’IwastakenbeforethemagistratesatSilverbridge，andwasbythemcommittedtostandmytrialattheassizestobeholdeninBarchesteronthetwenty—eighthofthismonth。
　　Withoutdoubt，themagistrateshadnotalternativebuttocommitme，andIamindebtedtothemthattheyhaveallowedmemypresentlibertyuponbail。Thatmysufferingsinallthisshouldhavebeengrievous，youwillunderstand。ButonthatheadIshallnottouch，wereitnotthatIamboundtoexplaintoyouthatmytroubleswithreferencetothisparishofHogglestock，towhichIwasappointedbyyou，havenotbeentheslightestofthosesufferings。Ifeltatfirst，believingthenthattheworldaroundmewouldthinkitunlikelythatsuchaoneasIhadwilfullystolenasumofmoney，thatitwasmydutytomaintainmyselfinmychurch。
　　Ididsomaintainmyselfagainstanattackmadeuponmebythebishop，whosentovertoHogglestockoneMrThumble，agentlemandoubtlessinholyorders，thoughIknownothingandcanlearnnothingoftheplaceofhiscure，todispossessmeofmypulpitandtoremovemefrommyministrationsamongmypeople。ToMrThumbleIturnedadeafear，andwouldnotlethimsomuchasopenhismouthinsidetheporchofmychurch。UptothistimeImyselfhavereadtheservices，andhavepreachedtothepeople，andhavecontinued，asbestIcould，myvisitstothepoorandmylaboursintheschool，thoughIknow——nooneknowsaswell——howunfittedIamforsuchworkbythegriefwhichhasfallenuponme。
　　’Thenthebishopsentforme，andIthoughtitbecomingonmyparttogotohim。Ipresentedmyselftohislordshipathispalace，andwasmindedtobemuchgovernedinmyconductbywhathemightsaytome，rememberingthatIamboundtorespecttheoffice，eventhoughImaynotapproveoftheman；andIhumbledmyselfbeforehislordship，waitingpatientlyforanydirectionswhichheinhisdiscretionmightthinkitpropertobestowonme。Buttherearoseupbetweenusthatverypestilentwoman，hiswife——tohisdismay，seemingly，asmuchastomine——andshewouldletthereplacefornospeechbutherown。Iftherebeaughtcleartomeinecclesiasticalmatters，itisthis——thatnoauthoritycanbedelegatedtoafemale。Thespeciallawsofthisandofsomeothercountriesdoallowthatwomenshallsituponthetemporalthronesoftheearth，butontheloweststepofthethroneoftheChurchnowomanhasbeenallowedtositasbearingauthority，theromantictaleofthewomanPopenotwithstanding。Thereupon，Ileftthepalaceinwrath，feelingmyselfaggrievedthatawomanshouldhaveattemptedtodictatetome，andfindingithopelesstogetaclearinstructionfromhislordship——thewomantakingupthewordwheneverIputaquestiontomylordthebishop。
　　Nothing，therefore，cameofthatinterviewbutfruitlesslabourtomyself，andanger，ofwhichIhavesincebeenashamed。
　　’SincethattimeIhavecontinuedinmyparish——working，notwithoutzeal，though，intruth，almostwithouthope——andlearningevenfromdaytodaythattheopinionofmenaroundmehavedeclaredmetobeguiltyofthecrimeimputedtome。
　　AndnowthebishophasissuedacommissionaspreparatorytoproceedingsagainstmeundertheActforthepunishmentforclericaloffences。Indoingthis，Icannotsaythatthebishophasbeenill—advised，eventhoughtheadvicemayhavecomefromthatevil—tonguedlady，hiswife。AndIholdthatawomanmaybecalleduponforadvice，withmostsalutaryeffect，inaffairsastowhichanyshowoffemaleauthorityshouldbeequallyfalseandpernicious。Withmeithaseverbeenso，andIhavehadacounsellorbymeaswiseasshehasbeendevoted。’ItmustbenoticedthatinthedraftcopyofhisletterwhichMrCrawleygavetohiswifetoreadthislastsentencewasnotinserted。Intendingthatsheshouldreadhisletter，heomittedittillhemadethefaircopy。
　　’OverthiscommissionhislordshiphasappointedDrTempestofSilverbridgetopreside，andwithhimIhavebeenincommunication。Itrustthatthelaboursofthegentlemenofwhomitiscomposedmaybebroughttoaspeedyclose；and，havingregardtotheirtrouble，IhaveinformedDrTempestthatIshouldwritethislettertoyouwiththeintentandassuredpurposeofresigningtheperpetualcuracyofHogglestockinyourhands。
　　’Youwillbegoodenough，therefore，tounderstandthatIdosoresigntheliving，andthatIshallcontinuetoadministertheservicesoftheChurchonlytillsomeclergyman，certifiedtomeascomingfromyouorfromthebishop，maypresenthimselfintheparish，andshalldeclarehimselfpreparedtoundertakethecure。ShoulditbesothatMrThumblebesenthitheragain，Iwillsitunderhim，endeavouringtocatchimprovementfromhisteaching，andstrivingtoovercomethecontemptwhichIfeltforhimwhenhebeforevisitedthisparish。IannexbeneathmysignatureacopyoftheletterwhichIhavewrittentothebishoponthissubject。
　　’Andnowitbehovesme，astheguardianshipofthesoulsofthosewasplacedinmyhandsbyyou，toexplaintoyouasshortlyasmaybepossiblethereasonswhichhadinducedmetoabandonmywork。OneortwowhosejudgmentIdonotdiscredit——andIamallowedtonameDrTempestofSilverbridgeasone——havesuggestedtomethatIshouldtakenosteptillaftermytrial。TheythinkthatIshouldhaveregardtothechanceoftheverdict，sothattheprefermentmaystillbemineshouldIbeacquitted；andtheysay，thatshouldIbeacquitted，thebishop’sactionagainstmemustofnecessitycease。ThattheyarerightinthesefactsIdonotdoubt；butingivingsuchadvicetheylookonlytothefacts，havingnoregardtotheconscience。Idonotblamethem。Ishouldgivesuchadvicemyself，knowingthatafriendmaygivecounselastoouterthings，butthatamanmustsatisfyhisinnerconsciencebyhisownperceptionsofwhatisrightandwhatiswrong。
　　’Ifindmyselftobeill—spokenof，toberegardedwithhardeyesbythosearoundme，mypeoplethinkingthatIhavestolenthismoney。Twofarmersinthisparish，have，asIamaware，expressedopinionsthatnojurycouldacquitmehonestly，andneitherofthesemenhaveappearedinmychurchsincetheexpressionofthatopinion。Idoubtwhethertheyhavegonetootherchurches；andifnottheyhavebeendeterredfromallpublicworshipbymypresence。Ifthisbeso，howcanIwithaclearconscienceremainamongthesemen？ShallItakefromtheirhandswagesforthoseadministrations，whichtheirdeliberatelyformedopinionswillnotallowthemtoacceptfrommyhands？’Andyet，thoughhethuspleadedagainsthimself，heknewthatthetwomenofwhomhewasspeakingwerethick—headeddoltswhowerealwaystipsyinSaturdaynights，andwhocametochurchperhapsonceinthreeweeks。
　　’Yourkindheartwilldoubtlesspromptyoutotellmethatnoclergymancouldbesafeinhisparishifheweretoallowtheopinionofchanceparishionerstoprevailagainsthim；
　　andyouwouldprobablylaydownformyguidancethegrandolddoctrine"Nilconsciresibi；nullapallescereculpa。"
　　Presumingthatyoumaydoso，Iwillacknowledgesuchguidancetobegood。Ifmymindwereclearinthismatter，I
　　wouldnotbudgeaninchforanyfarmer——no，norforanybishop，furtherthanhemightbylawcompelme！Butmymindisnotclear。Idogrowpale，andmyhairsstandsonendwithhorror，asIconfesstomyselfthatIdonotknowwhetherIstolethismoneyorno！Suchisthefact。InallsincerityItellyouthatIknownotwhetherIbeguiltyorinnocent。ItmaybethatIpickedupthechequefromthefloorofmyroom，andafterwardstookitoutandusedit，notknowingwhenceithadcometome。Ifitbeso，Istoleit，andamguiltybeforethelawsofmycountry。Ifitbeso，IamnotfittoadministertheLord’ssacramentstothesepeople。WhenthecupwaslastinmyhandandIwasblessingthem，IfeltthatIwasnotfit，andIalmostdroppedthechalice。ThatGodwillknowmyweaknessandpardonmetheperplexityofmymind——thatisbetweenHimandHiscreature。
　　’AsIreadmyletterovertomyselfIfeelhowweakaremywords，andhowinefficienttoexplaintoyoutheexactpositioninwhichIstand；buttheywillsufficetoconvinceyouthatIamassuredlypurposedtoresignthisparishofHogglestock，andthatitisthereforeincumbentonyou，aspatronoftheliving，tonominatemysuccessortothebenefice。Ihaveonlyfurthertoaskyourpardonforthislongletter，andtothankyouagainforthemanyandgreatmarksoffriendshipwhichyouhaveconferredonme。Alas，couldyouhaveforeseeninthoseolddayshowbarrenofallgoodwouldhavebeenthelifeofhimyouthenesteemed，youmightperhapshaveescapedthedisgraceofbeingcalledthefriendofonewhomnoonenowregardswithesteem。——
　　Nevertheless，ImaystillsaythatIam，withallaffection，yourstruly，’JOSIAHCRAWLEY’
　　Thelastparagraphoftheletterwasalsoadded，sincehiswifehadreadit。Whenhehadfirstcomposedtheletter，hehadbeensomewhatproudofhiswords，thinkingthathehadclearlytoldhisstory。But，whensittingaloneathisdesk，hereaditagain，fillinghismindashewentonwithideaswhichhewouldfainhaveexpressedtohisoldfriend，wereitnotthathefearedtoindulgehimselfwithtoomanywords，hebegantotellhimselfthathisstorywasanythingbutwelltold。TherewasnoexpressionthereoftheHoggethandoctrine。Inanswertosuchaletterasthatthedeanmightwellsay，’Thinkagainofit。Tryyettosaveyourself。Nevermindthetwofarmers，orMrThumble，orthebishop。
　　Sticktotheshipwhilethereisaplankabovethewater。’Whereasithadbeenhisdesiretousewordsthatshouldmakethedeanclearlyunderstandthatthethingwasdecided。Hehadfailed——ashehadfailedineverythingthroughouthislife；butneverthelessthelettermustgo。
　　Werehetobeginagainhewouldnotdoitbetter。Soheaddedtowhathehadwrittenacopyofhisnotetothebishop，andtheletterwasfastenedandsent。
　　MrsCrawleymightprobablyhavebeenmoreinstantinhereffortstostoptheletter，hadshenotfeltthatitwouldnotdecideeverything。Inthefirstplaceitwasimprobablethatthelettermightnotreachthedeantillafterhisreturnhome——andMrsCrawleyhadlongsincemadeuphermindthatshewouldseethedeanassoonaspossibleafterhisreturn。
　　ShehadheardfromLadyLuftonthatitwasnotdoubtedinBarchesterthathewouldbebackatanyratebeforethejudgescameintothecity。
　　Andthen，inthenextplace，wasitprobablethatthedeanwouldactuponsuchaletterbyfillingupthevacancy，evenifhedidgetit？Shetrustedinthedean，andknewthathewouldhelpthem，ifanyhelpwerepossible。Shouldtheverdictgoagainstherhusband，thenindeeditmightbethatnohelpwouldbepossible。Insuchcaseshethoughtthatthebishopwithhiscommissionmightprevail。Butshestillbelievedthattheverdictwouldbefavourable，ifnotwithanassuredbelief，stillwithahopethatwassufficienttostandinlieuofabelief。Nosingleman，letalonenotwelvemen，couldthinkthatherhusbandhadintendedtoappropriatethemoneydishonestly。Thathehadtakenitimproperly——withoutrealpossession——sheherselfbelieved；buthehadnottakenitasathief，andcouldnotmeritathief’spunishment。Aftertwodayshegotareplyfromthebishop’schaplain，inwhichthechaplainexpressedthebishop’scommendationofMrCrawley’spresentconduct。’MrThumbleshallproceedfromhencetoHogglestockonnextSunday，’saidthechaplain，’andshallrelieveyouforthepresentfromtheburdenofyourduties。Astothefuturestatusoftheparish，itwillperhapsbebestthatnothingshallbedonetillthedeanreturns——orperhapstilltheassizesshallbeover。Thisisthebishop’sopinion。’ItneedhardlybeexplainedthatthepromisedvisitofMrThumbletoHogglestockwasgallandwormwoodtoMrCrawley。HehadtoldthedeanthatshouldMrThumblecome，hewouldendeavourtolearnsomethingevenfromhim。ButitmaybedoubtedwhetherMrCrawleyinhispresentmoodcouldlearnanythingusefulfromMrThumble。GilesHoggettwasamuchmoreeffectiveteacher。
　　’Iwillendureeventhat，’hesaidtohiswife，asshehandedtohimbacktheletterfromthebishop’schaplain。
　　CHAPTERLXIII
　　TWOVISITORSTOHOGGLESTOCK
　　Thecross—grainednessofmenissogreatthatthingswilloftenbeforcedtogowrong，evenwhentheyhavethestrongestpossiblenaturaltendencyoftheirowntogoright。Itwasnowintheseaffairsbetweenthearchdeaconandhisson。Theoriginaldifficultywassolvedbythegoodfeelingoftheyounglady——bythatandbytherealkindnessofthearchdeacon’snature。Theyhadcometotermswhichweresatisfactorytobothofthem，andthosetermsadmittedofperfectreconciliationbetweenthefatherandhisson。Whetherthemajordidmarrytheladyorwhetherhedidnot，hisallowancewastobecontinuedtohim，thearchdeaconbeingperfectlywillingtotrusthimselfinthemattertothepledgewhichhadreceivedfromMissCrawley。Allthathehadrequiredfromhissonwassimplythis——thatheshouldpulldownthebillsadvertisingthesaleofhiseffects。Wasanydesiremorerational？Thesalehadbeenadvertisedforadayjustoneweekinadvanceoftheassizes，andthetimemusthavebeenselected——sothoughtthearchdeacon——withamaliciousintention。Why，atanyrate，shouldthethingsbesoldbeforeanyoneknewwhetherthefatheroftheyoungladywasorwasnottoberegardedasathief？Andwhyshouldthethingsbesoldatall，whenthearchdeaconhadtacitlywithdrawnhisthreats——whenhehadgivenhissontounderstandthattheallowancewouldstillbepaidquarterlywiththecustomaryarchidiaconalregularity，andthatnoalterationwasintendedinthosesettlementsunderwhichthePlumsteadfoxeswould，intheripenessoftime，becomethepropertyofthemajorhimself。Itwasthusthatthearchdeaconlookedatit，andashedidso，hethoughtthathissonwasthemostcross—grainedofmen。
　　Butthemajorhadhisownwayoflookingatthematter。Hehad，heflatteredhimself，dealtveryfairlywithhisfather。WhenhehadfirstmadeuphismindtomakeMissCrawleyhiswife，hehadtoldhisfatherofhisintention。Thearchdeacondeclaredthat，ifhedidso，suchandsuchresultswouldfollow——resultswhich，aswasapparenttoeveryone，wouldmakeitindispensablethatthemajorshouldleaveCosbyLodge。Themajorhadnevercomplained。Sohetoldhimself。Hehadsimplysaidtohisfather——’IshalldoasIhavesaid。Youcandoasyouhavesaid。
　　Therefore，IshallpreparetoleaveCosbyLodge。’Hehadsoprepared；
　　andasapartofthatpreparation，theauctioneer’sbillshadbeenstuckuponthepostsandwalls。Thenthearchdeaconhadgonetoworksurreptitiouslywiththelady——thereaderwillunderstandthatwearestillfollowingtheworkingsofthemajor’smind——andhavingsucceededinobtainingapledgewhichhehadbeenwrongtodemand，cameforwardverygraciouslytowithdrawhisthreats。Hewithdrewhisthreatsbecausehehadsucceededinhisobjectbyothermeans。Themajorknewnothingofthekissthathadbeengiven，ofthetwotearsthathadtrickleddownhisfather’snose，ofthegenerousepithetswhichthearchdeaconhadappliedtoGrace。HedidnotguesshownearlyhisfatherhadyieldedaltogetherbeneaththepressureofGrace’scharms——howwillinghewastoyieldaltogetheratthefirstdecentopportunity。HisfatherhadobtainedapledgefromGracethatshewouldnotmarryincertaincircumstances——astowhichcircumstancesthemajorwasstronglyresolvedthattheyshouldformnobartohismarriage——andthencameforwardwithhiseagerdemandthatthesaleshouldbestopped！Themajorcouldnotsubmittosomuchindignity。Hehadresolvedthathisfathershouldhavenothingtodowithhismarriageonewayortheother。Hewouldnotacceptanythingfromhisfatherontheunderstandingthathisfatherhadanysuchright。Hisfatherhadassertedsuchrightwiththreats，andhe，themajor，takingsuchthreatsasmeaningsomething，hadseenthathemustleaveCosbyLodge。Lethisfathercomeforward，andsaythattheymeantnothingthatheabandonedallrighttoanyinterferenceastohisson’smarriage，andthattheson——woulddutifullyconsenttoaccepthisfather’sbounty！Theywerebothcross—grained，asMrsGrantlydeclared；
　　butIthinkthatthemajorwasthemostcross—grainedofthetwo。
　　SomethingofthetruthmadeitswaytoHenryGrantly’smindashedrovehomefromBarchesterafterseeinghisgrandfather。Itwasnotthathebegantothinkthathisfatherwasright，butthathealmostperceivedthatitmightbebecomingtohimtoforgivesomefaultinhisfather。Hehadbeenimploredtohonourhisfather，andhewaswillingtodoso，understandingthatsuchhonourmust，toacertaindegree，implyobedience——ifitcouldbedoneatnomorethanamoderateexpenseofhisfeelings。Thethreatenedauctioneerwasthecauseofoffencetohisfather，andhemightseewhetheritwouldnotbepossibletohavethesalepostponed。Therewould，ofcourse，beapecuniaryloss，andthatinhisdiminishedcircumstances——mightbeinconvenient。Butsomuchhethoughthimselfboundtoendureonhisfather’sbehalf。Atanyrate，hewouldconsulttheauctioneeratSilverbridge。
　　Buthewouldnotmakeanypauseinthemeasureswhichhehadproposedtohimselfaslikelytobeconducivetohismarriage。AsforGrace’spledge，suchpledgesfromyoungladiesneverwentforanything。Itwasoutofthequestionthatsheshouldbesacrificed，eventhoughhisfatherhadtakenthemoney。And，moreover，theverygistofthemajor’sgenerositywastoconsistinhismarryingherwhetherherfatherwereguiltyorinnocent。Heunderstoodthatperfectly，andunderstoodalsothatitwashisdutytomakehispurposeinthisrespectknowntoGrace’sfamily。Hedetermined，therefore，thathewouldgoovertoHogglestock，andseeMrCrawleybeforehesawtheauctioneer。
　　HithertoMajorGrantlyhadneverspokentoMrCrawley。ItmayberememberedthatthemajorwasatthepresentmomentoneofthebailsmenforthedueappearanceofMrCrawleybeforethejudge，andthathehadbeenpresentwhenthemagistratessatattheinninSilverbridge。Hethereforeknewtheman’spresence，butexceptonthatoccasionhehadneverevenseenhisintendedfuturefather—in—law。FromthatmomentwhenhehadfirstallowedhimselftothinkofGrace，hehaddesired，yetalmostfeared，tomakeacquaintancewiththefather；buthadbeendebarredfromdoingsobythepeculiarpositioninwhichMrCrawleywasplaced。Hehadfeltthatitwouldbeimpossibletospeaktothefatherofhisaffectionforthedaughterwithoutanyallusiontothecomingtrial；andhedidnotknowhowsuchallusioncouldbemade。Thinkingofthis，hehadatdifferenttimesalmostresolvednottocallatHogglestocktillthetrialmightbeover。Thenhewouldgothere，lettheresultofthetrialhavebeenwhatitmight。Butithadnowbecomenecessaryforhimtogoonatonce。HisfatherhadprecipitatedmattersbyhisappealtoGrace。HewouldappealtoGrace’sfather，andreachGracethroughhisinfluence。
　　HedroveovertoHogglestock，feelinghimselftobeanythingbutcomfortableashecameneartothehouse。Andwhenhedidreachthespothewassomewhatdisconcertedtofindthatanothervisitorwasinthehousebeforehim。Hepresumedthistobethecase，becausetherestoodalittleponyhorse——ananimalwhichdidnotrecommenditselftohisinstructedeye——attachedbyitsreintothepalings。Itwasapoorhumble—lookingbeast，whosekneeshadverylatelybecomeacquaintedwiththehardandsharpstonesofanewly—mendedhighway。Thebloodwasevennowreduponthewounds。
　　’He’llneverbemuchgoodagain，’saidthemajortohisservant。
　　’Thathewon’t，sir，’saidtheman。’ButIdon’tthinkhe’sbeenverymuchgoodforsometimeback。’
　　’Ishouldn’tliketohavetoridehimintoSilverbridge，’saidthemajor，descendingfromthegig，andinstructinghisservanttomovethehorseandgigaboutaslongashemightremainwithinthehouse。Thenhewalkedacrossthelittlegardenandknockedatthedoor。Thedoorwasimmediatelyopened，andinthepassagehefoundMrCrawleyandanotherclergymanwhomthereaderwillrecogniseasMrThumble。MrThumblehadcomeovertomakearrangementsastotheSundayservicesandtheparochialwork，andhadbeenveryurgentinimpressingonMrCrawleythatthedutiesweretobeleftentirelytohimself。Hencehadcomesomebitterwords，inwhichMrCrawley，thoughnodoubthesaidthesharperthingsofthetwo，hadnotbeenabletovanquishhisenemysocompletelyashehaddoneofformeroccasions。
　　’Theremustbenointerference，mydearsir——notwhatever，ifyouplease，’MrThumblehadsaid。
　　’Thereshallbenoneofwhichthebishopshallhavereasontocomplain，’
　　MrCrawleyhadreplied。
　　’Theremustbenoneatall，MrCrawley，ifyouplease。ItisonlyonthatunderstandingthatIhaveconsentedtotaketheparishtemporarilyintomyhands。MrsCrawley，Ihopethattheremaybenomistakeabouttheschools。ItmustbeexactlyasthoughIwereresidingonthespot。’
　　’Sir，’saidMrCrawley，veryirateatthisappealtohiswife，andspeakinginaloudvoice，’doyoumisdoubtmyword；ordoyouthinkthatifIweremindedtobefalsetoyou，thatIshouldbecorrectedinmyfalsehoodbythefirmerfaithofmywife？’
　　’Imeantnothingaboutfalsehood，MrCrawley。’
　　’Havingresignedthebeneficeforcertainreasonsofmyown，withwhichIshallnottroubleyou，andacknowledgingasIdo——andhavedoneinwritingundermyhandtothebishop——theproprietyofhislordship’sinterferenceinprovidingfortheservicesoftheparishtillanysuccessorshallhavebeeninstituted，Ishall，withwhatfeelingsofregret，Ineednotsay，leaveyoutotheperformanceofyourtemporaryduties。’
　　’ThatisallthatIrequire，MrCrawley。’
　　’Butitiswhollyunnecessarythatyoushouldinstructmeinmine。’
　　’Thebishopespeciallydesires——’beganMrThumble。ButMrCrawleyinterruptedhiminstantly。
　　’Ifthebishophasdirectedyoutogivemesuchinstructions，thebishopismuchinerror。Iwillsubmittoreceivenonefromhimthroughyou，sir。Ifyouplease，sir，lettherebeanendofit’；andMrCrawleywavedhishand。IhopethereaderwillconceivethetoneofMrCrawley’svoice，andwillappreciatetheaspectofhisface，andwillseethemotionofhishand，ashespoketheselatterwords。MrThumblefeltthepowerofthemansosensiblythathewasunabletocarryonthecontest。
　　ThoughtMrCrawleywasnowbutabrokenreed，andwasbeneathhisfeet，yetMrThumbleacknowledgedtohimselfthathecouldnotholdhisownindebatewiththisbrokenreed。Butthewordshadbeenspoken，andthetoneofthevoicehaddiedaway，andthefireintheeyeshadburneditselfoutbeforethemomentofthemajor’sarrival。MrThumblewasnowreturningtohishorse，andhavingenjoyed——ifhedidenjoy——hislittletriumphabouttheparish，wasbecomingunhappyatthefuturedangersthatawaitedhim。PerhapshewasthemoreunhappybecauseithadbeenproposedtohimbytheauthoritiesatthepalacethatheshouldrepeatedlyrideonthesameanimalfromBarchestertoHogglestockandback。MrCrawleywasintheactofreplyingtohislamentationsonthissubjectwithhishandonthelatch，whenthemajorarrived——’Iregrettosay，sirthatIcannotassistyoubysupplyinganyothersteed。’Thenthemajorhadknocked，andMrCrawleyhadatonceopenedthedoor。
　　’Youprobablydonotrememberme，MrCrawley？’saidthemajor。’IamMajorGrantly。’MrsCrawley，whoheardthesewordsinsidetheroom，sprangupfromherchair，andcouldhardlyresistthetemptationtorushintothepassage。ShetoohadbarelyseenMajorGrantly；andnowtheonlybrightgleamwhichappearedonherhorizondependedonhisconstancyundercircumstanceswhichwouldhavejustifiedhisinconstancy。Buthadhemeanttobeinconstant，surelyhewouldneverhavecometoHogglestock！’
　　’Irememberyouwell，sir，’saidMrCrawley。’Iamundernocommonobligationtoyou。Youareatpresentoneofmybailsmen。’
　　’There’snothinginthat，’saidthemajor。
　　MrThumblehadcaughtthenameofGrantly，tookoffhishat，whichhehadputonhishead。HehadnotbeenparticularinkeepingoffhishatbeforeMrCrawley。ButheknewwellthatArchdeaconGrantlywasabigmaninthediocese；andthoughtheGrantlysandtheProudieswereopposedtoeachother，stillitmightbewelltotakeoffhishatbeforeanyonewhohadtodowiththebigonesofthediocese。’Ihopeyourrespectedfatheriswell，sir？’saidMrThumble。
　　’Prettywell，Ithankyou。’Themajorstoodcloseupagainstthewallofthepassage，soastoallowroomforMrThumbletopassout。Hisbusinesswasoneonwhichhecouldhardlybegintospeakuntilthevisitorhadgone。MrCrawleywasstandingwiththedoorwideopeninhishand。HealsowasanxioustoberidofMrThumble——andwasperhapsnotsosolicitousasabrotherclergymanshouldhavetouchingthefuturefateofMrThumbleinthematterofthebishop’soldcob。
　　’Really，Idon’tknowwhattodoastogettinguponhimagain，’saidMrThumble。
　　’Ifyouwillallowhimtoprogressslowly，’saidMrCrawley，’hewillprobablytravelwithgreatersafety。’