Johnny was informed by the boy in buttons, who opened the door for him at Lady Demolines’, that the ladies were at home, and he was shown up into the drawing-room.  Here he was allowed full ten minutes to explore the knick-knacks on the table, and open the photograph book, and examine the furniture, before Miss Demolines made her appearance.  When she did come, her hair was tangled more marvellously even than when he saw at the dinner-party, and her eyes were darker, and her cheeks thinner.  ’I’m afraid mamma won’t be able to come down,’ said Miss Demolines.  ’She will be so sorry but she is not quite well today.  The wind is in the east, she says, and when she says the wind is in the east she always refuses to be well.’

‘Then I should tell her it is in the west.’

‘But it is in the east.’

’Ah, there I can’t help you, Miss Demolines.  I never know which is east, and which is west; and if I did, I shouldn’t know from which point the wind blew.’

’At any rate mamma can’t come downstairs, and you must excuse her.  What a very nice woman Mrs Dobbs Broughton is.’  Johnny acknowledged that Mrs Dobbs Broughton was charming.  ‘And Mr Broughton is so good-natured!’ Johnny again assented.  ‘I like him of all things,’ said Miss Demolines.  ‘So do I,’ said Johnny;—­’I never liked anybody so much in my life.  I suppose one is bound to say that kind of thing.’  ’Oh, you ill-natured man,’ said Miss Demollines.  ’I suppose you think that poor Mr Broughton is a little—­just a little—­you know what I mean.’

‘Not exactly,’ said Johnny.

’Yes, you do; you know very well what I mean.  And of course he is.  How can he help it?’

’Poor fellow—­no.  I don’t suppose he can help it, or he would; —­wouldn’t he?’

’Of course Mr Broughton had not the advantage of birth or much early education.  All his friends know that, and make allowance accordingly.  When she married him, she was aware of his deficiency, and made up her mind to put up with it.’

‘It was very kind of her; don’t you think so?’

’I knew Maria Clutterbuck for years before she was married.  Of course she was very much my senior, but, nevertheless, we were friends.  I think I was hardly more than twelve years old when I first began to correspond with Maria.  She was then past twenty.  So you see, Mr Eames, I make no secret of my age.’

‘Why should you?’

’But never mind that.  Everybody knows that Maria Clutterbuck was very much admired.  Of course I’m not going to tell you or any other gentleman all her history.’

‘I was in hopes you were.’

’Then certainly your hopes will be frustrated, Mr Eames.  But undoubtedly when she told us that she was going to take Dobbs Broughton, we were a little disappointed.  Maria Clutterbuck had been used to a better kind of life.  You understand what I mean, Mr Eames?’

‘Oh, exactly;—­and yet it’s not a bad kind of life, either.’