“If you please, sir, my lady wants to know at what time you have ordered dinner.”

“At seven, Hannah.”

“My lady says she is very tired, and will lie down till dinner-time.”

“Very well, Hannah.  I will go into her room when it is time to dress.  I hope they are making you comfortable downstairs?”

Then Crosbie strolled out on the pier in the dusk of the cold winter evening.

CHAPTER XLVI

John Eames at His Office

Mr Crosbie and his wife went upon their honeymoon tour to Folkestone in the middle of February, and returned to London about the end of March.  Nothing of special moment to the interests of our story occurred during those six weeks, unless the proceedings of the young married couple by the sea-side may be thought to have any special interest.  With regard to those proceedings I can only say that Crosbie was very glad when they were brought to a close.  All holiday-making is hard work, but holiday-making with nothing to do is the hardest work of all.  At the end of March they went into their new house, and we will hope that Lady Alexandrina did not find it very cold.

During this time Lily’s recovery from her illness was being completed.  She had no relapse, nor did anything occur to create a new fear on her account.  But, nevertheless, Dr Crofts gave it as his opinion that it would be inexpedient to move her into a fresh house at Lady-day.  March is not a kindly month for invalids; and therefore with some regret on the part of Mrs Dale, with much impatience on that of Bell, and with considerable outspoken remonstrance from Lily herself, the squire was requested to let them remain through the month of April.  How the squire received this request, and in what way he assented to the doctor’s reasoning, will be told in the course of a chapter or two.

In the meantime John Eames had continued his career in London without much immediate satisfaction—­to himself, or to the lady who boasted to be his heart’s chosen queen.  Miss Amelia Roper, indeed, was becoming very cross, and in her ill-temper was playing a game that was tending to create a frightful amount of hot water in Burton Crescent.  She was devoting herself to a flirtation with Mr Cradell, not only under the immediate eyes of Johnny Eames, but also under those of Mrs Lupex.  John Eames, the blockhead, did not like it.  He was above all things anxious to get rid of Amelia and her claims; so anxious, that on certain moody occasions he would threaten himself with diverse tragical terminations to his career in London.  He would enlist.  He would go to Australia.  He would blow out his brains.  He would have “an explanation” with Amelia, tell her that she was a vixen, and proclaim his hatred.  He would rush down to Allington and throw himself in despair at Lily’s feet.  Amelia, was the bugbear of his life.  Nevertheless, when she flirted with Cradell, he did not like it, and was ass enough to speak to Cradell about it.