’After a fashion he does.  There is something imposing about such a man till you’re used to it, and can see through it.  Of course it’s all padding.  There are men who work, no doubt.  But among the bigwigs, and bishops and cabinet ministers, I fancy that the looking beautiful is the chief part of it.  Dear me, you don’t mean to say it’s luncheon time?’

But it was luncheon time, and not only had he not as yet said a word of all that which he had come to say, but had not as yet made any move towards getting it said.  How was he to arrange that Lily should be left alone with him?  Lady Julia had said that she should not expect him back till dinner-time, and he had answered her lackadaisically, ’I don’t suppose I shall be there above ten minutes.  The minutes will say all I’ve got to say, and do all I’ve got to do.  And then I suppose I shall go and cut names about bridges—­eh, Lady Julia?’ Lady Julia understood the words; for once, upon a former occasion, she had found him cutting Lily’s name on the rail of a wooden bridge in her brother’s grounds.  But he had now been a couple of hours at the Small House, and had not said a word of that which he had come to say.

‘Are you going to walk out with us after lunch?’ said Lily.

‘He will have had walking enough,’ said Mrs Dale.

‘We’ll convoy him part of the way,’ said Lily.

‘I’m not going yet,’ said Johnny, ‘unless you turn me out.’

‘But we must have our walk before it is dark,’ said Lily.

‘You might go up with him to your uncle,’ said Mrs Dale.  ’Indeed, I promised to go up there myself, and so did you, Grace, to see the microscope.  I heard Mr Dale give orders that one of those long-legged reptiles should be caught on purpose for your inspection.’

Mrs Dale’s little scheme for bringing the two together was very transparent, but it was not the less wise on that account.  Schemes will often be successful, let them be ever so transparent.  Little intrigues become necessary, not to conquer unwilling people, but people who are willing enough, who, nevertheless, cannot give way except under the machinations of an intrigue.

‘I don’t think I mind looking at the long-legged creature, today,’ said Johnny.

‘I must go of course,’ said Grace.

Lily said nothing at the moment, either about the long-legged creature or the walk.  That which must be, must be.  She knew well why John Eames had come there.  She knew that the visits to his mother and to Lady Julia would never have been made, but that he might have this interview.  And he had a right to demand, at any rate, as much as that.  That which must be, must be.  And therefore when both Mrs Dale and Grace stoutly maintained their purpose of going up to the squire, Lily neither attempted to persuade John to accompany them nor said that she would do so herself.

‘I will convoy you home myself,’ she said, ’and Grace, when she has done with the beetle, shall come and meet me.  Won’t you, Grace?’