notadapperwaiter，withblackshinyhair，anddressedlikeaguestforadinner—party。Therearetwodistinctclassesofwaiters，andasfarasIhavebeenabletoperceive，thespecialstatusofthewaiterinquestioncannotbedecidedbyobservationoftheclassofwaitertowhichhebelongs。InsuchatownasBarchesteryoumayfindtheoldwaiterwiththedirtytowelintheheadinn，orinthesecond—classinn，andsoyoumaythedapperwaiter。Oryoumayfindbothineachandnotknowwhichisseniorwaiterandwhichjuniorwaiter。ButforserviceI
　　alwaysprefertheoldwaiterwiththedirtytowel，andIfinditmoreeasytosatisfyhiminthematterofsixpencewhenmyrelationswiththeinncometoanend。
　　’Haveyoubeenherelong，John，’saidMrToogood。
　　’Agoodishmanyyears，sir。’
　　’SoIthought，bythelookofyou。Onecanseethatyoubelonginawaytotheplace。Youdoagooddealofbusinesshere，Isuppose，atthistimeoftheyear？’
　　’Well，sir，prettyfair。Thehouseain’twhatitusedtobesir。’
　　’TimesarebadatBarchester——arethey？’
　　’Idon’tknowmuchaboutthetimes。It’sthepeopleisworsethanthetimes，Ithink。Theyusedtoliketohavealittlebitofdinnernowandagainatahotel；——andadropofsomethingtodrinkafterit。’
　　’Anddon’ttheylikeitnow？’
　　’Ithinktheylikeitwellenough，buttheydon’tdoit。Isupposeit’stheirwivesasdon’tlet’emcomeoutandenjoythemselves。ThereusedtobetheGooseandGleeclub；——thatwasonceamonth。They’vegoneandcleandoneawaywiththemselves——thatclubhas。There’soldBumpterintheHighStreet——he’sthelastoftheoldGeese。Theydiedoff，yousee，andwhenMrBiddlediedtheywouldn’tchooseanotherpresident。Aclubforhavingdinner，sir，ain’tnothingwithoutapresident。’
　　’Isupposenot。’
　　’Andthere’stheFreemasons。Theymustmeet，youknow，sir，incourse，becauseofthedooties。Butifyou’llbelieveme，sir，theydon’tsomuchaswettheirwhistles。Theydon’tindeed。Italwaysusedtobeasupper，andthatwasonceamonth。Nowtheypaysarentfortheuseoftheroom！Whoistogetalivingoutofthat，sir？——notinthewayofawaiter，thatis。’
　　’Ifthat’sthewaythingsaregoingonIsupposetheservantsleavetheirplacesprettyoften？’
　　’Idon’tknowaboutthat，sir。Amanmaydoadealworsethan"TheDragonofWantly"。Themasgoesawaytobetterthemselves，oftenworsesthemselves，asIcallit。I’veseenagooddealofthat。’
　　’Andyousticktotheoldshop？’
　　’Yes，sir；I’vebeenherefifteenyears，Ithinkitis。There’samanygoesaway，asdoesn’tgooutoftheirheads，youknow，sir。’
　　’Theygetthesack，youmean？’
　　’There’swordsbetweenthemandmaster——ormorelikely，missus。That’swhereitis。Servantsissofoolish。Ioftentell’emhowwrongfolksaretosaythatsoftwordsbutternoparsnips，andhardwordsbreaknobones。’
　　’Ithinkyou’velostsomeoftheoldhandsheresincethistimelastyear，John？’
　　’Youknowsthehousethen，sir？’
　　’Well；——I’vebeenherebefore。’
　　’Therewasfourofthemsent，Ithink，it’sjustabouttwelvemonthsback，sir。’
　　’TherewasamanintheyardIusedtoknow，andlasttimeIwasdownhere，Ifoundthathewasgone。’
　　’Therewasoneof’emoutoftheyard，andtwooutofthehouse。Masterandthemhadgottoveryhighwords。TherewaspoorScuttle，whohadbeenpost—boyat"TheCompass"beforehecamehere。’
　　’HewentawaytoNewZealand，didn’the？’
　　’B’levehedid，sir；ortosomeforeignparts。AndAnne，aswasunder—chambermaidhere；shewentwithhim，foolasshewas。Theygotthemselvesmarriedandwentoff，andhewaswellnighasoldasme。Butseemshe’dsavedalittlemoney，andthatgoesalongwaywithanygirl。’
　　’WashethemanwhodroveMrSoamesthatdaythechequewaslost？’MrToogoodaskedthisquestionperhapsalittletooabruptly。Atanyrateheobtainednoanswertoit。ThewaitersaidheknewnothingaboutMrSoames，orthecheque，andthelawyer，suspectingthatthewaiterwassuspectinghim，finishedhisbrandy—and—waterandwenttobed。
　　Earlyonthefollowingmorningheobservedthathewasspeciallyregardedbyashabby—lookingman，dressedinblack，butinablacksuitthatwasveryold，witharednose，whomhehadseeninthehotelontheprecedingday；andhelearnedthatthismanwasacousinofthelandlord——oneDanStringer——whoactedasaclerkinthehotelbar。HetookanopportunityalsoofsayingawordtoMrStringerthelandlord——whomhefoundtobeasomewhatforlornandgoutyindividual，seatedoncushionsinalittleparlourbehindthedoor。Afterbreakfasthewentout，andhavingtwicewalkedroundtheCathedralcloseandinspectedthefrontofthepalaceandlookedupatthewindowsoftheprebendaries’houses，heknockedatthedoorofthedeanery。ThedeanandMrsArabinwereontheContinenthewastold。ThenheaskedforMrHarding，havinglearnedthatMrHardingwasMrsArabin’sfather，andthathelivedatthedeanery。MrHardingwasathome，butwasnotverywell，theservantsaid。MrToogood，however，persevered，sendinguphiscard，andsayingthathewishedtohaveafewminutes’conversationwithMrHardingonveryparticularbusiness。Hewroteaworduponhiscardbeforegivingittotheservant——’aboutMrCrawley’。Inafewminuteshewasshownintothelibrary，andhadhardlytime，whilelookingattheshelves，torememberwhatMrCrawleyhadsaidofhisangeratthebeautifulbuildings，beforeanoldman，verythinandverypale，shuffledintotheroom。Hestoopedagooddeal，andhisblackclotheswereverylooseabouthisshrunkenlimbs。Hewasnotdecrepit，nordidheseemtobeonewhohadadvancedtoextremeoldage；butyetheshuffledratherthanwalked，hardlyraisinghisfeetfromtheground。MrToogood，ashecameforwardtomeethim，thoughtthathehadneverseenasweeterface。Therewasverymuchofmelancholyinit，ofthatsoftsadnessofagewhichseemstoacknowledge，andinsomesorttoregret，thewaningoiloflife；buttheregrettobereadinsuchfaceshasinitnothingofthebitternessofgrief；thereisnorepiningthattheendhascome，butsimplyatouchofsorrowthatsomuchthatisdearmustbeleftbehind。MrHardingshookhandswithhisvisitor，andinvitedhimtositdown，andthenseatedhimself，foldinghishandstogetheroverhisknees，andhesaidafewwordsinaverylowvoiceastotheabsenceofhisdaughterandthedean。
　　’Ihopeyouwillexcusemytroublingyou，’saidMrToogood。
　　’Itisnotroubleatall——ifIcouldbeofanyuse。Idon’tknowwhetheritisproper，butmayIaskwhetheryoucallas——as——asafriendofMrCrawley’s？’
　　’Altogetherasafriend，MrHarding。’
　　’I’mgladofthat；thoughofcourseIamwellawarethatthegentlemenengagedontheprosecutionmustdotheirduty。Still——Idon’tknow——somehowIwouldrathernothearofthemspeakofthispoorgentlemanbeforethetrial。’
　　’YouknowMrCrawleythen？’
　　’Veryslightly——veryslightlyindeed。Heisagentlemannotmuchgiventosocialhabits，andhasbeenbutseldomhere。Butheisanoldfriendwhommyson—in—lawlovesdearly。’
　　’I’mgladtohearyousaythat，MrHarding。PerhapsbeforeIgoanyfurther，IoughttotellyouthatMrsCrawleyandIarefirst—cousins。’
　　’Oh，indeed。Thenyouareafriend。’
　　’Ineversawhiminmylifetillafewdaysago。Heisveryqueer，youknow——veryqueerindeed。I’malawyer，MrHarding，practisinginLondon；——andattorney，thatis。AteachseparateannouncementMrHardingbowed，andwhenToogoodnamedhisspecialbranchofhisprofessionMrHardingbowedlowerthanbefore，asthoughdesirousofshowingthathehadgreatrespectforattorneys。’AndofcourseI’manxiousifonlyoutofrespectforthefamily，thatmywife’scousinshouldpullthroughthislittledifficulty，ifpossible。’
　　’Andforthesakeofthepoormanhimselftoo，andforhiswifeandchildren；——andforthesakeofthecloth。’
　　’Exactly；takingitalltogetherit’ssuchapity，youknow。Ithink，MrHarding，hecanhardlyhaveintendedtostealthemoney。’
　　’I’msurehedidnot。’
　　’It’sveryhardtobesureofanybody，MrHarding——veryhard。’
　　’Ifeelquitesurehedidnot。Hehasbeenamostpious，hardworkingclergyman。Icannotbringmyselftothinkthatheisguilty。WhatdoestheLatinproverbsay？"Nooneofasuddenbecomesmostbase"。’
　　’Butthetemptation，MrHarding，wasverystrong。Hewasawfullybadgeredabouthisdebts。ThatbutcheratSilverbridgewasplayingthemischiefwithhim。’
　　’AllthebutchersinBarsetshirecouldnotmakeanhonestmanstealmoney，andIthinkthatMrCrawleyisanhonestman。You’llexcusemeforbeingalittlehotaboutoneofmyownorder。’
　　’Why，he’smycousin——orrather，mywife’s。Butthefactis，MrHarding，wemustgetholdofthedeanassoonaspossible；andI’mgoingtosendangentlemanafterhim。’
　　’Tosendagentlemanafterhim？’saidMrHarding，almostindismay。
　　’Yes，Ithinkthatwillbebest。’
　　’I’mafraidhe’llhavetogoalongway，MrToogood。’
　　’Thedean，I’mtold，isinJerusalem。’
　　’I’mafraidheis——oronhisjourneythere。He’stobetherefortheEasterweek，andSundayweekwillbeEasterSunday。ButwhyshouldthegentlemanwanttogotoJerusalemafterthedean？’
　　ThenMrToogoodexplainedaswellashewasablethatthedeanmighthavesomethingtosayonthesubjectwhichwouldserveMrCrawley’sdefence。’Weshouldn’tleaveanystoneunturned，’saidMrToogood。’AsfarasIcanjudge，Crawleystillthinks——orhalfthinks——thathegotthechequefromyourson—in—law。’MrHardingshookhisheadsorrowfully。
　　’I’mnotsayinghedid，youknow，’continuedMrToogood。’Ican’tseemyselfhowitispossible；——butstill，weoughtnottoleaveanystoneunturned。AndMrsArabin——canyoutellmeatallwhereweshallfindher？’
　　’Hassheanythingtodowithit，MrToogood？’
　　’Ican’tquitesaythatshehas，butit’sjustpossible。AsIsaidbefore，MrHarding，wemustn’tleaveastoneunturned。They’renotexpectedheretilltheendofApril？’
　　’Aboutthetwenty—fifthortwenty—sixth，Ithink。’
　　’Andtheassizesarethetwenty—eighth。Thejudgescomeintothecityonthatday。Itwillbetoolatetoowaittillthen。Wemusthaveourdefenceready，youknow。CanyousaywheremyfriendwillfindMrsArabin？’
　　MrHardingbegannursinghisknee，pattingandbeingverytendertoit，ashesatmediatingwithhisheadononeside——meditatingnotsomuchastothenatureofhisanswerastothatofthequestion。Coulditbenecessarythatanyemissaryfromalawyer’sofficeshouldbesentafterhisdaughter？HedidnotliketheideaofhisEleanorbeingdisturbedbyquestionsastoatheft。Thoughshehadbeentwicemarriedandhadasonwhowasnownearlyaman，stillshewashisEleanor。ButifitwasnecessaryonMrCrawley’sbehalf，ofcourseitmustbedone。’HerlastaddresswasatParis，sir；butIthinkshegoneontoFlorence。Shehasfriendsthere，andshepurposestomeetthedeanatVeniceonhisreturn。’ThenMrHardingturnedtothetableandwroteonacardhisdaughter’saddress。
　　’IsupposeMrsArabinmusthaveheardofthisaffair？’SaidMrToogood。
　　’Shehadnotdonesowhenshelastwrote。Imentionedittohertheotherday，beforeIknewthatshehadleftParis。Ifmylettersandhersister’slettershavebeensentontoher，shemustknowbynow。’
　　ThenMrToogoodgotuptotakehisleave。’Youwillexcusemefortroublingyou，Ihope，MrHarding。’
　　’Oh，sir，praydonotmentionthat。Itisnotrouble，ifonecouldbeofanyservice。’
　　’Onecanalwaystrytobeofservice。Intheseaffairssomuchistobedonebyrummagingabout，asIalwayscallit。Therehavebeenmanytheatricalmanagers，youknow，MrHarding，whohaveusuallymadeupthepiecesaccordingtothedressestheyhavehappenedtohaveintheirwardrobes。’
　　’Havethere，indeed，now？Inevershouldhavethoughtofthat。’
　　’Andwelawyershavetodothesamething。’
　　’Notwithyourclothes，MrToogood？’
　　’Notexactlywithourclothes；——butwithourinformation。’
　　’Idonotquiteunderstandyou，MrToogood。’
　　’Inpreparingadefencewehavetorummageaboutandgetupwhatwecan。
　　Ifwecan’tfindanythingthatsuitsusexactly，weareobligedtousewhatwedofindaswellaswecan。Iremember，whenIwasayoungman，anostlerwastobetriedforstealingsomeoatsintheBorough；andhedidstealthemtoo，andsoldthematarag—shopregularly。Theevidenceagainstwasasplainasapikestaff。AllIcouldfindoutwasthatonacertaindayahorsehadtrodonafellow’sfoot。Soweputittothejurywhetherthemancouldwalkasfarastherag—shopwithabagofoatswhenhewasdeadlame；——andwegothimoff。’
　　’Didyou，though，’saidMrHarding。
　　’Yes，wedid。’
　　’Andhewasguilty？’
　　’Hehadbeenregularlyatitformonths。’
　　’Dear，dear，dear！Wouldn’tithavebeenbettertohavehadhimpunishedforthefault——gently；soastowarnhimoftheconsequencesofsuchdoings？’
　　’Ourbusinesswastogethimoff——andwegothimoff。It’smybusinesstogetmycousin’shusbandoff，ifIcan，andwemustdoitbyhookorbycrook。It’saverydifficultpieceofwork，becausehewon’tletusemployabarrister。However，Ishallhaveoneinthecourtandsaynothingtohimaboutitatall。Good—bye，MrHarding。Asyousay，itwouldbethousandpitiesthataclergymanshouldbeconvictedofatheft；——andonesowellconnectedtoo。’
　　MrHarding，whenhewasleftalone，begantoturnthematteroverinhismindandtoreflectwhetherthethousandpitiesofwhichMrToogoodhadspokenappertainedtotheconvictionofthecriminal，orthedoingofthecrime。’IfhedidstealthemoneyIsupposeheoughttobepunished，lethimbeeversomuchaclergyman，’saidMrHardingtohimself。Butyet——howterribleitwouldbe！OfclergymenconvictedoffraudinLondonhehadoftenheard；butnothingofthekindhadeverdisgracedthediocesetowhichhebelongedsincehehadknownit。HecouldnotteachhimselftohopethatMrCrawleyshouldbeacquittedifMrCrawleywereguilty；——buthecouldteachhimselftobelievethatMrCrawleywasinnocent。Somethingofadoubthadcreptacrosshismindashetalkedtothelawyer。MrToogood，thoughMrsCrawleywashiscousin，seemedtobelievethatthemoneyhadbeenstolen；andMrToogoodasalawyeroughttounderstandsuchmattersbetterthananoldsecludedclergymaninBarchester。But，nevertheless，MrToogoodmightbewrong；andMrHardingsucceededinsatisfyinghimselfatlastthathecouldnotbedoingharminthinkingMrToogoodwaswrong。Whenhehadmadeuphismindonthismatterhesatdownandwrotethefollowingletter，whichheaddressedtohisdaughteratthepost—officeinFlorence：—
　　’DEANERY——，March，186—
　　’DEARESTNELLY，’WhenIwroteonTuesdayItoldyouaboutpoorMrCrawley，thathewasaclergymaninBarsetshireofwhosemisfortuneyoureadanaccountinGalignani’sMessenger——andIthinkSusanmusthavewrittenaboutitalso，becauseeverybodyhereistalkingofnothingelse，andbecause，ofcourse，weknowhowstrongaregardthedeanhasforMrCrawley。Butsincethatsomethinghasoccurredwhichmakesmewritetoyouagain——atonce。Agentlemanhasjustbeenhere，andhasindeedonlythismomentleftme，whotellsmethatheisanattorneyinLondon，andthatheisnearlyrelatedtoMrsCrawley。Heseemstobeaverygood—naturedman，andI
　　daresayheunderstandshisbusinessasalawyer。HisnameisToogood，andhehascomedownashesaystogetevidencetohelpthepoorgentlemanonhistrial。Icannotunderstandhowthisshouldbenecessary，becauseitseemstomethattheevidenceshouldallbewantedontheotherside。I
　　cannotforamomentsupposethataclergymanandagentlemansuchasMrCrawleyshouldhavestolenmoney，andifheisinnocentIcannotunderstandwhyallthistroubleshouldbenecessarytopreventajuryfromfindinghimguilty。
　　’MrToogoodcameherebecausehewantedtoseethedean——andyoualso。Hedidnotexplain，asfarasIcanremember，whyhewantedtoseeyou；buthesaiditwouldbenecessary，andthathewasgoingtosendoffamessengertofindyoufirst，andthedeanafterwards。IthassomethingtodowiththemoneywhichwasgiventoMrCrawleylastyear，andwhich，ifIrememberright，wasyourpresent。ButofcourseMrToogoodcouldnothaveknownanythingaboutthat。However，Igavehimtheaddress——posterestante，Florence——andIdaresaythatsomebodywillmakeyououtbeforelong，ifyouarestillstoppinginFlorence。Ididnotlikelettinghimgowithouttellingyouaboutit，asIthoughtthatalawyer’scomingtoyouwouldstartleyou。
　　’Thebairnsarequitewell，asItoldyouinmyotherletter，andMissJonessaysthatlittleEllyisasgoodasgold。Theyarewithmeeverymorningandevening，andbehavelittledarlingangels，astheyare。Posyismyownlittlejewelalways。YoumaybequitesureIdonothingtospoilthem。——Godblessyou，dearestNelly，Yourmostaffectionatefather，’SEPTIMUSHARDING’
　　Afterthishewroteanotherlettertohisotherdaughter，MrsGrantly，tellingheralsoofMrToogood’svisit；andthenhespenttheremainderofthedaythinkingoverthegravityoftheoccurrence。Howterribleitwouldbeifabeneficedclergymaninthedioceseshouldreallybefoundguiltyoftheftbyajuryfromthecity！Andthenhehadalwaysheardsohighacharacterofthismanfromhisson—in—law。No——itwasimpossibletobelievethatMrCrawleyhadintruthstolenachequefortwentypounds！
　　MrToogoodcouldgetnofurtherinformationinBarchester，andwentontoSilverbridgeearlyintheafternoon。HewashalfdisposedtogobyHogglestockandlookuphiscousin，whomhehadneverseen，andhiscousin’shusband，uponwhosebusinesshewasnowintent；butonreflectionhefearedthathemightdomoreharmthangood。HehadquiteappreciatedthefactthatMrCrawleywasnotlikeothermen。’Theman’snotabovehalf—saved，’hehadsaidtohiswife——meaningtherebytoinsinuatethatthepoorclergymanwasnotinfullpossessionofhiswits。And，totellthetruthofMrToogood，hewasalittleafraidofhisrelative。TherewassomethinginMrCrawley’smanner，inspiteofhisdeclaredpoverty，andinspitealsoofhisextremehumility，whichseemedtoannouncethatheexpectedtobeobeyedwhenhespokeonanypointwithauthority。MrToogoodhadnotforgottenthetoneinwhichMrCrawleyhadsaidtohim，’Sir，thisisathingyoucannotdo。’Andhethoughtthat，uponthewhole，hehadbetternotgotoHogglestockonthisoccasion。
　　WhenatSilverbridge，hebeganatonceto’rummageabout’。HischiefrummagingwastobedoneatMrWalker’stable；butbeforedinnerhehadtimetocalluponthemagistrate’sclerk，andaskafewquestionsastotheproceedingsatthesittingfromwhichMrCrawleywascommitted。Hefoundaverytaciturnoldman，whowasnearlyasdifficulttodealwithinanyrummagingprocessasaporcupine。But，nevertheless，atlasthereachedastateofconversationwhichwasnotabsolutelyhostile。MrToogoodpleadedthathewasthepoorman’scousin——pleadedthat，asthefamilylawyer，hewasnaturallythepoorman’sprotectoratsuchatimeasthepresent——pleadedalsothatasthepoormanwassoverypoor，nooneelsecouldcomeforwardonhisbehalf——andinthiswaysomewhatsoftenedthehardsharpnessoftheoldporcupine’squills。Butafterallthis，therewasverylittletobelearnedfromtheoldporcupine。’Therewasnotamagistrateonthebench，’hesaid，’whohadanydoubtthattheevidencewassufficienttojustifytheminsendingthecasetotheassizes。Theyhadallregretted，’——andtheporcupinesaidinhissoftestmoment——’thatthegentlemanhadcometherewithoutalegaladviser。’
　　’Ah，that’sbeenthemischiefofitall！’saidMrToogood，dashinghishandagainsttheporcupine’smahoganytable。’Butthefactsaresostrong，MrToogood！’’Nobodytheretosoften’emdown，youknow，’saidMrToogood，shakinghishead。Verylittlemorethanthiswaslearnedfromtheporcupine；andthenMrToogoodwentaway，andpreparedforMrWalker’sdinner。
　　MrWalkerhadinvitedDrTempestandMissAnnePrettymanandMajorGrantlytomeetMrToogood，andhadexplained，inamannerintendedtobehalfearnestandhalfjocose，thatthoughMrToogoodwasanattorney，likehimself，andwasatthismomentengagedinanoblewayonbehalfofhiscousin’shusband，withoutanyideaofreceivingbackeventhemoneywhichhewouldbeoutofpocket，stillhewasn’tquite——notquite，youknow——’notquitesomuchofagentlemanasIam’——MrWalkerwouldhavesaid，hadhespokenoutfreelythatwhichheinsinuated。Buthecontentedhimselfwiththeemphasisheputuponthe’notquite’，whichexpressedhismeaningfully。AndMrWalkerwascorrectinhisopinionofMrToogood。AsregardsthetwoattorneysIwillnotventuretosaythateitherofthemwasnota’perfectgentleman’。AperfectgentlemanisathingwhichIcannotdefine。ButundoubtedlyMrWalkerwasabiggermaninhiswaythatwasMrToogoodinhis，anddidhabituallyconsortinthecountyofBarsetshirewithmenofhigherstandingthanthosewithwhomMrToogoodassociatedinLondon。
　　ItseemedtobeunderstoodthatMrCrawleywastobethegeneralsubjectofconversation，andnooneattemptedtotalkaboutanythingelse。
　　Indeed，atthistime，verylittleelsewastalkedaboutinthatpartofthecounty；——notonlybecauseoftheinterestnaturallyattachingtothequestionofthesuspectedguiltofaparishclergyman，butbecausemuchhadbecomelatelyknownofMrCrawley’scharacter，andbecauseitwasknownalsothataninternecinefeudhadarisenbetweenhimandthebishop。IthadundoubtedlybecomethegeneralopinionthatMrCrawleyhadpickedupandhadusedachequewhichwasnothisown；——thathehad，infact，stolenit；buttherewas，inspiteofthatbelief，ageneralwishthathemightbeacquittedandleftinhisliving。AndwhenthetidingsofMrCrawley’svictoryoverthebishopatthepalacehadbecomebruitedabout，popularsympathywentwiththevictor。Thetheftwas，asitwere，condoned，andpeoplemadeexcuseswhichwerenotalwaysrational，butwhichwerefoundedontheinstinctsoftruehumanity。Andnowthetidingsofanotherstageinthebattle，asfoughtagainstMrCrawleybythebishop，hadgoneforththroughthecounty，andmenhadheardthattheruraldeanwastobeinstructedtomakeinquirieswhichshouldbepreliminarytoproceedingsagainstMrCrawleyinanecclesiasticalcourt。DrTempest，whowasnowabouttomeetMrToogoodatMrWalker’s，wastheruraldeantowhomMrCrawleywouldhavetosubmithimselfinanysuchinquiry；butDrTempesthadnotasyetreceivedfromthebishopanyofficialorderonthesubject。
　　’Wearesodelightedtothinkthatyouhavetakenupyourcousin’scase，’saidMrsWalkertoMrToogoodinalmostawhisper。
　　’Heisnotjustmycousin，himself，’saidMrToogood，’butofcourseit’sallthesamething。Andastotakinguphiscase，yousee，mydearmadam，hewon’tletmetakeitup。’
　　’Ithoughtyouhad。Ithoughtyouweredownhereaboutit。’
　　’Onlyonthesly，MrsWalker。Hehassuchqueerideasthathewillnotallowalawyertobeproperlyemployed；andyoucan’tconceivehowhardthatmakesit。Doyouknowhim，MrsWalker？’
　　’WeknowhisdaughterGrace。’AndthenMrsWalkerwhisperedsomethingfurther，whichwemaypresumetohavebeeninintimationthatthegentlemanopposite——MajorGrantly——wassupposedbysomepeopletobeveryfondofMissGraceCrawley。
　　’Quiteachild，isn’tshe？’saidToogood，whoseowndaughter，nowabouttobemarried，wasthreeorfouryearsolderthanGrace。
　　’She’sbeyondbeingachild，Ithink。Ofcoursesheisyoung。’
　　’ButIsupposethisaffairwillknockallthatonthehead，’saidthelawyer。
　　’Idonotknowhowthatmaybe；buttheydosayheisverymuchattachedtoher。Themajorisamanoffamily，andofcourseitwouldbeverydisagreeableifMrCrawleywerefoundguilty。’
　　’Verydisagreeableindeed；but，uponmyword，MrsWalker，Idon’tknowwhattosayaboutit。’
　　’Youthinkitwillgoagainsthim，MrToogood？’MrToogoodshookhishead，andseeingthis，MrsWalkersigheddeeply。
　　’IcanonlysaythatIhavenothingfromthebishopasyet，’saidDrTempest，aftertheladieshadlefttheroom。’Ofcourse，ifhethinkswelltoorderit，theinquirywillbemade。’
　　’Buthowlongwouldittake？’askedMrWalker。
　　’Threemonths，Ishouldthink——orperhapsmore。OfcourseCrawleywoulddoallthathecouldtodelayus，andIamnotatallsurethatweshouldbeinanygreathurryourselves。’