’Itdoesnotsignify，’saidMrsGrantly。’Donotletussayanythingmoreaboutit。Ofcoursewecannothaveeverything。Iamtoldthechilddoesherdutyinhersphereoflife，andIsupposeweoughttobecontented。’ThenMrsGrantlywentuptoherownroom，andthereshecried。NothingwassaidtothemajorontheunpleasantsubjectoftheCrawleysbeforedinner。Hemethissisterinthedrawing—room，andwasallowedtokisshernoblecheek。’IhopeEdithiswell，Henry，’saidthesister。’Quitewell；andlittleDumbelloisthesame，Ihope？’’Thankyou，yes；quitewell。’Themajornevermadeinquiriesaftertheaugustfamily，orwouldallowittoappearthathewasconsciousofbeingshoneuponbythewifeofamarquis。AnyadulationwhichGriseldareceivedofthatkindcamefromherfather，andtherefore，unconsciouslyshehadlearnedtothinkthatherfatherwasmorebetterbredthantheothermembersofherfamily，andmorefittedbynaturetomoveinthatsacredcircletowhichsheherselfhadbeenexalted。Weneednotdwelluponthedinner，whichwasbutadullaffair。MrsGrantlystrovetocarryonthefamilypartyexactlyasitwouldhavebeencarriedonhadherdaughtermarriedthesonofsomeneighbouringsquire；butsheherselfwasconsciousofthestruggle，andthefactoftherebeingastruggleproducedfailure。Therector’sservantstreatedthedaughterofthehousewithspecialawe，andthemarchionessherselfmoved，andspoke，andate，anddrankwithacoldmagnificence，whichIthinkhadbecomeasecondnaturewithher，butwhichwasnotonthataccountthelessoppressive。Eventhearchdeacon，whoenjoyedsomethinginthatwhichwassodisagreeabletohiswife，feltareliefwhenhewasleftaloneafterdinnerwithhisson。Hefeltrelievedashissongotuptoopenthedoorforhismotherandsister，butwasawareatthesametimethathehadbeforehimamostdifficultandpossiblyamostdisastroustask。HisdearsonHenrywasnotamantobetalkedsmoothlyoutof，orinto，anypropriety。Hehadawillofhisown，andhavinghithertobeenasuccessfulman，whoinyouthhadfallenintofewyouthfultroubles——whohadneverjustifiedhisfatherinusingsternparentalauthority——wasnotnowinclinedtobendhisneck。’Henry，’saidthearchdeacon，’whatareyoudrinking？That’s’34port，butit’snotjustwhatitshouldbe。

ShallIsendforanotherbottle？’

’Itwilldoforme，sir。Ishallonlytakeaglass。’

’Ishalldrinktwoorthreeglassesofclaret。Butyouyoungfellowshavebecomesodesperatelytemperate。’

’Wetakeourwineatdinner，sir。’

’By—the—by，howwellGriseldaislooking。’

’Yes，sheis。It’salwayseasyforwomentolookwellwhenthey’rerich。’HowwouldGraceCrawleylook，then，whowaspooraspovertyitself，andwhowouldremainpoor，ifhissonwasfoolenoughtomarryher？Thatwasthetrainofthoughtwhichranthroughthearchdeacon’smind。’Idonotthinkmuchofriches，’saidhe，’butitisalwayswellthatagentleman’swifeoragentleman’sdaughtershouldhaveasufficiencytomaintainherpositioninlife。’

’Youmaysaythesame，sir，ofeverybody’swifeandeverybody’sdaughter。’

’YouknowwhatImean，Henry。’

’IamnotquitesurethatIdo，sir。’

’PerhapsIhadbetterspeakoutatonce。Arumourhasreachedyourmotherandme，whichwedon’tbelieveforamoment，butwhich，nevertheless，makesusunhappyevenasareport。TheysaythatthereisayoungwomanlivinginSilverbridgetowhomyouarebecomingattached。’

’IsthereanyreasonwhyIshouldnotbecomeattachedtoayoungwomaninSilverbridge？——thoughIhopeanyyoungwomantowhomImaybecomeattachedwillbeworthyatanyrateofbeingcalledayounglady。’

’Ihopeso，Henry；Ihopeso。Idohopeso。’

Thearchdeaconlookedacrossathisson’sface，andhisheartsankwithinhim。Hisson’svoiceandhisson’seyesseemedtotellhimtwothings。Theyseemedtotellhim，firstly，thattherumouraboutGraceCrawleywastrue；and，secondly，thatthemajorwasresolvednottobetalkedoutofhisfolly。’Butyouarenotengagedtoanyone，areyou？’

saidthearchdeacon。Thesondidnotatfirstmakeanyanswer，andthenthefatherrepeatedthequestion。’Consideringourmutualpositions，Henry，Ithinkyououghttotellmeifyouareengaged。’

’Iamnotengaged。HadIbecomeso，Ishouldhavetakenthefirstopportunityoftellingyouormymother。’

’ThankGod。Now，mydearboy，Icanspeakoutmoreplainly。TheyoungwomanwhosenameIhaveheardisdaughtertothatMrCrawleywhoisperpetualcurateatHogglestock。Iknewthattherecouldbenothinginit。’

’Butthereissomethinginit，sir。’

’Whatisthereinit？Donotkeepmeinsuspense，Henry。Whatisityoumean？’

’Itisratherhardtobecross—questionedinthiswayonsuchasubject。

Whenyouexpressyourselfasthankfulthatthereisnothingintherumour，Iamforcedtostopyou，asotherwiseitispossiblethathereafteryoumaysaythatIhavedeceivedyou。’

’Butyoudon’tmeantomarryher？’

’Icertainlydonotpledgemyselfnottodoso。’

’Doyoumeantotellme，Henry，thatyouareinlovewithMissCrawley？’

Thentherewasanotherpause，duringwhichthearchdeaconsatlookingforananswer；butthemajorneversaidaword。’AmItosupposethatyouintendtoloweryourselfbymarryingayoungwomanwhocannotpossiblyhaveenjoyedanyoftheadvantagesofalady’seducation？Isaynothingoftheimprudenceofthething；nothingofherownwantoffortune；nothingofyourhavingtomaintainawholefamilysteepedinpoverty；nothingofthedebtsandcharacterofthefather，uponwhom，asIunderstand，atthismomentthererestsagravesuspicionof——of——of——whatI’mafraidImustcalldownrighttheft。’

’Downrighttheft，certainly，ifhewereguilty。’

’Isaynothingofthat；butlookingattheyoungwomanherself——’

’Sheissimplythebesteducatedgirlwhomithaseverbeenmylottomeet。’

’Henry，Ihavearighttoexpectthatyouwillbehonestwithme。’

’Iamhonestwithyou。’

’Doyoumeantoaskthisgirltomarryyou？’

’Idonotthinkthatyouhaveanyrighttoaskmethatquestion，sir。’

’Ihavearightatanyratetotellyouthis，thatifyousofardisgraceyourselfandme，Ishallconsidermyselfboundtowithdrawfromyouallthesanctionwhichwouldbeconveyedbymy——my——continuedassistance。’

’Doyouintendmetounderstandthatyouwillstopmyincome？’

’CertainlyIshould。’

’Then，sir，Ithinkyouwouldbehavetomemostcruelly。Youadvisedmetogiveupmyprofession。’

’NotinorderthatyoumightmarryGraceCrawley。’

’IclaimtheprivilegeofamanofmyagetodoasIpleaseinsuchamatterasmarriage。MissCrawleyisalady。Herfatherisaclergyman，asismine。Herfather’soldestfriendismyuncle。Thereisnothingonearthagainstherexceptherpoverty。IdonotthinkIeverheardofsuchcrueltyonafather’spart。’

’Verywell，Henry。’

’Ihaveendeavouredtodomydutybyyou，sir，always；andbymymother。

Youcantreatmeinthisway，ifyouplease，butitwillnothaveanyeffectonmyconduct。Youcanstopmyallowancetomorrow，ifyoulikeit。IhadnotyetmadeupmymindtomakeanoffertoMissCrawley，butIshalldosotomorrowmorning。’

Thiswasverybadindeed，andthearchdeaconwasextremelyunhappy。Hewasbynomeansatheartacruelman。Helovedhischildrendearly。Ifthisdisagreeablemarriageweretotakeplace，hewoulddoubtlessdoexactlyashiswifehadpredicted。Hewouldnotstophisson’sincomeforasinglequarter；and，thoughhewentontellinghimselfthathewouldstopit，heknewinhisownheartthatanysuchseveritywasbeyondhispower。Hewasagenerousmaninmoneymatters——havingadislikeforpovertywhichwasnotgenerous——andforhisownsakecouldnothaveenduredtoseeasonofhisinwant。Buthewasterriblyanxioustoexercisethepowerwhichtheuseofthethreatmightgivehim。’Henry，’hesaid，’youaretreatingmebadly，verybadly。Myanxietyhasalwaysbeenforthewelfareofmychildren。DoyouthinkthatMissCrawleywouldbeafittingsister—in—lawforthatdeargirlupstairs？’

’CertainlyIdo，orforanyotherdeargirlintheworld；exceptingthatGriselda，whoisnotclever，wouldhardlybeabletoappreciateMissCrawley，whoisclever。’

’Griseldanotclever！Goodheavens！’Thentherewasanotherpause，andasthemajorsaidnothing，thefathercontinuedhisentreaties。’Pray，praythinkofwhatmywishesare，andyourmother’s。Youarenotcommittedasyet。Praythinkofuswhilethereistime。Iwouldratherdoubleyourincome，ifIsawyoumarryanyonethatwecouldnamehere。’

’Ihaveenoughasitis，ifImayonlybeallowedtoknowthatitwillnotbecapriciouslywithdrawn。’Thearchdeaconfilledhisglassunconsciously，andsippedhiswine，whilehethoughtwhatfurtherhemightsay。Perhapsitmightbebetterthatheshouldsaynothingfurtheratthemoment。Themajor，however，wasindiscreet，andpushedthequestion。’MayIunderstand，sir，thatyouthreatiswithdrawn，andthatmyincomeissecure？’

’What，ifyoumarrythisgirl？’

’Yessir；willmyincomebecontinuedtomeifImarryMissCrawley？’

’No，itwillnot。’Thenthefathergotuphastily，pushedthedecanterbackangrilyfromhishand，andwithoutsayinganotherwordwalkedawayintothedrawing—room。Thateveningattherectorywasgloomy。Thearchdeaconnowandagainsaidawordortwotohisdaughter，andhisdaughteransweredhiminmonosyllables。Themajorsatapartmoodily，andspoketonoone。MrsGrantly，understandingwellwhathadpassed，knewthatnothingcouldbedoneatthepresentmomenttorestorefamilycomfort；soshesatbythefireandknitted。Exactlyattentheyallwenttobed。

’DearHenry，’saidthemothertohersonthenextmorning；’thinkmuchofyourselfandofyourchild，andofus，beforeyoutakeanygreatstepinyourlife。’

’Iwill，mother，’saidhe。Thenhewentoutandputonhiswrapper，andgotintohisdog—cart，anddrovehimselftoSilverbridge。Hehadnotspokentohisfathersincetheywereinthedining—roomonthepreviousevening。Whenhestarted，themarchionesshadnotyetcomedownstairs；

butatelevenshebreakfasted，andattwelveshealsowastakenaway。

PoorMrsGrantlyhadnothadmuchcomfortfromherchildren’svisits。

CHAPTERIV

THECLERGYMAN’SHOUSEATHOGGLESTOCK

MrsCrawleyhadwalkedfromHogglestocktoSilverbridgeontheoccasionofhervisittoMrWalker，theattorney，andhadbeenkindlysentbackbythatgentlemaninhiswife’slittleopencarriage。Thetidingswhichshebroughthomewithhertoherhusbandwereverygrievous。ThemagistrateswouldsitonthenextThursday——itwasthenFriday——andMrCrawleyhadbetterappearbeforethemtoanswerthechargemadebyMrSoames。Hewouldbeservedwithasummons，whichhewouldobeyofhisownaccord。TherehadbeenmanypointsverycloselydiscussedbetweenWalkerandMrsCrawley，astowhichtherehadbeengreatdifficultyinthechoiceofwordswhichshouldbetenderenoughtoconveytohertheveryfactsastheystood。WouldMrCrawleycome，ormustapolicemanbesenttofetchhim？Themagistratehadalreadyissuedawarrantforhisapprehension。Suchintruthwasthefact，buttheyhadagreedwithMrWalker，thatastherewasnoreasonablegroundforanticipatinganyattemptatescapeonthepartofthereverendgentleman，thelawyermightusewhatgentlemeanshecouldforensuringtheclergyman’sattendance。CouldMrsCrawleyundertaketosaythathewouldappear？MrsCrawleydidundertakeeitherthatherhusbandshouldappearontheThursday，orelsethatshewouldsendoverintheearlypartoftheweekanddeclareherinabilitytoensurehisappearance。Inthatcaseitwasunderstoodthepolicemanmustcome。ThenMrWalkerhadsuggestedthatMrCrawleyhadbetteremployalawyer。UponthisMrsCrawleyhadlookedbeseechinglyupintoMrWalker’sface，andhadaskedhimtoundertaketheduty。Hewasofcourseobligedtoexplainthathewasalreadyemployedontheotherside。MrSoameshadsecuredhisservices，andthoughhewaswillingtodoallinhispowertomitigatethesufferingsofthefamily，hecouldnotabandonthedutyhehadundertaken。Henamedanotherattorney，however，andthensentthepoorwomanhomeinhiswife’scarriage。’Ifearthatunfortunatemanisguilty。Ifearheis，’

MrWalkerhadsaidtohiswifewithintenminutesofthedepartureofthevisitor。

MrsCrawleywouldnotallowherselftobedrivenuptothegardengatebeforeherownhouse，buthadleftthecarriagesomethreehundredyardsoffdowntheroadandfromthenceshewalkedhome。Itwasnowquitedark。ItwasnearlysixintheeveningonawetDecembernight，andalthoughcloaksandshawlshadbeensuppliedtoher，shewaswetandcoldwhenshereachedherhome。Butatsuchamoment，anxiousasshewastopreventtheadditionalevilwhichwouldcometothemfromillnesstoherselfshecouldnotpassthroughtoherroomtillshehadspokentoherhusband。Hewassittingintheonesitting—roomontheleftsideofthepassageasthehousewasentered，andwithhimwastheirdaughterJane，agirlnownearlysixteenyearsofage。Therewasnolightintheroom，andhardlymorethanasparkoffireshowedinthegrate。Thefatherwassittingononesideofthehearth，inanoldarm—chair，andtherehehadsatforthelasthourwithoutspeaking。Hisdaughterhadbeeninandoutoftheroom，andhadendeavouredtogainhisattentionnowandagainbyaword，buthehadneveransweredher，andhadnotevennoticedherpresence。AtthemomentwhenMrsCrawley’sstepwashearduponthegravelwhichledtothedoor，Janewaskneelingbeforethefirewithahanduponherfather’sarm。Shehadtriedtogetherhandintohis，buthehadeitherbeenawareoftheattempt，orrejectedit。

’Hereismamma，atlast，’saidJane，risingtoherfeetashermotherenteredthehouse。

’Areyouallinthedark，’saidMrsCrawley，strivingtospeakinavoicethatshouldnotsoundsorrowful。

’Yes，mamma；weareinthedark。Papaishere。Oh，mamma，howwetyouare！’

’Yes，dear。Itisraining。Getalightoutofthekitchen，Jane，andI

willgoupstairsintwominutes。’ThenwhenJanewasgone，thewifemadeherwayinthedarkovertoherhusband’sside，andspokeawordtohim。

’Josiah，’shesaid，’willyounotspeaktome？’

’WhatshouldIspeakabout？Wherehaveyoubeen？’

’IhavebeentoSilverbridge。IhavebeentoMrWalker。He，atanyrate，isverykind’

’Idon’twanthiskindness。Iwantnoman’skindness。MrWalkeristheattorney，Ibelieve。Kindindeed！’

’Imeanconsiderate。Josiah，letustothebestwecaninthistrouble。

Wehavehadothersasheavybefore。’

’Butnonetocrushmeasthiswillcrushme。Well；whatamItodo？AmItogotoprison——tonight？’Atthismomenthisdaughterreturnedwithacandle，andthemothercouldnotmakeheransweratonce。Itwasawretched，poverty—strickenroom。Bydegreesthecarpethaddisappeared，whichhadbeenlaiddownsomenineortenyearssince，whentheyhadfirstcometoHogglestock，andwhicheventhenhadnotbeennew。Nownothingbutapoorfragmentofitremainedinfrontofthefire—place。

Inthemiddleoftheroomtherewasatablewhichhadoncebeenlarge；

butoneflapofitwasgonealtogether，andtheotherflapslopedgrievouslytowardsthefloor，theweaknessofoldagehavingfallenintoitslegs。Thereweretwoorthreesmallertablesabout，buttheystoodproppedagainstwalls，thenceobtainingasecuritywhichtheirownstrengthwouldnotgivethem。Atthefurtherendoftheroomtherewasanancientpieceoffurniture，whichwasalwayscalled’papa’ssecretary’，atwhichMrCrawleycustomarilysatandwrotehissermons，anddidallworkthatwasdonebyhimwithinthehouse。Themanwhohadmadeit，sometimeinthelastcentury，hadintendedittobealockedguardianfordomesticdocuments，andthereceptacleforallthatwasmostprivateinthehouseofsomepaterfamilias。ButbeneaththehandsofMrCrawleyitalwaysstoodopen；andwiththeexceptionofthesmallspaceatwhichhewrote，wascoveredwithdog’s—earedbooks，fromnearlyallofwhichthecovershaddisappeared。

ThereweretheretwooddvolumesofEuripides，aGreekTestament，anOdyssey，aduodecimoPindar，andaminiatureAnacreon。TherewashalfaHorace——thetwofirstbooksoftheOdesatthebeginningandtheDeArtePoeticaattheendhavingdisappeared。TherewasalittlebitofavolumeofCicero，andtherewereCaesar’s’Commentaries’intwovolumes，sostoutlyboundthattheyhaddefiedthecombinedill—usageoftimeandtheCrawleyfamily。Allthesewerepileduponthesecretary，withmanyothers——oddvolumesofsermonsandthelike；buttheGreekandLatinlayatthetop，andshowedsignsoffrequentuse。Therewasonearm—chairintheroom——aWindsorchair，assuchusedtobecalled，madesoftbyanoldcushionintheback，inwhichMrCrawleysatwhenbothheandhiswifewereintheroom，andMrsCrawleywhenhewasabsent。Andtherewasanoldhorsehairsofa——nowalmostdenudedofitshorsehair——butthat，likethetablesrequiredtheassistanceofafriendlywall。Thentherewasahalfadozenofotherchairs——allofdifferentsorts——andtheycompletedthefurnitureoftheroom。ItwasnotsucharoomasonewouldwishtoseeinhabitedbyanbeneficedclergymanoftheChurchofEngland；buttheywhoknowwhatmoneywilldoandwhatitwillnot，willunderstandhoweasilyamanwithafamily，andwithahundredandthirtypoundsayear，maybebroughttotheneedofinhabitingsuchachamber。

Whenitisrememberedthatthreepoundsofmeataday，atninepenceapound，willcostoverfortypoundsayear，thereneedbenodifficultyinunderstandingthatitmaybeso。Breadforsuchafamilymustcostatleasttwenty—fivepounds。Clothesforfivepersonsofwhomonemustatanyrateweartheraimentofagentleman，canhardlybefoundforlessthantenpoundsayearahead。Thenthereremainsfifteenpoundsfortea，sugar，beer，wages，education，amusementsandthelike。Insuchcircumstancesagentlemancanhardlypaymuchfortherenewaloffurniture！

MrsCrawleycouldnotanswerherhusband’squestionbeforeherdaughter，andwasthereforeobligedtomakeanotherexcuseforagainsendingheroutoftheroom。’Jane，dear，’shesaid，’bringmythingsdowntothekitchenandIwillchangethembythefire。Iwillbethereintwominutes，whenIhavehadawordwithyourpapa。’ThegirlwentimmediatelyandthenMrsCrawleyansweredherhusband’squestion。’No，mydear；thereisnoquestionofyougoingtoprison。’

’Buttherewillbe。’

’IhaveundertakenthatyoushallattendbeforethemagistratesatSilverbridgeinThursdaynext，attwelveo’clock。Youwilldothat？’

’Doit！Youmean，Isuppose，tosaythatImustgothere。Isanybodytocomeandfetchme？’

’Nobodywillcome。Onlyyoumustpromisethatyouwillbethere。Ihavepromisedforyou。Youwillgo；willyounot？’Shestoodleaningoverhim，halfembracinghim，waitingforananswer；butforawhilehegavenone。’YouwilltellmethatyouwilldowhatIhaveundertakenforyou，Josiah？’

’IthinkIwouldratherthattheyfetchedme。IthinkthatIwillnotgomyself。’

’Andhavepolicemencomeforyouintheparish！MrWalkerhaspromisedthathewillsendoverhisphaeton。Hesentmehomeinittoday。’

’Iwantnobody’sphaeton。IfIgoIwillwalk。Ifitweretentimesthedistance，andthoughIhadnotashoelefttomyfeetIwouldwalk。

IfIgothereatall，ofmyownaccord，Iwillwalkthere。’

’Butyouwillgo？’

’WhatdoIcarefortheparish？Whatmatterswhoseesmenow？IcannotbedegradedasworsethanIam。Everybodyknowsit。’

’Thereisnodisgracewithoutguilt，’saidhiswife。

’Everybodythinksmeguilty。Iseeitintheireyes。Thechildrenknowofit，andIhearwhispersintheschool。"MrCrawleyhastakensomemoney。"Iheardthegirlsayitmyself。’

’Whatmatterswhatthegirlsays？’

’AndyetyouwouldhavemegoinafinecarriagetoSilverbridge，asthoughtoawedding。IfIamwantedletthemtakemeastheywouldanother。Ishallbehereforthem——unlessIamdead。’

AtthismomentJaneappeared，pressinghermothertotakeoffherwetclothes，andMrsCrawleywentwithherdaughtertothekitchen。Theonered—armedyounggirlwhowastheironlyservantwassentaway，andthenthemotherandthechilddiscussedhowbesttheymightprevailontheheadofthefamily。’But，mamma，itmustcomeright；mustitnot？’

’Itrustitwill；Ithinkitwill。ButIcannotseemywayasyet。’

’Papacannothavedoneanythingwrong。’

’No，mydear；hehasdonenothingwrong。Hehasmadegreatmistakes，itishardtomakepeopleunderstandthathehasnotintentionallyspokenuntruths。Heiseverthinkingofotherthings，abouttheschool，andhissermons，andhedoesnotremember。’

’Andabouthowpoorweare，mamma。’

’Hehasmuchtooccupyhismind，andheforgetsthingswhichdwellinthememoryofotherpeople。HesaidthathehadgotthismoneyfromMrSoames，andofcoursehethoughtitwasso。’

’Andwheredidhegetit，mamma？’

’Ah——IwishIknew。IshouldhavesaidthatIhadseeneveryshillingthatcameintothehouse；butIknownothingofthischeque——whenceitcame。’

’Butwillnotpapatellyou？’

’Hewouldtellmeifheknew。Hethinksitcamefromthedean。’

’Andareyousurethatitdidnot？’

’Yes；quitesure；assureasIcanbeofanything。Thedeantoldmehewouldgivehimfiftypounds，andthefiftypoundscame。Ihadtheminmyownhands。Andhewaswrittentosaythatitwasso。’

’Butcouldn’titbepartofthefiftypounds？’

’No，dear，no。’

’Thenwheredidpapagetit？Perhapshepickeditupandhasforgotten？’

TothisMrsCrawleymadenoreply。Theideathatthechequehadbeenfoundbyherhusband——hadbeenpickedupasJanehadsaid——hadoccurredalsotoJane’smother。MrSoameswasconfidentthathehaddroppedthepocket—bookattheparsonage。MrsCrawleyhadalwaysdislikedMrSoames，thinkinghimtobehard，cruelandvulgar。Shewouldnothavehesitatedtobelievehimguiltyofafalsehood，orevenofdirectdishonesty，ifbysobelievingshecouldinherownmindhavefoundthemeansofreconcilingherhusband’spossessionofthechequewithabsolutetruthonhispart。Butshecouldnotdoso。EventhoughSoameshad，withdevilishpremeditatedmalice，slippedthechequeintoherhusband’spocket，hishavingdonesowouldnotaccountforherhusband’shavingusedthechequewhenhefounditthere。Shewasdriventomakeexcusesforhimwhich，validastheymightbewithherself，couldnotbevalidwithothers。HehadsaidthatSoameshadpaidthechequetohim。Thatwasclearlyamistake。Hehadsaidthatthechequehadbeengiventohimbythedean。Thatwasclearlyanothermistake。Sheknew，orthoughtsheknew，thathe，beingsuchashewas，mightmakeblunderssuchasthese，andyetbetrue。Shebelievedthatsuchstatementsmightbeblundersandnotfalsehoods——soconvincedwasshethatherhusband’smindwouldnotactatalltimesasdothemindsofothermen。Buthavingsuchaconvictionshewasdriventobelievealsothatalmostanythingmightbepossible。Soamesmayhavebeenright，orhemighthavedropped，notthebook，butthecheque。ShehadnodifficultyinpresumingSoamestobewronginanydetail，ifbysosupposingshecouldmaketheexculpationofherhusbandeasiertoherself。IfvillainyonthepartofSoameswasneedfultohertheory，Soameswouldbecometoheravillainatonce——oftheblackestdie。Mightitnotbepossiblethatthechequehavingthusfallenintoherhusband’shands，hehadcome，afterawhile，tothinkthatithadbeensenttohimbyhisfriend，thedean？Andifitwereso，woulditbepossibletomakeotherssobelieve？Thattherewassomemistakewhichwouldbeeasilyexplainedwereherhusband’smindlucidatallpoints，butwhichshecouldnotexplainbecauseofthedarknessofhismind，shewasthoroughlyconvinced。Butweresheherselftoputforwardsuchadefenceonherhusband’spart，shewouldindoingsobedriventosaythathewasalunatic——thathewasincapableofmanagingtheaffairsofhimselforhisfamily。Itseemedtoherthatshewouldbecompelledtohavehimprovedtobeeitherathieforamadman。Andyetsheknewthathewasneither。Thathewasnotathiefwasascleartoherasthesunatnoonday。Couldshehavelainonthisman’sbosomfortwentyyears，andnotyethavelearnedthesecretsoftheheartbeneath？