IHowDidHeGetIt?
  IIByHeavens,HeHadBetterNot!
  IIITheArchdeacon’sThreatIVTheClergyman’sHouseatHogglestockVWhattheWorldThoughtaboutitVIGraceCrawleyVIIMissPrettyman’sPrivateRoomVIIIMrCrawleyisTakentoSilverbridgeIXGraceCrawleyGoestoAllingtonXDinneratFramleyCourtXITheBishopSendshisInhibitionXIIMrCrawleySeeksforSympathyXIIITheBishop’sAngelXIVMajorGrantlyConsultsaFriendXVUpinLondonXVIDowninAllingtonXVIIMrCrawleyisSummonedtoBarchesterXVIIITheBishopofBarchesterisCrushedXIXWhereDiditComeFrom?
  XXWhatMrWalkerThoughtaboutitXXIMrRobartsonhisEmbassyXXIIMajorGrantlyatHomeXXIIIMissLilyDale’sResolutionXXIVMrsDobbsBroughton’sDinner—PartyXXVMissMadalinaDemolinesXXVIThePictureXXVIIAHeroatHomeXXVIIIShowingHowMajorGrantlytookaWalkXXIXMissLilyDale’sLogicXXXShowingwhatMajorGrantlydidafterhisWalkXXXIShowinghowMajorGrantlyReturnedtoGuestwickXXXIIMrToogoodXXXIIIThePlumsteadFoxesXXXIVMrsProudieSendsforherLawyerXXXVLilyDalewritesTwoWordsinherBookXXXVIGraceCrawleyReturnsHomeXXXVIIHookCourtXXXVIIIJaelXXXIXANewFlirtationXLMrToogood’sIdeasaboutSocietyXLIGraceCrawleyatHomeXLIIMrToogoodTravelsProfessionallyXLIIIMrCrosbieGoestotheCityXLIV’ISupposeIMustLetYouHaveIt’
  XLVLilyDaleGoestoLondonXLVITheBayswaterRomanceXLVIIDrTempestatthePalaceXLVIIITheSoftnessofSirRaffleBuffleXLIXNeartheCloseLLadyLufton’sPropositionLIMrsDobbsBroughtonPilesherFagotsLIIWhydon’tyouhavean’It’forYourself?
  LIIIRottenRowLIVTheClericalCommissionLVFramleyParsonageLVITheArchdeaconGoestoFramleyLVIIADoublePledgeLVIIITheCross—grainednessofMenLIXALadyPresentsherComplimentstoMissL。D。
  LXTheEndofJaelandSiseraLXI’It’sDoggedasDoesIt’
  LXIIMrCrawley’sLettertotheDeanLXIIITwoVistorstoHogglestockLXIVTheTragedyinHookCourtLXVMissVanSievermakesherChoiceLXVIRequiescatinPaceLXVIIInMemoriamLXVIIITheObstinacyofMrCrawleyLXIXMrCrawley’sLastAppearanceinhisownPulpitLXXMrsArabinisCaughtLXXIMrToogoodatSilverbridgeLXXIIThereisComfortatPlumsteadLXXIVTheCrawleysareInformedLXXVMadalina’sHeartisBleedingLXXVIIThinkheisLightofHeartLXXVIITheShatteredTreeLXXVIIITheArabinsReturntoBarchesterLXXIXMrCrawleySpeaksofhisCoatLXXXMissDemolinesDesirestoBecomeaFinger—postLXXXIBarchesterCloistersLXXXIITheLastSceneatHogglestockLXXXIIIMrCrawleyisConqueredLXXXIVConclusionCHAPTERI
  HOWDIDHEGETIT?
  ’Icanneverbringmyselftobelieveit,John,’saidMaryWalkertheprettydaughterofMrGeorgeWalker,attorneyofSilverbridge。WalkerandWinthropwasthenameofthefirm,andtheywererespectablepeople,whodidallthesolicitors’businessthathadtobedoneinthatpartofBarsetshireonbehalfoftheCrown,wereemployedonthelocalbusinessoftheDukeofOmnium,whoisgreatinthoseparts,andaltogetherheldtheirheadsuphigh,asprovinciallawyersoftendo。They——theWalkers——livedinagreatbrickhouseinthemiddleofthetown,gavedinners,towhichthecountygentlemennotunfrequentlycondescendedtocome,andinamildwayledthefashioninSilverbridge。’Icanneverbringmyselftobelieveit,John,’saidMissWalker。
  ’You’llhavetobringyourselftobelieveit,’saidJohn,withouttakinghiseyesfromhisbook。
  ’Aclergyman——andsuchaclergymantoo!’
  ’Idon’tseethatthathasanythingtodowithit。’Andashenowspoke,Johndidtakehiseyesofhisbook。’Whyshouldnotaclergymanturnthiefaswellasanybodyelse?Yougirlsalwaysseemtoforgetthatclergymenareonlymenafterall。’
  ’Theirconductislikelytobebetterthanthatofothermen,Ithink。’
  ’Idenyitutterly,’saidJohnWalker。’I’llundertaketosaythatatthismomenttherearemoreclergymenindebtinBarsetshirethanthereareeitherlawyersordoctors。Thismanhasalwaysbeenindebt。SincehehasbeeninthecountyIdon’tthinkhehaseverbeenabletoshowhisfaceintheHighStreetofSilverbridge。’
  ’John,thatissayingmorethanyouhavearighttosay,’saidMrsWalker。
  ’Why,mother,thisverychequewasgiventoabutcherwhohadthreatenedafewdaysbeforetopostbillsallaboutthecounty,givinganaccountofthedebtthatwasduetohim,ifthemoneywasnotpaidatonce。’
  ’MoreshameforMrFletcher,’saidMary。’HehasmadeafortuneasbutcherinSilverbridge。’
  ’Whathasthattodowithit?Ofcourseamanlikestohavehismoney。
  Hehadwrittenthreetimestothebishop,andhehadsentamanovertoHogglestocktogethislittlebillsettledsixdaysrunning。Youseehegotitatlast。Ofcourse,atradesmanmustlookforhismoney。’
  ’Mamma,doyouthinkthatMrCrawleystolethecheque?’Mary,assheaskedthequestion,cameandstoodoverhermother,lookingatherwithanxiouseyes。
  ’Iwouldrathergivenoopinion,dear。’
  ’Butyoumustthinksomethingwheneverybodyistalkingaboutit,mamma。’
  ’Ofcoursemymotherthinkshedid,’saidJohn,goingbacktohisbook。
  ’Itisimpossiblethatsheshouldthinkotherwise。’
  ’Thatisnotfair,John,’saidMrsWalker;’andIwon’thaveyoufabricatethoughtsforme,orputtheexpressionofthemintomymouth。
  Thewholeaffairisverypainful,andasyourfatherisengagedintheinquiry,Ithinkthatthelesssaidaboutthematterinthishousethebetter。Iamsurethatthatwouldbeyourfather’sfeeling。’
  ’Idonotseethatatall,’saidJohn。’MrCrawleyisnotmorethananyothermanjustbecausehe’saclergyman。Ihateallthatkindofclap—trap。TherearealotofpeoplehereinSilverbridgewhothinkthemattershouldn’tbefollowedup,justbecausethemanisinapositionwhichmakesthecrimemorecriminalinhimthanitwouldbeinanother。’
  ’ButIfeelsurethatMrCrawleyhascommittednocrimeatall,’saidMary。
  ’Mydear,’saidMrsWalker,’IhavejustsaidthatIwouldratheryouwouldnottalkaboutit。Papawillbeindirectly。’
  ’Iwon’t,mamma,only——’
  ’Only!yes;justonly!’saidJohn。’She’dgoontilldinnerifanyonewouldstaytohearher。’
  ’You’vesaidtwiceasmuchasIhave,John。’ButJohnhadlefttheroombeforehissister’swordscouldreachhim。
  ’Youknow,mamma,itisquiteimpossiblenottohelpthinkingofit,’
  saidMary。
  ’Idaresayitis,mydear。’
  ’Andwhenoneknowsthepeopleitdoesmakeitsodreadful。’
  ’Butdoyouknowthem?IneverspoketoMrCrawleyinmylife,andIdonotthinkIeversawher。’
  ’IknewGraceverywell——whensheusedtocomefirsttoMissPrettyman’sschool。’
  ’Poorgirl。Ipityher。’
  ’Pityher!Pityisnowordforit,mamma。Myheartbleedsforthem。
  AndyetIdonotbelieveforamomentthathestolethecheque。Howcanitbepossible?Forthoughhemayhavebeenindebtbecausetheyhavebeensovery,very,poor,yetweallknowthathehasbeenanexcellentclergyman。WhentheRobartseswerediningherelast,IheardMrsRobartssaythatforpietyanddevotiontohisdutiesshehadhardlyeverseenanyoneequaltohim。AndtheRobartsesknowmoreofthemthananybody。’
  ’Theysaythatthedeanishisgreatfriend。’
  ’WhatapityitisthattheArabinsshouldbeawayjustnowwhenheisinsuchtrouble。’Andinthiswaythemotheranddaughterwentondiscussingthequestionoftheclergyman’sguildinspiteofMrsWalker’sexpresseddesirethatnothingmoremightbesaidaboutit。ButMrsWalker,likemanyothermothers,wasapttobemorefreeinconversewithherdaughterthanshewaswithherson。Whiletheywerethustalkingthefathercameinfromhisoffice,andthenthesubjectwasdropped。Hewasamanbetweenfiftyandsixtyyearsofage,withgreyhair,rathershort,andsomewhatcorpulent,butstillgiftedwiththatamountofpersonalcomelinesswhichcomfortablepositionandtherespectofotherswillgenerallyseemtogive。Amanrarelycarrieshimselfmeanlywhomtheworldholdsinhighesteem。
  ’Iamverytired,mydear,’saidMrWalker。
  ’Youlooktired。Comeandsitdownforafewminutesbeforeyoudress。
  Mary,getyourfather’sslippers。’Maryinstantlyrantothedoor。
  ’Thanks,mydarling,’saidthefather。Andthenhewhisperedtohiswife,assoonasMarywasoutofhearing。’Ifeartheunfortunatemanisguilty。Ifearheis!Ifearheis!’
  ’Oh,heavens!whatwillbecomeofthem?’
  ’Whatindeed?Shehasbeenwithmetoday。’
  ’Hasshe?Andwhatcouldyousaytoher?’
  ’ItoldheratfirstthatIcouldnotseeher,andbeggedhernottospeaktomeaboutit。Itriedtomakeherunderstandthatsheshouldgotosomeoneelse。Butitwasofnouse。’
  ’Andhowdiditend?’
  ’Iaskedtogointoyou,butshedeclined。Shesaidyoucoulddonothingforher。’
  ’Anddoesshethinkherhusbandguilty?’
  ’No,indeed。Shethinkhimguilty!Nothingonearth——orfromheaveneither,asItakeit,wouldmakehersupposeittobepossible。Shecamesimplytotellmehowgoodhewas。’
  ’Iloveherforthat,’saidMrsWalker。
  ’SodidI。Butwhatisthegoodoflovingher?Thankyou,dearest。
  I’llgetyourslippersforyousomeday,perhaps。’
  ThewholecountywasastirwiththismatterofthisallegedguiltoftheReverendMrCrawley——thewholecountyalmostaskeenlyasthefamilyofMrWalker,ofSilverbridge。Thecrimelaidtohischargewasthetheftofachequefortwentypounds,whichhewassaidtohavestolenoutofapocket—bookleftordroppedinhishouse,andtohavepassedasmoneyintothehandsofoneFletcher,abutcherofSilverbridge,towhomhewasindebted。MrCrawleywasinthosedaystheperpetualcurateofHogglestock,apariahinthenorthernextremityofEastBarsetshire;amanknownbyallwhoknewanythingofhimtobeverypoor——anunhappy,moody,disappointedman,uponwhomthetroublesoftheworldalwaysseemedtocomewithadoubleweight。Buthehadeverbeenrespectedasaclergyman,sincehisoldfriendMrArabin,thedeanofBarchester,hadgivenhimthesmallincumbencywhichhenowheld。Thoughmoody,unhappy,anddisappointed,hewasahard—working,conscientiouspastor,amongthepoorpeoplewithwhomhislotwascast;forintheparishofHogglestockthereresidedonlyafewfarmershigherindegreethanfieldlabourers,brickmakers,andsuchlike。MrCrawleyhadnowpassedsometenyearsofhislifeatHogglestock;andduringthoseyearshehadworkedveryhardtodohisduty,strugglingtoteachthepeoplearoundhimperhapstoomuchofthemystery,butsomethingofthecomfort,ofreligion。Thathehadbecamepopularinhisparishcannotbesaidofhim。Hewasnotamantomakehimselfpopularinanyposition。Ihavesaidthathewasmoodyanddisappointed。Hewasevenworsethanthis;hewasmorose,sometimesalmosttoinsanity。Therehadbeendaysinwhichevenhiswifehadfounditimpossibletodealwithhimotherwisethanaswithanacknowledgedlunatic。Andthiswasknownamongthefarmers,whotalkedabouttheirclergymanamongthemselvesasthoughhewereamadman。Butamongtheverypoor,amongthebrickmakersofHoggleEnd——alawless,drunken,terriblyroughlotofhumanity——hewasheldinhighrespect;fortheyknewthathelivedhardly,astheylived;thatheworkedhard,astheyworked;andthattheoutsideworldwashardtohim,asitwastothem;
  andtherehadbeenanapparentsincerityofgodlinessabouttheman,andamanifeststruggletodohisdutyinspiteoftheworld’sill—usage,whichhadwonitswayevenwiththerough;sothatMrCrawley’snamehadstoodhighwithmanyintheparish,inspiteoftheunfortunatepeculiarityofhisdisposition。Thiswasthemanwhowasnowaccusedofstealingachequefortwentypounds。
  Butbeforethecircumstancesoftheallegedtheftarestated,awordortwomustbesaidastoMrCrawley’sfamily。Itisdeclaredthatagoodwifeisacrowntoherhusband,butMrsCrawleyhasbeenmuchmorethanacrowntohim。Ashadregardedalltheinnerlifeoftheman——allthatportionofhislifewhichhadnotbeenpassedinthepulpitorinpastoralteaching——shehadbeencrown,throne,andsceptreallinone。
  Thatshehadenduredwithhimandonhisbehalfthemiseriesofpoverty,andthetroublesofalifewhichhadknownnosmiles,isperhapsnottobeallegedasmuchtoherhonour。Shehadjoinedherselftohimforbetterorworse,anditwashermanifestdutytobearsuchthings;wivesalwayshavetobearthem,knowingwhentheymarrythattheymusttaketheirchance。MrCrawleymighthavebeenabishop,andMrsCrawley,whenshemarriedhim,perhapsthoughtitprobablethatsuchwouldbehisfortune。Insteadofthathewasnow,justashewasapproachinghisfiftiethyear,aperpetualcurate,withanincomeofonehundredandthirtypoundsperannum——andafamily。ThathadbeenMrsCrawley’sluckinlife,andofcoursesheboreit。Butshehadalsodonemuchmorethanthis。Shehadstrivenhardtobecontented,or,rather,toappeartobecontented,whenhehadbeenmostwretchedandmostmoody。Shehadstruggledtoconcealfromhimherownconvictiontohishalf—insanity,treatinghimatthesametimewiththerespectduetoanhonouredfatherofafamily,andwiththecarefulmeasuredindulgencefitforasickandwaywardchild。Inalltheterribletroublesoftheirlifehercouragehadbeenhigherthanhis。Themetalofwhichshewasmadehadbeentemperedtoasteelwhichwasveryrareandfine,buttherarenessandfinenessofwhichhehadfailedtoappreciate。Hehadoftentoldherthatshewaswithoutpride,becauseshewasstoopedtoreceivefromothersonhisbehalfandonbehalfoftheirchildren,thingswhichwereneedful,butwhichshecouldnotbuy。Hehadtoldherthatshewasabeggar,andthatitwasbettertostarvethantobeg。Shehadbornetherebukewithoutawordinreply,andhadthenbeggedagainforhim,andhadenduredthestarvationherself。Nothingintheirpovertyhad,foryearspast,beenashametoher;buteveryaccidentoftheirpovertywasstill,andeverhadbeen,alivingdisgracetohim。
  Theyhadhadmanychildren,andthreewerestillalive。Oftheeldest,GraceCrawley,weshallhearmuchinthecomingstory。Shewasatthistimenineteenyearsold,andtherewerethosewhosaid,thatinspiteofherpoverty,hershabbyoutwardapparel,andacertainthin,unfledged,unroundedformofperson,awantoffulnessinthelinesofherfigure,shewastheprettiestgirlinthatpartoftheworld。ShewaslivingnowataschoolinSilverbridge,whereforthelastyearshehadbeenateacher;andthereweremanyinSilverbridgewhodeclaredthatverybrightprospectswereopeningtoher——thatyoungMajorGrantlyofCrosbyLodge,who,thoughawidowerwithayoungchild,wasthecynosureofallfemaleeyesinandaroundSilverbridge,hadfoundbeautyinherthinface,andthatGraceCrawley’sfortunewasmadeintheteeth,asitwere,oftheprevailingill—fortuneofthefamily。BobCrawley,whowastwoyearsyounger,wasnotatMalbro’School,fromwhenceitwasintendedthatheshouldproceedtoCambridge,andbeeducatedthereattheexpenseofhisgodfatherDeanArabin。Inthisalsotheworldsawastrokeofgoodluck。ButthennothingwasluckytoMrCrawley。Bob,indeed,whohaddonewellatschool,mightdowellatCambridge——mightachievegreatthingsthere。ButMrCrawleywouldalmostpreferredthattheboyshouldworkinthefields,thanthatheshouldbeeducatedinamannersomanifestlyeleemosynary。Andthenhisclothes!Howwashetobeprovidedwithclothesfiteitherforschoolorforcollege?ButthedeanandMrsCrawleybetweenthemmanagedthis,leavingMrCrawleyverymuchinthedark,asMrsCrawleywasinthehabitofleavinghim。Thentherewasayoungerdaughter,Jane,stillathome,whopassedherlifebetweenhermother’swork—tableandherfather’sGreek,mendinglinen,andlearningtoscaniambics——forMrCrawleyinhisearlydayshadbeenaripescholar。
  Andnowtherehadcomeuponthemallthisterriblycrushingdisaster。
  ThatpoorMrCrawleyhadgraduallygothimselfintoamessofdebtatSilverbridge,fromwhichhehadbeenquiteunabletoextricatehimself,wasgenerallyknownbyalltheworldbothofSilverbridgeandHogglestock。ToagreatmanyitwasknownthatDeanArabinhadpaidmoneyforhim,verymuchcontrarytohisownconsent,andthathehadquarrelled,orattemptedtoquarrel,withthedeaninconsequence——hadsoattempted,althoughthemoneyhadinpartpassedthroughhisownhands。Therehadbeenonecreditor,Fletcher,thebutcheratSilverbridge,whohadoflatebeenspeciallyharduponpoorCrawley。
  Thisman,whohadnotbeenwithoutgoodnatureinhisdealings,hadheardstoriesofthedean’sgood—willandsuchlike,andhadloudlyexpressedhisopinionthattheperpetualcurateofHogglestockwouldshowahigherprideinallowinghimselftobeindebtedtoarichbrotherclergyman,thaninremainingunderthethrallofabutcher。Andthusarumourhadgrownup。Andhenthebutcherhadwrittenrepeatedletterstothebishop——tobishopProudieofBarchester,whohadfirstcausedhischaplaintoanswerthem,andhadtoldMrCrawleysomewhatroundlywhatwashisopinionofaclergymanwhoatemeatanddidnotpayforit。ButnothingthatbishopcouldsayordoenabledMrCrawleytopaythebutcher。ItwasverygrievoustosuchamanasMrCrawleytoreceivetheselettersfromsuchamanasBishopProudie;buttheletterscame,andmadefesteringwounds,butthentherewasanendofthem。Andatlasttherehadcomeforthfromthebutcher’sshopathreatthatifthemoneywerenotpaidbyacertaindate,printedbillswouldbepostedaboutthecountry。AllwhoheardofthisinSilverbridgewereveryangrywithMrFletcher,fornoonetherehadeverknownatradesmantotakesuchastepbefore;butFletchersworethathewouldpersevere,anddefendedhimselfbyshowingthatsixorsevenmonthssince,inthespringoftheyear,MrCrawleyhadbeenpayingmoneyinSilverbridge,buthadpaidnonetohim——tohimwhohadbeennotonlyhisearliest,buthismostenduringcreditor。’HegotmoneyfromthedeaninMarch,’saidMrFletchertoMrWalker’andhepaidtwelvepoundstentoGreen,andseventeenpoundstoGroburythebaker。’ItwasthatseventeenpoundstoGrobury,thebaker,forflour,whichmadethebutcherfixedlydeterminedtosmitethepoorclergymanhipandthigh。’AndhepaidmoneytoHallandtoMrsHolt,andtoadealmore;buthenevercamenearmyshop。Ifhehadevenshownhimself,Iwouldnothavesomuchaboutit。’Andthenadaybeforethedaynamed,MrsCrawleyhadcomeintoSilverbridge,andhadpaidthebutchertwentypoundsinfourfive—poundnotes。SofarFletcherthebutcherhadbeensuccessful。
  Somesixweeksafterthis,inquirybegantobemadeastoacertainchequefortwentypoundsdrawnbyLordLuftononhisbankersinLondon,whichchequehadbeenlostintheearlyspringbyMrSoames,LordLufton’smanofbusinessinBarsetshire,togetherwithapocket—bookinwhichithadbeenfolded。Thispocket—bookSoameshadbelievedhimselftohaveleftitatMrCrawley’shouse,andhadgonesofar,evenatthetimeoftheloss,astoexpresshisabsoluteconvictionthathehadsoleftit。HewasinthehabitofpayingarentchargetoMrCrawleyonbehalfofLordLufton,amountingtotwentypoundsfourshillings,everyhalf—year。LordLuftonheldthelargetithesofHogglestock,andpaidannuallyasumoffortypoundseightshillingstotheincumbent。Thisamountwas,asarule,remittedpunctuallybyMrSoamesthroughthepost。Ontheoccasionnowspokenof,hehadhadsomereasontovisitHogglestock,andhadpaidthemoneypersonallytoMrCrawley。Ofsomuchthereisnodoubt。ButhehadpaiditbyachequedrawnbyhimselfonhisownbankersatBarchester,andthatchequehadbeencashedintheordinarywayonthenextmorning。OnreturningtohisownhouseinBarchesterhehadmissedhispocket—book,andhadwrittentoMrCrawleytomakeinquiry。Therehadbeennomoneyinit,beyondthechequedrawnbyLordLuftonfortwentypounds。MrCrawleyhadansweredthisletterbyanother,sayingthatnopocket—bookhadbeenfoundinhishouse。AllthishadhappenedinMarch。
  InOctober,MrsCrawleypaidtwentypoundstoFletcher,thebutcher,andinNovemberLordLufton’schequewastracedbackthroughtheBarchesterbanktoMrCrawley’shands。AbrickmakerofHoggleEnd,muchfavouredbyMrCrawley,hadaskedforchangeoverthecounterofthisBarchesterbank——not,aswillbeunderstood,thebankonwhichthechequewasdrawn——andhadreceivedit。Theaccommodationhadbeenrefusedtothemanatfirst,butwhenhepresentedthechequethesecondday,bearingMrCrawley’nameonthebackofit,togetherwithanotefromMrCrawleyhimself,themoneyhadbeengivenforit;andtheidenticalnotessopaidhadbeengiventoFletcher,thebutcheronthenextdaybyMrsCrawley。Wheninquirywasmade,MrCrawleystatedthatthechequehadbeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames,onbehalfoftherentchargeduetohimbyLordLufton。Buttheerrorofthisstatementwasatoncemademanifest。
  Therewasthecheque,signedbyMrSoameshimself,fortheexactamount——twentypoundsfourshillings。Ashehimselfdeclared,hehadneverinhislifepaidmoneyonbehalfofLordLuftonbyachequedrawnonhislordship。ThechequegivenbyLordLufton,andwhichhadbeenlost,hadbeenaprivatematterbetweenthem。Hislordshiphadsimplywantedchangeinhispocket,andhisagenthadgivenittohim。MrCrawleywasspeedilyshowntobealtogetherwronginthestatementmadetoaccountforthepossessionofthecheque。
  Thenhebecameverymoodyandwouldsaynothingfurther。Buthiswife,whohadknownnothingofhisfirststatementwhenmade,cameforwardanddeclaredthatshebelievedthechequefortwentypoundstobepartofapresentgivenbyDeanArabintoherhusbandinAprillast。Therehadbeen,shesaid,greatheart—burningsaboutthisgift,andshehardlydaredtospeaktoherhusbandonthesubject。AnexecutionhadbeenthreatenedinthehousebyGrobury,thebaker,ofwhichthedeanhadheard。ThentherehadbeensomescenesatthedeanerybetweenherhusbandandthedeanandMrsArabin,astowhichshehadsubsequentlyheardmuchfromMrsArabin。MrsArabinhadtoldherthatmoneyhadbeengiven——andatlasttaken。Indeed,somuchhadbeenveryapparent,asbillshadbeenpaidtotheamountofatleastfiftypounds。Whenthethreatmadebythebutcherhadreachedherhusband’sears,theeffectuponhimhadbeenverygrievous。AllthiswasthestorytoldbyMrsCrawleytoMrWalker,thelawyer,whenhewaspushinghisinquiries。
  She,poorwoman,atanyratetoldallsheknew。Herhusbandhadtoldheronemorning,whenthebutcher’sthreatwasweighingheavilyonhismind,speakingtoherinsuchahumourthatshefounditimpossibletocross—
  questionhim,thathehadstillmoneyleft,thoughitwasmoneywhichhehadhopedthathewouldnotbedriventouse;andhehadgivenherfourfivepoundnotesandhadtoldhertogotoSilverbridgeandsatisfythemanwhowassoeagerforhismoney。Shehaddoneso,andhadfeltnodoubtthatthemoneysoforthcominghadbeengivenbythedean。ThatwasthestorytoldbyMrsCrawley。
  Buthowcouldsheexplainherhusband’sstatementsastothecheque,whichhadbeenshowntobealtogetherfalse?AllthispassedbetweenMrWalkerandMrsCrawley,andthelawyerwasverygentlewithher。Inthefirststagesoftheinquiryhehadsimplydesiredtolearnthetruth,andplacetheclergymanabovesuspicion。Latterly,beingboundashewastofollowupofficially,hewouldnothaveseenMrsCrawley,hadhebeenabletoescapethatlady’simportunity。’MrWalker,’shehadsaid,atlast,’youdonotknowmyhusband。NooneknowshimbutI。Itishardtohavetotellyouallofourtroubles。’’IfIcanlessenthem,trustmethatIwilldoso,’saidthelawyer。’Noone,Ithink,canlessentheminthisworld,’saidthelady。’Thetruthis,sir,thatmyhusbandoftenknowsnotwhathesays。WhenhedeclaredthatthemoneyhadbeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames,mostcertainlyhethoughtso。Therearetimeswheninhismiseryheknowsnotwhathesays——whenheforgetseverything。’
  UptothisperiodMrWalkerhadnotsuspectedMrCrawleyofanythingdishonest,nordidhesuspecthimasyet。Thepoormanhadprobablyreceivedthemoneyfromthedean,andhadtoldthelieaboutit,notchoosingtoownthathehadtakenthemoneyfromhisrichfriend,andthinkingthattherewouldbenofurtherinquiry。Hehadbeenveryfoolish,andthatwouldbetheendofit。MrSoameswasbynomeanssogood—naturedinhisbelief。’Howshouldmypocket—bookhavegotintoDeanArabin’shands?’saidMrSoames,almost