Thentherecametidings，addressedonthisoccasiontoMrsGrantly，thatCosbyLodgewastobegivenup。Lady—dayhadcome，andthenoticenecessarilytobegivenatthatperiod，wassogiven。’Iknowthiswillgrieveyou，’MajorGrantlyhadsaid，’butmyfatherhasdrivenmetoit。’This，initself，wasacauseofgreatsorrow，bothtothearchdeaconandtoMrsGrantly，astherewerecircumstancesconnectedwithCosbyLodgewhichmadethemthinkthatitwasaverydesirableresidencefortheirson。’Ishallselleverythingabouttheplaceandgoabroadatonce，’hesaidinasubsequentletter。’Mypresentideaisthat，IshallsettlemyselfatPau，asmyincomewillsufficeformetolivethere，andeducationforEdithwillbecheap。AtanyrateIwillnotcontinuetoliveinEngland。Icouldneverbehappyhereincircumstancesoaltered。OfcourseIshouldnothaveleftmyprofession，unlessIhadunderstoodfrommyfatherthattheincomearisingfromitwouldnotbenecessarytome。Idonot，however，meantocomplain，butsimplytotellyouthatIshallgo。’Thereweremanylettersbetweenthemotherandsoninthosedays。
　　’Ishallstaytillafterthetrial，’hesaid。’Ifshewillthengowithme，wellandgood；butwhethershewillornot，Ishallnotremainhere。’AllthisseemedtoMrsGrantlytobepeculiarlyunfortunate，forhadhenotresolvedtogo，thingsmightevenyethaverightedthemselves。FromwhatshecouldnowunderstandofthecharacterofMissCrawley，whomshedidnotknowpersonally，shethoughtitprobablethatGrace，intheeventofherfatherbeingfoundguiltybythejury，wouldabsolutelyandpersistentlyrefusetheoffermadetoher。Shewouldbetoogood，asMrsGrantlyputittoherself，tobringmiseryanddisgraceintoanotherfamily。ButshouldMrCrawleybeacquitted，andshouldthemarriagethentakeplace，thearchdeaconhimselfmightprobablybegottoforgiveit。IneithercasetherewouldbenonecessityforbreakingupthehouseatCosbyLodge。ButherdearsonHenry，herbestbeloved，wasobstinateandstiff—neckedandwouldtakenoadvice。’Heisevenworsethanhisfather，’shesaid，inhershort—livedanger，toherownfathertowhomaloneatthistimeshecouldunburdenhergriefs，seekingconsolationandencouragement。
　　Itwasherhabittogoovertothedeaneryatanyratetwiceaweekatthistime，andontheoccasionofoneofthevisitssomade，sheexpressedverystronglyherdistressatthefamilyquarrelwhichhadcomeamongthem。Theoldmantookhisgrandson’spartthroughandthrough。’Idonotatallseewhyheshouldnotmarrytheyoungladyifhelikesher。Asformoney，thereoughttobeenoughwithouthishavingtolookforawifewithafortune。’
　　’Itisnotaquestionofmoney，papa。’
　　’Andastorank，’continuedMrHarding，’Henrywillnotatanyratebegoinglowerthanhisfatherdidwhenhemarriedyou；——notsolowindeed，foratthattimeIwasonlyaminorcanon，andMrCrawleyisinpossessionofabenefice。’
　　’Papa，allthisisnonsense。Itisindeed。’
　　’Verylikely，mydear。’
　　’ItisnotbecauseMrCrawleyisonlyperpetualcurateofHogglestockthatthearchdeaconobjectstothemarriage。Ithasnothingtodowiththatatall。Atthepresentmomentheisindisgrace。’
　　’Underacloud，mydear。Letuspraythatitmayonlybeapassingcloud。’
　　’Alltheworldthinksthatheisguilty。Andthenheissuchaman；——sosingular，sounlikeanybodyelse！Youknow，papa，thatIdon’tthinkverymuchofmoney，merelyasmoney。’
　　’Ihopenot，mydear。Moneyisworththinkingof，butitisnotworthverymuchthought。’
　　’Butitdoesgiveadvantages，andtheabsenceofadvantagesmustbeverymuchfeltintheeducationofagirl。YouwouldhardlywishHenrytomarryayoungwomanwho，fromthewantofmoney，hadnotbeenbroughtupamongladies。ItisnotMissCrawley’sfault，butsuchhasbeenherlot。
　　Wecannotignorethesedeficiencies，papa。’
　　’Certainlynot，mydear。’
　　’Youwouldnot，forinstance，wishthatHenryshouldmarryakitchen—maid。’
　　’ButisMissCrawleyakitchen—maid，Susan？’
　　’Idon’tquitesaythat。’
　　’Iamtoldthatshehasbeeneducatedinfinitelymorethanmostoftheyoungladiesintheneighbourhood，’saidMrHarding。
　　’YouknowwhatImean，papa。Butthefactis，thatitisimpossibletodealwithmen。Theywillneverbereasonable。AmarriagesuchasthiswouldbeinjurioustoHenry；butitwillnotberuinous；andastodisinheritinghimforit，thatwouldbedownrightwicked。’
　　’Ithinkso，’saidMrHarding。
　　’ButthearchdeaconwilllookatitasthoughitwoulddestroyHenryandEdithtogether，whileyouspeakofitasthoughitwerethebestthingintheworld。’
　　’Iftheyoungpeopleloveeachother，Ithinkitwouldbethebestthingintheworld，’saidMrHarding。
　　’But，papa，youcannotbutthinkthathisfather’swishshouldgoforsomething，’saidMrsGrantly，who，desirousasshewasontheonesidetosupportherson，couldnotbearthatherhusbandshould，ontheotherside，bedeclaredtobealtogetherinthewrong。
　　’Idonotknow，mydear，’saidMrHarding；’butIdothinkthatifthetwoyoungpeoplearefondofeachother，andifthereisanythingforthemtoliveupon，itcannotberighttokeepthemapart。Youknow，mydear，sheisthedaughterofagentleman。’MrsGrantlyuponthisleftherfatheralmostbrusquely，withoutspeakinganotherwordonthesubject；forthoughwasopposedtothevehementangerofherhusband，shecouldnotendurethepropositionnowmadebyherfather。
　　MrHardingwasatthistimelivingallaloneinthedeanery。Forsomefewyearsthedeaneryhadbeenhishome，andashisyoungestdaughterwasthedean’swife，therecouldnomorecomfortableresting—placefortheeveningofhislife。Duringthelastmonthortwothedayshadgonetediouslylongwithhim；forhehadhadthelargehousealltohimself，andhewasamanwhodidnotlovesolitude。Itishardtoconceivethattheold，whosethoughtshavebeenallthoughtout，shouldeverlovetolivealone。Solitudeissurelyfortheyoung，whohavetimebeforethemfortheexecutionofschemes，andwhocan，therefore，takedelightinthinking。Inthesedaysthepooroldmanwouldwanderabouttherooms，shamblingfromonechambertoanother，andwouldfeelashamedwhentheservantsmethimeveronthemove。Hewouldmakelittleapologiesforhisuneasiness，whichtheywouldacceptgraciously，understanding，afterafashion，whyitwasthathewasuneasy。’Heain’tgotnothingtodo，’
　　saidthehousemaidtothecook’andasforreading，theysaythatsomeoftheyoungonescanreadalldaysometimes，andallnighttoo；butblessyou，whenyou’renigheighty，readingdon’tgoformuch。’ThehousemaidwasrightastoMrHarding’sreading。Hewasnotonewhohadreadsomuchinhisearlierdaysastoenablehimtomakereadinggofarwithhimnowthathewasneareighty。Sohewanderedabouttheroom，andsathereforafewminutes，andthereforafewminutes，andthoughhedidnotsleepmuch，hemadethehoursofthenightasmanyaspossible。
　　Everymorningheshambledacrossfromthedeanerytothecathedral，andattendedthemorningservice，sittinginthestallwhichhehadoccupiedforfiftyyears。Thedistancewasveryshort，notexceeding，indeedahundredyardsfromaside—doorinthedeanerytoanotherside—doorintothecathedral；butshortasitwastherehadcometobeaquestionwhetherheshouldbeallowedtogoalone。Ithadbeenfearedthathemightfallonhispassageandhurthimself；fortherewasastephere，andastepthere，andthelightwasnotverygoodinthepurlieusoftheoldcathedral。Awordortwohadbeensaidonce，andtheofferofanarmtohelphimhadbeenmade；buthehadrejectedtheofferedassistance——softly，indeed，butstillfirmly——andeverydayhetotteredoffbyhimselfhardlyliftinghisfeetashewent，andaidinghimselfonhisjourneybyahanduponthewallwhenhethoughtthatnobodywaslookingathim。Butmanydidseehim，andtheywhoknewhim——ladiesgenerallyofthecity——wouldofferhimahand。NobodywasmilderinhisdislikingsthanMrHarding；buttherewereladiesinBarchesteruponwhosearmhewouldalwaysdeclinetolean，bowingcourteouslyashedidso，andsayingawordortwoofconstrainedcivility。Therewereotherswhomhewouldallowtoaccompanyhimhometothedoorofthedeanery，withwhomhedelightedtolingerandchatifthemorningwaswarm，andtowhomhewouldtelllittlestoriesofhisowndoingsinthecathedralservicesintheolddays，whenBishopGrantlyhadruledthediocese。
　　NeveraworddidhesayagainstBishopProudie，oragainstBishopProudie’swife；butthemanywordswhichhedidsayinpraiseofBishopGrantly——who，byhisshowing，wassurelyoneofthebestofchurchmenwhoeverwalkedthroughthisvaleofsorrow——wereaseloquentindispraiseoftheexistingprelateascouldeverhavebeenanymoreclearly—pointedphrases。Thisdailyvisittothecathedral，wherehewouldsayhisprayersashehadsaidthemforsomanyyears，andlistentotheorgan，ofwhichheknewallthepowerandeveryblemishasthoughhehimselfhadmadethestopsandfixedthepipes，wasthechiefoccupationofhislife。Itwasapitythatitcouldnothavebeenmadetocoveralargerportionofhisday。
　　Itwassometimessadenoughtowatchhimashesatalone。Hewouldhaveabooknearhim，andforawhilewouldkeepitinhishands。Itwouldgenerallybesomevolumeofgoodoldstandardtheologywithwhichhehadbeen，orsupposedhimselftohavebeen，conversantfromhisyouth。Butthebookwouldsoonbelaidaside，andgraduallyhewouldmovehimselfawayfromit，andhewouldstandabouttheroom，lookingnowoutofawindowfromwhichhewouldfancythathecouldnotbeseen，orgazingupatsomeprintwhichhehadknownforyears；andthenhewouldsitdownforawhileinonechair，andforawhileinanother，whilehismindwaswanderingbackintotheolddays，thinkingofoldtroublesandrememberingoldjoys。Andhehadahabit，whenhewassurethathethathewasnotwatched，ofcreepinguptoagreatblackwoodencase，whichalwaysstoodinonecornerofthesitting—roomwhichheoccupiedinthedeanery。MrHarding，whenhewasyounger，hadbeenaperformeronthevioloncello，andinthiscasetherewasstilltheinstrumentfromwhichhehadbeenwonttoextractthesoundswhichhehadsodearlyloved。Nowintheselatterdayshenevermadeanyattempttoplay。Soonafterhehadcometothedeanerytherehadfallenuponhimanillness，andafterthathehadneveragainaskedforhisbow。Theywhowerearoundhim——hisdaughterchieflyandherhusband——hadgiventhemattermuchthought，arguingwiththemselveswhetherornoitwouldbebettertoinvitehimtoresumethetaskhesoloved；forofalltheworksofhislifethisplayingonthevioloncellohadbeenthesweetesttohim；butevenbeforethatillnesshishandhadgreatlyfailedhim，andthedeanandMrsArabinhadagreedthatitwouldbebettertoletthematterpasswithoutaword。Hehadneveraskedtobeallowedtoplay。Hehadexpressednoregrets。Whenhehimselfwouldproposethathisdaughtershould’givethemalittlemusic’——andhewouldmakesuchapropositiononeveryeveningthatwassuitable——hewouldneversayawordofthoseformerperformancesatwhichhehimselfhadtakenapart。ButithadbecomeknowntoMrsArabin，throughtheservants，thathehadoncedraggedtheinstrumentforthfromitscasewhenhethoughtthehousetobenearlydeserted；andawailofsoundshadbeenheard，verylow，veryshort—lived，recurringnowandagainatfitfulintervals。Hehadatthosetimesattemptedtoplay，asthoughwithamuffledbow——sothatnoneshouldknowofhisvanityandfolly。Thentherehadbeenfurtherconsultationsatthedeanery，andithadbeenagainagreedthatitwouldbebesttosaynothingtohimofhismusic。
　　IntheselatterdaysofwhichIamnowspeakinghewouldneverdrawtheinstrumentoutofitscase。Indeedhewasawarethatitwastooheavyforhimtohandlewithoutassistance。Buthewouldpasshisfingersamongthebroadstrings，andeverandanonwouldproducefromoneofthemalow，melancholy，almostunearthlysound。Andthenhewouldpause，neverdaringtoproducesuchnotesinsuccession——onecloseupontheother。Andtheselastsadmoansoftheoldfiddlewerenowknownthroughthehousehold。Theyweretheghostsofthemelodyofdayslongpast。Heimaginedthathisvisitstotheboxwereunsuspected——thatnoneknewofthefollyofhisoldfingerswhichcouldnotkeepthemselvesfromtouchingthewires；butthevoiceoftheoldvioloncellohadbeenrecognisedbytheservantsandbyhisdaughter，andwhenthatlowwailwasheardthroughthehouse——likethelastdyingnoteofadirge——theywouldallknowthatMrHardingwasvisitinghisancientfriend。
　　WhenthedeanandMrsArabinhadfirsttalkedofgoingabroadforalongvisit，ithadbeenunderstoodthatMrHardingshouldpasstheperiodoftheirabsencewithhisotherdaughteratPlumstead；butwhenthetimecamehebeggedMrsArabintobeallowedtoremaininhisoldrooms。’OfcourseIshallgobackwardsandforwards，’hehadsaid。’ThereisnothingIlikesomuchasachangenowandthen。’TheresulthadbeenthathehadgoneoncetoPlumsteadduringthedean’sabsence。Whenhehadthusremonstrated，begginggobeallowedtoremaininBarchester，MrsArabinhaddeclaredherintentionofgivinguphertour。Intellingherfatherofthisshehadnotsaidthatheralteredpurposehadarisenfromherdisinclinationtoleavehimalone；buthehadperceivedthatitwasso，andhadthenconsentedtobetakenovertoPlumstead。Therewasnothing，hesaid，whichhewouldlikesomuchasgoingovertoPlumsteadforfourorfivemonths。Ithadendedinhishavinghisownwayaltogether。TheArabinshadgoneupontheirtour，andhewasleftinpossessionofthedeanery。’IshouldnotliketodieoutofBarchester，’
　　hesaidtohimselfinexcusetohimselfforhisdisinclinationtosojournlongunderthearchdeacon’sroof。But，intruth，thearchdeacon，wholovedhimwellandwho，afterafashion，hadalwaysbeengoodtohim——whohadalwaysspokenoftheconnexionwhichhadboundthetwofamiliestogetherasthegreatblessingofhislife——wastooroughinhisgreetingsfortheoldman。MrHardinghadevermixedsomethingoffearwithhiswarmaffectionforhiselderson—in—law，andnowintheseclosinghoursofhislifehecouldnotavoidacertainamountofshrinkingfromthatloudvoice——acertaininaptitudetobequiteateaseinthatcommandingpresence。Thedean，hissecondson—in—law，hadbeenamodernfriendincomparisonwiththearchdeacon；butthedeanwasmoregentlewithhim；andthenthedean’swifehadeverbeenthedearesttohimofhumanbeings。Itmaybeadoubtwhetheroneofthedean’schildrenwasnotnowalmostmoredear，andwhetherinthesedayshedidnothavemorefreecommunicationwiththatlittlegirlthanwithanyotherhumanbeing。HernamewasSusan，buthehadalwayscalledherPosy，havinghimselfinventedforherthatsoubriquet。WhenithadbeenproposedtohimtopassthewinterandspringatPlumstead，thesuggestionhadbeenmadealluringbyapromisethatPosyalsoshouldbetakentoMrsGrantly’shouse。Buthe，aswehaveseen，remainedatthedeanery，andPosyhadremainedwithhim。
　　Posywasnowfiveyearsold，andcouldtalkwell，andhadherownideasofthings。Posy’seyes——hers，andnoothersbesidesherown——wereallowedtoseetheinhabitantofthebigblackcase；andnowthatthedeanerywassonearlydeserted，Posy’sfingershadtouchedthestringsandhadproducedaninfantinemoan。’Grandpa，letmedoitagain。’
　　Twang！Itwasnot，however，intruth，atwang，butasoundasofaprolongeddull，almostdeadly，hum—m—m—m—m！Onthisoccasionthemoanwasnotentirelyinfantine——Posy’sfingershavingbeensomethingtoostrong——andthecasewasclosedandlocked，andgrandpashookhishead。
　　’ButMrsBaxterwon’tbeangry，’saidPosy。MrsBaxterwasthehousekeeperinthedeanery，andhadMrHardingunderherespecialcharge。
　　’No，mydarling；MrsBaxterwillnotbeangry，butwemustn’tdisturbthehouse。’
　　’No，’saidPosy，withmuchofimportantaweinhertone；’wemustn’tdisturbthehouse；mustwe，grandpa？’Andsoshegaveinheradhesiontotheclosingofthecase。ButPosycouldplaycat’s—cradle，andascat’s—cradledidnotdisturbthehouseatall，therewasagooddealofcat’s—cradleplayedinthosedays。Posy’sfingersweresosoftandpretty，sosmallanddeft，thatthedearoldmandelightedintakingthestringsfromthem，andinhavingthemtakenfromhisownbythosetenderlittledigits。
　　OntheafternoonaftertheconversationrespectingGraceCrawleywhichisrecordedintheearlypartofthischapter，amessengerfromBarchesterwentovertoPlumstead，andpartofhismissionconsistedofanotefromMrsBaxtertoMrsGrantly，beginning’HonouredMadam，’andinformingMrsGrantly，amongotherthings，thather’respectedpapa’，asMrsBaxtercalledhim，wasnotquitesowellasusual；notthatMrsBaxterthoughtthattherewasmuchthematter。MrHardinghadbeentothecathedralservice，aswasusualwithhim，buthadcomehomeleaningonalady’sarm，whohadthoughtitwelltostaywithhimatthedoortillithadbeenopenedforhim。Afterthat’MissPosy’hadfoundhimasleep，andhadbeenunable——orifnotunable，unwilling，towakehim。
　　’MissPosy’hadcomedowntoMrsBaxtersomewhatinafright，andhencethisletterhadbeenwritten。MrsBaxterthoughtthattherewasnothing’tofright’MrsGrantly，andshewasn’tsurethatsheshouldhavewrittenatallonlythatDickwasboundtogoovertoPlumsteadwiththewool；butasDickwasgoing，MrsBaxterthoughtitpropertosendherduty，andtosaythattoherhumblewayofthinkingperhapsitmightbebestthatMrHardingshouldn’tgoalonetothecathedralinthemorning。
　　’Ifthedearreverendgentlemanwastogetatumble，ma’am，’saidtheletter，’itwouldbeawkward。’ThenMrsGrantlyrememberedthatshehadleftherfatheralmostwithoutagreetinginthepreviousday，andsheresolvedthatshewouldgooververyearlyonthefollowingmorning——soearlythatshewouldbeatthedeanerybeforeherfathershouldhavegonetothecathedral。
　　’Heoughttohavecomeoverhere。Andnotstayedtherebyhimself，’
　　saidthearchdeacon，whenhiswifetoldhimofherintention。
　　’Itistoolatetothinkofthatnow，mydear；andonecanunderstand，I
　　think，thatheshouldnotlikeleavingthecathedralaslongashecanattendit。ThetruthisthathedoesnotlikebeingoutofBarchester。’
　　’Hewouldbemuchbetterhere，’saidthearchdeacon。’Ofcourseyoucanhavethecarriageandgoover。Wecanbreakfastateight；andifyoucanbringhimbackwithyou，do。Ishouldtellhimthatheoughttocome。’
　　MrsGrantlymadenoanswertothis，knowingverywellthatshecouldnotbringherselftogobeyondthegentlestpersuasionwithherfather，andonthenextmorningshewasatthedeanerybyteno’clock。Half—pasttenwasthehouratwhichtheservicebegan。MrsBaxtercontrivedtomeetherbeforeshesawherfather，andbeggedhernottoletitbeknownthatanyspecialtidingsofMrHarding’sfailingstrengthhadbeensentfromthedeanerytoPlumstead。’Andhowismyfather？’askedMrsGrantly。’Well，then，ma’am，’saidBaxter，’inonesensehe’sfinely。Hetookamorselofearlylambtohisdinneryesterday，andrelishediteversowell——onlyhegaveMissPosythebestpartofit。AndthenhesatwithMissPosyquitehappyforanhourorso。Andthenhesleptinhischair；andyouknow，ma’am，weneverwakehim。AndafterthatoldSkulpittoddledupfromthehospital’——thiswasHiram’sHospitalofwhichestablishment，inthecityofBarchester，MrHardinghadoncebeenthewardenandkindmaster，ashasbeentoldinformerchroniclesofthecity——’andyourpapahassaid，ma’am，youknow，thatheisalwaystoseeanyoftheoldmenwhentheycomeup。AndSkulpitissly，andnobetterthanheshouldbe，andgotmoneyfromyourfather，ma’am，Iknow。Andthenhehadjustadropoftea，andafterthatItookhimaglassofportwinewithmyownhands。Andittouchedme，ma’am，soitdid，whenhesaid，"Oh，MrsBaxter，howgoodyouare；youknowwellwhatIlike。"
　　Andthenhewenttobed。Ilistenedhard——notfromidlecuriosity，ma’am，asyou，whoknowme，willbelieve，butjustbecauseit’sbecomingtoknowwhathe’sabout，astheremightbeanaccident，youknow，ma’am。’’Youareverygood，MrsBaxter，verygood。’’Thankye，ma’am，forsayingso。AndsoIlistenedhard；buthedidn’tgotohismusic，poorgentleman；andIthinkhehadaquietnight。Hedoesn’tsleepmuchatnights，poorgentleman，buthe’sveryquiet；leastwisehewaslastnight。’ThiswasthebulletinwhichMrsBaxtergaveMrsGrantlyonthatmorningbeforeMrsGrantlysawherfather。
　　Shefoundhimpreparinghimselfforhisvisittothecathedral。Someyearortwo——butnomore——beforethedateofwhichwearespeaking，hehadstilltakensomesmallpartintheservice；andwhilehehaddonesohehadofcoursewornhissurplice。Livingsoclosetothecathedral——soclosethathecouldalmostwalkoutofthehouseintothetransept——hehadkepthissurpliceinhisownroom，andhadgonedowninhisvestment。Ithadbeenabitterdaytohimwhenhehadfirstfoundhimselfconstrainedtoabandonthewhitegarmentwhichheloved。Hehadencounteredsomefailureintheperformanceoftheslightclericaltaskallottedtohim，andthedeanhadtenderlyadvisedhimtodesist。Hedidnotutteronewordofremonstrance。’Itwillperhapsbebetter，’thedeanhadsaid。’Yes——itwillbebetter，’MrHardinghadreplied。’FewhavehadaccordedtothemthehighprivilegeofservingtheirMasterinHishouseforsomanyyears——thoughfewmorehumbly，orwithlowergifts。’Butonthefollowingmorning，andfornearlyaweekafterwards，hehadbeenunabletofacetheminorcanonandthevergers，andtheoldwomenwhoknewhimsowell，inhisordinaryblackgarments。Atlasthewentdownwiththedean，andoccupiedastallclosetothedean’sseat——farawayfromthatwhichhehadsatforsomanyyears——andinthisseathehadsaidhisprayerseversincethatday。Andnowhissurpliceswerewashedandironedandfoldedandputaway；butthereweremomentsinwhichhewouldstealthilyvisitthem，ashealsostealthilyvisitedhisfriendintheblackwoodencase。Thiswasverymelancholy，andthesadnessofitwasfeltbyallthosewholivedwithhim；butheneveralludedhimselftoanyofthosebereavementswhichagehadbroughthim。
　　Whatevermightbehisregrets，hekeptthemeverwithinhisownbreast。
　　PosywaswithhimwhenMrsGrantlywentupintohisroom，holdingforhimhishatandstickwhilehewasengagedinbrushingasuspicionofdustfromhisblackgaiters。’Grandpapa，hereisauntSusan，’saidPosy。
　　Theoldmanlookedupwithsomething——withsomeslightestsignofthathabitualfearwhichwasalwaysarousedwithinhisbosombyvisitationsfromPlumstead。HadMrsArabinthoroughlyunderstoodthedifferenceinherfather’sfeelingtowardherselfandtowardhersister，Ithinkshewouldhardlyhavegoneforthuponanytourwhileheremainedwithherinthedeanery。Itisveryhardsometimestoknowhowintenselyweareloved，andofwhatvalueourpresenceistothosewholoveus！MrsGrantlysawthelook——didnotanalyseit，didnotquiteunderstandit——butfelt，asshehadoftenfeltbefore，thatitwasnotaltogetherladenwithwelcome。Butallthishadnothingtodowiththedutyonwhichshehadcome；nordidit，intheslightestdegree，militateagainstherownaffection。’Papa，’shesaid，kissinghim，’youaresurprisedtoseemesoearly？’
　　’Well，mydear，yes；——butverygladallthesame。IhopeeverybodyiswellatPlumstead？’
　　’Everybody，thankyou，papa。’
　　’Thatiswell。PosyandIaregettingreadyforchurch。Arewenot，Posy？’
　　’Grandpapaisgettingready。MrsBaxterwon’tletmego。’
　　’No，mydear，no——notyet，Posy。WhenPosyisagreatgirlshecangotothecathedraleveryday。Onlythen，perhaps，Posywon’twanttogo。’
　　’Ithoughtthat，perhaps，papa，youwouldsitwithmealittlewhilethismorning，insteadofgoingtomorningprayers。’
　　’Certainly，mydear——certainly。OnlyIdonotlikenotgoing；——forwhocansayhowoftenImaybeabletogoagain？Thereissolittletimeleft，Susan——soverylittleleft。’
　　Afterthatshedidnothavethehearttoaskhimtostay，andthereforeshewentwithhim。Astheypasseddownthestairsandoutofthedoorsshewasastonishedtofindhowweakwerehisfootsteps——howpowerlesshewasagainsttheslightestmisadventure。Onthisverydayhewouldhavetrippedattheupwardstepatthecathedraldoorhadshenotbeenwithhim。’Oh，papa，’shesaid’indeed，indeed，youshouldnotcomeherealone。’Thenheapologisedforhislittlestumblewithmanywordsandmuchshame，assuringherthatanybodymighttriponanoccasion。Itwaspurelyanaccident；andthoughitwasacomforttohavehadherarm，hewassurethathewouldhaverecoveredhimselfevenhadhebeenalone。Healways，hesaid，keptquiteclosetothewall，sothattheremightbenomistake——nopossibilityofanaccident。Allthishesaidvolubly，butwithconfusedwords，inthecoveredstonepassageleadingintothetransept。And，ashethusspoke，MrsGrantlymadeuphermindthatherfathershouldneveragaingotothecathedralalone。Heneverdidgoagaintothecathedral——alone。