ThereforehestartedoffontheMondaymorningafterbreakfastandwalkedintoSilverbridge，andashewalkedhebuiltvariouscastlesintheair。WhyshouldnonotmarryGrace——ifshewouldhavehim——andtakeherawaybeyondthereachofherfather’scalamity？Whyshouldhenotthrowoverhisownpeoplealtogether，money，position，society，andall，andgivehimselfuptolove？Werehetodoso，menmightsaythathewasfoolish，butnoonecouldhintthathewasdishonourable。Hisspiritwashighenoughtoteachhimtothinkthatsuchconductonhispartwouldhaveinitsomethingofmagnificence；but，yet，suchwasnothispurpose。IngoingtoMissPrettymanitwashisintentiontoapologisefornotdoingthismagnificentthing。Hismindwasquitemadeup。
　　Neverthelesshebuiltcastlesintheair。
　　ItsohappenedthatheencounteredtheyoungerMissPrettymaninthehall。Itwouldnotatallhavesuitedhimtorevealtoherthepurportofhisvisit，oraskhertoassisthissuitorreceivehisapologies。
　　MissAnnePrettymanwastoocommonapersonageintheSilverbridgeworldtobefitforsuchemployment。MissAnnePrettymanwas，indeed，herselfsubmissivetohim，andtreatedhimwiththecourtesywhichisduetoasuperiorbeing。Hethereforesimplyaskedherwhetherhecouldbeallowedtoseehersister。
　　’Surely，MajorGrantly；——thatis，Ithinkso。Itisalittleearly，butIthinkshecanreceiveyou。’
　　’Itisearly，Iknow；butasIwanttosayawordortwoonbusiness——’
　　’Oh，onbusiness。Iamsureshewillseeyouonbusiness；shewillonlybetooproud。Ifyouwillbekindenoughtostepinherefortwominutes。’ThenMissAnne，havingdepositedthemajorinthelittleparlour，ranupstairswithhermessagetohersister。’Ofcourseit’saboutGraceCrawley’shesaidtoherselfasshewent。’Itcan’tbeaboutanythingelse。Iwonderwhathe’sgoingtosay。Ifhe’sgoingtopop，andthefatherinallthistrouble，he’sthefinestfellowthatevertrod。’SuchwereherthoughtsasshetappedatthedoorandannouncedinthepresenceofGracethattherewassomebodyinthehall。
　　’It’sMajorGrantly，’whisperedAnne，assoonasGracehadshutthedoorbehindher。
　　’SoIsupposebyyourtellinghernottogointothehall。Whathashecometosay？’
　　’HowonearthcanItellyouthat，Annabella？ButIsupposehecanhaveonlyonethingtosayafterallthathascomeandgone。Hecanonlyhavecomewithoneobject。’
　　’Hewouldn’thavecometomeforthat。Hewouldhaveaskedtoseeherself。’
　　’Shenevergoesoutnow，andhecan’tseeher。’
　　’OrhewouldhavegonetothemoveratHogglestock，’saidMissPrettyman。’Butofcoursehemustcomeupnowheishere。Wouldyoumindtellinghim？OfshallIringthebell？’
　　’I’lltellhim。Weneednotmakemorefussthannecessary，withtheservants，youknow。IsupposeI’dbetternotcomebackwithhim？’
　　Therewasatoneofsupplicationintheyoungersister’svoiceasshemadethelastsuggestion，whichoughttohavemeltedtheheartoftheelder；butitwasunavailing。’Ashehasaskedtoseeme，Ithinkyouhadbetternot，’saidAnnabella。MissAnnePrettymanborehercrossmeekly，offerednoargumentonthesubject，andreturningtothelittleparlourwhereshehadleftthemajor，broughthimupstairs，andusheredhimintohersister’sroomwithoutevenenteringitagain，herself。
　　MajorGrantlywasasintimatelyacquaintedwithMissAnnePrettymanasamanunderthirtymaywellbewithaladynearerfiftythanforty，whoisnotspeciallyconnectedwithhimbyanyfamilytie；butofMissPrettymanheknewpersonallyverymuchless。MissPrettyman，ashasbeforebeensaid，didnotgoout，andwasthereforenotcommontotheeyesoftheSilverbridgians。Shedidoccasionallyseeherfriendsinherownhouse，andGraceCrawley’slover，asthemajorhadcometobecalled，hadbeenthereonmorethanoneoccasion；butofrealpersonalintimacybetweenthemtherehadhithertoexistednone。Hemighthavespoken，perhapsadozenwordstoherinhislife。Hehadnowmorethanadozentospeaktoher，buthehardlyknewhowtocommencethem。
　　Shehadgotupandcurtseyed，andhadthentakenhishandandaskedhimtositdown。’Mysistertellsmethatyouwanttoseeme，’shesaidinhersoftest，mildestvoice。
　　’Ido，MissPrettyman。Iwanttospeaktoyouaboutamatterthattroublesmeverymuch——verymuchindeed。’
　　’AnythingthatIcando，MajorGrantly——’
　　’Thankyou，yes。Iknowthatyouareverygood，orIshouldnothaveventuredtocomeandseeyou。IndeedIshouldn’ttroubleyounow，ofcourse，ifitwasonlyaboutmyself。IknowverywellwhatagreatfriendyouaretoMissCrawley。’
　　’Yes，Iam。WeloveGracedearlyhere。’
　　’SodoI，’saidthemajorbluntly；’Iloveherdearly，too。’Thenhepaused，asthoughhethoughtthatMissPrettymanoughttotakeupthespeech。ButMissPrettymanseemedtothinkquitedifferently，andhewasobligedtogoon。’Idon’tknowwhetheryouhaveeverheardaboutitornoticedit，or——or——or——’Hefeltthathewasveryawkward，andheblushed。Majorashewas，heblushedashesatbeforethewoman，tryingtotellhisstory，butnotknowinghowtotellit。’Thetruthis，MissPrettyman，Ihavedoneallbutaskhertobemywife，andnowhascomethisterribleaffairaboutherfather。’
　　’Itisaterribleaffair，MajorGrantly；veryterrible。’
　　’ByJove，youmaysaythat！’
　　’Ofcourse，MrCrawleyisasinnocentinthematterasyouorIare。’
　　’Youthinkso，MissPrettyman？’
　　’Thinkso！Ifeelsureofit。What；aclergymanoftheChurchofEngland，apious，hard—workingcountrygentleman，whomwehaveknownamongusbyhisgoodworksforyears，suddenlyturnthief，andpilferafewpounds！Itisnotpossible，MajorGrantly。Andthefatherofsuchadaughter，too！Itisnotpossible。Itmaydoformenofbusinesstothinkso，lawyersandsuchlike，whoareobligedtothinkinaccordancewiththeevidence，astheycallit；buttomymindtheideaismonstrous。Idon’tknowhowhegotit，andIdon’tcare；butI’mquitesurehedidnotstealit。Whoeverheardofanybodybecomingsobaseasthatallatonce？’
　　Themajorwasstartledbyhereloquence，andbytheindignanttoneofvoiceinwhichitwasexpressed。Itseemedtotellhimthatshewouldgivehimnosympathyinthatwhichhehadcometosaytoher，andtoupbraidhimalreadyinthathewasnotpreparedtodothemagnificentthingofwhichhehadthoughtwhenhehadbeenbuildinghiscastlesintheair。Whyshouldhenotdothemagnificentthing？MissPrettyman’seloquencewassostrongthatithalfconvincedhimthattheBarchesterClubandMrWalkerhadcometoawrongconclusionafterall。
　　’AndhowdoesMissCrawleybearit？’heasked，desirousofpostponingforawhileanydeclarationofhisownpurpose。
　　’Sheisveryunhappy，ofcourse。Notthatshethinksevilofherfather。’
　　’Ofcourseshedoesnotthinkhimguilty。’
　　’Nobodythinkshimsointhishouse，MajorGrantly，’saidthelittlewoman，veryimperiously。’ButGraceis，naturallyenough，verysad；——verysadindeed。IdonotthinkIcanaskyoutoseehertoday。’
　　’Iwasnotthinkingofit，’saidthemajor。
　　’Poor，deargirl！Itisagreattrialforher。Doyouwishmetogiveheranymessage，MajorGrantly？’
　　Themomenthadnowcomeinwhichhemustsaythatwhichhehadcometosay。Thelittlewomanwaitedforananswer，andashewasthere，withinherpowerasitwere，hemustspeak。Ifearthatwhathesaidwillnotbeapprovedbyanystrong—mindedperson。Ifearthatourloverwillhenceforthbeconsideredbysuchaoneasbeingaweak，wishy—washyman，whohadhardlyanymindofhisowntospeakof——thathewasamanofnoaccount，asthepoorpeoplesay。’MissPrettyman，whatmessageoughtI
　　togiveher？’
　　’Nay，MajorGrantly，howcanItellyouthat？HowcanIputwordsintoyourmouth？’
　　’Itisn’tthewords，’hesaid；’butthefeelings。’
　　’AndhowcanItellthefeelingsinyourheart？’
　　’Oh，asforthat，Iknowwhatmyfeelingsare。Idoloveherwithallmyheart；——Ido，indeed。AfortnightagoIwasonlythinkingwhethershewouldacceptme，andwhethershewouldmindhavingEdithtotakecareof。’
　　’SheisveryfondofEdith——veryfondindeed。’
　　’Isshe？’saidthemajor，moredistractedthanever。Whyshouldhenotdothemagnificentthingafterall？’Butitisagreatchargeforagirlwhenshemarries。’
　　’Itisagreatcharge——averygreatcharge。Itisforyoutothinkwhetheryoushouldentrustsogreatachargetoonesoyoung。’
　　’Ihavenofearaboutthatatall。’
　　’NorshouldIhaveany——asyouaskme。WehaveknownGracewell，thoroughly，andarequitesurethatshewilldoherdutyinthatstateoflifetowhichitmaypleaseGodtocallher。’
　　ThemajorwasawarewhenthiswassaidtohimthathehadnotcometoMissPrettymanforacharacterofthegirlheloved；andyethewasnotangryatreceivingit。Hewasneitherangry，norevenindifferent。Heacceptedthecharactermostgratefully，thoughhefeltthathewasbeingledawayfromhispurpose。Heconsoledhimselfforthishowever，byrememberingthatthepathwhichMissPrettymanwasnowleadinghim，ledtothemagnificent，andtothosepleasantcastlesintheairwhichhehadbeenbuildingashewalkedintoSilverbridge。’Iamquitesurethatsheisallthatyousay，’hereplied。’IndeedIhadmadeupmymindaboutthatlongago。’
　　’AndwhatcanIdoforyou，MajorGrantly？’
　　’YouthinkthatIoughtnottoseeher？’
　　’Iwillaskher，ifyouplease。IhavesuchtrustinherjudgmentthatIshouldleaveheraltogethertoherowndiscretion。’
　　Themagnificentthingmustbedone，andthemajormadeuphismindaccordingly。Somethingofregretcameoverhisspiritashethoughtofafather—in—lawdisgracedanddegraded，andofhisownfatherbroken—hearted。Butnowtherewashardlyanyalternativelefttohim。
　　Andwasitnotthemanlythingforhimtodo？Hehadlovedthegirlbeforethistroublehadcomeuponher，andwashenotboundtoaccepttheburdenwhichhislovehadbroughtwithit？’Iwillseeher，’hesaid，’atonce，ifyouwillletme，andaskhertobemywife。ButI
　　mustseeheralone。’
　　ThenMissPrettymanpaused。Hitherto，shehadundoubtedlybeenplayingherfishcautiously，orratherheryoungfriend’sfish——perhapsImaysaycunningly。Shehaddescendedtoartificeonbehalfofthegirlwhomsheloved，admired，andpitied。Shehadseensomewayintotheman’smind，andhadbeenpartlyawareofhispurpose——ofhisinfirmityofpurpose，ofhisdoublepurpose。ShehadperceivedthatawordfromhermighthelpGrace’schance，andhadledthemanontillhehadcommittedhimself，atanyratetoher。Indoingthisshehadbeenactuatedbyfriendshipratherthanbyabstractprinciple。Butnow，whenthemomenthadcomeinwhichshemustdecideuponsomeaction，shepaused。Wasitright，forthesakeofeitherofthem，thatanofferofmarriageshouldbemadeatsuchamomentasthis？Itmightbeverywell，inregardtosomefuturetime，thatthemajorshouldhavesocommittedhimself。Shesawsomethingoftheman’sspirit，andbelievedthat，havinggonesofar——havingsofartoldhislove，hewouldreturntohislovehereafter，lettheresultoftheCrawleytrialbewhatitmight。But——but，thiscouldbenopropertimeforlove—making。ThoughGracelovedtheman，asMissPrettymanknewwell，thoughGracelovedthechild，havingallowedherselftolongtocallitherown，thoughsuchamarriagecouldbethemakingofGrace’sfortuneasthosewholovedhercouldhardlyhavehopedthatitshouldeverhavebeenmade，shewouldcertainlyrefusetheman，ifheweretoproposetohernow。Shewouldrefusehim，andthenthemanwouldbefree；——freetochangehismindifhesawfit。Consideringallthesethings，craftilyintheexerciseofherfriendship，toocunningly，Ifear，tosatisfytheclaimsofahighmorality，sheresolvedthatthemajorhadbetternotseeMissCrawleyatthepresentmoment。MissPrettymanpausedbeforeshereplied，and，whenshedidspeak，MajorGrantlyhadrisenfromhischairandwasstandingwithhisbacktothefire。’MajorGrantly，’shesaid，’youshallseeifyouplease，andifshepleases；butIdoubtwhetherheransweratsuchamomentasthiswouldbethatwhichyouwouldwishtoreceive。’
　　’Youthinkshewouldrefuseme？’
　　’Idonotthinkshewouldacceptyounow。Shewouldfeel——Iamsureshewouldfeel，thatthesehoursofherfather’ssorrowarenothoursinwhichloveshouldbeeitherofferedoraccepted。Youshall，however，seeherifyouplease。’
　　Themajorallowedhimselfamomentforthought；andashethoughthesighed。GraceCrawleyhadbecomemorebeautifulinhiseyesthanever，wasendowedbythesewordsfromMissPrettymanwithnewcharmsandbrightervirtuesthanhehadseenbefore。Letcomewhatmighthewouldaskhertobehiswifeonsomefutureday；ifhedidnotaskhernow。
　　Forthepresent，perhaps，hehadbetterbeguidedbyMissPrettyman。
　　’ThenIwillnotseeher，’hesaid。
　　’Ithinkthatwouldbethewisercourse。’
　　’OfcourseyouknewbeforethisthatI——lovedher？’
　　’Ithoughtso，MajorGrantly。’
　　’AndthatIintendedtoaskhertobemywife？’
　　’Well；sinceyouputthequestiontomesoplainly，ImustconfessthatasGrace’sfriendIshouldnotquitehaveletthingsgoonastheyhavegone——thoughIamnotatalldisposedtointerferewithanygirlwhomI
　　believetobepureandgoodasIknowhertobe——butstillIshouldhardlyhavebeenjustifiedinlettingthingsgoonastheyhavegone，ifIhadnotbelievedthatsuchwasyourpurpose。’
　　’Iwantedtosetmyselfrightwithyou，MissPrettyman。’
　　’Youarerightwithme——quiteright’；andshegotupandgavehimherhand。’Youareafine，noble—heartedgentleman，andIhopethatourGracemaylivetobeyourhappywife，andthemotherofyourdarlingchild，andthemotherofotherchildren。Idonotseehowawomancouldhaveahappierlotinlife。’
　　’AndwillyougiveGracemylove？’
　　’Iwilltellheratanyratethatyouhavebeenhere，andthatyouhaveinquiredafterherwiththegreatestkindness。Shewillunderstandwhatthatmeanswithoutanywordoflove。’
　　’CanIdoanythingforher——orherfather；Imeaninthewayofmoney？
　　Idon’tmindmentioningittoyou，MissPrettyman。’
　　’Iwilltellherthatyouarereadytodoit，ifanythingcanbedone。
　　FormyselfIfeelnodoubtthatthemysterywillbeclearedupatlast；
　　andthen，ifyouwillcomehere，weshallbesogladtoseeyou。——I
　　shallatleast。’
　　Thenthemajorwent，andMissPrettymanherselfactuallydescendedwithhimintothehall，andbadehimfarewellmostaffectionatelybeforehersisterandtwoofthemaidswhocameouttoopenthedoor。MissAnnePrettyman，whenshesawthegreatfriendshipwithwhichthemajorwasdismissed，couldnotcontainherself，butaskedmostimpudentquestions，inawhisperindeed，butinsuchawhisperthatanysharp—earedmaid—servantcouldhearandunderstandthem。’Isitsettled，’sheaskedwhenhersisterhadascendedonlythefirstflightofstairs；——’hashepopped？’Thelookwithwhichhereldersisterpunishedanddismayedtheyounger，Iwouldnothavebornefortwentypounds。Shesimplylooked，andsaidnothing，butpassedon。Whenshehadregainedherroomsherangthebell，anddesiredtoasktheservanttoaskMissCrawleytobegoodenoughtosteptoher。PoorMissAnneretireddiscomfortedintothesolitudeofoneofthelowerrooms，andsatforsomeminutesallalone，recoveringfromtheshockofhersister’sanger。’Atanyrate，hehasn’tpopped，’shesaidtoherself，asshemadeherwaybacktotheschool。
　　AfterthatMissPrettymanandMissCrawleywereclosetedtogetherforaboutanhour。Whatpassedbetweenthemneednotberepeatedherewordforword；butitmaybeunderstoodthatMissPrettymansaidnomorethansheoughttohavesaid，andthatGraceunderstoodallthatsheoughttohaveunderstood。
　　’Nomaneverbehavedwithmoreconsideratefriendship，ormorelikeagentleman，’saidMissPrettyman。
　　’Iamsureheisverygood，andIamsogladhedidnotasktoseeme，’
　　saidGrace。ThenGracewentaway，andMissPrettymansatawhileinthought，consideringwhatshehaddone，notwithoutsomestingsofconscience。
　　MajorGrantlyashewalkedhomewasnotaltogethersatisfiedwithhimself，thoughhegavehimselfcreditforsomediplomacywhichIdonotthinkhedeserved。HefeltthatMissPrettymanandtheworldingeneral，shouldtheworldingeneraleverhearanythingaboutit，wouldgivehimcreditforhavingbehavedwell；andthathehadobtainedthiscreditwithoutcommittinghimselftothenecessityofmarryingthedaughterofathief，shouldthingsturnoutbadlyinregardtothefather。But——andthisbutrobbedhimofallthepleasurewhichcomesfromrealsuccess——buthehadnottreatedGraceCrawleywiththeperfectgenerositywhichloveowes，andhewasinsomedegreeashamedofhimself。Hefelt，however，thathemightprobablyhaveGrace，shouldhechoosetoaskforherwhenthistroubleshouldhavepassedby。’AndI
　　will，’hesaidtohimself，asheenteredthegateofhisownpaddock，andsawhischildinherperambulatorbeforethenurse。’AndIwillaskher，soonerorlater，letthingsgoastheymay。’Thenhetooktheperambulatorunderhisownchargeforhalf—an—hour，tothesatisfactionofthenurse，ofthechild，andofhimself。
　　CHAPTERVIII
　　MRCRAWLEYISTAKENTOSILVERBRIDGE
　　IthadbecomenecessaryontheMondaymorningthatMrsCrawleyshouldobtainfromherhusbandanundertakingthatheshouldpresenthimselfbeforethemagistratesatSilverbridgeontheThursday。ShehadbeenmadetounderstandthatthemagistratesweresinningagainstthestrictruleoflawinnotissuingawarrantatonceforMrCrawley’sapprehension；andtheyweresosinningattheinstanceofMrWalker——atwhoseinstancetheywouldhavecommittedalmostanysinpracticablebyaboardofEnglishmagistrates，sogreatwastheirfaithinhim；andsheknewthatshewasboundtoanswerherengagement。Shehadalsoanothertasktoperform——that，namely，ofpersuadinghimtoemployanattorneyforhisdefence；andshewaspreparedwiththenameofanattorney，oneMrMason，alsoofSilverbridge，whohadbeenrecommendedtoherbyMrWalker。ButwhenshecametotheperformanceofthesetwotasksontheMondaymorning，shefoundthatshewasunabletoaccomplisheitherofthem。MrCrawleyfirstdeclaredthathewouldhavenothingtodowithanyattorney。Astothatheseemedtohavemadeuphismindbeforehand，andshesawatoncethatshehadnohopeofshakinghim。Butwhenshefoundthathewasequallyobstinateintheothermatter，andthathedeclaredthathewouldnotgobeforethemagistratesunlessheweremadetodoso——unlessthepolicemancameandfetchedhim，thenshealmostsankbeneaththeburdenofhertroubles，andforawhilewasdisposedtoletthingsgoastheywould。Howcouldshestrivetobearaloadthatwassomanifestlytooheavyforhershoulders？
　　OntheSundaythepoormanhadexertedhimselftogetthroughhisSundayduties，andhehadsucceeded。Hehadsucceededsowellthathiswifehadthoughtthatthingsmightyetcomerightwithhim，thathewouldremember，beforeitwastoolate，thetruehistoryofthatunhappypieceofpaper，andthathewasrisingabovethathalfmadnesswhichformonthspasthadafflictedhim。
　　OntheSundayevening，whenhewastiredwithhiswork，shethoughtitbesttosaynothingtohimaboutthemagistratesandthebusinessofThursday。ButonMondaymorningshecommencedhertask，feelingthatsheowedittoMrWalkertolosenomoretime。Hewasverydecidedinhismannersandmadehertounderstandthathewouldemploynolawyeronhisownbehalf。’WhyshouldIwantalawyer？Ihavedonenothingwrong，’hesaid。Thenshetriedtomakehimunderstandthatmanywhomayhavedonenothingwrongrequirealawyer’said。’Andwhoistopayhim？’heasked。
　　Tothisshereplied，unfortunately，thattherewouldbenoneedofthinkingofthatatonce。’AndIamtogetfurtherintodebt！’hesaid。
　　’IamtoputmyselfrightbeforetheworldbyincurringdebtswhichI
　　knowIcanneverpay？WhenithasbeenaquestionoffoodforthechildrenIhavebeenweak，butIwillnotbeweakinsuchamatterasthis。Iwillhavenolawyer。’Shedidnotregardthisdenialonhispartasverymaterial，thoughshewouldfainhavefollowedMrWalker’sadvicehadshebeenable；butwhen，laterintheday，hedeclaredthatthepoliceshouldfetchhim，thenherspiritsgaveway。EarlyinthemorninghehadseemedtoassenttotheexpedientofgoingintoSilverbridgeontheThursday，anditwasnottillafterhehadworkedhimselfintoarageabouttheproposedattorney，thatheutterlyrefusedtomakethejourney。Duringthewholeday，however，hisstatewassuchasalmosttobreakhiswife’heart。Hewoulddonothing。Hewouldnotgototheschool，norevenstirbeyondthehouse—door。Hewouldnotopenabook。
　　Hewouldnoteat，norwouldheevensitattableorsaytheaccustomedgracewhenthescantymiddaymealwasplaceduponthetable。’Nothingisblessedtome，’hesaid，whenhiswifepressedhimtosaythewordfortheirchild’ssake。’ShallIsaythatIthankGodwhenmyheartisthankless？ShallIservemychildbyalie？’Thenforhourshesatinthesameposition，intheoldarm—chair，hangingoverthefirespeechless，sleepless，thinkingever，asshewellknew，oftheinjusticeoftheworld。Shehardlydaredtospeaktohim，sogreatwasthebitternessofhiswordswhenshewasgoadedtoreply。Atlast，lateintheevening，feelingthatitwouldbeherdutytosendtoMrWalkerearlyonthefollowingmorning，shelaidherhandgentlyonhisshoulderandaskedhimforhispromise。’ImaytellMrWalkerthatyouwillbethereonThursday？’
　　’No，’hesaid，shoutingather。’No。Iwillhavenosuchmessagesent。’Shestartedback，trembling。Notthatshewasaccustomedtotrembleathisways，ortoshowthatshefearedhiminhisparoxysms，butthathisvoicehadbeenlouderthanshehadbeforeknownit。’IwillholdnointercoursewiththematSilverbridgeinthismatter。Doyouhearme，Mary？’
　　’Ihearyou，Josiah；butImustkeepmywordtoMrWalker。IpromisedthatIwouldsendtohim。’
　　’Tellhim，then，thatIwillnotstirafootoutofthishouseonThursdayofmyownaccord。OnThursdayIshallbehere；andhereIwillremainallday——unlesstheytakemebyforce。’
　　’ButJosiah——’
　　’Willyouobeyme，orshallIwalkintoSilverbridgemyselfandtellthemanthatIwillnotcometohim。’Thenhearosefromhischairandstretchedforthhishandtohishatasthoughheweregoingforthimmediately，onhiswaytoSilverbridge。Thenightwasnowpitchdark，andtherainwasfalling，andabroadhewouldencounteralltheseverityofthepitilesswinter。Stillitmighthavebeenbetterthatheshouldhavegone。Theexerciseandthefreshair，eventhewetandthemud，wouldhaveservedtobringbackhismindtoreason。Buthiswifethoughtofthemiseryofthejourney，ofhisscantyclothing，ofhiswornboots，oftheneedtherewastopreservetheraimentwhichhewore；andsherememberedthathewasfasting——thathehadeatennothingsincethemorning，andthathewasnotfittobealone。Shestoppedhim，therefore，beforehecouldreachthedoor。
　　’Yourbiddingshallbedone，’shesaid——’ofcourse。’
　　’Tellthem，then，thattheymustseekmeiftheywantme。’
　　’But，Josiah，thinkoftheparish——ofthepeoplewhorespectyou——fortheirsakesletitnotbesaidthatyouweretakenawaybypolicemen。’
　　’WasStPaulnotboundinprison？Didhethinkofwhatthepeoplemightsee？’
　　’Ifitwerenecessary，Iwouldencourageyoutobearitwithoutamurmur。’
　　’Itisnecessary，whetheryoumurmur，ordonotmurmur。Murmurindeed！
　　Whydoesnotyourvoiceascendtoheavenwithoneloudwailagainstthecrueltyofman？’Thenhewentforthfromtheroomintoanemptychamberontheothersideofthepassage；andhiswife，whenshefollowedhimthereafterafewminutes，foundhimonhisknees，withhisforeheadagainstthefloor，andwithhishandsclutchingatthescantyhairsofhishead。Oftenbeforehadsheseenhimso，onthesamespot，halfgrovelling，halfprostrateinprayer，revilinginhisagonyallthingsaroundhim——nay，nearlyallthingsabovehim——andyetstrivingtoreconcilehimselftohisCreatorbythehumiliationofhis
　　confession。