attention is riveted. If you were to wear a cap, my dear, somebody would see the difference very soon—wouldn't they, Miss Spruce?'
'I dare say they would,' said Miss Spruce.
'If I could look as nice in a cap as you do, Mrs Lupex, I'd wear one to-morrow,' said Amelia, who did not wish to quarrel with the married lady at the present moment. There were occasions, however, on which Mrs Lupex and Miss Roper were by no means so gracious to each other.
'Does Lupex like caps?' asked Cradell.
'If I wore a plumed helmet on my head, it's my belief he wouldn't know the difference; nor yet if I had got no head at all. That's what comes of getting married. It you'll take my advice, Miss Roper, you'll stay as you are; even though somebody should break his heart about it. Wouldn't you, Miss Spruce?'
'Oh, as for me, I'm an old woman, you know,' said Miss Spruce, which was certainly true.
'I don't see what any woman gets by marrying,' continued Mrs Lupex. 'But a man gains everything. He don't know how to live, unless he's got a woman to help him.'
'But is love to go for nothing?' said Cradell.
'Oh, love! I don't believe in love. I suppose I thought I loved once, but what did it come to after all? Now, there's Mr Eames—we all know he's in love.'
'It comes natural to me, Mrs Lupex. I was born so,' said Johnny.
'And there's Miss Roper—one never ought to speak free about a lady, but perhaps she's in love too.'
'Speak for yourself, Mrs Lupex,' said Amelia.
'There's no harm in saying that, is there? I'm sure, if you ain't, you're very hard-hearted; for, if ever there was a true lover, I believe you've got one of your own. My!—if there's not Lupex's step on the stair! What can bring him home at this hour? If he's been drinking, he'll come home as cross as anything.' Then Mr Lupex entered the room, and the pleasantness of the party was destroyed.
It may be said that neither Mrs Cradell nor Mrs Eames would have placed their sons in Burton Crescent if they had known the dangers into which the young men would fall. Each, it must be acknowledged, was imprudent; but each clearly saw the imprudence of the other. Not a week before this, Cradell had seriously warned his friend against the arts of Miss Roper. 'By George, Johnny, you'll get yourself entangled with that girl.'
'One always has to go through that sort of thing,' said Johnny.
'Yes; but those who go through too much of it never get out again. Where would you be if she got a written promise of marriage from you?' Poor Johnny did not answer this immediately, for in very truth Amelia Roper had such a document in her possession.
'Where should I be?' said he. 'Among the breaches of promise, I suppose.'
'Either that, or else among the victims of matrimony. My belief of you is, that if you gave such a promise, you'd carry it out.'
'Perhaps I should,' said Johnny; 'but I don't know. It's a matter of doubt what a man ought to do in such a case.'
'But there's been nothing of that kind yet?'
'Oh dear, no!'
'If I was you, Johnny, I'd keep away from her. It's very good fun, of course, that sort of thing; but it is so uncommon dangerous! Where would you be now with such a girl as that for your wife?'
Such had been the caution given by Cradell to his friend. And now, just as he was starting for Allington, Eames returned the compliment. They had gone together to the Great Western station at Paddington, and Johnny tendered his advice as they were walking together up and down the platform.
'I say, Caudle, old boy, you'll find yourself in trouble with that Mrs Lupex, if you don't take care of yourself.'
'But I shall take care of myself. There's nothing so safe as a little nonsense with a married woman. Of course, it means nothing, you know, between her and me.'
'I don't suppose it does mean anything. But she's always talking about Lupex being jealous; and if he was to cut up rough, you wouldn't find it pleasant.'
Cradell, however, seemed to think that there was no danger. His little affair with Mrs Lupex was quite platonic and safe. As for doing any real harm, his principles, as he assured his friend, were too high. Mrs Lupex was a woman of talent, whom no one seemed to understand, and, therefore, he had taken some pleasure in studying
