u, Mrs. Arabin, I
felt that poor woman's death so much! She used to regard me as one
of the staunchest of the Proudieites! She once whispered to me such
a delightfully wicked story about the dean and the archdeacon. When
I told her that they were my particular friends, she put on a look
of horror. But I don't think she believed me." Then Emily Dunstable
entered the room, and with her came Lily Dale. Mrs. Arabin had never
before seen Lily, and of course they were introduced. "I am sorry to
say Miss Dale is going home to Allington to-morrow," said Emily. "But
she is coming to Chaldicotes in May," said Mrs. Thorne. "Of course,
Mrs. Arabin, you know what gala doings we are going to have in May?"
Then there were various civil little speeches made on each side, and
Mrs. Arabin expressed a wish that she might meet Miss Dale again in
Barsetshire. But all this did not bring her at all nearer to her
object.

"I particularly wish to say a word to Miss Dale,--here to-day, if she
will allow me," said Mrs. Arabin.

"I'm sure she will,--twenty words; won't you, Lily?" said Mrs
Thorne, preparing to leave the room. Then Mrs. Arabin apologised,
and Mrs. Thorne, bustling up, said that it did not signify, and
Lily, remaining quite still on the sofa, wondered what it was all
about,--and in two minutes Lily and Mrs. Arabin were alone together.
Lily had just time to surmise that Mrs. Arabin's visit must have some
reference to Mr. Crosbie,--remembering that Crosbie had married his
wife out of Barsetshire, and forgetting altogether that Mrs. Arabin
had been just brought home from Italy by John Eames.

"I am afraid, Miss Dale, you will think me very impertinent," said
Mrs. Arabin.

"I am sure I shall not think that," said Lily.

"I believe you knew, before Mr. Eames started, that he was going to
Italy to find me and my husband?" said Mrs. Arabin. Then Lily put Mr
Crosbie altogether out of her head, and became aware that he was not
to be the subject of the coming conversation. She was almost sorry
that it was so. There was no doubt in her mind as to what she would
have said to any one who might have taken up Crosbie's cause. On
that matter she could now have given a very decisive answer in a
few words. But on that other matter she was much more in doubt. She
remembered, however, every word of the note she had received from M.
D. She remembered also the words of John's note to that young woman.
And her heart was still hard against him. "Yes