# Johnny Eames — The Last Chronicle of Barset character guide > Johnny Eames in The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope. **Role:** major **Also known as:** John Eames, poor Johnny Eames, Eames, Poor Johnny **First appearance:** 0014-xv-up-in-london ## Snapshot The London clerk from Barsetshire who loves Lily Dale hopelessly while juggling office politics, family honor, and the schemes of a determined mother. ## Who they are Johnny Eames is a young private secretary at the Income Tax Office, risen from humble origins through the patronage of his cousin Lord De Guest. He has loved Lily Dale since childhood and cannot stop, even though she has refused him repeatedly and made clear that her heart is closed. His willingness to risk his position by defying Sir Raffle Buffle to travel to Florence on family business reveals both his impulsive loyalty and his growing willingness to act like a man rather than a boy. ## Relationships ### [Grace Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/grace_crawley) _friendship_ Johnny Eames is a kind friend to Grace Crawley, offering support without romantic expectations. ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _friendship_ Johnny Eames admires Mr. Crawley and works to help clear his name, showing loyalty and respect. ### [Grace Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/grace_crawley) _friendship_ Johnny Eames is a kind friend to Grace Crawley, offering support without romantic expectations. ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _friendship_ Johnny Eames admires Mr. Crawley and works to help clear his name, showing loyalty and respect. ### [Grace Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/grace_crawley) _friendship_ Johnny Eames is a kind friend to Grace Crawley, offering support without romantic expectations. ### [Mr. Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/mr_crawley) _friendship_ Johnny Eames admires Mr. Crawley and works to help clear his name, showing loyalty and respect. ## In the story ### [Grace Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/vi-grace-crawley) Grace's cousin in London, who is in love with Lily Dale, though Lily has not returned his affection. ### [Up in London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xv-up-in-london) Now a private secretary with a comfortable income and inheritance, he is troubled by news that Lily Dale may be thinking again of Crosbie. ### [Down at Allington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xvi-down-at-allington) Mentioned as being long and steadily in love with Lily; his health is drunk at the Christmas dinner. ### [Mrs. Dobbs Broughton's Dinner-Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxiv-mrs-dobbs-broughton-s-dinner-party) Now risen in society as a private secretary and friend of Conway Dalrymple, he dines at the Dobbs Broughtons' and jokes about the Van Sievers' wealth. ### [Miss Madalina Demolines](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxv-miss-madalina-demolines) Visits Dalrymple's studio and later calls on Miss Demolines; defends his loyalty to Lily Dale and becomes intrigued by Miss Demolines's warnings. ### [The Picture](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxvi-the-picture) Mentioned as having criticized Dalrymple's sketch as 'confused.' ### [A Hero at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxvii-a-hero-at-home) Travels to Guestwick to propose to Lily Dale; is treated as a hero by his mother and sister. ### [Miss Lily Dale's Logic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxix-miss-lily-dale-s-logic) John arrives at Lady Julia's cottage hoping to see Lily Dale. He is disappointed when Lily leaves early, believing she is avoiding him. He confides in Lady Julia about his frustration and lingering feelings for Lily. ### [XXXI: Showing How Major Grantly Returned to Guestwick](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxi-showing-how-major-grantly-returned-to-guestwick) Meets Major Grantly on the road and deduces that the Major is courting Grace Crawley, reflecting on the potential match. ### [Lily Dale Writes Two Words in Her Book](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxv-lily-dale-writes-two-words-in-her-book) Johnny presses his suit to Lily, is rejected, but resolves to continue hoping; later confides in Lady Julia. ### [Jael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxviii-jael) Mentioned as a possible model for Sisera in the painting. ### [A New Flirtation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xxxix-a-new-flirtation) Returns to London, corresponds with Miss Demolines, visits her, and later confronts Sir Raffle Buffle at the office. ### [Mr. Toogood's Ideas About Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xl-mr-toogood-s-ideas-about-society) Dines with his uncle and discusses Mr. Crawley's case, defending Crawley's character and questioning the evidence. ### [Lily Dale Goes to London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlv-lily-dale-goes-to-london) John visits the squire and Lily, explaining his trip to Italy to find Dean Arabin and help Mr. Crawley; he is praised by Lily for his generosity but leaves without a private word. ### [The Bayswater Romance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlvi-the-bayswater-romance) Hurries from Lily Dale to visit Miss Demolines, feeling both ashamed and proud of his Bayswater romance. He is confronted about his relationship with Lily and warned about Dalrymple's picture. ### [The Softness of Sir Raffle Buffle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/xlviii-the-softness-of-sir-raffle-buffle) Determined to travel to Italy and Jerusalem despite Sir Raffle's initial refusal; successfully secures leave by explaining the Crawley case. ### [Why Don’t You Have an “It” for Yourself?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lii-why-don-t-you-have-an-it-for-yourself) Praised by Mrs. Thorne for his role in the Crawley case; Lily's opinion of him rises. ### [A Lady Presents Her Compliments to Miss L. D.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lix-a-lady-presents-her-compliments-to-miss-l-d) Referenced in the anonymous letter and in Lily's thoughts; his note to M.D. is enclosed. ### [LXX: Mrs. Arabin Is Caught](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxx-mrs-arabin-is-caught) Meets Mrs. Arabin in Venice and learns the truth about the cheque; accompanies her back to England. ### [Madalina's Heart Is Bleeding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxv-madalina-s-heart-is-bleeding) Returns to London, visits Mrs. Toogood, then goes to Madalina Demolines' house in the evening. ### [I Think He Is Light of Heart](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxvi-i-think-he-is-light-of-heart) Returns to London; Mrs. Arabin advocates for him to Lily, but Lily remains unmoved due to his correspondence with Miss Demolines. ### [The Shattered Tree](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxvii-the-shattered-tree) Visits Mrs. Arabin for advice, then lunches with Mr. Toogood, and finally proposes to Lily Dale, only to be rejected again. ### [Miss Demolines Desires to Become a Finger-Post](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxx-miss-demolines-desires-to-become-a-finger-post) Struggles with heartbreak after Lily Dale's rejection, attempts to distract himself with work and Homer, but is drawn into a compromising situation with Miss Demolines. ### [LXXXIV: Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/chapters/lxxxiv-conclusion) Remains a bachelor; throws over Sir Raffle Buffle but keeps his office; ignores Madalina Demolines's letters. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters/johnny_eames - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_last_chronicle_of_barset_se/characters