Thewholemindofthemanwas,asshetoldherself,withinhergrasp。Hemighthavetakenthetwentypounds;hemighthavetakenitandspentit,thoughitwasnothisown;butyethewasnothief。Norwasheamadman。
  NomanmoresaneinpreachingthegospelofhisLord,inmakingintelligibletotheignorantthepromisesofhisSaviour,evergotintoaparishpulpit,ortaughtinaparishschool。Theintellectofthemanwasasclearasrunningwaterinallthingsnotappertainingtohisdailylife,anditsdifficulties。Hecouldbelogicalwithavengeance——sologicalastocauseinfinitetroubletohiswife,who,withallhergoodsense,wasnotlogical。AndhehadGreekathisfingers’ends——ashisdaughterverywellknew。AndeventothisdayhewouldsometimesrecitetothemEnglishpoetry,linesafterlines,stanzasuponstanzas,inasweetlowmelancholyvoice,onlongwintereveningswhenoccasionallytheburdenofhistroubleswouldbelightertohimthanwasusual。BooksinLatinandinFrenchhereadwithasmucheaseasinEnglish,andtookdelightinsuchascametohim,whenhewouldcondescendtoacceptsuchloansfromthedeanery。Andtherewasattimesalightnessofheartabouttheman。InthecourseofthelastwinterhehadtranslatedintoGreekirregularversetheverynobleballadofLordBateman,maintainingtherhythmandtherhyme,andhadrepeateditwithuncouthgleetillhisdaughterknewitallbyheart。
  Andwhentherehadcometohimafive—poundnotefromsomeadmiringmagazineeditorasthepriceofthesame——stillthroughthedean’shands——hehadbrighteneduphisheartandhadthoughtforanhourortwothatevenyettheworldwouldsmileuponhim。Hiswifeknewwellthathewasnotmad;butyetsheknewthatthereweredarkmomentswithhim,inwhichhismindwassomuchastraythathecouldnotjustlybecalledtoaccountastowhathemightrememberandwhathemightforget。Howwoulditbepossibletoexplainallthistoajudgeandjury,sothattheymightneithersaythathewasdishonest,noryetthathewasmad?
  ’Perhapshepickeditup,andhadforgotten,’herdaughtersaidtoher。
  Perhapsitwasso,butshemightnotasyetadmitasmucheventoherchild。
  ’Itisamystery,dear,asyet,which,withGod’said,willbeunravelled。Ofonethingweatleastmaybesure;thatyourpapahasnotwilfullydoneanythingwrong。’
  ’Ofcoursewearesureofthat,mamma。’
  MrsCrawleyhadmanytroublesduringthenextfourorfivedays,ofwhichtheworst,perhaps,hadreferencetotheservicesoftheSundaywhichintervenedbetweenthedayofhervisittoSilverbridgeandthesittingofthemagistrates。OntheSaturdayitwasnecessarythatheshouldpreparehissermons,ofwhichhepreachedtwoeverySunday,thoughhiscongregationconsistedonlyoffarmers,brickmakers,andagriculturallabourers,whowouldwillinglyhavedispensedwiththesecond。MrsCrawleyproposedtosendovertoMrRobarts,aneighbouringclergyman,fortheloanofacurate。MrRobartswasawarmfriendtotheCrawleys,andinsuchanemergencywouldprobablyhavecomehimself;butMrCrawleywouldnothearofit。ThediscussiontookplaceearlyontheSaturdaymorning,beforeitwasasyetdaylight,forthepoorwomanwasthinkingdayandnightofherhusband’stroubles,andithadthisgoodeffect,thatimmediatelyafterbreakfastheseatedhimselfathisdesk,andworkedathistaskasthoughhehadforgottenallelseintheworld。
  AndontheSundaymorninghewentintohisschoolbeforethehourofthechurchservice,ashadbeenhiswont,andtaughtthereasthougheverythingwithhimwasasusual。Someofthechildrenwereabsent,havingheardoftheirteacher’stribulation,andhavingbeentoldprobablythathewouldremithiswork;andfortheseabsentoneshesentingreatanger。Thepoorbairnscamecreepingin,forhewasamanwhobyhismannershadbeenabletosecuretheirobedienceinspiteofhispoverty。AndhepreachedtothepeopleofhisparishonthatSunday,ashehadalwayspreached;eagerly,clearly,andwithaneloquencefittedfortheheartsofsuchanaudience。Noonewouldhaveguessedfromhistonesandgesturesandappearanceonthatoccasion,thattherewasaughtwrongwithhim——unlesstherehadbeensomeobserverkeenenoughtoperceivethatthegreatercarewhichheused,andthespecialeagernessofhiswords,denotedaspecialframeofmind。
  Afterthat,afterthosechurchserviceswereover,hesankagainandneverrousedhimselftillthedreadeddayhadcome。
  CHAPTERV
  WHATTHEWORLDTHOUGHTOFIT
  OpinionatSilverbridge,atBarchester,andthroughoutthecounty,wasverymuchdividedastotheguiltorinnocenceofMrCrawley。UptothetimeofMrsCrawley’svisittoSilverbridge,theaffairhadnotbeenmuchdiscussed。TogiveMrSoameshisduehehadbenomeansbeenanxioustopressthematteragainsttheclergyman;buthehadbeenforcedtogoonwithit。Whilethefirstchequewasmissing,LordLuftonhadsenthimasecondchequeforthemoney,andthelosshadthusfallenuponhislordship。Thechequehadofcoursebeentraced,andinquiryhadofcoursebeenmadeastoMrCrawley’spossessionofit。WhenthatgentlemandeclaredthathehadreceiveditfromMrSoames,MrSoameshadbeenforcedtocontradictandtoresentsuchassertion。WhenMrCrawleyhadafterwardssaidthatthemoneyhadcometohimfromthedean,andwhenthedeanhadshownthatthiswasalsountrue,MrSoames,confidentashewasthathehaddroppedthepocket—bookatMrCrawley’shouse,couldnotbutcontinuetheinvestigation。Hehaddonesowithasmuchsilenceasthenatureoftheworkadmitted。Butbythedayofthemagistrate’smeetingatSilverbridge,thesubjecthadbecomecommonthroughthecounty,andmen’smindsweremuchdivided。
  AllHogglestockbelievedtheirparsontobeinnocent;butthenallHogglestockbelievedhimtobemad。AtSilverbridgethetradesmenwithwhomhehaddealt,andtowhomhehadowed,andstillowed,money,alldeclaredhimtobeinnocent。Theyknewsomethingofthemanpersonally,andcouldnotbelievehimtobeathief。AlltheladiesatSilverbridge,too,weresureofhisinnocence。Itwastothemimpossiblethatsuchamanshouldhavestolentwentypounds。’Mydear,’saidtheeldestMissPrettymantopoorGraceCrawley,’inEngland,wherethelawsaregood,nogentlemanisevermadeouttobeguiltywhenheisinnocent;andyourpapa,ofcourse,isinnocent。Thereforeyoushouldnottroubleyourself。’’Itwillbreakpapa’sheart,’Gracehadsaid,andshedidtroubleherself。ButthegentlemeninSilverbridgeweremadeofsternerstuff,andbelievedthemantobeguilty,clergymanandgentlemanthoughhewas。MrWalker,whoamongthelightsinSilverbridgewastheleadinglight,wouldnotspeakaworduponthesubjecttoanybody;andtheneverybody,whowasanybody,knewthatMrWalkerwasconvincedoftheman’sguilt。HadMrWalkerbelievedhimtobeinnocent,histonguewouldhavebeenreadyenough。JohnWalker,whowasinthehabitoflaughingathisfather’sgoodnature,hadnodoubtuponthesubject。MrWinthrop,MrWalker’spartner,shookhishead。PeopledidnotthinkmuchofMrWinthrop,exceptingcertainunmarriedladies;forMrWinthropwasabachelor,andhadplentyofmoney。PeopledidnotthinkmuchofMrWinthrop;butstillonthissubjecthemightknowsomething,andwhenheshookhisheadhemanifestlyintendedtoindicateguilt。AndDrTempest,therectorofSilverbridge,didnothesitatetodeclarehisbeliefintheguiltoftheincumbentofHogglestock。Nomanreverencesaclergyman,asaclergyman,soslightlyasabrotherclergyman。ToDrTempestitappearedtobeneitherverystrangenorveryterriblethatMrCrawleyshouldhavestolentwentypounds。’Whatisamantodo,’hesaid,’whenheseeshischildrenstarving?Heshouldnothavemarriedonsuchaprefermentasthat。’MrCrawleyhadmarried,however,longbeforehegotthelivingatHogglestock。
  ThereweretwoLadyLuftons——mother—in—lawanddaughter—in—law——whoatthistimewerelivingtogetheratFramleyHall,LordLufton’sseatinthecountyofBarset,andtherewereboththoroughlyconvincedofMrCrawley’sinnocence。Theelderladyhadlivedmuchamongclergymen,andcouldhardly,Ithink,byanymeanshavebeenbroughttobelieveintheguiltofanymanwhohadtakenuponhimselftheordersoftheChurchofEngland。ShehadalsoknownMrCrawleypersonallyforsomeyears,andwasoneofthosewhocouldnotadmittoherselfthatanyonewasvilewhohadbeenneartoherself。Shebelievedintenselyinthewickednessoftheoutsideworld,oftheworldwhichwasfarawayfromherself,andofwhichsheneversawanything;buttheywhowereneartoher,andwhohadevenbecomedeartoher,orwhoevenhadbeenrespectedbyher,weremade,asitwere,saintsinherimagination。Theywerebroughtintotheinnercircle,andcouldhardlybeexpelled。Shewasanoldwomanwhothoughtallevilofthoseshedidnotknow,andallgoodofthosewhomshedidknow;andasshedidknowMrCrawley,shewasquitesurethathehadnotstolenMrSoames’stwentypounds。ShedidknowMrSoamesalso;
  andthustherewasamysteryfortheunravellingofwhichshewasveryanxious。AndtheyoungLadyLuftonwasequallysure,andperhapswithbetterreasonforsuchcertainty。
  Shehad,intruth,knownmoreofMrCrawleypersonally,thananyoneinthecounty,unlessitwasthedean。TheyoungerLadyLufton,thepresentLordLufton’swife,hadsojournedatonetimeinMrCrawley’shouse,amidsttheCrawleypoverty,livingastheylived,andnursingMrsCrawleythroughanillnesswhichhadwellnighbeenfataltoher;andtheyoungerLadyLuftonbelievedinMrCrawley——asMrCrawleybelievedinher。
  ’Itisquiteimpossible,mydear,’theoldwomansaidtoherdaughter—in—law。
  ’Quiteimpossible,mylady。’Thedowagerwasalwayscalled’mylady’,bothbyherdaughterandherson’swife,exceptwheninthepresenceoftheirchildren,whenshewasaddressedas’grandmamma’。’ThinkhowwellIknewhim。It’snousetalkingofevidence。Noevidencewouldmakemebelieveit。’
  ’Norme;andIthinkitagreatshamethatsuchareportshouldbespreadabout。’
  ’IsupposeMrSoamescouldnothelphimself?’saidtheyoungerlady,whowasnotherselfveryfondofMrSoames。
  ’Ludovicsaysthathehasonlydonewhathewasobligedtodo。’TheLudovicspokenofwasLordLufton。
  Thistookplaceinthemorning,butintheeveningtheaffairwasagaindiscussedatFramleyHall。Indeed,forsomedays,therewashardlyanyothersubjectheldtobeworthyofdiscussioninthecounty。MrRobarts,theclergymanoftheparishandthebrotheroftheyoungerLadyLufton,wasdiningatthehallwithhiswife,andthethreeladieshadtogetherexpressedtheirperfectconvictionofthefalsenessoftheaccusation。
  ButwhenLordLuftonandMrRobartsweretogetheraftertheladieshadleftthem,therewasmuchlesscertaintyofthisexpressed。’ByJove,’
  saidLordLufton,’’Idon’tknowwhattothinkofit。IwishwithallmyheartthatSoameshadsaidnothingaboutit,andthatthechequehadpassedwithoutremark。’
  ’Thatwasimpossible。WhenthebankersenttoSoames,hewasobligedtotakethematterup。’
  ’Ofcoursehewas。ButI’msorrythatitwasso。Forthelifeofme,I
  can’tconceivehowthechequegotintoCrawley’shands。’
  ’Iimagineithadbeenlyinginthehouse,andthatCrawleyhadcometothinkthatitwashisown。’
  ’But,mydearMark,’saidLordLufton,’excusemeifIsaythatthat’snonsense。Whatdowedowhenapoormanhascometothinkthatanotherman’spropertyishisown?Wesendhimtoprisonformakingthemistake。’
  ’Ihopetheywon’tsentCrawleytoprison。’
  ’Ihopesotoo;butwhatisajurytodo?’
  ’Youthinkitwillgotoajury,then?’
  ’Ido,’saidLordLufton。’Idon’tseehowthemagistratescansavethemselvesfromcommittinghim。Itisoneofthosecasesinwhicheveryoneconcernedwouldwishtodropitifitwereonlypossible。Butitisnotpossible。Ontheevidence,asoneseesitatpresent,oneisboundtosaythatitisacaseforthejury。’
  ’Ibelievethatheismad,’saidthebrotherparson。
  ’Healwayswas,asfarasIcouldlearn,’saidthelord。’Ineverknewhimmyself。Youdo,Ithink?’
  ’Ohyes,Iknowhim。’andthevicarofFramleybecamesilentandthoughtfulasthememoryofacertaininterviewbetweenhimselfandMrCrawleycamebackintohismind。AtthattimethewatershadnearlyclosedoverhisheadandMrCrawleyhadgivenhimsomeassistance。Whenthegentlemenhadagainfoundtheladies,theykepttheirowndoubtstothemselves;foratFramleyHall,asatpresenttenanted,femalevoicesandfemaleinfluencespredominatedoverthosewhichcamefromtheothersex。
  AtBarchester,thecathedralcityofthecountyinwhichtheCrawleyslived,opinionwasviolentlyagainstMrCrawley。InthecityMrsProudie,thewifeofthebishop,wastheleaderofopinioningeneral,andshewasverystronginherbeliefoftheman’sguilt。Shehadknownmuchofclergymenallherlife,asitbehovedabishop’swifetodo,andshehadnoneofthatmingledweaknessandignorancewhichtaughtsomanyladiesinBarchestertosupposethatanordainedclergymancouldnotbecomeathief。ShehatedoldLadyLuftonwithallherheart,andoldLadyLuftonhatedheraswarmly。MrsProudiewouldsayfrequentlythatLadyLuftonwasaconceitedoldidiot,andLadyLuftonwoulddeclareasfrequentlythatMrsProudiewasavulgarvirago。ItwasknownatthepalaceinBarchesterthatkindnesshadbeenshowntotheCrawleysbythefamilyatFramleyHall,andthisalonewouldhavebeensufficienttomakeMrsProudiebelievethatMrCrawleycouldbeguiltyofanycrime。
  AndasMrsProudiebelieved,sodidthebishopbelieve。’Itisaterribledisgracetothediocese,’saidthebishop,shakinghishead,andpattinghisapronashesatbyhisstudyfire。
  ’Fiddlestick!’saidMrsProudie。
  ’But,mydear——abeneficedclergyman。’
  ’Youmustgetridofhim;that’sall。Youmustbefirmwhetherhebeacquittedorconvicted。’
  ’Butifhe’sacquitted,Icannotgetridofhim,mydear。’
  ’Yes,youcan,ifyouarefirm。Andyoumustbefirm。Isitnottruethathehasbeendisgracefullyinvolvedindebteversincehehasbeenthere;thatyouhavebeenpesteredbylettersfromunfortunatetradesmenwhocannotgettheirmoneyfromhim?’
  ’Thatistrue,mydear,certainly。’
  ’Andisthatkindofthingtogoon?Hecannotcometothepalaceasallclergymenshoulddo,becausehehasgotnoclothestocomein。Isawhimonceaboutthelanes,andIneversetmyeyesonsuchanobjectinallmylife!IwouldnotbelievethatthemanwasaclergymantillJohntoldme。Heisadisgracetothediocese,andhemustbegotridof。I
  feelsureofhisguilt,andIhopehewillbeconvicted。Oneisboundtohopethataguiltymanshouldbeconvicted。Butifheescapesconviction,youmustsequestratethelivingbecauseofthedebts。Theincomeisenoughtogetanexcellentcurate。ItwouldjustdoforThumble。’Toallofwhichthebishopmadenoreply,butsimplynoddedhisheadandpattedhisapron。Heknewthathecouldnotdoexactlywhathiswiferequiredofhim;butifitshouldsoturnoutthatpoorCrawleywasfoundtobeguilty,thenthematterwouldbecomparativelyeasy。
  ’Itshouldbeanexampletous,thatweshouldlooktoourownsteps,mydear,’saidthebishop。
  ’That’sallverywell,’saidMrsProudie,’butithasbecomeyourduty,andminetoo,tolookuponthestepsofotherpeople;andthatdutywemustdo。’
  ’Ofcourse,mydear,ofcourse。’ThatwasthetoneinwhichthequestionofMrCrawley’sallegedguiltwasdiscussedatthepalace。
  WehavealreadyheardwhatwassaidonthesubjectatthehouseofArchdeaconGrantly。Asthedayspassedby,andasothertidingscamein,confirmatoryofthosewhichhadbeforereachedhim,thearchdeaconfelthimselfunablenottobelieveintheman’sguilt。Andthefearwhichheentertainedastohisson’sintendedmarriagewithGraceCrawley,tendedtoincreasethestrengthofthatbelief。DrGrantlyhadbeenaverysuccessfulmanintheworld,andonallordinaryoccasionshadbeenabletoshowthatboldfrontwithwhichsuccessendowsaman。Buthestillhadhismomentsofweakness,andfearedgreatlylestanythingofmisfortuneshouldtouchhimandmarthecomelyroundnessofhisprosperity。Hewasverywealthy。Thewifeofhisbosomhadbeentohimallthatawifeshouldbe。Hisreputationintheclericalworldstoodveryhigh。Histwosonshadhithertodonewellintheworld,notonlyasregardedtheirhappiness,butastomarriagealso,andastosocialstanding。Buthowgreatwouldbethefallifhissonshouldatlastmarrythedaughterofaconvictedthief!HowwouldtheProudiesrejoiceoverhim——theProudieswhohadbeencrushedtothegroundbythesuccessoftheHartletopalliance;andhowwouldthelow—churchcurates,whoswarmedinBarsetshire,gathertogetherandscreamindelightoverhisdismay!’Butwhyshouldwesaythatheisguilty?’saidMrsGrantly。
  ’Ithardlymattersasfarasweareconcerned,whethertheyfindhimguiltyornot,’saidthearchdeacon;’ifHenrymarriesthatgirlmyheartwillbebroken。’
  ButperhapstonooneexcepttheCrawleysthemselveshadthemattercausedsomuchterribleanxietyastothearchdeacon’sson。HehadtoldhisfatherthathehadmadeanofferofmarriagetoGraceCrawley,andhehadtoldthetruth。Butthereareperhapsfewmenwhomakesuchoffersindirecttermswithouthavingalreadysaidanddonethatwhichmakessuchofferssimplynecessaryasthefinalclosingofanacceptedbargain。ItwassoatanyratebetweenMajorGrantlyandMissCrawley,andMajorGrantlyacknowledgedtohimselfthatitwasso。HeacknowledgedalsotohimselfthatasregardedGraceherselfhehadnowishtogobackfromhisimpliedintentions。Nothingthateitherhisfatherormothermightsaywouldshakehiminthat。Butcoulditbehisdutytobindhimselftothefamilyofaconvictedthief?Coulditberightthatheshoulddisgracehisfatherandhismotherandhissisterandhisonechildbysuchaconnexion?Hehadaman’sheart,andthepovertyoftheCrawleyscausedhimnosolicitude。Butheshrankfromthecontaminationofaprison。
  CHAPTERVI
  GRACECRAWLEY
  IthasalreadybeensaidthatGraceCrawleywasatthistimelivingwiththetwoMissPrettymans,whokeptagirls’schoolatSilverbridge。TwomorebenignantladiesthantheMissPrettymansneverpresidedoversuchanestablishment。Theyoungerwasfat,andfresh,andfair,andseemedtobealwaysrunningoverwiththemilkofhumankindness。Theotherwasverythinandverysmall,andsomewhatafflictedwithbadhealth——wasweak,too,intheeyes,andsubjecttorackingheadaches,sothatitwasconsideredgenerallythatshewasunabletotakemuchactivepartintheeducationofthepupils。Butitwasconsideredasgenerallythatshedidallthethinking,thatsheknewmorethananyotherwomaninBarsetshire,andthatallthePrettymanschemesforeducationemanatedfromhermind。Itwassaid,too,bythosewhoknewthembest,thathersister’sgood—naturewasasnothingtohers;thatshewasthemostcharitable,themostloving,andthemostconscientiousofschool—mistresses。ThiswasMissAnnabellaPrettyman,theelder;andperhapsitmaybeinferredthatsomeportionofhergreatcharacterforvirtuemayhavebeenduetothefactthatnobodyeversawheroutofherownhouse。Shecouldnotevengotochurch,becausetheopenairbroughtonneuralgia。Shewasthereforeperhapstakentobemagnificent,partlybecauseshewasunknown。MissAnnePrettyman,theyounger,wentaboutfrequentlytotea—parties——wouldgo,indeed,toanypartytowhichshemightbeinvited;andwasknowntohaveapleasanttasteforpoundcakeandsweetmeats。Beingseensomuchintheouterworld,shebecamecommon,andhercharacterdidnotstandsohighasdidthatofhersister。Somepeoplewereill—naturedenoughtosaythatshewantedtomarryMrWinthrop;butofwhatmaidenladythatgoesoutintheworldarenotsuchstoriestold?AndallsuchstoriesinSilverbridgeweretoldwithspecialreferencetoMrWinthrop。
  MissCrawley,atpresent,livedwiththeMissPrettymans,andassistedthemintheschool。Thisarrangementhadbeengoingonforthelasttwelvemonths,sincethetimeinwhichGracewouldhavelefttheschoolinthenaturalcourseofthings。Therehadbeennobargainmade,andnointentionthatGraceshouldstay。Shehadbeeninvitedtofilltheplaceofanabsentsuperintendent,first,foronemonth,thenforanother,andthenfortwomoremonths;andwhentheassistantcameback,theMissPrettymansthoughttherewerereasonswhyGraceshouldbeaskedtoremainalittlelonger。ButtheytookgreatcaretoletthefashionableworldofSilverbridgeknowthatGraceCrawleywasavisitorwiththem,andnotateacher。’Wepayhernosalary,oranythingofthatkind,’
  saidMissAnnPrettyman;astatement,however,whichwasbynomeanstrue,forduringthoselastfourmonthstheregularstipendhadbeenpaidtoher;andtwicesincethen,MissAnnabellaPrettyman,whomanagedallthemoneymatters,hadcalledGraceintoherlittleroom,andhadmadealittlespeech,andhadputalittlebitofpaperintoherhand。
  ’IknowIoughtnottotakeit,’GracehadsaidtoherfriendAnne。’IfIwasnothere,therewouldbenooneinmyplace。’’Nonsense,mydear,’
  AnnePrettymanhadsaid;’itisthegreatestcomforttousintheworld。
  Andyoushouldmakeyourselfnice,youknow,forhissake。Allthegentlemenlikeit。’ThenGracehadbeenveryangry,andhadswornthatshewouldgivethemoneybackagain。Nevertheless,Ithinkshedidmakeherselfasniceassheknewhowtodo。AndfromallthisitmaybeseenthattheMissPrettymanshadhithertoquiteapprovedofMajorGrantly’sattentions。
  ButwhenthisterribleaffaircameonaboutthechequewhichhadbeenlostandfoundandtracedtoMrCrawley’shands,MissAnnePrettymansaidnothingfurthertoGraceCrawleyaboutMajorGrantly。ItwasnotthatshethoughtthatMrCrawleywasguilty,butsheknewenoughoftheworldtobeawarethatsuspicionofsuchguiltmightcompelsuchamanasMajorGrantlytochangehismind。’Ifhehadonlypopped,’Annesaidtohersister,’itwouldhavebeenallright。Hewouldneverhavegonebackfromhisword。’’Mydear,’saidAnnabella,’Iwishyouwouldnottalkaboutpopping。Itisaterribleword。’’Ishouldn’t,toanyoneexceptyou,’saidAnne。
  TherehadcometoSilverbridgesomefewmonthssince,onavisittoMrsWalker,ayoungladyfromAllington,intheneighbouringcounty,betweenwhomandGraceCrawleytherehadgrownupfromcircumstancesawarmfriendship。GracehadacousininLondon——aclerkhighupandwell—to—doinapublicoffice,anephewofhermother’s——andthiscousinwas,andforyearshadbeen,violentlysmitteninloveforthisyounglady。Buttheyounglady’stalehadbeensad,andthoughsheacknowledgedfeelingsofthemostaffectionatefriendshipforthecousin,shecouldnotbringherselftoacknowledgemore。GraceCrawleyhadmettheyoungladyatSilverbridge,andwordshadbeenspokenaboutthecousin;andthoughtheyoungladyfromAllingtonwassomeyearsolderthanGrace,therehadgrownuptobeafriendship,and,asisnotuncommonbetweenyoungladies,therehadbeenanagreementthattheywouldcorrespond。ThenameoftheladywasMissLilyDale,andthenameofthewell—to—docousinwasMrJohnEames。
  AtthepresentmomentMissDalewasathomewithhermotheratAllington,andGraceCrawleyinherterriblesorrowwrotetoherfriend,pouringoutherwholeheart。AsGrace’sletterandMissDale’sanswerwillassistusinourstory,Iwillventuretogivethemboth。
  ’SILVERBRIDGE,——December,186—
  ’DEARESTLILY,’Ihardlyknowhowtotellyouwhathashappened,itissoveryterrible。Butperhapsyouwillhavehearditalready,aseverybodyistalkingaboutithere。Ithasgotintothenewspapers,andthereforeitcannotbekeptsecret。NotthatIshouldkeepanythingfromyou;onlythisissoverydreadfulthatIhardlyknowhowtowriteit。Somebodysays——aMrSoames,Ibelieveitis——thatpapahastakensomemoneythatdoesnotbelongtohim,andheistobebroughtbeforethemagistratesandtried。Ofcoursepapahasdonenothingwrong。Idothinkhewouldbethelastmanintheworldtotakeapennythatdidnotbelongtohim。Youknowhowpoorheis;whatalifehehashad!ButIthinkhewouldalmostsoonerseemammastarving;——Iamsurehewouldratherbestarvedhimself,thenevenborrowashillingwhichhecouldnotpay。Tosupposethathewouldtakemoney’
  (shehadtriedtowritetheword’steal’butshecouldnotbringherpentoformtheletters)