“Oh, indeed!” said Mrs Roper.  “An ’appy woman your mother will be when she hears it.  But I always said you’d come down right side uppermost.”

“Handsome is as handsome does,” said Miss Spruce.

“Oh, Mr Eames!” exclaimed Mrs Lupex, with graceful enthusiasm, “I wish you joy from the very depth of my heart.  It is such an elegant appointment.”

“Accept the hand of a true and disinterested friend,” said Lupex.  And Johnny did accept the hand, though it was very dirty and stained all over with paint.

Amelia stood apart and conveyed her congratulations by glance,—­or, I might better say, by a series of glances.  “And now,—­now will you not be mine,” the glances said; “now that you are rolling in wealth and prosperity?” And then before they went downstairs she did whisper one word to him.  “Oh, I am so happy, John;—­so very happy.”

“Bother!” said Johnny, in a tone quite loud enough to reach the lady’s ear.  Then making his way round the room, he gave his arm to Miss Spruce.  Amelia, as she walked downstairs alone, declared to herself that she would wring his heart.  She had been employed in wringing it for some days past, and had been astonished at her own success.  It had been clear enough to her that Eames had been piqued by her overtures to Cradell, and she had therefore to play out that game.

“Oh, Mr Cradell,” she said, as she took her seat next to him.  “The friends I like are the friends that remain always the same.  I hate your sudden rises.  They do so often make a man upsetting.”

“I should like to try, myself, all the same,” said Cradell.

“Well, I don’t think it would make any difference in you; I don’t indeed.  And, of course, your time will come too.  It’s that earl as has done it,—­he that was worried by the bull.  Since we have known an earl we have been so mighty fine.”  And Amelia gave her head a little toss, and then smiled archly, in a manner which, to Cradell’s eyes, was really very becoming.  But he saw that Mrs Lupex was looking at him from the other side of the table, and he could not quite enjoy the goods which the gods had provided for him.

When the ladies left the dining-room Lupex and the two young men drew their chairs near the fire, and each prepared for himself a moderate potation.  Eames made a little attempt at leaving the room, but he was implored by Lupex with such earnest protestations of friendship to remain, and was so weakly fearful of being charged with giving himself airs, that he did as he was desired.

“And here, Mr Eames, is to your very good health,” said Lupex, raising to his mouth a steaming goblet of gin-and-water, “and wishing you many years to enjoy your official prosperity.”

“Thank ye,” said Eames.  “I don’t know much about the prosperity, but I’m just as much obliged.”

“Yes, sir; when I see a young man of your age beginning to rise in the world, I know he’ll go on.  Now look at me, Mr Eames.  Mr Cradell, here’s your very good health, and may all unkindness be drowned in the flowing bowl.  Look at me, Mr Eames.  I’ve never risen in the world.  I’ve never done any good in the world, and never shall.”