In very much she was bound to yield to him, and she was anxious to do on his behalf even more than her duty.

But yet she had a strong conviction that it would not be well that she should give way to him in everything.

She wished to think as he thought as far as possible, but she could not say that she agreed with him when she knew that she differed from him.

John Eames was an old friend whom she could not abandon, and so much at the present time she felt herself obliged to say.
"But, Adolphus--" "Well, dearest ?" "You would not wish me to be unkind to so very old a friend as John Eames?
I have known him all my life, and we have all of us had a very great regard for the whole family.

His father was my uncle's most particular friend." "I think, Lily, you must understand what I mean.