’Hehasbeenathorninoursides，’saidMrsCrawley，unabletorestraintheexpressionofherdislikewhenMrThumble’snamewasmentioned。
　　’Nay，mydear，nay；——donotallowyourselftheuseoflanguagesostrongagainstabrother。Ourfleshatthattimewassomewhatpronetofester，andlittlethornsmadeusverysore。’
　　’Heisahorribleman，’saidJane，almostinawhisper；butthewordsweredistinctlyaudibletothedean。
　　’Theyneednotcomeanymore，’saidArabin。
　　’ThatiswhereIfearwediffer。Ithinktheymustcome——orsomeothersintheirplace——tillthebishopshallhaveexpressedhispleasuretothecontrary。Ihavesubmittedmyselftohislordship，and，havingdoneso，IfeelthatIcannotagaingoupintomypulpittillheshallhaveauthorisedmetodoso。Foratime，Arabin，Icombattedthebishop，believing——thenasnow——thatheputforthhishandagainstmeafterafashionwhichthelawhadnotsanctioned。AndImadeboldtostandinhispresenceandtellhimthatIwouldnotobeyhim，exceptinthingslegal。Butafterwards，whenheproceededformally，throughtheactionofacommission，Isubmittedmyself。AndIregardmyselfstillasbeingunderhissubmission。’
　　Itwasimpossibletoshakehim。Arabinremainedthereformorethananhour，tryingtopassontoanothersubject，butbeingconstantlybroughtbackbyMrCrawleyhimselftothefactofhisowndependentposition。
　　Norwouldhecondescendtosupplicatethebishop。Itwas，hesurmised，thedutyofDrTempest，togetherwiththeotherfourclergymen，toreporttothebishoponthequestionoftheallegedtheft；andthendoubtlessthebishop，whenhehaddulyconsideredthereport，and——asMrCrawleyseemedtothinkwasessentiallynecessary——hadsufficientlyrecoveredfromthegriefofhiswife’sdeath，would，athisleisure，communicatehisdecisiontoMrCrawley。NothingcouldbemorecompletethanMrCrawley’shumilitywithrespecttothebishop；andheneverseemedtobetiredofdeclaringthathehadsubmittedhimself！
　　Andthenthedean，findingittobevaintoexpecttobeleftalonewithMrCrawleyforamoment——invainalsotowaitforaproperopeningforthatwhichhehadtosay——rushedviolentlyathisothersubject。’Andnow，MrsCrawley，’hesaid。’MrsArabinwishesyoualltocomeovertothedeaneryforawhileandstaywithus。’
　　’MrsArabinistookind，’saidMrsCrawley，lookingacrossatherhusband。
　　’Weshouldlikeofallthings，’saidthedean，withperhapsmoreofgoodnaturethanoftruth。’Ofcourseyoumusthavebeenknockedaboutagooddeal。’
　　’Indeedwehave，’saidMrsCrawley。
　　’Andtillyouaresomewhatsettledagain，Ithinkthatthechangeofscenewouldbegoodforallofyou。Come，Crawley，I’lltalktoyoueveryeveningaboutJerusalemforaslongasyouplease；andthentherewillperhapscomebacktoussomethingofthepleasantnessofolddays。’
　　AssheheardthisMrsCrawley’seyesbecamefulloftears，andshecouldnotaltogetherhidethem。Whatshehadenduredduringthelastfourmonthshadalmostbrokenherspirit。Theburdenhadatlastbeentooheavyforherstrength。’Youcannotfancy，Crawley，howoftenIhavethoughtoftheolddaysandwishedthattheymightreturn。Ihavefounditveryhardtogetanopportunityofsayingsomuchtoyou；butIwillsayitnow。’
　　’Itmayhardlybeasyousay，’saidCrawley，grimly。
　　’Youmeanthattheolddayscanneverbebroughtback？’
　　’Assuredlytheycannot。ButitwasnotthatImeant。ItmaynotbethatIandmineshouldtransferourselvestoyourroofandsojournthere。’
　　’Whyshouldyounot？’
　　’Thereasonsaremany，andonthefaceofthings。Thereason，perhaps，themostonthefaceofitistobefoundinmywife’sgown，andinmycoat。’ThisMrCrawleysaidverygravely，lookingneithertotherightnortotheleftnoratthefaceofanyofthem，norathisowngarment，norhers，butstraightbeforehim；andwhenhehadsospokenhesaidnotawordfurther——notgoingontodilateonhispovertyasthedeanexpectedthathewoulddo。
　　’Atsuchatimesuchreasonsshouldstandfornothing，’saidthedean。
　　’Andwhynotnowastheyalwaysdo，andalwaysmusttillthepoweroftailorsshallhavewaned，andthedaughtersofEveshalltoilandspinnomore？Liketolikeistrue，andshouldbeheldtobetrue，ofallsocietiesandofallcompactsforco—operationandmutualliving。Here，where，ifImayventuretosayso，youandIareliketolike；——forthenewglossofyourcoat；——thedean，asithappened，hadonatthemomentaveryoldcoat，hisoldestcoat，selectedperhapswithsomeviewtothisspecialvisit——’doesnotobtrudeitselfinmyhousehold，aswouldbethethreadbaretextureofmineinyours；——Icanopenmymouthtoyouandconversewithyouatmyease；youarenowtomethatFrankArabinwhohassocomfortedmeandsooftenconfutedme；whomImayperhapsonoccasionhaveconfuted——andperhapshavecomforted。ButwereIsittingwithyouinyourlibraryinBarchester，mythreadbarecoatwouldbetoomuchforme。Ishouldbesilent，ifnotsullen。Ishouldfeeltheweightofallmypoverty，andthegreaterweightofallyourwealth。Formychildrenletthemgo。Ihavecometoknowthattheywillbebetterfromme。’
　　’Papa！’saidJane。
　　’Papadoesnotmeanit，’saidGrace，cominguptohimandstandingclosetohim。
　　Therewassilenceamongstthemforafewmoments，andthenthemasterofthehouseshookhimself——literallyshookhimself，tillhehadshakenoffthecloud。HehadtakenGracebythehand，andthrustingouttheotherarmhadgotitroundJane’swaist。’Whenamanhasgirls，Arabin，’hesaid，’asyouhave，butnotbiggirlsyetlikeGracehere，ofcourseheknowsthattheywillflyaway。’
　　’Ishallnotflyaway，’saidJane。
　　’Idon’tknowwhatpapameans，’saidGrace。
　　UponthewholethedeanthoughtitthepleasantestvisithehadevermadetoHogglestock，andwhenhegothomehetoldhiswifethathebelievedthattheaccusationmadeagainstMrCrawleyhaddonehimgood。
　　’Icouldnotsayawordinprivatetoher，’hesaid，’butIdidpromisethatyouwouldgooverandseeher。Ontheverynextday，MrsArabinwentover，andIthinkthatthevisitwasacomforttoMrsCrawley。
　　CHAPTERLXXX
　　MISSDEMOLINESDESIRESTOBEAFINGER—POST
　　JohnEameshadpassedMrsThorneinthehallofherownhousealmostwithoutnoticingherashetookhisdeparturefromLilyDale。Shehadtoldhimasplainlyaswordscouldspeakthatshecouldnotbringherselftobehiswife——andhehadbelievedher。Hehadsworntohimselfthatifhedidnotsucceedhewouldneveraskagain。’Itwouldbefoolishandunmanlytodoso，’hesaidtohimselfasherushedalongthestreettowardshisclub。No！Thatromancewasover。Atlasttherehadcomeanendtoit！’Ithastakenagoodbitoutofme，’hesaid，arrestinghisstepssuddenlythathemightstandstillandthinkofitall。’ByGeorge，yes！Amandoesn’tgothroughthatkindofthingwithoutlosingsomeofthecaloric。Icouldn’tdoitagainifanangelcameinmyway。’hewenttohisclub，andtriedtobejolly。Butashewalkedhomeatnight，andgavehimselftimetothinkoverwhathadtakenplacewithdeliberation，hestoppedinthegloomofadesertedstreetandleaningagainsttherailsburstintotears。Hehadreallylovedherandshewasnevertobehis。Hehadwantedher——anditissopainfulathingtomisswhatyouwantwhenyouhavedoneyourverybesttoobtainit！Tostruggleinvainalwayshurtsthepride；butthewoundmadebythevainstruggleforawomanissorerthananywoundsomade。Hegnashedhisteeth，andstrucktherailingswithhisstick；andthenhehurriedhome，swearingthathewouldnevergiveanotherthoughttoLilyDale。Inthedeadofthenight，thinkingofitstill，heaskedhimselfwhetheritwouldnotbeafinethingtowaitanothertenyears，andthengotoheragain。InsuchawaywouldhenotmakehimselfimmortalasaloverbeyondanyJacoborLeander？
　　Thenextdayhewenttohisofficeandwasverygrave。WhenSirRafflecomplimentedhimonbeingbackbeforehistime，hesimplysaidthatwhenhehadaccomplishedthatforwhichhehadgone，hehad，ofcourse，comeback。SirRafflecouldnotgetawordoutfromhimaboutMrCrawley。Hewasverygrave，andintentuponhiswork。IndeedhewassoseriousthathequiteafflictedSirRaffle——whosemockactivityfeltitselftobeconfoundedbytheofficialzealofhisprivatesecretary。Duringthewholeofthatday，Johnnywasresolvingthattherecouldbenocureforhismaladybuthardwork。Hewouldnotonlyworkhardattheofficeifheremainedthere，buthewouldtaketoheavyreading。HeratherthoughtthathewouldgodeepintoGreekanddoatranslation，ortakeuptheexactsciencesandmakeanameforhimselfinthatway。Butashehadenoughforthelifeofasecludedliterarymanwithouthissalary，heratherthoughthewouldgiveuphisofficealtogether。Hehadamuttonchopathomethatevening，andspenthistimeinendeavouringtoreadoutaloudtohimselfcertainpassagesfromtheIliad——forhehadboughtaHomerashereturnedfromhisoffice。Atnineo’clockhewent，half—price，totheStrandTheatre。HowhemettherehisoldfriendBoulgerandwentafterwardsto’TheCock’andhadasupperneednotherebetoldwithmoreaccuratedetail。
　　OntheeveningofthenextdayhewasboundbyhisappointmenttogotoPorchesterTerrace。InthemomentsofhisenthusiasmaboutHomerhehaddeclaredtohimselfthathewouldnevergonearMissDemolinesagain。
　　Whyshouldhe？Allthatkindofthingwasnothingtohimnow。Hewouldsimplysendherhiscomplimentsandsaythathewaspreventedbybusinessfromkeepinghisengagement。She，ofcourse，wouldgoonwritingtohimforatime，buthewouldsimplyleaveherlettersunanswered，andthething，ofcourse，wouldcometoanendatlast。HeafterwardssaidsomethingtoBoulgeraboutMissDemolines——butthatwasduringthejollityoftheirsupper——andhethendeclaredthathewouldfollowoutthatlittlegame。’Idon’tseewhyafellowisn’ttoamusehimself，eh，Boulger，oldboy？’Boulgerwinkedandgrinned，andsaidsomeamusementsweredangerous。’Idon’tthinkthatthereisanydangerthere，’saidJohnny。’Idon’tbelievesheisthinkingofthatkindofthingherself；——notwithmeatleast。Whatshelikesisthepretenceofmystery；andasitisamusingIdon’tseewhyafellowshouldn’tindulgeher。’Butthatdeterminationwaspronouncedaftertwomuttonchopsat’TheCock’，betweenoneandtwoo’clockinthemorning。Onthenextdayhewascoolerandwiser。Greekhethoughtmightbetediousashediscoveredthathewouldhavetobeginagainfromtheveryalphabet。Hewouldthereforeabandonthatidea。Greekwasnotthethingforhim，buthewouldtakeupthesanitaryconditionofthepoorinLondon。Afellowcouldbeofsomeuseinthatway。InthemeantimehewouldkeephisappointmentwithMissDemolines，simplybecauseitwasanappointment。A
　　gentlemanshouldalwayshiswordtoalady！
　　HedidkeephisappointmentwithMissDemolines，andwaswithheralmostpreciselyatthehourshehadnamed。Shereceivedhimwithamysterioustranquillitywhichalmostperplexedhim。Heremembered，however，thatthewaytoenjoythesocietyofMissDemolineswastotakeherinallhermoodswithperfectseriousness，andwasthereforeverytranquilhimself。Onthepresentoccasionshedidnotriseassheenteredtheroom，andhardlyspokeasshetenderedtohimthetipsofherfingerstobetouched。Asshesaidalmostnothing，hesaidnothingatall，butsankintoachairandstretchedhislegsoutcomfortablybeforehim。Ithadbeenalwaysunderstoodbetweenthemthatshewastobeartheburdenoftheconversation。
　　’You’llhaveacupoftea？’shesaid。
　　’Yes；——ifyoudo。’Thenthepagebroughtthetea，andJohnEamesamusedhimselfbyswallowingthreeslicesofverythinbreadandbutter。
　　’Nonforme——thanks，’saidMadalina。’Irarelyeatafterdinner，andnotoftenmuchthen。IfancythatIshouldbestlikeaworldinwhichtherewasnoeating。’
　　’Agooddinnerisaverygoodthing，’saidJohn。Andthentherewasagainsilence。Hewasawarethatsomegreatsecretwastobetoldtohimthisevening，buthewasmuchtoodiscreettoshowanycuriosityuponthatsubject。Hesippedhisteatotheend，andthen，havinggotuptoputhiscupdown，stoodontherugwithhisbacktothefire。’Haveyoubeenouttoday？’heasked。
　　’IndeedIhave。’
　　’Andyouaretired。’
　　’Verytired。’
　　’ThenperhapsIhadbetternotkeepyouup。’
　　’Yourremainingwillmakenodifferenceinthatrespect。Idon’tsupposethatIshallbeinbedforthenextfourhours。Butdoasyoulikeaboutgoing。’
　　’Iaminnohurry，’saidJohnny。Thenhesatdownagain，stretchedouthislegsandmadehimselfcomfortable。
　　’Ihavebeentoseethatwoman，’saidMadalinaafterapause。
　　’Whatwoman？’
　　’MariaClutterbuck——asImustalwayscallher；forIcannotbringmyselftopronouncethenameofthatpoorwretchwhowasdonetodeath。’
　　’Heblewhisbrainsoutindeliriumtremens，’saidJohnny。
　　’Andwhatmadehimdrink？’saidMadalinawithemphasis。’Nevermind。I
　　declinealtogethertospeakofit。SuchasceneasIhavehad！IwasdrivenatlasttotellherwhatIthoughtofher。Anythingsocallous，soheartless，soselfish，sostone—cold，andsochildish，Ineversawbefore！ThatMariawaschildishandselfishIalwaysknew；——butI
　　thoughttherewassomeheart——avestigeofheart。Ifoundtodaythattherewasnone——none。Ifyoupleasewewon’tspeakofheranymore。’
　　’Certainlynot，’saidJohnny。
　　’YouneednotwonderthatIamtiredandfeverish。’
　　’Thatsortofthingisfatiguing，Idaresay。Idon’tknowwhetherwedonotlosemorethanwegainbythosestrongemotions。’
　　’Iwouldratherdieandgobeneaththesodatonce，thanlivewithoutthem，’saidMadalina。
　　’It’samatteroftaste，’saidJohnny。
　　’Itistherethatthepoorwretchissodeficient。Sheisthinkingnow，thismoment，ofnothingbuthercreaturecomforts。Thattragedyhasnotevenstirredherpulses。’
　　’Ifherpulseswerestirredeverso，thatwouldnotmakeherhappy。’
　　’Happy！Whoishappy？Areyouhappy？’
　　JohnnythoughtofLilyDaleandpausedbeforeheanswered。No；
　　certainlyhewasnothappy。ButhewasnotgoingtotalkabouthisunhappinesswithMissDemolines！’OfcourseIam；——asjollyasasandboy，’hesaid。
　　’MrEames，’saidMadalinaraisingherselfonhersofa，’ifyoucannotexpressyourselfinlanguagemoresuitabletotheoccasionandtothescenethanthat，Ithinkthatyouhadbetter——’
　　’Holdmytongue。’
　　’Justso；——thoughIshouldnothavechosenmyselftousewordssoabruptlydiscourteous。’
　　’WhatdidIsay：——jollyasasandboy？Thereisnothingwronginthat。
　　WhatImeantwasthatIthinkthattheworldisaverygoodsortofworld，andthatamancangetalonginitverywellifhemindshisp’sandq’s。’
　　’Butsupposeit’sawoman？’
　　’Easierstill。’
　　’Andsupposeshedoesnotmindherp’sandq’s？’
　　’Womenalwaysdo。’
　　’Dothey？Yourknowledgeofwomengoesasfarasthat，doesit？Tellmefairly；——doyouthinkyouknowanythingaboutwomen？’Madalinaassheaskedthequestion，lookedfullintohisface，andshookherlocksandsmiled。Whensheshookherlocksandsmiled，therewasacertainattractionaboutherofwhichJohnEameswasfullysensible。Shecouldthrowaspecialbrightnessintohereyes，which，thoughitprobablybetokenednothingbeyondill—naturedmischief，seemedtoconveyapromiseofwitandintellect。
　　’Idon’tmeantomakeanyboastaboutit，’saidJohnny。
　　’Idoubtwhetheryouknowanything。TheprettysimplicityofyourexcellentLilyDalehassufficedforyou。’
　　’Nevermindabouther，’saidJohnnyimpatiently。
　　’Idonotmindaboutherintheleast。Butaninsightintothatsortofsimplicitywillnotteachthecharacterofarealwoman。Youcannotlearntheflavourofwinesbysippingsherryandwater。FormyselfIdonotthinkthatIamsimple。Iownitfairly。Ifyoumusthavesimplicity，Icannotbetoyourtaste。’
　　’Nobodylikespartridgealways，’saidJohnny，laughing。
　　’Iunderstandyou，sir。Andthoughwhatyousayisnotcomplimentary，I
　　amwillingtoforgivethatfaultforitstruth。Idon’tconsidermyselftobealwaysapartridge，Icanassureyou。Iamaschangeableasthemoon。’
　　’Andasfickle？’
　　’Isaynothingaboutthat，sir。Ileaveyoutofindthatout。Itisaman’sbusinesstodiscoverthatforhimself。Ifyoureallydoknowaughtofwomen——’
　　’IdidnotsaythatIdid。’
　　’Butifyoudo，youwillperhapshavediscoveredthatawomanmaybeaschangeableasthemoon，andyetastrueasthesun；——thatshemayflitfromflowertoflower，quiteunheedingwhilenopassionexists，butthatapassionfixesheratonce。Doyoubelieveme？’Nowshelookedintohiseyesagain，butdidnotsmileanddidnotshakeherlocks。
　　’Oh，yes；——that’strueenough。Andwhentheyhavealotofchildren，thentheybecomesteadyasmilestones。’
　　’Children！’saidMadalina，gettingupandwalkingabouttheroom。
　　’Theydohavethem，youknow，’saidJohnny。
　　’Doyoumeantosay，sir，thatIshouldbeamilestone？’
　　’Afinger—post，’saidJohnny，’toshowafellowthewayheoughttogo。’
　　Shewalkedtwiceacrosstheroomwithoutspeaking。Thenshecameandstoodoppositehim，stillwithoutspeaking——andthenshewalkedaboutagain。’Whatcouldawomanbetterbe，thanafinger—post，asyoucallit，withsuchapurpose？’
　　’Nothingbetter，ofcourse；——thoughamilestonetotellafellowhisdistances，isverygood。’
　　’Psha！’
　　’Youdon’tliketheideaofbeingamilestone？’
　　’No！’
　　’Thenyoucanmakeupyourmindtobeafinger—post。’
　　’John，shallIbefinger—postforyou？。’Shestoodandlookedathimforamomentortwo，withhereyesfulloflove，asthoughsheweregoingtothrowherselfintohisarms。Andshewouldhavedoneso，nodoubt，instantly，hadherisentohislegs。Asitwas，afterhavinggazedathimforthemomentwithherlove—ladeneyes，sheflungherselfonthesofa，andhidherfaceamongthecushions。
　　Hehadfeltthatitwascomingforthelastquarterofanhour——andhehadfeltalso，thathewasquiteunabletohelphimself。HedidnotbelievethatheshouldeverbereducedtomarryingMissDemolines，buthedidseeplainlyenoughthathewasgettingintotrouble；andyet，forhislife，hecouldnothelphimself。Themothwhofluttersroundthelightknowsthatheisbeingburned，andyethecannotflyawayfromit。
　　WhenMadalinahadbeguntotalktohimaboutwomaningeneral，andthenaboutherself，andhadtoldhimthatsuchawomanasherself——evenonesoliabletothedisturbanceofviolentemotions——mightyetbeastrueandhonestasthesun，heknewheoughttogetupandmakehisescape。
　　Hedidnotexactlyknowhowthecatastrophewouldcome，buthewasquitesurethatifheremainedtherehewouldbecalledinsomewayforadeclarationofhissentiments——andthatthecallwouldbeonewhichallhiswitwouldnotenablehimtoanswerwithanycomfort。Itwasverywelljestingaboutmilestones，buteveryjestbroughthimnearertotheprecipice。Heperceivedthathoweverludicrousmightbetheimagewhichhiswordsproduced，shewascleverenoughinsomewaytoturnthatimagetoherownpurpose。Hehadcalledawomanafinger—post，andforthwithshehadofferedtocometohimandbeafinger—posttohimforlife！
　　Whatwashetosaytoher？Itwasclearthathemustsaysomething。Asatthismomentshewassobbingviolently，hecouldnotpasstheofferbyasajoke。Womenwillsaythathisanswershouldhavebeenverysimple，andhisescapeveryeasy。ButmenwillunderstandthatitisnoteasytorejectevenaMissDemolineswhensheoffersherselfformatrimony。And，moreover——asJohnnybethoughthimselfatthiscrisisofhisfate——LadyDemolineswasnodoubtattheothersideofthedrawing—roomdoor，readytostophim，shouldheattempttorunaway。Inthemeantimethesobsonthesofabecameviolent，andstillmoreviolent。Hehadnotevenyetmadeuphismindwhattodo，whenMadalina，springingtoherfeet，stoodbeforehim，withhercurlswildlywavingandherarmsextended。’Letitbeasthoughitwereunsaid，’sheexclaimed。JohnEameshadnottheslightestobjection；but，nevertheless，therewasadifficultyeveninthis。Werehesimplytoassenttothislatterproposition，itcouldnotbethatthefemininenatureofMissDemolineswouldbeoutragedbysouncomplimentaryanacquiescence。Hefeltthatheoughtatleasttohesitatealittle——tomakesomepretenceatclosingupontherichofferthathadbeenmadetohim；onlythatwerehetoshowanysuchpretencetherichofferwould，nodoubt，berepeated。HisMadalinahadtwittedhimintheearlierpartoftheirinterviewwithknowingnothingofthenatureofwomen。Hedidknowenoughtofeelassuredthatanyfalsesteponhispartnowwouldleadhimintoveryseriousdifficulties。’Letitbeasthoughitwereunsaid！Why，ohwhy，haveIbetrayedmyself？’
　　exclaimedMadalina。
　　Johnhadnowrisenfromhischair，andcominguptohertookherbythearmandspokeaword。’Composeyourself，’hesaid。Hespokeinhismostaffectionatevoice，andhestoodveryclosetoher。
　　’Howeasyitistobidmetodothat，’saidMadalina。’Telltheseatocomposeitselfwhenitrages。’
　　’Madalina！’saidhe。
　　’Well——whatofMadalina？Madalinahaslostherownrespect——forever。’
　　’Donotsaythat。’
　　’Oh，John——whydidyouevercomehere？Why？Whydidwemeetatthatfatalwoman’shouse？Or，meetingso，whydidwenotpartasstrangers？
　　Sir，whyhaveyoucomeheretomymother’shousedayafterday，eveningafterevening，if——Oh，heavens，whatamIsaying？Iwonderwhetheryouwillscornmealways？’
　　’Iwillneverscornyou。’
　　’Andyouwillpardonme？’
　　’Thereisnothingtopardon。’
　　’And——youwillloveme？’Then，withoutwaitingforanymoreencouragingreply——unable，probably，towaitamomentlonger，shesunkuponhisbosom。Hecaughtherofcourse——andatthatmomentthedrawing—roomdoorwasopened，andLadyDemolinesenteredthechamber。JohnEamesdetectedaglanceattheskirtoftheoldwhitedressinggownwhichhehadseenwhiskingawayontheoccasionofhislastvisittoPorchesterTerrace。
　　ButonthepresentoccasionLadyDemolinesworeoveritashortredoperacloak，andthecaponherheadwasornamentedwithcolouredribbons。’Whatisthis，’shesaid，’andwhyamIthusdisturbed？’
　　MadalinalaymotionlessinJohnny’sarms，whiletheoldwomangloweredathimfromunderthecolouredribbons。’MrEames，whatisthatI
　　behold？’shesaid。
　　’Yourdaughter，madam，seemstobealittleunwell，’saidJohnny。
　　Madalinakeptherfeetfirmontheground，butdidnotforamomentloseherpurchaseagainstJohnny’swaistcoat。Herrespirationcameverystrong，buttheycameagooddealstrongerwhenhementionedthefactthatshewasnotsowellasshemightbe。
　　’Unwell！’saidLadyDemolines。AndJohnwasstrickenatthemomentwithaconvictionthatherladyshipmusthavepassedtheearlypartofherlifeuponthestage。’Youwouldtriflewithme，sir。Bewarethatyoudonottriflewithher——withMadalina。’
　　’Mymother，’saidMadalina；butstillshedidnotgiveupherpurchase，andthevoiceseemedtocomehalffromherandhalffromJohnny。’Cometome，mymother。’ThenLadyDemolineshastenedtoherdaughter，andMadalinabetweenthemwasgraduallylaidatherlengthuponthesofa。
　　Theworkoflayingherout，however，wasleftalmostentirelytothestrongarmofMrJohnEames。’Thanks，mother，’saidMadalina；butshehadnotasyetopenedhereyes，evenforaninstant。’PerhapsIhadbettergonow，’saidJohnny。Theoldwomanlookedathimwitheyeswhichaskedwhether’hedidn’twishhemightgetit’asplainlyasthoughthewordshadbeenpronounced。’OfcourseI’llwaitifIcanbeofanyservice，’saidJohnny。