triumphantly。’AndthenI

feltsureatthetimethatIhadleftitatCrawley’shouse！’

MrWalkerwrotealettertothedean，whoatthatmomentwasinFlorence，onhiswaytoRome，fromwhencehewasgoingontotheHolyLand。TherecamebackaletterfromMrArabin，sayingthatonthe17thMarchhehadgiventoMrCrawleyasumoffiftypoundsandthatthepaymenthadbeenmadeinfiveBankofEnglandnotesoftenpoundseach，whichhadbeenhandedtohisfriendinthelibraryatthedeanery。Theletterwasveryshort，and，may，perhaps，bedescribedashavingbeenalmostcurt。MrWalker，inhisanxietytodothebesthecouldforMrCrawley，hadsimplyaskedaquestionastothenatureofthetransactionbetweenthetwogentlemen，sayingthatnodoubtthedean’sanswerwouldclearupalittlemysterywhichexistedatpresentrespectingachequefortwentypounds。Thedeaninanswersimplystatedthefactasithadbeengivenabove；buthewrotetoMrCrawleybeggingtoknowwhatwasintruththisnewdifficulty，andofferinganyassistanceinhispower。Heexplainedallthecircumstancesofthemoney，asherememberedthem。Thesunadvancedhadcertainlyconsistedoffiftypounds，andtherehadcertainlybeenfiveBankofEnglandnotes。Hehadputthenotesintoanenvelope，whichhehadnotclosed，buthadaddressedtoMrCrawley，andhadplacedthisenvelopeinhisfriend’shands。HewentontosaythatMrsArabinwouldhavewritten，butthewasinPariswithherson。MrsArabinwastoremaininParisduringhisabsenceintheHolyLand，andmeethiminItalyonhisreturn。Asshewassomuchnearerathand，thedeanexpressedahopethatMrsCrawleywouldapplytoheriftherewasanytrouble。

ThelettertoMrWalkerwasconclusiveastothedean’smoney。MrCrawleyhadnotreceivedLordLufton’schequefromthedean。Thenwhencehadhereceivedit？Thepoorwifewasleftbythelawyertoobtainfurtherinformationfromherhusband。Ah，whocantellhowterriblewerethescenesbetweenthatpoorpairofwretches，asthewifeendeavouredtolearnthetruthfromhermiserable，half—maddenedhusband！Thatherhusbandhadbeenhonestthroughout，shehadnotanyshadowofdoubt。Shedidnotdoubtthattoheratleastheendeavouredtotellthetruth，asfarashispoorrackedimperfectmemorywouldallowhimtorememberwhatwastrueandwhatwasnottrue。Theupshotofitallwasthatthehusbanddeclaredthathestillbelievedthatthemoneyhadcometohimfromthedean。Hehadkeptitbyhim，notwishingtouseitifhecouldhelpit。Hehadforgottenit——sohesaidattimes——havingunderstoodfromArabinthathewastohavefiftypounds，andhavingreceivedmore。

Ifithadnotcometohimfromthedean，thenithadbeensenttohimbythePrinceofEvilforhisutterundoing；andthereweretimesinwhichheseemedtothinkthatsuchhadbeenthemannerinwhichthefatalchequehadreachedhim。Inallthathesaidhewasterriblyconfused，contradictory，unintelligible——speakingalmostasamadmanmightspeak——endingalwaysindeclaringthatthecrueltyoftheworldhadbeentoomuchforhim，thatthewatersweremeetingoverhishead，andprayingtoGod’smercytoremovehimfromthisworld。Itneedhardlybesaidthathispoorwifeinthesedayshadaburdenonhershouldersthatwasmorethanenoughtocrushanywoman。

SheatlastacknowledgedtoMrWalkerthatshecouldnotaccountforthetwentypounds。Sheherselfwouldwriteagaintothedeanaboutit，butshehardlyhopedforanyfurtherassistancethere。’Thedean’sanswerwasplain，’saidMrWalker。’HesaysthathegaveMrCrawleyfiveten—poundnotes，andthosefivenoteswehavetracedtoMrCrawley’shands。’ThenMrsCrawleycouldsaynothingfurtherbeyondmakingprotestationsofherhusband’sinnocence。

CHAPTERII

BYHEAVENS，HEHADBETTERNOT！

ImustaskthereadertomakeacquaintancewithMajorGrantlyofCosbyLodge，beforeheisintroducedtothefamilyofMrCrawley，attheirparsonageatHogglestock。IthasbeensaidthatMajorGrantlyhadthrownafavourableeyeonGraceCrawley——bywhichreportoccasionwasgiventoallmenandwomeninthosepartstohintthattheCrawleys，withalltheirpietyandhumility，wereverycunning，andthatoneoftheGrantlyswas——tosaytheleastofit——verysoft，admittedasitwasthroughoutthecountyofBarsetshire，thattherewasnofamilythereinmorewidelyawaketotheaffairsgenerallyofthisworldandthenextcombined，thanthefamilyofwhichArchdeaconGrantlywastherespectedheadandpatriarch。MrsWalker，themostgood—naturedwomaninSilverbridge，hadacknowledgedtoherdaughterthatshecouldnotunderstandit——thatshecouldnotseeanythingatallinGraceCrawley。

MrWalkerhadshruggedhisshouldersandexpressedaconfidentbeliefthatMajorGrantlyhadnotashillingofhisownbeyondhishalf—payandhislatewife’sfortune，whichwasonlysixthousandpounds。Others，whowereill—natured，haddeclaredthatGraceCrawleywaslittlebetterthanabeggar，andthatshecouldnotpossiblyhaveacquiredthemannersofagentlewoman。Fletcherthebutcherhadwonderedwhetherthemajorwouldpayhisfuturefather—in—law’sdebts；andDrTempest，theoldRectorofSilverbridge，whosefourdaughterswereallasyetunmarried，hadturneduphisoldnose，andhadhintedthathalf—paymajorsdidnotgetcaughtinmarriagesoeasilyasthat。

SuchandsuchlikehadbeentheexpressionsoftheopinionsofmenandwomeninSilverbridge。ButthematterhadbeendiscussedfurtherafieldthanatSilverbridge，andhadbeenallowedtointrudeitselfasamostunwelcomesubjectintothefamilyconclaveofthearchdeacon’srectory。

Tothosewhohavenotasyetlearnedthefactfromthepubliccharacterandwell—appreciatedreputationoftheman，letitbeknownthatArchdeaconGrantlywasatthistime，ashehadbeenformanyyearspreviously，ArchdeaconofBarchesterandRectorofPlumsteadEpiscopi。A

richandprosperousmanhehadevenbeen——thoughhealsohadhadhissoretroubles，asweallhave——hishavingarisenchieflyfromwantofthathigherecclesiasticalpromotionwhichhissoulhadcoveted，andforwhichthewholetenorofhislifehadespeciallyfittedhim。Now，inhisgreenoldage，hehadceasedtocovet，buthadnotceasedtorepine。Hehadceasedtocovetaughtforhimself，butstillcovetedmuchforhischildren；andforhimsuchamarriageasthiswhichwasnowsuggestedforhisson，wasencompassedalmostwiththebitternessofdeath。’I

thinkitwouldkillme，’hesaidtohiswife；’byheavens，Ithinkitwouldbemydeath！’

Adaughterofthearchdeaconhadmadeasplendidmatrimonialalliance——sosplendidthatitshistorywasatthetimeknowntoallthearistocracyofthecounty，andhadnotbeenaltogetherforgottenbyanyofthosewhokeepthemselveswellinstructedinthedetailsofthepeerage。GriseldaGrantlyhadmarriedLordDumbello，theeldestdonoftheMarquisofHartletop——thanwhomnoEnglishnoblemanwasmorepuissant，ifbroadacres，manycastles，hightitle，andstarsandribbonsareanysignofpuissance——andshewasnow，herself，MarchionessofHartletop，withalittleLordDumbelloofherown。Thedaughter’svisitstotheparsonageofherfatherwereofnecessityrare，suchnecessityhavingcomefromherownalteredsphereoflife。AMarchionessofHartletophasspecialdutieswhichwillhardlypermithertodevoteherselffrequentlytothehumdrumsocietyofaclericalmotherandfather。Thatitwouldbeso，fatherandmotherhadunderstoodwhentheysentthefortunategirlforthtoahigherworld。But，nowandagain，sinceheraugustmarriage，shehadlaidhercoronetedheadupononeoftheoldrectorypillowsforanightorso，and，onsuchoccasionsallthePlumsteadianshadbeenloudinpraiseofhercondescension。Nowithappenedthatwhenthissecondandmoreaggravatedblastoftheevilwindreachedtherectory——therenewedwaftastoMajorGrantly’sinfatuationregardingMissGraceCrawley，which，onitsrenewal，seemedtobringwithitsomethingofaconfirmation——itchanced，Isay，thatatthatmomentGriselda，MarchionessofHartletop，wasgracingthepaternalmansion。

Iamnotquitesurethatthemotherwouldhavebeenequallyquicktoaskherdaughter’sadvice，hadshebeenleftinthematterentirelytoherownpropensities。MrsGrantlyhadeverlovedherdaughterdearly，andhadbeenveryproudofthatgreatsuccessinlifewhichGriseldahadachieved；butinlateyears，thechildhadbecome，asawoman，separatefromthemother，andtherehadarisennotunnaturally，abreakofthatcloseconfidencewhichinearlyyearshadexistedbetweenthem。

Griselda，MarchionessofHartletop，wasmorethaneverthedaughterofthearchdeacon，eventhoughhemightneverseeher。Nothingcouldrobhimofthehonourofsuchaprogeny——nothing，eventhoughtherehadbeenanactualestrangementbetweenthem。ButitwasnotsowithMrsGrantly。

Griseldahaddoneverywell，andMrsGrantlyhadrejoiced；butshehadlostherchild。Nowthemajor，whohaddonewellalso，thoughinamuchlesserdegree，wasstillherchild，movinginthesamesphereoflifewithher，stilldependentinagreatdegreeuponhisfather’sbounty，aneighbourinthecounty，afrequentvisitorattheparsonage，andavisitorwhocouldbereceivedwithoutanyofthattroublethatattendedtheunfrequentcomingsofGriselda，theMarchioness，tothehomeofheryouth。AndforthisreasonMrsGrantly，terriblyputoutasshewasattheideaofamarriagebetweenhersonandonestandingsopoorlyintheworld’sesteemasGraceCrawley，wouldnothavebroughtforwardthematterbeforeherdaughter，hadshebeenlefttoherowndesires。A

marchionessinone’sfamilyisatowerofstrength，nodoubt；buttherearecounsellorssostrongthatwedonotwishtotrustthem，lestinthetrustingweourselvesbeoverwhelmedbytheirstrength。NowMrsGrantlywasbynomeanswillingtothrowherinfluenceintothehandsofhertitleddaughter。

Butthetitleddaughterwasconsultedandgaveheradvice。OntheoccasionofthepresentvisittoPlumsteadshehadconsentedtolayherheadfortwonightsontheparsonagepillows，andonthesecondeveningherbrotherthemajorwastocomeoverfromCosbyLodgetomeether。

BeforehiscomingtheaffairofGraceCrawleywasdiscussed。

’Itwouldbreakmyheart，Griselda，’saidthearchdeacon，piteously——’andyourmother’s。’

’Thereisnothingagainstthegirl’scharacter，’saidMrsGrantly，’andthefatherandmotheraregentlefolkbybirth；butsuchamarriageforHenrywouldbeunseemly。’

’Tomakeitworse，thereisaterriblestoryabouthim，’saidthearchdeacon。

’Idon’tsupposethereismuchinthat，’saidMrsGrantly。

’Ican’tsay。Thereisnoknowing。TheytoldmetodayinBarchesterthatSoamesispressingacaseagainsthim。’

’WhoisSoames，papa？’askedthemarchioness。

’HeisLordLufton’smanofbusiness，mydear。’

’Oh，LordLufton’smanofbusiness！’Therewassomethingofasneerinthetoneofthelady’svoiceasshementionedLordLufton’sname。

’Iamtold，’continuedthearchdeacon，’thatSoamesdeclaresthechequewastakenfromapocket—bookwhichheleftbyaccidentinCrawley’shouse。’

’Youdon’tmeantosay，archdeacon，thatyouthinkthatMrCrawley——aclergyman——stoleit！’saidMrsGrantly。

’Idon’tsayanythingofthekind，mydear。ButsupposingMrCrawleytobeashonestasthesun，youwouldn’twishHenrytomarryhisdaughter。’

’Certainlynot，’saidthemother。’Itwouldbeanunfittingmarriage。

Thepoorgirlhasnoadvantages。’

’Heisnotabletopaythebaker’sbill。IalwaysthoughArabinwasverywrongtoplacesuchamaninsuchaparishasHogglestock。Ofcoursethefamilycouldnotlivethere。’TheArabinherespokenofwasDrArabin，deanofBarchester。Thedeanandarchdeaconhadmarriedsisters，andtherewasmuchintimacybetweenthefamilies。

’Afterallitisonlyrumour，asyet，’saidMrsGrantly。

’Fothergilltoldmeonlyyesterday，thatheseesheralmosteveryday，’

saidthefather。’Whatarewetodo，Griselda？YouknowhowheadstrongHenryis。’Themarchionesssatquitestill；lookingatthefire，andmadenoimmediateanswertothisaddress。

’Thereisnothingforitbutthatyoushouldtellhimwhatyouthink，’

saidthemother。

’Ifhissisterweretospeaktohim，itmightdomuch，’saidthearchdeacon。TothisMrsGrantlysaidnothing；butMrsGrantly’sdaughterunderstoodverywellthathermother’sconfidenceinherwasnotequaltoherfather’s。LadyHartletopsaidnothing，butstillsat，withimpassiveface，andeyesfixeduponthefire。’Ithinkthatifyouweretospeaktohim，Griselda，andtellhimthathewoulddisgracehisfamily，hewouldbeashamedtogoonwithsuchamarriage，’saidthefather。’Hewouldfeel，connectedasheiswithLordHartletop——’

’Idon’tthinkhewouldfeelanythingaboutthat，’saidMrsGrantly。

’Idaresaynot，’saidLadyHartletop。

’Iamsureheoughttofeelit，’saidthefather。Theywereallsilent，andsatlookingatthefire。

’Isuppose，papa，youallowHenryanincome，’saidLadyHartletop，afterawhile。

’IndeedIdo——eighthundredayear。’

’ThenIthinkIshouldtellhimthatthatmustdependuponhisconduct。

Mamma，ifyouwon’tmindringingthebell，IwillsendforCecile，andgoupstairsanddress。’Thenthemarchionesswentupstairstodress，andinaboutanhourthemajorarrivedinhisdogcart。Hewasalsoallowedtogoupstairstodressbeforeanythingwassaidtohimabouthisgreatoffence。

’Griseldaisright，’saidthearchdeacon，speakingtohiswifeoutofhisdressing—room。’Sheisalwaysright。IneverknewayoungwomanwithmoresensethanGriselda。’

’ButyoudonotmeantosaythatinanyeventyouwouldstopHenry’sincome？’MrsGrantlywasalsodressingandmadereplyoutofherbedroom。

’Uponmyword，Idon’tknow。AsafatherIwoulddoanythingtopreventsuchamarriageasthat。’

’Butifhedidmarryherinspiteofthethreat？Andhewouldifhehadoncesaidso。’

’Isafather’sword，then，togofornothing；andafatherwhoallowshissoneighthundredayear？Ifhetoldthegirlthathewouldberuinedshecouldn’tholdhimtoit。’

’Mydear，they’dknowaswellasIdo，thatyouwouldgivewayafterthreemonths。’

’ButwhyshouldIgiveway？Goodheavens——’

’Ofcourseyou’dgiveway，andofcourseweshouldhavetheyoungwomanhere，andofcourseweshouldmakethebestofit。’

TheideaofhavingGraceCrawleyasadaughteratthePlumsteadRectorywastoomuchforthearchdeacon，andheresenteditbyadditionalvehemencetothetoneofhisvoice，andanearerpersonalapproachtothewifeofhisbosom。Allunaccoutredashewas，hestoodinthedoorwaybetweenthetworooms，andthencefulminatedathiswifehisassurancesthathewouldneverallowhimselftobeimmersedinsuchadepthofhumilityasthatshehadsuggested。’Icantellyouthis，then，thatifevershecomeshere，Ishalltakecaretobeaway。Iwillneverreceiveherhere。Youcandoasyouplease。’

’ThatisjustwhatIcannotdo。IfIcoulddoasIpleased，Iwouldputastoptoitatonce。’

’Itseemstomethatyouwanttoencouragehim。Achildaboutsixteenyearsofage！’

’Iamtoldsheisnineteen。’

’Whatdoesitmatterifshe’sfifty—nine？Thinkofwhatherbringinguphasbeen。ThinkwhatitwouldbetohavealltheCrawleysinourhouseforever，andalltheirdebts，andalltheirdisgrace！’

’Idonotknowthattheyhaveeverbeendisgraced。’

’You’llsee。Thewholecountyhasheardoftheaffairofthistwentypounds。Lookatthatdeargirlupstairs，whohasbeensuchacomforttous。DoyouthinkitwouldbefitthatsheandherhusbandshouldmeetsuchaoneasGraceCrawleyatourtable？’

’Idon’tthinkitwoulddothemabitofharm，’saidMrsGrantly。’Buttherewouldbenochanceofthat，seeingthatGriselda’shusbandnevercomestous。’

’Hewasheretheyearbeforelast。’

’AndIneverwassotiredofamaninmylife。’

’ThenyouprefertheCrawleys，Isuppose。ThisiswhatyougetfromEleanor’steaching。’Eleanorwasthedean’swife，andMrsGrantly’syoungersister。’IthasalwaysbeenasorrowtomethatIeverbroughtArabinintothediocese。’

’Ineveraskedyoutobringhim，archdeacon。ButnobodywassogladasyouwhenheproposedtoEleanor。’

’Well，thelongandtheshortofitisthis，IshalltellHenrytonightthatifhemakesafoolofhimselfwiththisgirl，hemustnotlooktomeanylongerforanincome。Hehasaboutsixthousandayearofhisown，andifhechoosestothrowhimselfaway，hehadbettergoandliveinthesouthofFrance，orinCanada，orwherehepleases。Heshan’tcomehere。’

’Ihopehewon’tmarrythegirl，withallmyheart，’saidMrsGrantly。

’Hehadbetternot。Byheavens，hehadbetternot！’

’Butifhedoes，you’llbethefirsttoforgivehim。’

Onhearingthisthearchdeaconslammedthedoor，andretiredtohisownwashingapparatus。Atthepresentmomenthewasveryangrywithhiswife，butthenhewassoaccustomedtosuchanger，andwassowellawarethatitintruthmeantnothing，thatitdidnotmakehimunhappy。ThearchdeaconandMrsGrantlyhadnowbeenmanandwifeformorethanquarterofacenturyandhadneverintruthquarrelled。Hehadthemostprofoundrespectforherjudgment，andthemostimplicitrelianceonherconduct。Shehadneveryetoffendedhim，orcausedhimtorepentthehourinwhichhehadmadeherMrsGrantly。Butshehadcometounderstandthatshemightuseawoman’sprivilegewithhertongue；andsheusedit——notaltogethertohiscomfort。Onthepresentoccasionhewasthemoreannoyedbecausehefeltthatshemightberight。’Itwouldbeapositivedisgrace，andIneverwouldseehimagain，’hesaidtohimself。Andyetashesaidit，heknewthathewouldnothavethestrengthofcharactertocarryhimthroughaprolongedquarrelwithhisson。’Ineverwouldseeher——never，never！’hesaidtohimself。’Andthansuchanopeningashemighthaveinhissister’shouse！’

MajorGrantlyhadbeenasuccessfulmaninlife——withtheoneexceptionofhavinglostthemotherofhischildwithinatwelve—monthofhismarriageandwithinafewhoursofthatchild’sbirth。HehadservedinIndiaasaveryyoungman，andhadbeendecoratedwiththeVictoriaCross。Thenhehadmarriedaladywithsomemoney，andhadlefttheactiveserviceofthearmy，withtheconcurringadviceofhisownfamilyandthatofhiswife。Hehadtakenasmallplaceinhisfather’scounty，butthewifeforwhosecomforthehadtakenithaddiedbeforeshewaspermittedtoseeit。Neverthelesshehadgonetoresidethere，huntingagooddealandfarmingalittle，makinghimselfpopularinthedistrict，andkeepingupthegoodnameofGrantlyinasuccessfulway，till——alas！，——ithadseemedgoodtohimtothrowthosefavouringeyesonpoorGraceCrawley。Hiswifehadnowbeendeadjusttwoyears，andhewasstillunderthirty，nocoulddenyitwouldberightthatheshouldmarryagain。Noonediddenyit。Hisfatherhadhintedthatheoughttodoso，andhadgenerouslywhisperedthatifsomelittleincreasetothemajor’spresentincomewereneeded，hemightpossiblybeabletodosomething。’Whatisthegoodofkeepingit？’thearchdeaconhadsaidinaliberalafter—dinnerwarmth；’Ionlywantitforyourbrotherandyourself。’Thebrotherwasaclergyman。

Andthemajor’smotherhadstronglyadvisedhimtomarryagainwithoutlossoftime。’MydearHenry，’shehadsaid，’you’llneverbeyounger，andyouthdoesgoforsomething。AsfordearlittleEdith，beingagirl，sheisalmostnoimpediment。DoyouknowthosetwogirlsatChaldicotes？’

’What，MrsThorne’snieces？’

’No；theyarenotherniecesbuthercousins。EmilyDunstableisveryhandsome；——andasformoney——！’

’Butwhataboutbirth，mother？’

’Onecan’thaveeverything，mydear。’

’AsfarasIamconcerned，Ishouldliketohaveeverythingornothing，’

themajorsaid，laughing。NowforhimtothinkofGraceCrawleyafterthat——ofGraceCrawleywhohadnomoney，andnoparticularbirth，andnotevenbeautyherself——soatleastMrsGrantlysaid——whohadnotevenenjoyedtheordinaryeducationofalady，wastoobad。NothinghadbeenwantingtoEmilyDunstable’seducation，anditwascalculatedthatshewouldhaveatleasttwentythousandpoundsonthedayofhermarriage。

ThedisappointmentofthemotherwouldbethemoresorebecauseshehadgonetoworkuponherlittleschemewithreferencetoMissEmilyDunstable，andhadatfirst，asshethought，seenherwaytosuccess——tosuccessinspiteofthedisparagingwordshersonhadspokentoher。MrsThorne’shouseatChaldicotes——orDrThorne’shouseasitshould，perhaps，bemorecommonlycalled，forDrThornewasthehusbandofMrsThorne——wasinthesedaysthepleasantesthouseinBarsetshire。NoonesawsomuchcompanyastheThornes，orspentsomuchmoneyinsopleasantaway。Thegreatcountyfamilies，thePallisersandtheDeCourcys，theLuftonsandtheGreshams，werenodoubtgrander，andsomeofthemwereperhapsricherthantheChaldicoteThornes——astheywerecalledtodistinguishthemfromtheThornesofUllathorne；butnoneofthesepeopleweresopleasantintheirways，sofreeintheirhospitality，orsoeasyintheirmodesofliving，asthedoctorandhiswife。WhenfirstChaldicotes，averyoldcountryseat，hadbythechancesofwarfallenintotheirhandsandbeennewlyfurnished，andnewlydecorated，andnewlygardened，andnewlygreenhousedandhot—wateredbythem，manyofthecountypeoplehadturneduptheirnosesatthem。DearoldLadyLuftonhaddoneso，andhadbeengreatlygrieved——sayingnothing，however，ofhergrief，whenhersonanddaughter—in—lawhadbrokenawayfromher，andsubmittedthemselvestotheblandishmentsofthedoctor’swife。AndtheGrantlyshadstoodaloof，partlyinfluenced，nodoubt，bytheirdearandintimateoldfriendMissMonicaThorneofUllathorne，aladyoftheveryoldschool，who，thoughgoodasgoldandkindascharity，couldnotendurethataninterlopingMrsThorne，whoneverhadagrandfather，shouldcometohonourandgloryinthecounty，simplybecauseofherriches。MissMonicaThornestoodout，butMrsGrantlygaveway，andhavingoncefoundthatDrThorne，andMrsThorne，andEmilyDunstable，andChaldicoteHousetogether，wereverycharming。Andthemajorhadbeenoncetherewithher，andhadmadehimselfverypleasant，andtherecertainlyhadbeensomelittlepassageofincipientlovebetweenhimandMissDunstable，astowhichMrsThorne，whomanagedeverything，seemedtobewellpleased。ThishadbeenafterthefirstmentionmadebyMrsGrantlytohersonofEmilyDunstable’sname，butbeforeshehadheardanyfaintestwhispersofhisfancyforGraceCrawley；andshehadthereforebeenjustifiedinhoping——almostinexpecting，thatEmilyDunstablewouldbeherdaughter—in—law，andwasthereforethemoreaggrievedwhenthisterribleCrawleyperilfirstopeneditselfbeforehereyes。

CHAPTERIII

THEARCHDEACON’STHREAT

Thedinner—partyattherectorycomprisednonebuttheGrantlyfamily。

Themarchionesshadwrittentosaythatshepreferredtohaveitso。ThefatherhadsuggestedthattheThornesofUllathorne，veryoldfriends，mightbeasked，andtheGreshamsofBoxallHill，andhadevenpromisedtoendeavourtogetoldLadyLuftonovertotherectory，LadyLuftonhavinginformeryearsbeenGriselda’swarmfriend。ButLadyHartletophadpreferredtoseeherdearmotherandfatherinprivacy。HerbrotherHenryshewouldbegladtomeet，andhopedtomakesomearrangementwithhimforashortvisittoHartlebury，herhusband’splaceinShropshire——astowhichlatterhint，itmay，however，beatoncesaidthatnothingfurtherwasspokenaftertheCrawleyalliancehadbeensuggested。Andtherehadbeenaverysorepointmootedbythedaughterinarequestmadetoherfatherthatshemightnotbecalledupontomeethergrandfather，hermother’sfather。MrHarding，aclergymanofBarchester，whowasnowstrickeninyears。——’Papawouldnothavecome，’

saidMrsGrantly，’butIthink，Idothink——’Thenshestoppedherself。

’Yourfatherhasoddwayssometimes，mydear。YouknowhowfondIamofhavinghimheremyself。’