‘Are you going to Allington?’ he asked.  John Eames, with something of scorn in his voice, replied that he had no intention of going to Allington on that day.  He still thought that this man might be an emissary from Crosbie, and therefore resolved that but scant courtesy was due to him.  ‘I am on my way there now,’ said Grantly, ’and am going to the house of your friend.  May I tell her that I travelled with you yesterday?’

‘Yes, sir,’ said Johnny.  ’You may tell her that you came down with John Eames.’

‘And are you John Eames?’ asked the major.

‘If you have no objection,’ said Johnny.  ’But I can hardly suppose that you have heard of my name before?’

’It is familiar to me because I have the pleasure of knowing a cousin of yours, Grace Crawley.’

‘My cousin is at present staying at Allington with Mrs Dale,’ said Johnny.

‘Just so,’ said the major, who now began to reflect that he had been indiscreet in mentioning Grace Crawley’s name.  No doubt everyone connected with the family, all the Crawleys, all the Dales, and all the Eames’s, would soon know the business which had brought him down to Allngton; but he need not have taken the trouble of beginning the story himself.  John Eames, in truth, had never heard of Major Grantly’s name, and was quite unaware of the fortune which awaited his cousin.  Even after what he had now been told, he still suspected the stranger of being an emissary from his enemy; but the major, not giving him credit for his ignorance, was annoyed with himself for having told so much of his own history.  ’I will tell the ladies that I had the pleasure of meeting you,’ he said; ‘that is, if I am lucky enough to see them.’  And then he drove on.

‘I know I should hate that fellow if I were to meet him anywhere again,’ said Johnny to himself as he rode on.  ’When I take an aversion to a fellow at first sight, I always stick to it.  It’s instinct, I suppose.’  And he was still giving himself credit for the strength of his instincts when he reached Lady Julia’s cottage.  He rode at once into the stable-yard, with the privilege of an accustomed friend of the house, and having given up his horse, entered the cottage by the back door.  ’Is my lady at home, Jemima?’ he said to the maid.

’Yes, Mr John; she is in the drawing-room, and friends of yours are with her.’  Then he was announced, and found himself in the presence of Lady Julia, Lily Dale, and Grace Crawley.

He was very warmly received.  Lady Julia really loved him dearly, and would have done anything in her power to bring about a match between him and Lily.  Grace was his cousin, and though she had not seen him often, she was prepared to love him dearly as Lily’s lover.  And Lily—­Lily loved him dearly too—­if only she could have brought herself to love him as he wished to be loved!  To all of them Johnny Eames was something of a hero.  At any rate in the eyes of all of them he possessed those virtues which seemed to them to justify them in petting him and making much of him.