’Iamsogladshehasgone，’saidLily。’Weshallhavetostophereforthenexthour，asGregorywon’tknowwhattotakeawayandwhattoleave。Iwassoafraidshewasgoingtostopandseeusoffthepremises。’
　　’Idon’tknowwhyyoushoulddislikeher。’
　　’Idon’tdislikeher。Ilikeherverywell，’saidLilyDale。’Butdon’tyoufeelthattherearepeoplewhomoneknowsveryintimately，whoarereallyfriends——forwhomiftheyweredyingonewouldgrieve，whomiftheywereinmisfortuneonewouldgofartohelp，butwithwhomforallthatonecanhavenosympathy。Andyettheyaresoneartoonethattheyknowalltheeventsofone’slife，andarejustifiedbyunquestionedfriendshipintalkingaboutthingswhichshouldneverbementionedexceptwheresympathyexists。’
　　’Yes；Iunderstandthat。’
　　’Everybodyunderstandsitwhohasbeenunhappy。Thatwomansometimessaysthingstomethatmakemewish——wishthatthey’dmakehimbishopofPatagonia。Andyetdoesitallinfriendship，andmammasaysthatsheisquiteright。’
　　’Ilikedherforstandingupforherhusband。’
　　’Buthedoesgotosleep——andthenhescratcheshisnosetoshowthathe’sawake。Ishouldn’thavesaidit，onlysheisalwayshintingatuncleChristopher。UncleChristophercertainlydoesgotosleepwhenMrBoycepreaches，andhehasn’tstudiedanyscientificlittlemovementduringhisslumberstomakethepeoplebelievethathe’sallalive。I
　　gavehimahintoneday，andhegotangrywithme！’
　　’Ishouldn’thavethoughthecouldhavebeenangrywithyou。Itseemstomefromwhatyousaythatyoumaydowhateveryoupleasewithhim。’
　　’Heisverygoodtome。Ifyouknewitall——ifyoucouldunderstandhowgoodhehasbeen！I’lltryandtellyouoneday。Itisnotwhathehasdonethatmakesmelovehimso——butwhathehasthoroughlyunderstood，andwhat，sounderstanding，hehasnotdone，andwhathehasnotsaid。
　　Itisacaseofsympathy。IfevertherewasagentlemanuncleChristopherisone。AndIusedtodislikehimso，atonetime！’
　　’Andwhy？’
　　’ChieflybecausehewouldmakemewearbrownfrockswhenIwantedtohavethempinkorgreen。Andhekeptmeforsixmonthsfromhavingthemlong，anduptothisdayhescoldsmeifthereishalfaninchonthegroundforhimtotreadupon。’
　　’Ishouldn’tmindthatifIwereyou。’
　　’Idon’t——notnow。ButitusedtobeseriouswhenIwasayounggirl。
　　Andwethought，BellandI，thathewascrosstomamma。Heandmammadidn’tagreeatfirst，youknow，astheydonow。Itisquitetruethathediddislikemammawhenwefirstcame。’
　　’Ican’tthinkhowanybodycouldeverdislikeMrsDale。’
　　’Buthedid。AndthenhewantedtomakeupamarriagebetweenBellandmycousinBernard。Butneitherofthemcaredabitforeachother，andthenheusedtoscoldthem——andthen——andthen——andthen——Oh，hewassogoodtome！Here’sGregoryatlast。Gregory，we’vebeenwaitingthishourandahalf。’
　　’Itain’ttenminutessinceHopkinsletmecomewiththebarrows，miss。’
　　’ThenHopkinsisatraitor。Nevermind。You’dbetterbeginnow——upthereatthesteps。It’llbequitedarkinafewminutes。Here’sMrsGileswithherbroom。Come，MrsGiles；weshallhavetopassthenighthereifyoudon’tmakehaste。Areyoucold，Grace？’
　　’No；I’mnotcold。I’mthinkingwhattheyaredoingnowinthechurchatHogglestock。’
　　’TheHogglestockchurchisnotpretty，likethis？’
　　’Oh，no。Itisaveryplainbrickbuilding，withsomethinglikeapigeon—houseforabelfry。Andthepulpitisoverthereading—desk，andthereading—deskovertheclerk，sothatpapa，whenhepreaches，isnearlyuptotheceiling。Andthewholeplaceisdividedintopews，inwhichthefarmershidethemselveswhentheycometochurch。’
　　’Sothatnobodycanseewhethertheygotosleepornot。Oh，MrsGiles，youmustn’tpullthatdown。That’swhatwehavebeenputtingupallday。’
　　’Butitbeintheway，miss；sothatministercan’tbudgeinorouto’
　　thedoor。’
　　’Nevermind。Thenhemuststayonesideortheother。Thatwouldbetoomuchafterallourtrouble！’AndMissDalehurriedacrossthechanceltosavesomeprettyarchingboughs，which，inthejudgmentofMrsGiles，encroachedtoomuchonthevestrydoor。’Asifitsignifiedwhichsidehewas，’shesaidinawhispertoGrace。
　　’Idon’tsupposethey’llhaveanythinginthechurchathome。’
　　’Somebodywillstickupawreathortwo，Idaresay。’
　　’Nobodywill。ThereneverisanybodyatHogglestocktostickupwreathsordoanythingfortheprettinessoflife。Andnowtherewillbelessthanever。Howcanmammalookafterholly—leavesinherpresentstate？
　　Andyetshewillmissthem，too。Poormammaseesverylittlethatispretty；butshehasnotforgottenhowpleasantprettythingsare。’
　　’IwishIknewyourmother，Grace。’
　　’Ithinkitwouldbeimpossibleforanyonetoknowmammanow——foranyonewhohadnotknownherbefore。Shenevermakesevenanewacquaintance。Sheseemstothinkthatthere’snothingleftforherintheworldbuttotrytokeeppapaoutofhismisery。Andshedoesnotsucceedinthat。Poorpapa！’
　　’Isheunhappyaboutthiswickedsituation？’
　　’Yes；heisveryunhappy。But，Lily，Idon’tknowaboutitsbeingwicked。’
　　’Butyouknowit’suntrue。’
　　’OfcourseIknowthatpapadidnotmeantotakeanythingthatwasnothisown。But，yousee，nobodyknowswhereitcamefrom；andnobodyexceptmammaandJaneandIunderstandhowveryabsentpapacanbe。I’msurehedoesn’tknowtheleastintheworldhowhecamebyithimself，orhewouldtellmamma。Doyouknow，Lily，IthinkIhavebeenwrongtocomeaway。’
　　’Don’tsaythat，dear。RememberhowanxiousMrsCrawleywasthatyoushouldcome。’
　　’ButIcannotbeartobecomfortableherewhiletheyaresowretchedathome。Itseemssuchamockery。EverytimeIfindmyselfsmilingatwhatyousaytome，IthinkImustbethemostheartlesscreatureintheworld。’
　　’Isitsoverybadwiththem，Grace？’
　　’Indeeditisbad。Idon’tthinkyoucanimaginewhatmammahastogothrough。Shehastocookallthatiseateninthehouse，andthen，veryoften，thereisnomoneyinthehousetobuyanything。Ifyouweretoseetheclothesshewears，eventhatwouldmakeyourheartbleed。Iwhohavebeenusedtobeingpoorallmylife——evenI，whenIamathome，amdismayedbywhatshehastoendure。’
　　’Whatcanwedoforher，Grace？’
　　’Youcandonothing，Lily。Butwhenthingsarelikethatathome，youcanunderstandwhatIfeelinbeinghere。’
　　MrsGilesandGregoryhadnowcompletedtheirtask，orhadsonearlydonesoastomakeMissDalethinkthatshemightsafelyleavethechurch。’Wewillgoinnow，’shesaid；’foritisdarkandcold，andwhatIcallcreepy。Doyoueverfancythatperhapsyouwillseeaghostsomeday？’
　　’Idon’tthinkIshalleverseeaghost；butallthesameIshouldbehalfafraidtobeherealoneinthedark。’
　　’Iamoftenherealoneinthedark，butIambeginningtothinkIshallneverseeaghostnow。Iamlosingallmyromance，andgettingtobeanoldwoman。Doyouknow，Grace，Idosohatemyselfforbeingsuchanoldmaid。’
　　’Butwhosaysyou’reanoldmaid，Lily？’
　　’Iseeitinpeople’seyes，andhearitintheirvoices。AndtheyalltalktomeasifIweresteady，andaltogetherremovedfromanythinglikefunandfrolic。Itseemstobeadmittedthatifagirldoesnotwanttofallinlove，sheoughtnottocareforanyotherfunintheworld。Ifanybodymadeoutalistoftheoldladiesintheseparts，they’dputdownLadyJulia，andmamma，andMrsBoyce，andme，andoldMrsHearne。Theverychildrenhaveanawfulrespectforme，andgiveoverplayingdirectlytheyseeme。Well，mamma，we’vedoneatlast，andIhavehadsuchascoldingfromMrsBoyce。’
　　’Idaresayyoudeservedit，mydear。’
　　’No，Ididnot，mamma。AskGraceifIdid。’
　　’WasshenotsaucytoMrsBoyce，MissCrawley？’
　　’ShesaidMrBoycescratcheshisnoseinchurch，’saidGrace。
　　’Sohedoes；andgoestosleep，too。’
　　’IfyoutoldMrsBoycethat，Lily，Ithinkshewasquiterighttoscoldyou。’
　　SuchwasMissLilyDale，withwhomGraceCrawleywasstaying；——LilyDalewithwhomMrJohnEames，oftheIncome—taxOffice，hadbeensolongandsosteadilyinlove，thathewasregardedamonghisfellow—clerksasamiracleofconstancy——whohad，herself，informerdaysbeensounfortunateinloveastohavebeenregardedamongherfriendsinthecountryasthemostill—usedofwomen。AsJohnEameshadbeenabletobecomfortableinlife——thatistosay，notutterlyawretch——inspiteofhislove，sohadshemanagedtoholdupherhead，andliveasotheryoungwomenlive，inspiteofherfortune。Butasitmaybesaidalsothathisconstancywastrueconstancy，althoughheknewhowtoenjoythegoodthingsoftheworld，soalsohadhermisfortunebeenatruemisfortune，althoughshehadbeenabletobearitwithoutmuchoutershowofshipwreck。Forafewdays——foraweekortwo，whentheblowfirststruckher，shehadbeenknockeddown，andthefriendswhowerenearesttoherhadthoughtthatshewouldneveragainstanderectuponherfeet。Butshehadbeenverystrong，stoutatheart，ofafixedpurpose，andcapableofresistanceagainstoppression。Evenherownmotherhadbeenastonished，andsometimesalmostdismayed，bythestrengthofherwill。Hermotherknewwellhowitwaswithhernow；buttheywhosawherfrequently，andwhodidnotknowherashermotherknewher——theMrsBoyce’sofheracquaintance——whisperedamongthemselvesthatLilyDalewasnotsosoftofheartaspeopleusedtothink。
　　Onthenextday，ChristmasDay，asthereaderwillremember，GraceCrawleywastakenuptodineatthebighousewiththeoldsquire。MrsDale’seldestdaughter，withherhusband，DrCrofts，wastobethere；
　　andalsoLily’soldfriend，whowasalsoespeciallytheoldfriendofJohnnyEames，LadyJuliaDeGuest。Gracehadendeavouredtobeexcusedfromtheparty，pleadingmanypleas。Buttheupshotofallherpleaswasthis——thatwhileherfather’spositionwassopainfulsheoughtnottogooutanywhere。Inanswertothis，LilyDale，corroboratedbyhermother，assuredherthatforherfather’ssakesheoughtnottoexhibitanysuchfeeling；thatindoingso，shewouldseemtoexpressadoubtastoherfather’sinnocence。Thensheallowedherselftobepersuaded，tellingherfriend，however，thatsheknewthedaywouldbeverymiserabletoher。’Itwillbeveryhumdrum，ifyouplease，’saidLily。
　　’NothingcanbemorehumdrumthanChristmasattheGreatHouse。
　　Nevertheless，youmustgo。’
　　Comingoutofthechurch，Gracewasintroducedtotheoldsquire。Hewasathin，oldman，withgreyhair，andthesmallestpossiblegreywhiskers，withadry，solemnface；notcarryinginhisoutwardgaitmuchofthecustomaryjollityforChristmas。HetookhishatofftoGrace，andsaidsomewordtoherastohopingtohavethepleasureofseeingheratdinner。Itsoundedverycoldtoher，andshebecameatonceafraidofhim。’IwishIwasnotgoing，’shesaidtoLily，again。’I
　　knowhethinksIoughtnottogo。Ishallbesothankfulifyouwillbutletmestay。’
　　’Don’tbefoolish，Grace。Itallcomesfromyournotknowinghim，orunderstandinghim。Andhowshouldyouunderstandhim？IgiveyoumywordthatIwouldtellyouifIdidnotknowthathewishesyoutogo。’
　　Shehadtogo。’OfcourseIhaven’tadressfit。HowshouldI？’shesaidtoLily。’Howwrongitisofmetoputmyselfupinsuchathingasthis。’
　　’Yourdressisbeautiful，child。Wearenoneofusgoingineveningdresses。PraybelievemethatIwillnotmakeyoudowrong。Ifyouwon’ttrustme，can’tyoutrustmamma？’
　　Ofcourseshewent。Whenthethreeladiesenteredthedrawing—roomoftheGreatHouse，theyfoundthatLadyJuliahadarrivedjustbeforethem。LadyJuliaimmediatelytookholdofLily，andhadherapart，havingawordortwotosayabouttheclerkattheIncome—taxOffice。I
　　amnotsurebutwhatthedearoldwomansometimessaidafewmorewordsthanwereexpedient，withaviewtotheobjectwhichshehadsocloselyatheart。’JohnistobewithusthefirstweekinFebruary，’shesaid。
　　’Isupposeyou’llseehimbeforethat，ashe’llprobablybewithhismotherafewdaysbeforehecomestome。’’
　　’Idaresayweshallseehimquiteintime，LadyJulia，’saidLily。
　　’Now，Lily，don’tbeill—natured。’
　　’I’mthemostgood—naturedyoungwomanalive，LadyJulia；andasforJohnny，heisalwaysaswelcomeattheSmallHouseasvioletsinMarch。
　　Mammapurrsabouthimwhenhecomes，askingallmannerofflatteringquestionsasthoughhewereacabinetministeratleast，andIalwaysadmiresomelittleknickknackthathehasgot，anewring，orastud，orabutton。Thereisn’tanothermaninalltheworldwhosebuttonsI’dlookat。’
　　’Itisn’thisbuttons，Lily。’
　　’Ah，that’sjustit。Icangoasfarashisbuttons。But，come，LadyJulia，thisisChristmas—time，andChristmasshouldbeaholiday。’
　　InthemeantimeMrsDalewasoccupiedwithhermarrieddaughterandherson—in—law，andthesquirehadattachedhimselftopoorGrace。’Youhaveneverbeeninthispartofthecountrybefore，MissCrawley，’hesaid。
　　’No，sir。’
　　’Itisratherprettyjustabouthere，andGuestwickManorisafineplaceinitsway，butwehavenotsomuchnaturalbeautyasyouhaveinBarsetshire。ChaldicoteChaseis，Ithink，asprettyasanythinginEngland。’
　　’IneversawChaldicoteChase，sir。Itisn’tprettyatallatHogglestock，wherewelive。’
　　’Ah，Iforgot。No；itisnotveryprettyatHogglestock。That’swherethebrickscomefrom。’
　　’PapaisclergymanatHogglestock。’
　　’Yes，yes；Iremember。Yourfatherisagreatscholar。Ihaveoftenheardofhim。Iamsorryheshouldbedistressedbythischargetheyhavemade。Butitwillallcomerightintheassizes。Theyalwaysgetatthetruththere。IusedtobeintimatewithaclergymaninBarsetshireofthenameofGrantly’——Gracefeltthatherearsweretingling，andthatherfacewasred——’ArchdeaconGrantly。Hisfatherwasbishopofthediocese。’
　　’Yes，sir。ArchdeaconGrantlylivesatPlumstead。’
　　’Iwasstayingoncewithanoldfriendofmine，MrThorneofUllathorne，wholivesclosetoPlumstead，andsawagooddealofthem。IrememberthinkingHenryGrantlywasaverynicelad。Hemarriedafterwards。’
　　’Yessir；buthiswifeisdeadnow，andhehasgotalittlegirl——EdithGrantly。’
　　’Istherenootherchild？’
　　’Nosir；onlyEdith。’
　　’Youknowhim，then？’
　　’Yessir；IknowMajorGrantly——andEdith。IneversawArchdeaconGrantly。’
　　’Then，mydear，youneversawaveryfamouspillaroftheChurch。I
　　rememberwhenpeopleusedtotalkagreatdealaboutArchdeaconGrantly；
　　butwhenhistimecametobemadeabishop，hewasnotsufficientlynew—fangled；andsohegotpassedby。Heismuchbetteroffasheis，I
　　shouldsay。Bishopshavetoworkveryhard，mydear。’
　　’Dothey，sir？’
　　’Sotheytellme。Andthearchdeaconisawealthyman。SoHenryGrantlyhasgotanonlydaughter？Ihopesheisanicechild，forI
　　rememberlikinghimwell。’
　　’Sheisaverynicechild，indeedMrDale。Shecouldnotbenicer。Andsheissolovely。’ThenMrDalelookedintohisyoungcompanion’sface，struckbythesuddenanimationofherwords，andperceivedforthefirsttimethatshewasverypretty。
　　AfterthisGracebecameaccustomedtothestrangenessofthefacesroundher，andmanagedtoeatherdinnerwithoutmuchperturbationofspirit。
　　Whenafterdinnerthesquireproposedtoherthattheyshoulddrinkthehealthofherpapaandmamma，shewasalmostreducedtotears，andyetshelikedhimfordoingit。Itwasterribletohertohavethemmentioned，knowingasshedidthateveryonewhomentionedthemmustbeawareoftheirmisery——forthemisfortuneofherfatherhadbecomenotoriousinthecountry；butitwasalmostterribletoherthatnoallusionshouldbemadetothem；forthenshewouldbedriventothinkthatherfatherwasregardedasamanwhomtheworldcouldnotaffordtomention。’Papaandmamma，’shejustmurmured，raisingherglasstoherlips。’Grace，dear，’saidLilyfromacrossthetable，’here’spapaandmamma，andtheyoungmanatMalboroughwhoiscarryingeverythingbeforehim。’’Yes；andwewon’tforgettheyoungmanatMalborough，’saidthesquire。Gracefeltthistobegood—natured，becauseherbrotheratMalboroughwastheonebrightspotinherfamily——andshewascomforted。
　　’Andwewilldrinkthehealthofmyfriend，JohnEames，’saidLadyJulia。
　　’JohnEames’shealth，’saidthesquire，inalowvoice。
　　’Johnny’shealth，’saidMrsDale；butMrsDale’svoicewasnotverybrisk。
　　’John’shealth，’saidDrCroftsandMrsCrofts，inabreath。
　　’Here’sthehealthofJohnEames，’saidLily；andhervoicewastheclearestandboldestofthemall。ButshemadeuphermindthatifLadyJuliacouldnotbeinducedtospareherforthefuture，sheandLadyJuliamustquarrel。’Noonecanunderstand，’shesaidtohermotherthatevening，’howdreadfulitis——thisbeingconstantlytoldbeforeone’sfamilyandfriendsthatoneoughttomarryacertainyoungman。’
　　’Shedidn’tsaythat，mydear。’
　　’Ishouldmuchpreferthatsheshould，thenIcouldgetuponmylegsandanswerheroffthereel。’Ofcourseeverybodythereunderstoodwhatshemeant——includingoldJohnBates，whostoodatthesideboardandcoollydrankthetoasthimself。
　　’HealwaysdoesthattoallthefamilytoastsonChristmasDay。Yourunclelikesit。’
　　’Thatwasn’tafamilytoast，andJohnBateshadnorighttodrinkit。’
　　Afterdinnertheyallplayedcards——aroundgame——andthesquireputinthestakes。’Now，Grace，’saidLily，’youarethevisitorandyoumustwin，orelseUncleChristopherwon’tbehappy。Healwayslikesayoungladyvisitortowin。’
　　’ButIneverplayedagameofcardsinmylife。’
　　’Goandsitnexttohim，andhe’llteachyou。UncleChristopher，won’tyouteachGraceCrawley？SheneversawaPopeJoanboardinherlifebefore。’
　　’Comehere，mydear，andsitnexttome。Dear，dear，dear；fancyHenryGrantlyhavingalittlegirl。Whatahandsomeladhewas。Anditseemsonlyyesterday。’IfitwassothatLilyhadsaidawordtoheruncleaboutGraceandthemajor，theoldsquirehadbecomeonasuddenverysly。Bethatasitmay，GraceCrawleythoughthewasapleasantoldman；
　　andthough，whiletalkingtohimaboutEdith，shepersistedinnotlearningtoplayPopeJoan，sothathecouldnotcontrivethatsheshouldwin，neverthelessthesquiretooktoherverykindly，andtoldhertocomeupwithLilyandseehimsometimeswhileshewasstayingattheSmallHouse。Thesquireinspeakingofhissister—in—law’scottagealwayscalledittheSmallHouse。
　　’Onlythinkofwinning，’saidLadyJulia，drawingtogetherherwealth。
　　’Well，I’msureIwantitbadenough，forIdon’tatallknowwhetherI’vegotanyincomeofmyown。It’sallJohnEames’sfault，mydear，forhewon’tgoandmakethosepeoplesettleitinLincoln’sInnFields。’
　　PoorLily，whowasstandingonthehearth—rug，touchedhermother’sarms。SheknewJohnny’snamewasluggedinwithreferencetoLadyJulia’smoneyaltogetherforherbenefit。’IwonderwhethershehadaJohnnyofherown，’shesaidtohermother，’andifso，whethershelikeditwhenherfriendssentthetown—crierroundtotalkabouthim。’
　　’Shemeanstobegood—natured，’saidMrsDale。
　　’Ofcourseshedoes。Butitissuchapitywhenpeoplewon’tunderstand。’
　　’Myuncledidn’tbiteyouafterall，Grace，’saidLilytoherfriendastheyweregoinghomeatnight，bythepathwaywhichledfromthegardenofonehousetothegardenoftheother。
　　’IlikeMrDaleverymuch，’saidGrace。’Hewasverykindtome。’
　　’Thereissomequeer—lookinganimalofwhomtheysaythatheisbetterthanhelooks，andIalwaysthinkofthatsayingwhenIthinkofmyuncle。’
　　’Forshame，Lily，’saidhermother。’Youruncle，forhisage，isasgoodlookingamanasIknow。Andhealwayslookslikejustwhatheis——anEnglishgentleman。’
　　’Ididn’tmeantosayawordagainsthisdearoldfaceandfigure，mamma；buthisheartandmind，andgeneraldisposition，astheycomeoutinexperienceanddaysoftrial，aresomuchbetterthanthesamplesofthemwhichheputsoutonthecounterformenandwomentojudgeby。Hewearswell，andhewasheswell——ifyouknowwhatImean，Grace。’
　　’Yes；IthinkIknowwhatyoumean。’
　　’TheApollosoftheworld——Idon’tmeaninoutwardlooks，mamma——buttheApollosinheart，themen——andthewomentoo——whoaresofulloffeeling，sosoft—natured，sokind，whoneversayacrossword，whonevergetoutofbedonthewrongsideinthemorning——itsooftenturnsoutthattheywon’twash。’
　　SuchwastheexpressionofMissDale’sexperience。
　　CHAPTERXVII
　　MRCRAWLEYISSUMMONEDTOBARCHESTER
　　ThescenewhichoccurredinHogglestockchurchontheSundayafterMrThumble’sfirstvisittotheparishhadnotbeendescribedwithaccuracyeitherbythearchdeaconinhislettertohisson，orbyMrsThorne。
　　TherehadbeennofootmanfromthepalaceinattendanceonMrThumble，norhadtherebeenabattlewiththebrickmakers；neitherhadMrThumblebeenputunderthepump。ButMrThumblehadgoneover，takinghisgownandsurplicewithhim，ontheSundaymorning，andhadintimatedtoMrCrawleyhisintentionofperformingtheservice。MrCrawley，inanswertothis，hadassuredMrThumblethathewouldnotbeallowedtoopenhismouthinthechurch；andMrThumble，notseeinghiswaytoanyfurthersuccessfulaction，hadcontentedhimselfwithattendingtheservicesinhissurplice，makingtherebyasilentprotestthathe，andnotMrCrawley，oughttohavebeeninthereading—deskandthepulpit。
　　WhenMrTrumblereportedhimselfandhisfailuretothepalace，hestrovehardtoavoidseeingMrsProudie，butnotsuccessfully。Heknewsomethingofthepalacehabits，anddidmanagetoreachthebishopaloneontheSundayevening，justifyinghimselftohislordshipforsuchaninterviewbytheremarkablecircumstancesofthecaseandtheimportanceofhislatemission。MrsProudiealwayswenttochurchonSundayevenings，makingapointofhearingthreeservicesandthreesermonseverySundayofherlife。Onweek—dayssheseldomheardany，havinganideathatweek—dayserviceswereaninventionoftheHighChurchenemy，andthattheyshouldthereforebevehementlydiscouraged。Servicesonsaints’dayssheregardedasrankpapacy，andhadbeenknowntoaccuseaclergyman’swifetoherface，ofidolatrybecausethepoorladyhaddatedaletter，StJohn’sEve。MrThumble，onthisSundayevening，wassuccessfulinfindingthebishopathome，andalone，buthewasnotluckyenoughtogetawaybeforeMrsProudiereturned。Thebishop，perhaps，thoughtthatthestoryofthefailurehadbetterreachhiswife’searsfromMrThumble’slipsthanfromhisown。
　　’Well，MrThumble？’saidMrsProudie，walkingintothestudy，armedinherfullSunday—eveningwinterpanoply，inwhichshehadjustdescendedfromhercarriage。ThechurchwhichMrsProudieattendedintheeveningwasnearlyhalfamilefromthepalace，andthecoachmanandgroomnevergotaholidayonSundaynight。Shewasgorgeousinadarkbrownsilkdressofawfulstiffnessandterribledimensions；andonhershoulderssheworeashortcloakofvelvetandfur，veryhandsomewithal，butsoswellinginitsproportionsonallsidesasnecessarilytocreatemoreofdismaythanofadmirationinthemindofanyordinaryman。Andherbonnetwasamonstroushelmetwiththebeaverup，displayingtheawfulfaceofthewarrior，alwaysreadyforcombat，andcarelesstoguarditselffromattack。Thelargecontortedbowswhichsheborewereasagrislycrestuponhercasque，beautifuldoubtless，butmajesticandfear—compelling。Inherhandshecarriedherarmourallcomplete，aprayer—book，aBible，andabookofhymns。Thesethefootmanhadbroughtforhertothestudydoor，butshehadthoughtitfittoenterherhusband’sroomwiththeminherowncustody。