CHAPTERIX
  GRACECRAWLEYGOESTOALLINGTON
  ThetidingsofwhathadbeendonebythemagistratesattheirpettysessionswascommunicatedthesamenighttoGraceCrawleybyMissPrettyman。MissAnnePrettymanhadheardthenewswithinfiveminutesoftheexecutionofthebail—bond,andhadrushedtohersisterwithinformationastotheevent。’Theyhavefoundhimguilty;theyhave,indeed。Theyhaveconvictedhim——orwhateveritis,becausehecouldn’tsaywherehegotit。’’Youdonotmeanthattheyhavesenthimtoprison?’’No;——nottoprison;notasyet,thatis。Idon’tunderstanditaltogether;buthe’stobetriedagainintheassizes。Inthemeantimehe’stobeoutonbail。MajorGrantlyistobethebail——andMrRobarts。
  That,Ithink,wasveryniceofhim。’ItwasundoubtedlythefactthatMissAnnePrettymanhadreceivedanaccessionofpleasurableemotionwhenshelearnedthatMrCrawleyhadnotbeensentawayscatheless,buthadbeencondemned,asitwere,topublictrialattheassizes。AndyetshewouldhavedoneanythinginherpowertosaveGraceCrawley,oreventosaveherfather。AnditmustbeexplainedthatMissAnnePrettymanwassupposedtobespeciallyefficientinteachingRomanhistorytoherpupils,althoughshewassomanifestlyignorantofthecourseofthelawinthecountryinwhichshelived。’Committedhim,’saidMissPrettyman,correctinghersisterwithscorn。’Theyhavenotconvictedhim。Hadtheyconvictedhimtherewouldbenoquestionofbail。’’Idon’tknowhowthatallis,Annabella,butatanyrateMajorGrantlyistobethebailsman,andthereistobeanothertrialatBarchester。’’Therecannotbemorethanonetrialinacriminalcase,’saidMissPrettyman,’unlessthejuryshoulddisagree,orsomethingofthatkind。Isupposehehasbeencommittedandthetrialwilltakeplaceattheassizes。’
  ’Exactly——that’sjustit。’HadLordLuftonappearedaslictorandhadThompsoncarriedthefasces,MissAnnewouldhaveknownmoreaboutit。
  ThesadtidingswerenottoldtoGracetilltheevening。MrsCrawley,whentheinquirywasoverbeforethemagistrates,wouldfainhavehadherselfdriventotheMissPrettyman’sschool,thatshemightseeherdaughter;butshefeltthattobeimpossiblewhileherhusbandwasinhercharge。Thefatherwouldofcoursehavegonetohischild,hadthevisitbeensuggestedtohim;butthatwouldhavecausedanotherterriblescene;andthemother,consideringitallinhermind,thoughtitbettertoabstain。MissPrettymandidherbesttomakepoorGracethinkthattheaffairhadsofargonefavourably——didherbest,thatis,withoutsayinganythingwhichherconsciencetoldhertobefalse。’ItistobesettledattheassizesinApril,’shesaid。
  ’Inthemeantimewhatwillbecomeofpapa?’
  ’Yourpapawillbeathome,justasusual。Hemusthavesomeonetoadvisehim。Idaresayitwouldhavebeenallovernowifhewouldhaveemployedanattorney。’
  ’Butitseemssohardthatanattorneyshouldbewanted。’
  ’MydearGrace,thingsinthisworldarehard。’
  ’Buttheyarealwaysharderforpoorpapaandmammathanforanybodyelse。’InanswertothisMissPrettymanmadesomeremarksintendedtobewiseandkindatthesametime。Grace,whoseeyeswereladenwithtears,madenoimmediatereplytothis,butrevertedtoherformerstatementthatshemustgohome。’Icannotremain,MissPrettyman,Iamsounhappy。’
  ’Willyoubemorehappyathome?’
  ’Icanbearitbetterthere。’
  Thepoorgirlsoonlearnedfromtheintendedconsolationsofthosearoundher,fromtheill—consideredkindnessofthepupils,andfromwordswhichfellfromtheservants,thatherfatherhadinfactbeenjudgedtobeguilty,asfarasjudgmenthadasyetgone。’Theydosay,miss,it’sonlybecausehehadn’talawyer,’saidthehouse—keeper。AndifmensokindasLordLuftonandMrWalkerhadmadehimouttobeguilty,whatcouldbeexpectedfromasternjudgedownfromLondon,whowouldknownothingaboutherpoorfatherandhispeculiarities,andfromtwelvejurymenwhowouldbeshopkeepersoutofBarchester。Itwouldkillherfather,andthenitwouldkillhermother;andafterthatitwouldkillheralso。Andtherewasnomoneyinthehouseathome。Sheknewitwell。Shehadbeenpaidthreepoundsamonthforherservicesattheschool,andthemoneyforthelasttwomonthshadbeensenttohermother。Yet,badlyasshewantedanythingthatshemightbeabletoearn,sheknewthatshecouldnotgoonteaching。IthadcometobeacknowledgedbyboththeMissPrettymansthatanyteachingonherpartatthepresentwasimpossible。Shewouldgohomeandperishwiththerestofthem。Therewasnoroomleftforhopetoher,ortoanyofherfamily。Theyhadaccusedherfatherofbeingacommonthief——herfatherwhomsheknewtobesonoblyhonest,herfatherwhomshebelievedtobeamongthemostdevotedofGod’sservants。Hewasaccusedofapaltrytheft,andthemagistratesandlawyersandpolicemenamongthemhaddecidedthattheaccusationwastrue!Howcouldshelookthegirlsinthefaceafterthat,orattempttoholdherownamongtheteachers!
  OnthenextmorningtherecamealetterfromMissLilyDale,andwiththatinherhandsheagainwenttoMissPrettyman。Shemustgohome,shesaid。Shemustatanyrategotohermother。CouldMissPrettymanbekindenoughtosendherhome。’Ihaven’tsixpencetopayforanything,’
  shesaid,burstingintotears;’andIhaven’tarighttoaskforit。’
  ThenthestatementswhichMissPrettymanmadeinhereagernesstocoverthislattermisfortuneweredecidedlyfalse。TherewassomuchmoneyowingtoGrace,shesaid;moneyforthis,moneyforthat,moneyforanythingornothing!Tenpoundswouldhardlycleartheaccount。’Nobodyowesmeanything;butifyou’lllendmefiveshillings!’saidGrace,inheragony。MissPrettyman,asshemadeherwaythroughthisdifficulty,thoughtofMajorGrantlyandhislove。Itwouldhavebeenofnouse,sheknew。HadshebroughtthemtogetheronthatMonday,Gracewouldhavesaidnothingtohim。Indeedsuchameetingatsuchatimewouldhavebeenimproper。But,regardingMajorGrantly,asshedid,inthelightofamillionaire——forthewealthoftheArchdeaconwasnotorious——shecouldnotbutthinkitapitythatpoorGraceshouldbebeggingforfiveshillings。’Youneednotatanyratetroubleyourselfaboutmoney,Grace,’saidMissPrettyman。’Whatisapoundortwomoreorlessbetweenyouandme?Itisalmostunkindofyoutothinkaboutit。Isthatletterinyourhandanythingformetosee,mydear?’ThenGraceexplainedthatshedidnotwishtoshowMissDale’sletter,butthatMissDalehadaskedhertogotoAllington。’Andyouwillgo,’saidMissPrettyman。’Itwillbethebestthingforyou,andthebestthingforyourmother。’
  ItwasatlastdecidedthatGraceshouldgotoherfriendatAllington,andtoAllingtonshewent。Shereturnedhomeforadayortwo,andwaspersuadedbyhermothertoaccepttheinvitationthathadbeengivenher。AtHogglestock,whileshewasthere,newtroublescameup,ofwhichsomethingwillshortlybetold;buttheyweretroublesinwhichGracecouldgivenoassistancetohermother,andwhich,indeed,thoughtheywereintruthtroubles,aswillbeseen,weresofarbeneficentthattheystirredherfatheruptoacertainactionwhichwasinitselfsalutary。’Ithinkitwillbebetterthatyoushouldbeaway,dearest,’
  saidhermother,whonow,forthefirsttime,heardplainlywhatpoorGracehadtotellaboutMajorGrantly;——Gracehaving,heretofore,barelyspoken,inmostambiguouswords,ofMajorGrantlyasagentlemanwhomshehadmetatFramley,andwhomshehaddescribedasbeing’verynice’。
  Inolddays,longago,LucyRobarts,thepresentLadyLufton,sisteroftheRevMarkRobarts,theparsonofFramley,hadsojournedforawhileunderMrsCrawley’sroofatHogglestock。Peculiarcircumstances,whichneednot,perhaps,betoldhere,hadgivenoccasionforthevisit。Shehadthenresolved——forherfuturedestinybeenknowntoherbeforeshehadleftMrsCrawley’shouse——thatshewouldincomingdaysdomuchtobefriendthefamilyofherfriend;butthedoingofmuchhadbeenverydifficult。AndthedoingofanythinghadcometobeverydifficultthroughacertainindiscretiononLordLufton’spart。LordLuftonhadofferedassistance,pecuniaryassistancetoMrCrawley,whichMrCrawleyhadrejectedwithoutspokenanger。WhatwasLordLuftontohimthathislordshipshoulddaretocometohimwithhispaltrymoneyinhishand?
  Butafterawhile,LadyLufton,exercisingsomecunningintheoperationofherfriendship,hadpersuadedhersister—in—lawattheFramleyparsonagetohaveGraceCrawleyoverthereasavisitor——andthereshehadbeenduringthesummerholidaysprevioustothecommencementofourstory。Andthere,atFramley,shehadbecomeacquaintedwithMajorGrantly,whowasstayingwithLordLuftonatFramleyCourt。ShehadthensaidsomethingtohermotheraboutMajorGrantly,somethingambiguous,somethingabouthisbeing’verynice’,andthemotherhadthoughthowgreatwasthepitythatherdaughter,whowas’nice’tooinherestimation,shouldhavehadsofewofthoseadjunctstoassistherwhichcomefromfullpockets。Shehadthoughtnomoreaboutitthen;butnowshefeltherselfconstrainedtothinkmore。’Idon’tquiteunderstandwhyheshouldhavecometoMissPrettymanonMonday,’saidGrace,’becausehehardlyknowsheratall。’
  ’Isupposeitwasonbusiness,’saidMrsCrawley。
  ’No,mamma,itwasnotonbusiness。’
  ’Howcanyoutell,dear?’
  ’BecauseMissPrettymansaiditwas——toaskafterme。Oh,mamma,Imusttellyou。Iknowhedidlikeme。’
  ’Didheeversaysotoyou,dearest?’
  ’Yes,mamma。’
  ’Andwhatdidyoutellhim?’
  ’Itoldhimnothing,mamma。’
  ’AnddidheasktoseeyouonMonday?’
  ’No,mamma;Idon’tthinkhedid。Ithinkheunderstooditalltoowell,forIcouldnothavespokentohimthen。’
  MrsCrawleypursuedhercross—examinationnofurther,butmadeuphermindthatitwouldbebetterthathergirlshouldbeawayfromherwretchedhomeduringthisperiodofherlife。Ifitwerewritteninthebookoffatethatoneofherchildrenshouldbeexemptedfromtheseriesofmisfortuneswhichseemedtofall,onafteranother,almostasamatterofcourse,uponherhusband,uponher,anduponherfamily;ifsogreatagoodfortunewereinstoreforherGraceassuchamarriageasthiswhichseemedtobesonearlyofferedtoher,itmightprobablybewellthatGraceshouldbeaslittleathomeaspossible。MrsCrawleyhadheardnothingbutgoodofMajorGrantly;butsheknewthattheGrantlyswereproudrichpeople——wholivedwiththeirheadshighupinthecounty——anditcouldhardlybethatasonofthearchdeaconwouldliketotakehisbridedirectfromHogglestockparsonage。
  ItwassettledthatGraceshouldgotoAllingtonassoonasalettercouldbereceivedfromMissDaleinreturntoGrace’snote,andonthethirdmorningafterherarrivalathomeshestarted。Nonebuttheywhohavethemselvesbeenpoorgentry——gentrysopoorasnottoknowhowtoraiseashilling——canunderstandthepeculiarbitternessofthetrialswhichsuchpovertyproduces。Thepovertyofthenormalpoordoesnotapproachit;or,rather,thepangsarisingfromsuchpovertyarealtogetherofadifferentsort。Tobehungryandhavenofood,tobecoldandhavenofuel,tobethreatenedwithdistraintforone’sfewchairsandtables,andwiththelossoftheroofoverone’shead——allthesemiseries,which,iftheydonotpositivelyreach,aresofrequentlyneartoreachingthenormalpoor,are,nodoubt,theseverestofthetrialstowhichhumanityissubjected。Theythreatenlife——or,ifnotlife,thenliberty——reducingtheabjectonetoachoicebetweencaptivityorstarvation。Byhookorcrook,thepoorgentlemanorpoorlady——lettheoneortheotherbesopoor——doesnotoftencometothelastextremityoftheworkhouse。Therearesuchcases,buttheyareexceptional。MrsCrawley,throughallhersufferings,hadneveryetfoundhercupboardtobeabsolutelybare,orthebread—pantobeactuallyempty。Buttherearepangstowhich,atthetime,starvationitselfwouldseemtobepreferable。Theangryeyesoftheunpaidtradesman,savagewithangerwhichoneknowstobejustifiable;thetauntofthepoorservantwhowantsherwages;thegradualrelinquishmentofhabitswhichthesoftnurtureofearlier,kinderyearshadmadesecondnature;thewancheeksofthewifewhosemaladydemandswine;theragsofthehusbandwhoseoutwardoccupationsdemanddecency;
  theneglectedchildren,whoarelearningnotbethechildrenofgentlefolk;and,worsethanall,thealmsanddolesofhalf—generousfriends,thewaningpride,thepridethatwillnotwane,thegrowingdoubtwhetheritbenotbettertobowthehead,andacknowledgetoalltheworldthatnothingoftheprideofstationisleft——thatthehandisopentoreceiveandreadytotouchthecap,thatthefallfromtheuppertothelowerlevelhasbeenaccomplished——thesearethepangsofpovertywhichdrivetheCrawleysoftheworldtobefrequententertainingofthatideaofthebarebodkin。ItwassettledthatGraceshouldgotoAllington;——buthowaboutherclothes?Andthen,whencewastocomethemoneyforthejourney?
  ’Idon’tthinkthey’llmindaboutmybeingshabbyatAllington。Theyliveveryquietlythere。’
  ’ButyousaythatMissDaleissoveryniceinallherways。’
  ’Lilyisverynice,mamma;butIshan’tmindhersomuchashermother,becausesheknowsitall。Ihavetoldhereverything。’
  ’Butyouhavegivenmeallyourmoney,dearest。’
  ’MissPrettymantoldmeIwastocometoher,’saidGrace,whohadalreadytakensomefromtheschoolmistress,whichatoncehadgoneintomother’spocket,andintohouseholdpurposes。’ShesaidIshouldbesuretogotoAllington,andthatofcourseIshouldgotoher,asImustpassthroughSilverbridge。’
  ’Ihopepapawillnotaskaboutit,’saidMrsCrawley。Luckilypapadidnotaskaboutit,beingatthemomentoccupiedmuchwithotherthoughtsandothertroubles,andGracewasallowedtoreturnbySilverbridge,andtotakewhatwasneededfromMissPrettyman。Whocantellofthemendingandpatching,oftheverywearingmidnighthoursofneedleworkwhichwereaccomplishedbeforethepoorgirlwent,sothatshemightnotreachherfriend’shouseinactualrags?Andwhentheworldwasended,whatwastheretoshowforit?Idonotthinkthattheideaofthebarebodkin,asregardedherself,everflittedacrossMissCrawley’sbrain——shebeingoneofthosewhoareverystrongtoendure;butitmusthaveoccurredtoherveryoftenthatthereposeofthegraveissweet,andthattherecomethafterdeathalevellingandmakingevenofthings,whichwouldatlastcureallherevils。
  Gracenodoubtlookedforwardtoalevellingandmakingevenofthings——orperhapstosomethingmoreprosperousthanthat,whichshouldcometoherreliefonthissideofthegrave。Shecouldnotbuthavehighhopesinregardtoherfuturedestiny。Although,ashasbeensaid,sheunderstoodnomorethansheoughttohaveunderstoodfromMissPrettyman’saccountoftheconversationwithMajorGrantly,still,innocentasshewas,shehadunderstoodmuch。Sheknewthatthemanlovedher,andsheknewalsothatshelovedtheman。Shethoroughlycomprehendedthatthepresentcouldbetohernotimeforlisteningtospeechesoflove,orforgivingkindanswers;butstillIthinkthatshedidlookforreliefonthissideofthegrave。
  ’Tut,tut,’saidMissPrettyman,asGraceinvaintriedtoconcealhertearsupintheprivatesanctum。’Yououghttoknowmebythistime,andtohavelearnedthatIcanunderstandthings。’ThetearshadflowninreturnnotonlyforthefivegoldsovereignswhichMissPrettymanhadpressedintoherhand,butonaccountoftheprettiest,soft,greymerinofrockthatevercharmedagirl’seye。’IshouldliketoknowhowmanygirlsIhavegivendressesto,whentheyhavebeengoingoutvisiting。Law,mydear;theytakethem,manyofthem,fromusoldmaids,almostasifwewereonlypayingourdebtsingivingthem。’AndthenMissAnnegaveheraclothcloak,verywarm,withprettybuttonsandgimptrimmings——justsuchacloakasanygirlmightliketowearwhothoughtthatshewouldbeseenoutwalkingwithherMajorGrantlyonaChristmasmorning。GraceCrawleydidnotexpecttobeseenoutwalkingbyherMajorGrantly,butneverthelessshelikedthecloak。Bythepowerofherpracticalwill,andbyhertruesympathy,theelderMissPrettymanhadforawhileconqueredtheannoyance,whichonGrace’spart,wasattachedtothereceivingofgifts,bytheconsciousnessofherpoverty;andwhenMissAnne,withsomeprideinthetoneofhervoice,expressedahopethatGracewouldthinkthecloakpretty,Graceputherarmspleasantlyroundherfriend’sneck,anddeclaredthatitwasverypretty——theprettiestcloakinalltheworld!
  GracewasmetattheGuestwickrailwaystationbyherfriendLilyDale,andwasdrivenovertoAllingtoninaponycarriagebelongingtoLily’suncle,thesquireoftheparish。Ithinkshewillbeexcusedinhavingputonhernewcloak,notsomuchbecauseofthecoldaswithaviewofmakingthebestofherselfbeforeMrsDale。AndyetsheknewMrsDalewouldknowallthecircumstancesofherpoverty,andwasverygladthatitshouldbeso。’Iamsogladthatyouhavecome,mydear,’saidLily。
  ’Itwillbesuchacomfort。’
  ’Iamsureyouareverygood,’saidGrace。
  ’Andmammaissoglad。Fromthemomentthatwebothtalkedourselvesintoeagernessaboutit——whileIwaswritingmyletter,youknow,weresolvedthatitmustbeso。’
  ’I’mafraidIshallbeagreattroubletoMrsDale。’
  ’Atroubletomamma!Indeedyouwillnot。Youshallbeatroubletonoonebutme。Iwillhaveallthetroublemyself,andthelabourIdelightinshallbephysictomypain。’
  GraceCrawleycouldnotduringthejourneybeathomeandateaseevenwithherfriendLily。Shewasgoingtoastrangehouseunderstrangecircumstances。Herfatherhadnotindeedbeentriedandfoundguiltyoftheft,butthechargeofthefthadbeenmadeagainsthim,andthemagistratesbeforewhomithadbeenmadehadthoughtthechargewastrue。Graceknewallthenewspapershadtoldthestory,andwasofcourseawarethatMrsDalewouldhaveheardit。Herownmindwasfullofit,andthoughshedreadedtospeakofit,yetshecouldnotbesilent。
  MissDale,whounderstoodmuchofthis,endeavouredtotalkherfriendintoeasiness;butshefearedtobeginupontheonesubject,andbeforethedrivewasovertheywere,bothofthem,toocoldformuchconversation。’There’smamma,’saidMissDaleastheydroveup,turningoutofthestreetofthevillagetothedoorofMrsDale’shouse。’Shealwaysknowsbyinstinct,whenIamcoming。Youmustunderstandnowthatyouareamongus,thatmammaandIarenotmotheranddaughter,buttwolovingoldladieslivingtogetherinpeaceandharmony。Wedohaveourquarrels——whetherthechickenshallberoastorboiled,butneveranythingbeyondthat。Mamma,hereisGrace,starvedtodeath;andshesaysifyoudon’tgivehersometeashewillgobackatonce。’
  ’Iwillgivehersometea,’saidMrsDale。
  ’AndIamworsethansheis,becauseI’vebeendriving。It’sallupwithBertramandMrGreenforthenextweekatleast。Itisfreezingashardasitcanfreeze,andtheymightaswelltrytohuntinLaplandashere。’
  ’They’llconsolethemselveswithskating,’saidMrsDale。
  ’Haveyoueverobserved,Grace,’saidMissDale,’howmuchamusementgentlemenrequire,andhowimperativeitisthatsomeothergameshouldbeprovidedwhenonegamefails?’
  ’Notparticularly,’saidGrace。
  ’Oh,butitisso。Now,withwomen,itissupposedthattheycanamusethemselvesorlivewithoutamusement。Onceortwiceinayear,perhapssomethingisdoneforthem。Thereisanarrow—shootingparty,oraball,orapicnic。Butthecateringformen’ssportisneverending,andisalwaysparamounttoeverythingelse。Andyetthepetgameofthedaynevergoesoffproperly。Inpartridgetime,thepartridgesarewild,andwon’tcometobekilled。Inhuntingtimethefoxeswon’trunstraight——thewretches。Theyshownospirit,andwilltaketogroundtosavetheirbrushes。Thencomesanippingfrost,andskatingisproclaimed;
  buttheiceisalwaysrough,andthewoodcockshavedesertedthecountry。Andasforsalmon——whenthesummercomesroundIdoreallybelievethattheysufferagreatdealaboutthesalmon。I’msuretheynevercatchany。Sotheygobacktotheirclubsandtheircards,andtheirbilliards,andabusetheircooksandblackballtheirfriends。
  That’saboutit,mamma;isitnot?’
  ’YouknowmoreaboutitthanIdo,mydear。’
  ’BecauseIhavetolistentoBertram,asyouneverwilldo。We’vegotsuchaMrGreendownhere,Grace。He’ssuchaduckofaman——suchtop—bootsandalltherestofit。Andyettheywhispertomethathedoesn’talwaysridetohounds。Andtoseehimplaybilliardsisbeautiful,onlyhecannevermakeastroke。Ihopeyouplaybilliards,Grace,becauseuncleChristopherhasjusthadanewtableputup。’
  ’Ineversawabilliard—tableyet,’saidGrace。
  ’ThenMrGreenshallteachyou。He’lldoanythingthatyouaskhim。Ifyoudon’tapprovethecolouroftheball,he’llgotoLondontogetyouanotherone。Onlyyoumustbeverycarefulaboutsayingthatyoulikeanythingbeforehim,ashe’llbesuretohaveitforyouthenextday。
  Mammahappenedtosaythatshewantedafour—pennypostagestamp,andhewalkedofftoGuestwicktogetitforherinstantly,althoughitwaslunch—time。’
  ’Hedidnothingofthekind,Lily,’saidhermother。’HewasgoingtoGuestwick,andwasverygood—natured,andbroughtmebackapostage—stampthatIwanted。’
  ’Ofcoursehe’sgood—natured,Iknowthat。Andthere’smycousinBertram。He’sCaptainDale,youknow。ButhepreferstobecalledMrDale,becausehehasleftthearmy,andhassetupasjuniorsquireoftheparish。UncleChristopheristherealsquire;onlyBertramdoesallthework。Andnowyouknowallaboutus。I’mafraidyou’llfindusdullenough——unlessyoucantakeafancytoMrGreen。’
  ’DoesMrGreenlivehere?’
  ’No;hedoesnotlivehere。Ineverheardofhislivinganywhere。Hewassomethingonce,butIdon’tknowwhat;andIdon’tthinkhe’sanythingnowinparticular。Buthe’sBertram’sfriend,andlikemostmen,asoneseesthem,heneverhasmuchtodo。DoesMajorGrantlyevergoforthtofighthiscountry’sbattles?’Thislastquestionsheaskedinalowwhisper,sothatthewordsdidnotreachhermother。Graceblusheduptohereyes,however,assheanswered——’IthinkMajorGrantlyhasleftthearmy。’
  ’Weshallgetroundherinadayortwo,mamma,’saidLilyDaletohermotherthatnight。’I’msureitwillbethebestthingtoforceheroutofhertroubles。’
  ’Iwouldnotusetoomuchforceonher,dear。’
  ’Thingsarebetterwhentheyaretalkedabout。I’msuretheyare。AnditwillbegoodtomakeheraccustomedtospeakofMajorGrantly。FromwhatMaryWalkertellsme,hecertainlymeansit。Andifso,sheshouldbereadyforitwhenitcomes。’
  ’Donotmakeherreadyforwhatmaynevercome。’
  ’No,mamma;butsheisatpresentsuchachildthatsheknowsnothingofherpowers。SheshouldbemadetounderstandthatitispossiblethatevenaMajorGrantlymaythinkhimselffortunateinbeingallowedtoloveher。’
  ’IshouldleavethattoNature,ifIwereyou,’saidMrsDale。
  CHAPTERX
  DINNERATFRAMLEYCOURT
  LordLufton,ashedrovehometoFramleyafterthemeetingofthemagistratesatSilverbridge,discussedthematterwithhisbrother—in—law,MarkRobarts,theclergyman。LordLuftonwasdrivingadog—cart,andwentalongtheroadattherateoftwelvemilesanhour。
  ’I’lltellyouwhatitis,Mark,’hesaid,’thatmanisinnocent;butifhewon’temploylawyersathistrial,thejurywillfindhimguilty。’
  ’Idon’tknowwhattothinkaboutit,’saidtheclergyman。
  ’Wereyouintheroomwhenheprotestedsovehementlythathedidnotknowwherehegotthemoney?’
  ’Iwasintheroomallthetime。’
  ’Andyoudidnotbelievehimwhenhesaidthat?’