisafact，thoughtheworlddoesnotbelieveit，thatmeninpublicofficeshavesomethingtodo。’
　　’Nowyouarelaughingatme，Iknow；butyouarewelcome，ifyoulikeit。It’sthewayoftheworldjustatpresentthatladiesshouldsubmittothatsortofthingfromgentlemen。’
　　’Whatsortofthing，MissDemolines？’
　　’Chaff，asyoucallit。Courtesyisoutoffashion，andgallantryhascometosignifyquiteadifferentkindofthingfromwhatitusedtodo。’
　　’TheSirCharlesGrandisonbusinessisdoneandgone。That’swhatyoumean，Isuppose？Don’tyouthinkweshouldfinditveryheavyifwetriedtogetitbackagain？’
　　’I’mnotgoingtoaskyoutobeaSirCharlesGrandison，MrEames。Butnevermindallthatnow。Doyouknowthatthatgirlhasabsolutelyhadherfirstsittingforthepicture？’
　　’Hasshe，indeed？’
　　’Shehas。Youmaytakemywordforit。Iknowitasafact。Whatafoolthatyoungmanis！’
　　’Whichyoungman？’
　　’Whichyoungman！ConwayDalrympletobesure。Artistsarealwaysweak。Ofallmenintheworldtheyarethemostsubjecttoflatteryfromwomen；andweallknowthatConwayDalrympleisveryvain。’
　　’UponmywordIdidn’tknowit，’saidJohnny。
　　’Yes，youdo。Youmustknowit。Whenamangoesaboutinapurplevelvetcoatofcourseheisvain。’
　　’Icertainlycannotdefendapurplevelvetcoat。’
　　’Thatiswhatheworewhenthisgirlsattohimthismorning。’
　　’Thismorningwasit？’
　　’Yes，thismorning。Theylittlethinkthatthecandonothingwithoutmyknowingit。Hewastherefornearlyfourhours，andshewasdressedupinawhiterobeasJael，withaturbanonherhead。Jaelindeed！I
　　callitveryimproper，andIamquiteastonishedthatMariaClutterbuckshouldhavelentherselftosuchapieceofwork。ThatMariawasneververywise，ofcourseweallknow；butIthoughtthatshehadprincipleenoughtohavekeptherfromthiskindofthing。’
　　’It’sherfeveredexistence，’saidJohnny。
　　’That’sjustit。Shemusthaveexcitement。Itislikedram—drinking。
　　Andthen，youknow，theyarealwayslivinginthecraterofavolcano。’
　　’Whoarelivinginthecraterofavolcano？’
　　’TheDobbsBroughtonsare。Ofcoursetheyare。Thereisnosayingwhatdayasmashmaycome。TheyCitypeoplegetsousedtoitthattheyenjoyit。Theriskiseverythingtothem。’
　　’Theyliketohavealittlecertaintybehindtherisk，Ifancy。’
　　’I’mafraidthereisverylittlethat’scertainwithDobbsBroughton。
　　Butaboutthispicture，MrEames。Ilooktoyoutoassistmethere。Itmustbeputastopto。AstothatIamdetermined。Itmustbe——puta——stopto。’AndasMissDemolinesrepeatedtheselastwordswithatremendousemphasissheleantwithbothherelbowsonalittletablethatstoodbetweenherandhervisitor，andlookedwithallhereyesintohisface。’Idohopethatyouagreewithmeinthat，’saidshe。
　　’UponmywordIdonotseetheharmofthepicture，’saidhe。
　　’Youdonot？’
　　’Indeedno。WhyshouldnotDalrymplepaintMissVanSieveraswellasanyotherlady？Itishisspecialbusinesstopaintladies。’
　　’Lookher，MrEames——’AndnowMissDemolines，asshespokedrewherownseatclosertothatofhercompanionandpushedawaythelittletable。
　　’DoyousupposethatConwayDalrymple，intheusualwayofhisbusiness，paintspicturesofyoungladiesofwhichtheirmothersknownothing？Doyousupposethathepaintstheminladies’roomswithouttheirhusbands’
　　knowledge？Andinthecommonwayofhisbusinessdoeshenotexpecttobepaidforhispictures？’
　　’Butwhatisallthattoyouandme，MissDemolines？’
　　’Isthewelfareofyourfriendnothingtoyou？WouldyouliketoseehimbecomethevictimoftheartificeofsuchagirlasClaraVanSiever？’
　　’UponmywordIthinkheisverywellabletotakecareofhimself。’
　　’Andwouldyouwishtoseethatpoorcreature’sdomestichearthruinedandbrokenup？’
　　’Whichpoorcreature？’
　　’DobbsBroughton，tobesure。’
　　’Ican’tpretendthatIcareverymuchforDobbsBroughton，’saidJohnEames；’andyouseeIknowsolittleabouthisdomestichearth。’
　　’Oh，MrEames！’
　　’Besides，herprincipleswillpullherthrough。YoutoldmeyourselfthatMrsDobbsBroughtonhadhighprinciples。’
　　’GodforbidthatIshouldsayawordagainstMariaClutterbuck，’saidMissDemolinesfervently。’MariaClutterbuckwasmyearlyfriend，andthoughwordshavebeenspokenwhichnevershouldhavebeenspoken，andthoughthingshavebeendonewhichnevershouldhavebeendreamedof，stillIwillnotdesertMariaClutterbuckinherhourofneed。No，never！’
　　’I’msureyou’rewhatonemaycallatrumptoyourfriends，MissDemolines。’
　　’Ihaveendeavouredtobeso，andalwaysshall。Youwillfindmeso；——thatisifyouandIeverbecomeintimateenoughtofeelthatsortoffriendship。’
　　’ThereisnothingonearthIshouldlikebetter，’saidJohnny。Assoonasthesewordswereoutofhismouth，hefeltashamedofhimself。HeknewthathedidnotintruthdesirethefriendshipofMissDemolines，andthatanyfriendshipwithsuchaonewouldmeansomethingdifferentfromfriendship——somethingthatwouldbeaninjurytoLilyDale。Aweekhadhardlypassedsincehehadswornalife’sconstancytoLilyDale——hadswornit，nottoheronly，buttohimself；andnowhewasgivingwaytoaflirtationwiththiswoman，notbecausehelikedithimself，butbecausehewastooweaktokeepoutofit。’
　　’Ifthatistrue——’saidMissDemolines。