CHAPTERXXXVI
GRACECRAWLEYRETURNSHOME
AboutthistimeGraceCrawleyreceivedtwoletters，thefirstofthemreachingherwhileJohnEameswasstillatthecottage，andtheotherimmediatelyafterhisreturntoLondon。Theybothhelptotellourstory，andourreadershall，therefore，readthemifhesoplease——or，rather，heshallreadthefirstandasmuchofthesecondasisnecessaryforhim。Grace’sanswertothefirstletterheshallseealso。
Heranswertothesecondwillbetoldinaveryfewwords。ThefirstwasfromMajorGrantly，andthetaskofansweringthatwasbynomeanseasyforGrace。
’COSBYLODGE，——February，186—
’DEARESTGRACE，’ItoldyouwhenIpartedfromyou，thatIshouldwritetoyou，andIthinkitbesttodosoatonce，inorderthatyoumayfullyunderstandme。Spokenwordsaresoonforgotten，’——’I
shallneverforgethiswords，’Gracehadsaidtoherselfasshereadthis；——’andarenotalwaysasplainastheymightbe。DearGrace，IsupposeIoughtnottosayso，butIfanciedwhenI
partedfromyouatAllington，thatIhadsucceededinmakingmyselfdeartoyou。Ibelieveyoutobesotrueinspirit，thatyouwereunabletoconcealfrommethefactthatyouloveme。I
shallbelievethatitisso，tillIamdeliberatelyandsolemnlyassuredbyyourselfthatitisnotso；——andIconjureyoutothinkwhatisduebothtoyourselfandtomyself，beforeyouallowyourselftothinkofmakingsuchanassuranceunlessitbestrictlytrue。
’IhavealreadytoldmyfriendsthatIhaveaskedyoutobemywife。Itellyouthis，inorderthatyoumayknowhowlittleeffectyouranswertomehashadtowardsinducingmetogiveyouup。Whatyousaidaboutyourfatherandyourfamilyhasnoweightwithme，andoughtultimatelytohavenonewithyou。
Thisbusinessofyourfather’sgreatmisfortune——sogreat，thatprobably，hadwenotknowneachotherbeforeithappened，itmighthavepreventedourbecomingintimatewhenwechancedtomeet。Butwehadmetbeforeithappened，andbeforeithappenedIhaddeterminedtoaskyoutobemywife。WhatshouldIhavetothinkofmyselfifIallowedmyhearttobealteredbysuchacauseasthat？
’IhaveonlyfurthertosaythatIloveyoubetterthananyoneintheworld，andthatitismybesthopethatyouwillbemywife。Iwillnotpressyoufurthertillthisaffairofyourfather’shasbeensettled；butwhenthatisover，Ishalllookformyrewardwithoutreferencetoitsresult。NotthatIdoubttheresultiftherebeanythinglikejusticeinEngland；butthatyourdebttome，ifyouowemeanydebt，willbealtogetherirrespectiveofthat。If，asIsuppose，youwillremainatAllingtonforsometimelonger，Ishallnotseeyoutillafterthetrialisover。Assoonasthatisdone，Iwillcometoyouwhereveryouare。InthemeantimeIshalllookforananswertothis；andifitbetruethatyouloveme，dear，dearGrace，prayhavethecouragetotellmeso。——Mostaffectionatelyyourown，’HENRYGRANTLY’
WhentheletterwasgiventoGraceacrossthebreakfast—table，bothMrsDaleandLilysuspectedthatitcamefromMajorGrantly，butnotawordwasspokenaboutit。WhenGracewithhesitatinghandbroketheenvelope，neitherofherfriendslookedather。Lilyhadaletterofherown，andMrsDaleopenedthenewspaper。Butstillitwasimpossiblenottoperceivethatherfacebecameredwithblushes，andthentheyknewthatthelettermustbefromMajorGrantly。Graceherselfcouldnotreadit，thoughhereyerandownoverthetwopagescatchingawordhereandthere。Shehadlookedatthenameatonce，andhadseenthemannerofhissignature。’Mostaffectionatelyyourown’！Whatwasshetosaytohim？Twice，thrice，asshesatatthebreakfast—tablesheturnedthepageoftheletter，andateachturningshereadthesignature。Andshereadthebeginning，’DearestGrace’。Morethanthatshedidnotreallyreadtillshehadgottheletterawaywithherintotheseclusionofherownroom。
Notawordwassaidabouttheletteratbreakfast。PoorGracewentoneatingorpretendingtoeat，butcouldnotbringherselftoutteraword。MrsDaleandLilyspokeofvariousmatters，whichwerequiteindifferenttothem；butevenwiththemtheconversationwassodifficultthatGracefeltittobeforced，andwasconsciousthattheywerethinkingaboutherandherlover。Assoonasshecouldmakeanexcuseshelefttheroom，andhurryingupstairstooktheletterfromherpocketandreaditinearnest。
’ThatwasfromMajorGrantly，mamma，’saidLily。
’Idaresayitwas，mydear。’
’Andwhathadwebetterdo；orwhathadwebettersay？’
’Nothing——Ishouldsay。Lethimfighthisownbattle。Ifweinterfere，wemayprobablyonlymakehermorestubborninclingingtoheroldidea。’
’Ithinkshewillclingtoit。’
’Foratimeshewill，Idaresay。Anditwillbethebestthatsheshould。Hehimselfwillrespectherforitafterwards。’ThusitwasagreedbetweenthemthattheyshouldsaynothingtoGraceabouttheletterunlessGraceshouldfirstspeaktothem。
Gracereadherletteroverandoveragain。Itwasthefirstlove—lettershehadeverhad；——thefirstlettershehadeverreceivedfromanymanexceptherfatherandbrother——thefirst，almost，thathadeverbeenwrittentoherbyanyotherthanherownspecialfriends。Thewordsofitwereverystrangetoherear。Hehadtoldherwhenheleftherthathewouldwritetoher，andthereforeshehadlookedforwardtotheeventwhichhadnowcome；butshehadthoughtthatitwouldbemuchmoredistant——andshehadtriedtomakeherselfbelievethatwhenitdidcomeitwouldbeverydifferentfromthisletterwhichshenowpossessed。’Hewilltellmethathehasalteredhismind。Heoughttodoso。Itisnotproperthatheshouldstillthinkofmewhenweareinsuchdisgrace。’Butnowtheletterhadcome，andsheacknowledgedthetruthofhissayingthatwrittenwordswereclearerintheirexpressionthanthosesimplyspoken。’NotthatIcouldeverforgetasyllablethathesaid。’Yet，assheheldtheletterinherhandshefeltthatitwasapossession。Itwasathingatwhichshecouldlookincomingyears，whenheandshemightbefarapart——athingatwhichshecouldlookwithprideinrememberingthathehadthoughtherworthyofit。
Neitheronthatdaynoronthenextdidshethinkofheranswer，noronthethirdorfourthdaywithanysteadythinking。Sheknewthatananswerwouldhavetobewritten，andshefeltthatthesooneritwaswrittentheeasiermightbethewriting；butshefeltalsothatitshouldnotbewrittentooquickly。Aweekshouldfirstelapse，shethought，andthereforeaweekwasallowedtoelapse，andthenthedayforwritingheranswercame。ShehadspokennowordaboutiteithertoMrsDaleortoLily。Shehadlongedtodoso，buthadfeared。EventhoughsheshouldspeaktoLilyshecouldnotbeledbyLily’sadvice。
Herletter，whateveritmightbe，mustbeherownletter。Shewouldadmitofnodictation。Shemustsayherownsay，lethersayiteversobadly。Astothemannerofsayingit，Lily’saidwouldhavebeeninvaluable；butshefearedthatshecouldnotsecurethataidwithoutcompromisingherownpowerofaction——herownindividuality；andthereforeshesaidnowordaboutthelettereithertoLilyortoLily’smother。
Onacertainmorningshefixedherselfatherdesktowriteherletter。
Shehadknownthatthetaskwouldbedifficult，butshehadlittleknownhowdifficultitwouldbe。Onthatdayofherfirstattemptshedidnotgetitwrittenatall。Nowwasshetobegin？Hehadcalledher’DearestGrace’；andthismodeofbeginningseemedaseasyasitwassweet。’Itisveryeasyforagentleman，’shesaidtoherself，’becausehemaysayjustwhathepleases。’Shewrotethewords’DearestHenry，’onascrapofpaper，andimmediatelyintofragmentsasthoughshewasashamedofhavingwrittenthem。Sheknewthatshewouldnotdaretosendawayaletterbeginningwithsuchwords。Shewouldnotevenhavedaredtoletsuchwordsinherownhandwritingremainwithintherecessesofherownlittledesk。’DearMajorGrantly，’shebeganatlength。Itseemedtohertobeveryugly，butaftermuchconsiderationshebelievedittobecorrect。Ontheseconddaytheletterwaswrittenasfollows：——
’ALLINGTON，Thursday’MYDEARMAJORGRANTLY，’IdonotknowhowIoughttoansweryourkindletter，butI
musttellyouthatIamverymuchflatteredbyyourgreatgoodnesstome。Icannotunderstandwhyyoushouldthinksomuchofme，butIsupposeitisbecauseyouhavefeltformymisfortunes。Iwillnotsayanythingaboutwhatmighthavehappened，ifithadnotbeenforpapa’ssorrowanddisgrace；
andasfarasIcanhelpit，Iwillnotthinkofit；butIamsurethatIoughtnottothinkaboutlovinganyone，thatis，inthewayyoumean，whileweareinsuchtroubleathome。I
shouldnotdaretomeetanyofyourgreatfriends，knowingthatIhadbroughtnothingwithmebutdisgrace。AndIshouldfellthatIwasdoinganinjurytodearEdith，whichwouldbeworsetomethananything。
’PraybelievemethatIamquiteinearnestaboutthis。Iknowthatagentlemanoughtnottomarryanygirltodohimselfandhisfamilyaninjurybyit；andIknowthatifIweretomakesuchamarriageIshouldbeunhappyeverafterwards，eventhoughIlovedthemaneversodearly，withallmyheart。’
Theselastwordsshehadunderscoredatfirst，butthedoingsohadbeentheunconsciousexpressionofherownaffection，andhadbeendonewithnodesireonherparttoconveythatexpressiontohim。Butonreadingthewordsshediscoveredtheirlatentmeaning，andwroteitallagain。
’ThereforeIknowthatitwillbebestthatIshouldwishyougood—bye，andIdoso，thankingyouagainandagainforyourgoodnesstome，——believemetobe，Yoursverysincerely，’GRACECRAWLEY’
Theletterwhenitwaswrittenwashatefultoher；butshehadtriedherhandatitagainandagain，andhadfoundthatshecoulddonothingbetter。Therewasmuchinhisletterthatshehadnotattemptedtoanswer。Hehadimploredhertotellhimwhetherornoshedidnotruthlovehim。Ofcourseshelovedhim。Heknewthatwellenough。Whyshouldsheansweranysuchquestion？Therewasawayofansweringitindeedwhichmightserveherturn——orratherservehis，ofwhichshewasthinkingmorethanofherown。Shemightsaythatshedidnotlovehim。
Itwouldbealie，andhewouldknowitwouldbealie。Butstillitmightservetheturn。Shedidnotliketheideaofwritingsuchalieasthat，butneverthelesssheconsideredthematter。Itwouldbeverywicked；butstill，ifitwouldservetheturn，mightitnotbewelltowriteit？Butatlastshereflectedthat，afterall，thedoingofthethingwasinherownhands。Shecouldrefusetomarrythismanwithoutburdeningherconsciencewithanylieaboutit。Itonlyrequiredthatsheshouldbefirm。Sheabstained，therefore，fromthefalsehood，andleftherlover’squestionunanswered。Sosheputupherletteranddirectedit，andcarrieditherselftothevillagepost—office。
Onthedayafterthisshegotasecondletter，andthatsheshowedimmediatelytoMrsDale。Itwasfromhermother，andwaswrittentotellthatherfatherwasseriouslyill。’HewentuptoLondontoseealawyeraboutthiswearyworkofthetrial，’saidMrsCrawley。’Thefatiguewasverygreat，andonthenextdayhewassoweakthathecouldnotleavehisbed。DrTurner，whohasbeenverykind，saysthatweneednotfrightenourselves，buthethinksitmustbesometimebeforehecanleavethehouse。Hehasalowfeveronhim，andwantsnourishment。Hismindhaswanderedonceortwice，andhehasaskedforyou，andIthinkitwillbebest，love，thatyoushouldcomehome。IknowyouwillnotminditwhenIsaythatIthinkhewouldliketohaveyouhere。DrTurnersaysthattheillnessischieflyowingtohisnothavingproperfood。’
Ofcourseshewouldgohome。’DearMrsDale，’shesaid；’Imustgohome。Canyousendmetothestation？’ThenMrsDalereadtheletter。Ofcoursetheywouldsendher。Wouldshegoonthatday，oronthenext？
Mightitnotbebettertowritefirst，andsaythatshewasgoing？ButGracewouldgoatonce。’Iknowitwillbeacomforttomamma；andI
knowthatheisworsethanmammasays。’Ofcoursetherewasnomoretobesaid，andshewasdespatchedtothestation。BeforeshewentMrsDaleaskedafterherpurse。’Ifthereisanytroubleaboutmoney——foryourjourney，oranything，youwillnotscrupletocometomeasanoldfriend。’ButGraceassuredherthattherewasnotroubleaboutmoney——forherjourney。ThenLilytookherasideandproducedtwocleannewfive—poundnotes。’Grace，dear，youwon’tbeill—natured。YouknowI
havealittlefortuneofmyown。YouknowIcangivethemwithoutmissingthem。’Gracethrewherselfintoherfriend’sarmsandwept，butwouldhavenoneofhermoney。’Buyapresentfrommetoyourmother——whomIlovethoughIdonotknowher。’’Iwillgiveheryourlove，’Gracesaid，’butnothingelse。’Andthenshewent。
CHAPTERXXXVII
HOOKCOURT
MrDobbsBroughtonandMrMusselboroweresittingtogetheronacertainmorningattheirofficeintheCity，discussingtheaffairsoftheirjointbusiness。TheCityofficewasaverypoorplaceindeed，incomparisonwiththefinehousewhichMrDobbsoccupiedattheWestEnd；
butthenCityofficesarepoorplaces，andtherearecertainCityoccupationswhichseemtoenjoythegreatercreditthepoorerarethematerialcircumstancesbywhichtheyaresurrounded。TuringoutofalanewhichturnsoutofLombardStreet，thereisadesolate，forlorn—looking，darkalley，whichiscalledHookCourt。Theentrancetothisalleyisbeneaththefirst—floorofoneofthehousesinthelane，andinpassingunderthiscoveredwaythevisitortotheplacefindshimselfinasmallpavedsquarecourt，atthetwofurthercornersofwhichtheearetwoopendoors；forinHookCourtthereareonlytwohouses。ThereisNo1HookCourt，andNo2HookCourt。TheentirepremisesindicatedbyNo1areoccupiedbyafirmofwineandspiritmerchants，inconnexionwithwhosetradeonesideandtwoanglesofthecourtarealwayslumberedwithcrates，hampers，andwoodencases。Andnearlyinthemiddleofthecourt，thoughsomewhatmoretothewine—merchant’ssidethantotheother，thereisalwaysgapingopenatrap—door，leadingdowntothevaultsbelow；andoverthetrapthereisagreatboardwithabrightadvertisementinverylargeletters：——
BURTONANDBANGLES
HIMALAYAWINES
22s6dperdozenAndthisnoticeissobrightandsolarge，andthetrap—doorissoconspicuousinthecourt，thatnovisitor，eventoNo2，everafterwardscanquitedivesthismemoryofthosenames，BurtonandBangles，Himalayawines。ItmaythereforebeacknowledgedthatBurtonandBangleshaveachievedtheirobjectinputtingupthenotice。ThehouseNo2，smallasitseemstobe，standinginthejambofacorner，isdividedamongdifferentoccupiers，whosenamesarepaintedinsmalllettersupontheverydirtypostsofthedoorway。NothingcanbemoreremarkablethanthecontrastbetweenBurtonandBanglesandtheseotherCitygentlemeninthemethodtakenbythemindeclaringtheirpresencetovisitorsinthecourt。ThenamesofDobbsBroughtonandofA。Musselboro——theChristiannameofMrMusselborowasAugustus——wereononeofthosedirtyposts，notjoinedtogetherbyanyvisible’and’，soastodeclareboldlythattheywerepartners；butinclosevicinity——showingatleastthatthetwogentlemenwouldbefoundinapartmentsveryneartoeachother。Andonthefirst—floorofthishouseDobbsBroughtonandhisfrienddidoccupythreerooms——orrathertworoomsandacloset——betweenthem。Thelargerandfrontroomwastenantedbyanoldclerk，whosatwithinarailinonecornerofit。Andtherewasabroad，shortcounter，whichjuttedoutfromthewallintothemiddleoftheroom，intendedfortheuseofsuchofthepublicasmightcometotransactmiscellaneousbusinesswithDobbsBroughtonorAugustusMusselboro。Butanyoneaccustomedtothelookofofficesmighthaveseenwithhalfaneyethatverylittlebusinesswaseverdoneonthatcounter。Behindthislargeroomwasasmallerone，belongingtoDobbsBroughton，inthefurnishingandarrangementofwhichsomeregardwaspaidtocomfort。Theroomwascarpeted，andtherewasasofainit，thoughaveryoldone，andtwoarm—chairsandamahoganyoffice—table，andacellaret，whichwasgenerallywellsuppliedwithwinewhichDobbsBroughtondidnotgetoutofthevaultsofhisneighbours，BurtonandBangles。Behindthisagain，butwithaseparateentrancefromthepassage，wasthecloset；andthisclosetwasspeciallydevotedtotheuseofMrMusselboro。Closetasitwas——orcupboardasitmighthavealmostbeencalled——itcontainedatableandtwochairs；andithadawindowofitsown，whichopenedoutuponablankwallwhichwasdistantfromitnotabovefourfeet。Asthehousetowhichthiswallbelongedwasfourstoreyshigh，itwouldsometimeshappenthatMrMusselboro’scupboardwasratherdark。ButthismatteredthelessasinthesedaysMrMusselboroseldomusedit。MrMusselboro，whowasveryconstantathisplaceofbusiness——muchmoreconstantthanhisfriendDobbsBroughton，——wasgenerallytobefoundinhisfriend’sroom。Onlyonsomespecialoccasions，onwhichitwasthoughtexpedientthatthecommercialworldshouldbemadetounderstandthatMrAugustusMusselborohadanindividualexistenceofhisown，didthatgentlemanreallyseathimselfinthedarkcloset。MrDobbsBroughton，hadhebeenaskedwhatwashistrade，wouldhavesaidthathewasastockbroker；andhewouldhaveansweredtruly，forhewasastockbroker。Amanmaybeastockbrokerthoughheneversellsanystock；
ashemaybeabarristerthoughhasnotpracticedatthebar。IdonotsaythatMrBroughtonneversoldanystocks；butthebuyingandsellingofstockforotherpeoplewascertainlynothischiefbusiness。AndhadMrMusselborobeenaskedwhatwashistrade，hewouldhaveprobablygivenanevasiveanswer。AtanyrateintheCity，andamongpeoplewhounderstoodCitymatters，hewouldnothavesaidthathewasastockbroker。BothMrBroughtonandMrMusselboroboughtandsoldagooddeal，butitwaschieflyonaccount。Theshareswhichwereboughtandsoldverygenerallydidnotpassfromhandtohand；butthedifferenceinthepriceofthesharesdiddoso。Andthentheyhadanotherlittlebusinessbetweenthem。Theylentmoneyoninterest。Andinthisbusinesstherewasathirdpartner，whosenamedidnotappearonthedirtydoor—post。ThatthirdpartnerwasMrsVanSiever，themotherofClaraVanSieverwhomMrConwayDalrympleintendedtoportrayasJaeldrivinganailintoSisera’shead。
OnacertainmorningMrBroughtonandMrMusselboroweresittingtogetherintheofficewhichhasbeendescribed。TheywereinMrBroughton’sroom，andoccupiedeacharm—chaironthedifferentsidesofthefire。MrMusselborowassittingclosetothetable，onwhichaledgerwasopenbeforehim，andhehadapenandinkbeforehim，asthoughhehadbeenatwork。DobbsBroughtonhadasmallbetting—bookinhishand，andwasseatedwithhisfeetupagainstthesideofthefire—place。Bothmenworetheirhats，andtheaspectoftheroomwasnottheaspectofaplaceofbusiness。TheyhadbeensilentforsomeminuteswhenBroughtontookhiscigar—caseoutofhispocket，andnibbledofftheendofacigar，preparatorytolightingit。
’Youhadbetternotsmokeherethismorning，Dobbs，’saidMusselboro。
’Whyshouldn’tIsmokeinmyownroom？’
’Becauseshe’llbeherejustnow。’
’WhatdoIcare？IfyouthinkI’mgoingtobeafraidofMotherVan，you’remistaken。Letcomewhatmay，I’mnotgoingtoliveunderherthumb。’Sohelightedhiscigar。
’Allright，’saidMusselboro，andhetookuphispenandwenttoworkathisbook。
’Whatisshecomingherforthismorning，’askedBroughton。
’Tolookafterhermoney。Whatshouldshecomefor？’
’Shegetsherinterest。Idon’tsupposethere’sbetterpaidmoneyintheCity。’
’Shehasn’tgotwhatwascomingtoheratChristmasyet。’
’AndthisisFebruary。Whatwouldshehave？Shehadbetterputherdirtymoneyintothethreepercents，ifsheisfrightenedathavingtowaitaweekortwo。’
’Canshehaveittoday？’
’What，thewholeofit？Ofcourseshecan’t。YouknowthataswellasIdo。Shecanhavefourhundredpounds，ifshewantsit。Butseeingallshegetsoutoftheconcern，shehasnorighttopressforitinthatway。Sheisthe————oldusurerIevercameacrossinmylife。’
’Ofcourseshelikeshermoney。’
’Likeshermoney！ByGeorgeshedoes；herownandanybodyelse’sthatshecangetholdof。Foradownrightleech，recommendmealwaystoawoman。Whenawomandoesgoinforit，sheismuchmorethoroughthananyman。’ThenBroughtonturnedoverthelittlepagesofhisbook，andMusselboroponderedoverthebigpagesofhisbook，andtherewassilenceforaquarterofanhour。
’There’ssomethingaboutninehundredandfifteenpoundsduetoher，’
saidMusselboro。
’Idaresaythereis。’
’Itwouldbeaverygoodthingtoletherhaveitifyou’vegotit。Thewholeofitthismorning，Imean。’
’If！Yes，if！’saidBroughton。
’Iknowthere’smorethanthatatthebank。’
’AndI’mtodrawouteveryshillingthatthereis！I’llseeMotherVan————furtherfirst。Shecanhave500poundsifshelikesit——andtherestinafortnight。Orshecanhavemynote—of—handforitallatfourteendays。’
’Shewon’tlikethatatall，’saidMusselboro。
’Thenshemustlumpit。I’mnotgoingtobothermyselfabouther。I’veprettynearlyasmuchmoneyinitasshehas，andwe’reinaboattogether。Ifshecomesherebothering，you’dbettertellherso。’
’You’llseeheryourself？’
’Notunlessshecomeswithinthenexttenminutes。Imustgodowntothecourt。IsaidI’dbetherebytwelve。I’vegotsomebodyIwanttosee。’
’I’dstayifIwereyou。’
’WhyshouldIstayforher？IfshethinksthatI’mgoingtomakemyselfherclerk，she’smistaken。Itmaybeallverywellforyou，Mussy，butitwon’tdoforme。I’mnotdependentonher，andIdon’twanttomarryherdaughter。’
’Itwillsimplyendinherdemandingtohavehermoneybackagain。’
’Andhowwillshegetit？’saidDobbsBroughton。’Ihaven’tadoubtinlifebutshe’dtakeittomorrowifshecouldputherhandsuponit。Andthen，afterabit，whenshebegantofindthatshedidn’tlikefourpercent，she’dbringitbackagain。Butnobodycandobusinessaftersuchafashionasthat。Forthelastthreeyearsshe’sdrawncloseupontwothousandayearforlessthaneighteenthousandpounds。Whenawomanwantstodothat，shecan’thavehermoneyinherpocketeveryMondaymorning。’
’Butyou’vedonebetterthanthatyourself，Dobbs。’
’OfcourseIhave。Andwhohasmadetheconnexions；andwhohasdonethework？Isupposeshedoesn’tthinkthatI’mtohaveallthesweatandthatsheistohavealltheprofit？’
’Ifyoutalkofwork，Dobbs，itisIthathavedonethemostofit。’
ThisMrMusselborosaidinaveryseriousvoice，andwithalookofmuchreproach。