"No," said Lily, out loud. "Lily Dale is not engaged to marry John
Eames, and never will be so engaged." She was almost tempted to sit
down and write the required answer to Miss M. D. Though the letter
had been destroyed, she well remembered the number of the post-office
in the Edgware Road. Poor John Eames.

That evening she told Emily Dunstable that she thought she would like
to return to Allington before the day that had been appointed for
her. "But why," said Emily, "should you be worse than your word?"

"I daresay it will seem silly, but the fact is I am homesick. I'm not
accustomed to be away from mama for so long."

"I hope it is not what occurred to-day at the picture-gallery."

"I won't deny that it is that in part."

"That was a strange accident, you know, that might never occur
again."

"It has occurred twice already, Emily."

"I don't call the affair in the park anything. Anybody may see
anybody else in the Park, of course. He was not brought so near you
that he could annoy you there. You ought certainly to wait till Mr
Eames has come back from Italy."

Then Lily decided that she must and would go back to Allington on the
next Monday, and she actually did write a letter to her mother that
night to say that such was her intention. But on the morrow her heart
was less sore, and the letter was not sent.

CHAPTER LX

The End of Jael and Sisera

[Illustration]

There was to be one more sitting for the picture, as the reader will
remember, and the day for that sitting had arrived. Conway Dalrymple
had in the meantime called at Mrs. Van Siever's house, hoping that
he might be able to see Clara, and make his offer there. But he had
failed in his attempt to reach her. He had found it impossible to say
all that he had to say in the painting-room, during the very short
intervals which Mrs. Broughton left to him. A man should be allowed to
be alone more than fifteen minutes with a young lady on the occasion
in which he offers to her his hand and his heart; but hitherto he
had never had more than fifteen minutes at his command; and then
there had been the turban! He had also in the meantime called on Mrs
Broughton, with the intention of explaining to her that if she really
intended to favour his views in respect to Miss Van Siever, she ought
to give him a little more liberty for expressing himself. On this
occasion he had seen his friend, but had not been able to go as
minutely as he wished into