’Imustknowmoreofthis，sir，beforeyouleavethehouse，’saidLadyDemolines。Hesawthatbetweenthemboththeremightprobablybeaverybadquarterofanhourinstoreforhim；buthesworetohimselfthatnounionofdragonandtigressshouldextractfromhimawordthatcouldbetakenasapromiseofmarriage。
Theoldwomanwasnowkneelingbytheheadofthesofa，andJohnnywasstandingclosebyherside。SuddenlyMadalinaopenedhereyes——openedthemverywide，andgazedaroundher。Thenslowlysheraisedherselfonthesofa，andturnedherfacefirstuponhermotherandthenuponJohnny。’Youhere，mamma！’shesaid。
’Dearestone，Iamnearyou。Benotafraid，’saidherladyship。
’Afraid！WhyshouldIbeafraid？John！MyownJohn！Mamma，heismyown。’Andsheputoutherarmstohim，asthoughcallingtohimtocometoher。ThingswerenowverybadwithJohnEames——sobadthathewouldhavegivenaveryconsiderablelumpoutofLordDeGuest’slegacytobeabletoescapeatonceintothestreet。Thepowerofawoman，whenshechoosestouseitrecklessly，is，forthemoment，almostunbounded。
’Ihopeyoufindyourselfalittlebetter，’saidJohn，strugglingtospeak，asthoughhewerenotutterlycrushedbytheoccasion。