’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？