’ismonstrous。But,somehow,thecircumstanceshavebeenmadetolookbadagainsthim,andtheysaythathemustcomeoverheretothemagistrates。Ioftenthinkthatofallmenintheworldpapaisthemostunfortunate。Everythingseemstogoagainsthim,andyetheissogood!Poormammahasbeenoverhere,andsheisdistracted。Ineversawhersowretchedbefore。ShehasbeentoyourfriendMrWalker,andcametomeafterwardsforaminute。MrWalkerhasgotsomethingtodowithit,thoughmammasaysshethinksheisquitefriendlytopapa。Iwonderwhetheryoucouldfindout,throughMrWalker,whathethinksaboutit。Ofcourse,mammaknowsthatpapahasdonenothingwrong;butshesaysthatthewholethingissomysterious,andthatshedoesnotknowhowtoaccountforthemoney。Papa,youknow,isnotlikeotherpeople。Heforgetsthings;andisalwaysthinking,thinking,thinkingofhisgreatmisfortunes。Poorpapa!MyheartbleedssowhenIrememberallhissorrows,thatIhatemyselfforthinkingaboutmyself。
  ’Whenmammaleftme——anditwasthenIfirstknewthatpapawouldreallyhavetobetried——I
  wenttoMissAnnabella,andtoldherthatIwouldgohome。Sheaskedmewhy,andIsaidIwouldnotdisgraceherhousebystayinginit。Shegotupandtookmeinherarms,andtherecameatearoutofbothherdearoldeyes,andshesaidthatifanythingevilcametopapa——whichshewouldnotbelieve,assheknewhimtobeagoodman——thereshouldbeahomeinherhousenotonlyforme,butformammaandJane。
  Isn’tsheawonderfulwoman?WhenIthinkofher,I
  sometimesthinkthatshemustbeanangelalready。
  Thenshebecameveryserious——forjustbefore,throughhertearsshehadtriedtosmile——andshetoldmetorememberthatallpeoplecouldnotbelikeher,whohadnobodytolooktobutherselfandhersister;andthatatpresentImusttaskmyselfnottothinkofthatwhichIhadbeenthinkingofbefore。
  Shedidnotmentionanybody’sname,butofcourseI
  understoodverywellwhatshemeant;andIsupposesheisright。Isaidnothinginanswertoher,forI
  couldnotspeak。Shewasholdingmyhand,andItookhersupandkissedit,toshowher,ifIcould,thatI
  knewthatshewasright;butIcouldnothavespokenaboutitforalltheworld。Itwasnottendayssincethatsheherself,withallherprudence,toldmethatshethoughtIoughttomakeupmymindwhatanswerI
  wouldgivehim。AndthenIdidnotsayanything;butofcoursesheknew。AndafterthatMissAnnespokequitefreelyaboutit,sothatIhadtobeghertobesilentevenbeforethegirls。Youknowhowimprudentsheis。Butitisallovernow。OfcourseMissAnnabellaisright。Hehasgotagreatmanypeopletothinkof;hisfatherandmother,andhisdarlinglittleEdith,whomhebroughtheretwice,andleftherwithusoncefortwodays,sothatshegottoknowmequitewell;andItooksuchaloveforher,thatI
  couldnotbeartopartwithher。ButIthinksometimesthatallourfamilyareborntobeunfortunate,andthenItellmyselfthatIwillneverhopeforanythingagain。
  ’Praywritetomesoon。Ifeelasthoughnothingonearthcouldcomfortme,andyetIshallliketohaveyourletter。Dear,dearLily,IamnotevenyetsowretchedbutwhatIshallrejoicetobetoldgoodnewsofyou。IfitonlycouldbeasJohnwishesit!Andwhyshoulditnot?Itseemstomethatnobodyhasarightorareasontobyunhappyexceptus。Good—bye,dearestLily。
  ’Youraffectionatefriend,’GRACECRAWLEY’
  ’P。S。——IthinkIhavemadeupmymindthatIwillgobacktoHogglestockatonceifthemagistratesdecideagainstpapa。IthinkIshouldbedoingtheschoolharmifIweretostayhere。’
  TheanswertothisletterdidnotreachMissCrawleytillafterthemagistrate’shearingontheThursday,butitwillbebetterforourstorythatitshouldbegivenherthanpostponeduntiltheresultofthatmeetingshallhavebeentold。MissDale’sanswerwasasfollows:—
  ’ALLINGTON,——December,186—
  ’DEARGRACE,’Yourletterhasmademeveryunhappy。IfitcanatallcomfortyoutoknowthatmammaandI
  sympathisewithyoualtogether,inthatyoumayatanyratebesure。Butinsuchtroublesnothingwillgivecomfort。Theymustbeborne,tillthefireofmisfortuneburnsitselfout。
  ’IhadheardabouttheaffairadayortwobeforeIgotyournote。Ourclergyman,MrBoyce,toldusofit。Ofcourseweallknowthatthechargemustbealtogetherunfounded,andmammasaysthatthetruthwillbesuretoshowitselfatlast。Butthatconvictiondoesnotcuretheevil,andIcanwellunderstandthatyourfathershouldsuffergrievously;
  andIpityyourmotherquiteasmuchasIdohim。
  ’AsforMajorGrantly,ifhebesuchamanasI
  tookhimtobefromthelittleIsawofhim,allthiswouldmakenodifferencetohim。Iamsurethatitoughttomakenone。Whetheritshouldnotmakeadifferenceinyouisanotherquestion。Ithinkitshould;andIthinkyouranswertohimshouldbethatyoucouldnotevenconsideranysuchpropositionwhileyourfatherwasinsogreattrouble。Iamsomucholderthanyou,andseemtohavesomuchexperience,thatIdonotscruple,asyouwillsee,tocomedownuponyouwithalltheweightofmywisdom。
  ’AboutthatothersubjectIhadrathersaynothing。Ihaveknownyourcousinallmylifealmost;
  andIregardnoonemorekindlythanIdohim。WhenI
  thinkofmyfriends,heisalwaystheoneofthedearest。Butwhenonethinksofgoingbeyondfriendship,evenifonetriestodoso,therearesomanybarriers!
  ’Youraffectionatefriend,’LILYDALE
  ’Mammabidsmesaythatshewouldbedelightedtohaveyouherewheneveritmightsuityoutocome;
  andIaddtothismessagemyentreatythatyouwillcomeatonce。YousaythatyouthinkyououghttoleaveMissPrettyman’sforawhile。Icanwellunderstandyourfeeling;butasyoursisteriswithyourmother,surelyyouhadbettercometous——Imeanquiteatonce。Iwillnotscrupletotellyouwhatmammasays,becauseIknowyourgoodsense。Shesaysthatastheinterestoftheschoolmaypossiblybeconcerned,andasyouhavenoregularengagement,shethinksyououghttoleaveSilverbridge;butshesaysthatitwillbebetterthatyoucometousthanthatyoushouldgohome。Ifyouwenthome,peoplemightsaythathadleftinsomesortofdisgrace。Cometous,andwhenallthisisputright,thenyougobacktoSilverbridge;andthen,ifacertainpersonspeaksagain,youcanmakeadifferentanswer。Mammaquiteunderstandsthatyouaretocome;soyouhaveonlytoaskyourownmamma,andcomeatonce。’
  Thisletter,thereaderwillunderstand,didnotreachGraceCrawleytillaftertheall—importantThursday;butbeforethatdayhadcomeround,GracehadtoldMissPrettyman——hadtoldboththeMissPrettymans——thatshewasresolvedtoleavethem。Shehaddonethiswithoutconsultinghermother,driventoitbyvariousmotives。Sheknewherfather’sconductwasbeingdiscussedbythegirlsatschool,andthatthingsweresaidofhimwhichitcouldnotbutbeforthedisadvantageofMissPrettymanthatanyoneshouldsayofateacherintheestablishment。Shefelt,too,thatshecouldnotholdupherheadinSilverbridgeinthesedays,asitwouldbecomehertodoifsheretainedherposition。Shedidstrugglegallantly,andsucceededmuchmorenearlythanshewasherselfaware。Shewasallbutabletocarryherselfasthoughnoterribleaccusationwasbeingmadeagainstherfather。Ofthestruggle,however,shewasnotherselfthelessconscious,andshetoldherselfthatonthataccountalsoshemustgo。AndthenshemustgobecauseofMajorGrantly。Whetherhewasmindedtocomeandspeaktoherthatoneotherneededword,orwhetherhewasnotsominded,itwouldbebetterthatsheshouldbeawayfromSilverbridge。Ifhespokeitshecouldonlyanswerhimbythenegative;sheshouldleaveherselfthepowerofthinkingthathissilencehadbeencausedbyherabsence,andnotbyhiscoldnessorindifference。
  Sheasked,therefore,foraninterviewwithMissPrettyman,andwasshownintotheeldersister’sroom,ateleveno’clockontheTuesdaymorning。TheelderMissPrettymannevercameintotheschoolherselftilltwelve,butwasinthehabitofhavinginterviewswiththeyoungladies——whichweresometimesveryawfulintheirnature——forthetwoprevioushours。Duringtheseinterviewsanimmenseamountofbusinesswasdone,andthefortunesinlifeofsomegirlsweresaidtohavebeenmadeormarred;aswhen,forinstance,MissCrimptonhadbeenadvisedtostayathomewithheruncleinEngland,insteadofgoingoutwithhersisterstoIndia,bothofwhichsistersweremarriedwithinthreemonthsoftheirlandinginBombay。Thewayinwhichshegavehercounselonsuchoccasionswasveryefficacious。NooneknewbetterthanMissPrettymanthatacockcancrowmosteffectivelyinhisownfarmyard,andthereforeallcrowingintendedtobeeffectivewasdonebyherwithintheshrineofherownpeculiarroom。
  ’Well,mydear,whatisit?’shesaidtoGrace。’Sitinthearm—chair,mydear,andwecanthentalkcomfortably。’Theteachers,whentheywereclosetedwithMissPrettyman,werealwaysaskedtositinthearm—chair,whereasasmall,straight—backed,uneasychairwaskeptfortheuseoftheyoungladies。Andtherewas,too,astoolofrepentance,outagainstthewall,veryuncomfortableindeedforyoungladieswhohadnotbehavedthemselvessoprettilyasyoungladiesgenerallydo。
  Graceseatedherself,andthenbeganherspeechveryquickly。’MissPrettyman,’shesaid,’IhavemadeupmymindthatIwillgohome,ifyouplease。’
  ’Andwhyshouldyougohome,Grace?DidInottellyouthatyoushouldhaveahomehere?’MissPrettymanhadweakeyes,andwasverysmall,andhadneverpossessedanyclaimtobecalledgood—looking。Andsheassumednothingofthemajesticalawefromanyadornmentorstudiedamplificationoftheoutwardwomanbymeansofimpressivetrappings。Thepossessorofanunobservanteyemighthavecalledheramean—looking,littleoldwoman。Andcertainlytherewouldhavebeennothingawfulinhertoanyonewhocameacrossherotherwisethanasaladyhavingauthorityinherownschool。Butwithinherownprecincts,shedidknowhowtosurroundherselfwithadignitywhichallfeltwhoapproachedherthere。GraceCrawley,assheheardthesimplequestionwhichMissPrettymanhadasked,unconsciouslyacknowledgedthestrengthofthewoman’smanner。Shealreadystoodrebukedforhavingproposedaplansoungracious,sounnecessary,andsounwise。
  ’IthinkIoughttobewithmammaatpresent,’saidGrace。
  ’Youmotherhashersisterwithher。’
  ’Yes,MissPrettyman,Janeisthere。’
  ’Ifthereisnootherreason,Icannotthinkthatthatcanbeheldtobeareasonnow。Ofcourseyourmotherwouldliketohaveyoualways;
  unlessyoushouldbemarried——butthentherearereasonswhythisshouldnotbeso。’
  ’Ofcoursethereare。’
  ’Idonotthink——thatis,ifIknowallthatthereistobeknown——Idonotthink,Isay,thattherecanbeanygoodgroundforyourleavingusnow——justnow。’
  ThenGracesatsilentforamoment,gatheringhercourage,andcollectingherwords;andafterthatshespoke。’Itisbecauseofpapa,andbecauseofthischarge——’
  ’But,Grace——’
  ’Iknowwhatyouaregoingtosay,MissPrettyman;——thatis,IthinkI
  know。’
  ’Ifyouhearme,youmaybesurethatyouknow。’
  ’ButIwantyoutohearmeforonemomentfirst。Ibegyourpardon,MissPrettyman;Idoindeed,butIwanttosaythisbeforeyougoon。I
  mustgohome,andIknowIought。Wearealldisgraced,andIwon’tstopheretodisgracetheschool。Iknowpapahasdonenothingwrong;butneverthelesswearedisgraced。ThepolicearetobringhiminhereonThursday,andeverybodyinSilverbridgewillknowit。ItcannotberightthatIshouldbehereteachingintheschool,whileitisallgoingon;——andIwon’t。And,MissPrettyman,Icouldn’tdoit,indeedI
  couldn’t。Ican’tbringmyselftothinkofanythingIamdoing。IndeedI
  can’t;andthen,MissPrettyman,thereareotherreasons。’Bythetimethatshehadproceededthusfar,GraceCrawley’swordswerenearlychokedbyhertears。
  ’Andwhataretheotherreasons,Grace?’
  ’Idon’tknow,’saidGrace,strugglingtospeakthroughhertears。
  ’ButIknow,’saidMissPrettyman。’Iknowthemall。Iknowallyourreasons,andItellyouthatinmyopinionyououghttoremainwhereyouare,andnotgoaway。Theveryreasonswhichtoyouarereasonsforyourgoing,tomearereasonsforyourremaininghere。’
  ’Ican’tremain。Iamdeterminedtogo。Idon’tmindyouandMissAnne,butIcan’tbeartohavethegirlslookingatme——andtheservants。’
  ThenMissPrettymanpausedawhile,thinkingofwhatwordsofwisdomwouldbemostappropriateinthepresentconjuncture。Butwordsofwisdomdidnotseemtocomeeasilytoher,havingforthemomentbeenbanishedbyatendernessofheart。’Comehere,mylove,’shesaidatlast。’Comehere,Grace。’SlowlyGracegotupfromherseatandcameround,andstoodbyMissPrettyman’selbow。MissPrettymanpushedherchairalittleback,andpushedherselfalittleforward,andstretchingoutonehand,placedherarmroundGrace’swaist,andwiththeothertookholdofGrace’shand,andthusdrewherdownandkissedthegirl’sforeheadandlips。AndthenGracefoundherselfkneelingatherfriend’sfeet。’Grace,’shesaid,’doyounotknowthatIloveyou?DoyounotknowthatIloveyoudearly?’InanswertothisGracekissedthewitheredhandsheheldinhers,whilethewarmtearstrickleduponMissPrettyman’sknuckles。’Iloveyouasthoughyouweremyown,’exclaimedtheschoolmistress;’andwillyounottrustme,thatIknowwhatisbestforyou?’
  ’Imustgohome,’saidGrace。
  ’Ofcourseyoushall,ifyouthinkitrightatlast;butletustalkofit。Nooneinthehouse,youknow,hastheslightestsuspicionthatyourfatherhasdoneanythingthatisintheleastdishonourable。’
  ’Iknowthatyouhavenot。’
  ’No,norhasAnne。’MissPrettymansaidthisasthoughnooneinthathousebeyondherselfandhersisterhadarighttohaveanyopiniononanysubject。
  ’Iknowthat,’saidGrace。
  ’Well,mydear。Ifwethinkso——’
  ’Buttheservant,MissPrettyman?’
  ’Ifanyservantinthishousesaysawordtooffendyou,I’ll——I’ll——’
  ’Theydon’tsayanything,MissPrettyman,buttheylook。Indeed,I’dbettergohome。IndeedIhad!’
  ’Donotyouthinkyourmotherhascaresenoughuponher,andburdenenough,withoutanothermouthtofeed,andanotherheadtoshelter?Youhaven’tthoughtofthat,Grace。’
  ’Yes,Ihave。’
  ’Andforthework,whilstyouarenotquitewellyoushallnotbetroubledwithteaching。Ihavesomeoldpapersthatwantcopyingandsettlings,andyoushallsithereanddothatjustforanemployment。
  AnneknowsthatI’velongwantedtohaveitdone,andI’lltellherthatyouhavekindlypromisedtodoitforme。’
  ’No;no;no,’saidGrace;’Imustgohome。’ShewasstillkneelingatMissPrettyman’sknee,andstillholdingMissPrettyman’shand。Andthen,atthatmoment,therecameataponthedoor,gentlebutyetnothumble,atapwhichacknowledged,onthepartofthetapper,thesupremacyinthatroomoftheladywhowassittingthere,butwhichstillclaimedadmittancealmostasaright。ThetapwaswellknownbybothofthemtobethetapofMissAnne。Graceimmediatelyjumpedup,andMissPrettymansettledherselfinherchairwithamotionwhichalmostseemedtoindicatesomefeelingofshameastoherlateposition。
  ’IsupposeImaycomein?’saidMissAnne,openingthedoorandinsertingherhead。
  ’Yes,youmaycomein——ifyouhaveanythingtosay,’saidMissPrettyman,withanairwhichseemedtobeintendedtoasserthersupremacy。But,intruth,shewassimplycollectingthewisdomanddignitywhichhadbeensomewhatdissipatedbyhertenderness。
  ’IdidnotknowthatGraceCrawleywashere,’saidMissAnne。
  ’GraceCrawleyishere,’saidMissPrettyman。
  ’Whatisthematter,Grace?’saidMissAnne,seeinghertears。
  ’Nevermindnow,’saidMissPrettyman。
  ’Poordear,I’msureI’msorryasthoughsheweremyownsister,’saidAnne。’But,Annabella,Iwanttospeaktoyouespecially。’
  ’Tome,inprivate?’
  ’Yes,toyou;inprivate,ifGracewon’tmind?’
  ThenGracepreparedtogo。Butasshewasgoing,MissAnne,uponwhosebrowaheavyburdenofthoughtwaslying,stoppedhersuddenly。’Grace,mydear,’shesaid,’goupstairstoyourroom,willyou?——notacrossthehalltotheschool。’
  ’Andwhyshouldn’tshegototheschool?’saidMissPrettyman。
  MissAnnepausedforamoment,andthenanswered——unwillingly,asthoughdriventomakeareplywhichsheknewtobeindiscreet。’Becausethereissomebodyinthehall。’
  ’Gotoyourroom,dear,’saidMissPrettyman。AndGracewenttoherroom,neverturninganeyedowntowardsthehall。’Whoisit?’saidMissPrettyman。
  ’MajorGrantlyishere,askingtoseeyou,’saidMissAnne。
  CHAPTERVII
  MISSPRETTYMAN’SPRIVATEROOM
  MajorGrantly,whenthreatenedbyhisfatherwithpecuniarypunishment,shouldhedemeanhimselfbysuchamarriageasthathehadproposedtohimself,haddeclaredthathewouldofferhishandtoMissCrawleyonthenextmorning。This,however,hehadnotdone。Hehadnotdoneit,partlybecausehedidnotquitebelievehisfather’sthreat,andpartlybecausehefeltthatthatthreatwasalmostjustified——forthepresentmoment——bythecircumstancesinwhichGraceCrawley’sfatherhadplacedhimself。
  HenryGrantlyacknowledged,ashedrovehimselfhomeonthemorningafterhisdinnerattherectory,thatinthismatterofhismarriagehedidowemuchtohisfamily。Shouldhemarryatall,heowedittothemtomarryalady。AndGraceCrawley——sohetoldhimself——wasalady。Andheowedittothemtobringamongthemashiswifeawomanwhoshouldnotdisgracehimorthembyhereducation,manners,orevenbyherpersonalappearance。InalltheserespectsGraceCrawleywas,inhisjudgment,quiteasgoodastheyhadarighttoexpecthertobe,andinsomerespectsagreatdealsuperiortothattypeofwomanhoodwithwhichtheyhadbeenmostgenerallyconversant。’Ifeverybodyhadherdue,mysisterisn’tfittoholdacandletoher,’hesaidtohimself。Itmustbeacknowledged,therefore,thathewasreallyinlovewithGraceCrawley;andhedeclaredtohimselfoverandoveragain,thathisfamilyhadnorighttodemandthatheshouldmarryawomanwithmoney。Thearchdeacon’ssonbynomeansdespisedmoney。Howcouldhe,havingcomeforthasabirdfledgedfromsuchanestastherectoryatPlumsteadEpiscopi?BeforehehadbeenbroughtbyhisbetternatureandtruejudgmenttoseethatGraceCrawleywasthegreaterwomanofthetwo,hehadnearlysubmittedhimselftothetwentythousandpoundsofMissEmilyDunstable——tothat,andhergood—humourandrosyfreshnesscombined。Butheregardedhimselfasthewell—to—dosonofaveryrichfather。Hisonlychildwasamplyprovidedfor;andhefeltthat,asregardedmoney,hehadarighttodoashepleased。Hefeltthiswithdoublestrengthafterhisfather’sthreat。
  Buthehadnorighttomakeamarriagebywhichhisfamilywouldbedisgraced。Whetherhewasrightorwronginsupposingthathewoulddisgracehisfamilywerehetomarrythedaughterofaconvictedthief,itishardlynecessarytodiscusshere。Hetoldhimselfthatitwouldbeso——tellinghimselfalsothat,bythesternlawsoftheworld,thesonandthedaughtermustpayfortheoffenceofthefatherandmother。Evenamongthepoor,whowouldwillinglymarrythechildofamanwhohadbeenhanged?Buthecarriedtheargumentbeyondthis,thinkingmuchofthematter,andendeavouringtothinkofitnotonlyjustlybutgenerously。IftheaccusationagainstCrawleywerefalse——ifthemanwerebeinginjuredbyanunjustcharge——evenifhe,Grantly,couldmakehimselfthinkthatthegirl’sfatherhadnotstolenthemoney,thenhewoulddareeverythingandgoon。Idonotknowthathisargumentwasgood,orthathismindwaslogicalonthematter。Heoughttohavefeltthathisownjudgmentastotheman’sguiltwaslesslikelytobecorrectthanthatofthosewhosedutyitwasandwouldbetoformandtoexpressajudgmentonthematter;andastoGraceherself,shewasequallyinnocentwhetherherfatherwereguiltyornotguilty。Ifheweretobedebarredfromaskingforherhandbyhisfeelingsforherfatherandmother,heshouldhardlyhavetrustedtohisownskillinascertainingtherealtruthastotheallegedtheft。Buthewasnotlogical,andthus,meaningtobegenerous,hebecameunjust。
  HefoundthatamongthoseinSilverbridgewhomhepresumedtobebestinformedonsuchmatters,therewasagrowingopinionthatMrCrawleyhadstolenthemoney。HewasintimatewithalltheWalkers,andwasabletofindoutthatMrsWalkerknewthatherhusbandbelievedintheclergyman’sguilt。HewasbynomeansaloneinhiswillingnesstoacceptMrWalker’sopinionasthetrueopinion。Silverbridge,generally,wasendeavouringtodressitselfinMrWalker’sglass,andtobelieveasMrWalkerbelieved。TheladiesofSilverbridge,includingtheMissPrettymans,wereawarethatMrWalkerhadbeenverykindbothtoMrandMrsCrawley,andarguedfromthisthatMrWalkermustthinkthemaninnocent。ButHenryGrantly,whodidnotdaretoaskadirectquestionofthesolicitor,wentcunninglytowork,andclosetedhimselfwithMrsWalker——withMrsWalker,whoknewwellofthegoodfortunethatwashoveringoverGrace’sheadandwassonearlysettlingitselfonhershoulders。ShewouldhavegivenafingertobeabletowhitewashMrCrawleyinthemajor’sestimation。Normustitbesupposedthatshetoldthemajorinplainwordsthatherhusbandhadconvincedhimselfoftheman’sguilt。Inplainwordsnoquestionwasaskedbetweenthem,andinplainwordsnoopinionwasexpressed。Buttherewasthelookofsorrowinthewoman’seye,therewastheabsenceofreferencetoherhusband’sassurancethatthemanwasinnocent,therewastheairofsettledgriefwhichtoldofherownconviction;andthemajorlefther,convincedthatMrsWalkerbelievedMrCrawleytobeguilty。
  ThenhewenttoBarchester;notopen—mouthedwithinquiry,butratherwithopenears,anditseemedtohimthatallmeninBarchesterwereofonemind。Therewasacounty—clubinBarchester,andatthiscounty—clubninemenoutoftenweretalkingaboutMrCrawley。Itwasbynomeansnecessarythatamanshouldaskquestionsonthesubject。Opinionwasexpressedsofreelythatnosuchaskingwasrequired;andopinioninBarchester——atanyrateinthecounty—club——seemednowtobeallofonemind。TherehadbeeneverydispositionatfirsttobelieveMrCrawleytobeinnocent。HehadbeenbelievedtobeinnocentevenafterhehadsaidwronglythatthechequehadbeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames;buthehadsincestatedthathehadreceiveditfromDeanArabin,andthatstatementwasalsoshowntobefalse。Amanwhohasachequechangedonhisownbehalfisboundatleasttoshowwherehegotthecheque。MrCrawleyhadnotonlyfailedtodothis,buthadgiventwofalseexcuses。
  HenryGrantly,ashedrovehometoSilverbridgeontheSundayafternoon,summedupalltheevidenceinhisownmind,andbroughtinaverdictofGuiltyagainstthefatherofthegirlwhomheloved。
  OnthefollowingmorninghewalkedintoSilverbridgeandcalledatMissPrettyman’shouse。AshewentalonghisheartwaswarmertowardsGracethanithadeverbeenbefore。Hehadtoldhimselfthathewasnowboundtoabstain,forhisfather’ssake,fromdoingthatwhichhehadtoldhisfatherhecertainlywoulddo。Butheknewalso,thathehadsaidthatwhich,thoughitdidnotbindhimtoMissCrawley,gaveherarighttoexpectthathewouldsobindhimself。AndMissPrettymancouldnotbutbeawareofwhathisintentionhadbeen,andcouldnotbutexpectthatheshouldnotbeexplicit。Hadhebeenawisemanaltogether,hewouldprobablyhaveabstainedfromsayinganythingatthepresentmoment——awiseman,thatis,inthewaysandfeelingsoftheworldinsuchmatters。But,astherearemenwhowillallowthemselvesallimaginablelatitudeintheirtreatmentofwomen,believingthattheworldwillcondoneanyamountoffaultofthatnature,sothereareothermen,andaclassofmenwhichonthewholeisthemorenumerousofthetwo,whoaretremblinglyalivetothedangerofcensureonthishead——andtothedangerofcensurenotonlyfromothersbutfromthemselvesalso。MajorGrantlyhaddonethatwhichmadehimthinkitimperativeuponhimtodosomethingfurther,anddothatsomethingatonce。