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。’