unreasonable。Buttheyhadtheirpointtogain，andthereforeonlyflatteredhim。TheywerequitesurethatMrThornewouldliketohaveaclergymanintheparishwhowouldhimselfbecloselyconnectedwiththearchdeacon。ThenDrGrantlyallegedthathemightfindhimselfinatrap。WhatifheconferredthelivingofStEwold’sonMrCrawleyandafterallthereshouldbenomarriagebetweenhissonandGrace？’Ofcoursethey’llbemarried，’saidMrsGrantly。’It’sallverywellforyoutosaythat，mydear；butthewholefamilyaresoqueerthatthereisnoknowingwhatthegirlmaydo。
　　Shemaytakeupsomeotherfadnow，andrefusehimpointblank。’’Shehasnevertakenupanyfad，’saidMrsGrantly，whonowmountedalmosttowrathindefenceofherfuturedaughter—in—law，’andyouarewrongtosaythatshehas。Shehasbehavedbeautifully：——asnobodyknowsbetterthanyoudo。’ThenthearchdeacongavewaysofarastopromisethatStEwold’sshouldbeofferedtoMrCrawleyassoonasGraceCrawleywasintruthengagedtoHenryGrantly。
　　Afterthat，thedeanwenttothepalace。Therehadneverbeenanyquarrellingbetweenthebishopandthedean，eitherdirectorindirect；——nor，indeed，hadthedeaneveryquarrelledevenwithMrsProudie。Buthehadbelongedtheanti—Proudiefaction。HehadbeenbroughtintothediocesebytheGrantlyinterest；andtherefore，duringMrsProudie’slifetime，hehadalwaysbeenaccountedamongtheenemies。
　　Therehadneverbeenanyrealintimacybetweenthehouses。Eachhousehadalwaysbeenaskedtodinewiththeotherhouseonceayear；butithadbeenunderstoodthatsuchdiningswereecclesiastico—official，andnotfriendly。TherehadbeenthesameoutsidediocesancivilitybetweeneventhepalaceandPlumstead。Butnow，whenthegreatchieftainofthepalacewasnomore，andthestrengthofthepalacefactionwasgone，peace，orperhapssomethingmorethanpeace——amity，perhaps，mightbemoreeasilyarrangedwiththedeanthanwiththearchdeacon。InpreparationforsucharrangementsthebishophadgonetoMrHarding’sfuneral。
　　Andnowthedeanwenttothepalaceatthebishop’sbehest。Hefoundhislordshipalone，andwasreceivedwithalmostreverentialcourtesy。
　　Hethoughtthatthebishopwaslookingwonderfullyagedsincehelastsawhim，butdidnotperhapstakeintoaccounttheabsenceofclericalsleeknesswhichwasincidentaltothebishop’sprivatelifeinhisprivateroom，andperhapsinacertainmeasuretohisrecentaffliction。
　　ThedeanhadbeeninthehabitofregardingDrProudieasamanalmostyoungforhisage——havingbeeninthehabitofseeinghimathisbest，clothedinauthority，redolentofthethrone，conspicuousasregardedhisapronandoutwardsignsofepiscopality。Muchofthiswasnowabsent。Thebishop，asherosetogreetthedean，shuffledwithhisoldslippers，andhishairwasnotbrushedsobecominglyasusedtobethecasewhenMrsProudiewasalwaysnearhim。
　　Itwasnecessarythatawordshouldbesaidbyeachastothelosswhichtheotherhadsuffered。’MrDean，’saidhislordship，’allowmetoofferyoumycondolementsinregardtothedeathofthatveryexcellentclergymanandmostworthygentleman，yourfather—in—law。’
　　’Thankyou，mylord。Hewasexcellentandworthy。IdonotsupposethatIshalllivetoseeanymanwhowasmoreso。Youalsohaveagreat——aterribleloss。’
　　’Oh，MrDean，yes；yes，indeed，MrDean。Thatwasaloss。’
　　’Andhardlypasttheprimeoflife！’
　　’Ah，yes；——justfifty—six——andsostrong！Wasshenot？Atleasteverybodythoughtso。Andyetshewasgoneinaminute；——goneinaminute。Ihaven’theldmyheadupsince，MrDean。’
　　’Itwasagreatloss，mylord；butyoumuststruggletobearit。’
　　’Idostruggle。Iamstruggling。Butitmakesonefeelsolonelyinthisgreathouse。Ahme！Ioftenwish，MrDean，thatithadpleasedProvidencetohaveleftmeinsomehumbleparsonage，wheredutywouldhavebeeneasierthanitishere。ButIwillnottroubleyouwithallthat。Whatarewetodo，MrDean，aboutthispoorMrCrawley。’
　　’MrCrawleyisaveryoldfriendofmine，andaverydearfriend。’
　　’Ishe？Ah！Averyworthyman，Iamsure，andonewhohasbeenmuchtriedbyundeservedadversities。’
　　’Mostseverely，mylord。’
　　’Sittingamongthepotsherds，likeJob；hashenot，MrDean？Well；letushopethatisallover。Whenthisaccusationabouttherobberywasbroughtagainsthim，Ifoundmyselfboundtointerfere。’
　　’Hehasnocomplaintonthatscore。’
　　’Ihopenot。Ihavenotwishedtobeharsh，butwhatcouldIdo，MrDean？Theytoldmethatthecivilauthoritiesfoundtheevidencesostrongagainsthimthatitcouldnotbewithstood。’
　　’Itwasverystrong。’
　　’Andwethoughtthatheshouldatleastberelieved，andwesentforDrTempest，whoishisruraldean。’ThenthebishoprememberingallthecircumstancesofthatinterviewwiththeDrTempest——astowhichhehadeverfeltassuredthatoneoftheresultswasthedeathofhiswife，wherebytherewasnolongerany’we’leftinthepalaceofBarchester——sighedpiteously，lookingatthedeanwithahopelessface。
　　’Nobodydoubts，mylord，thatyouactedforthebest。’
　　’Ihopewedid。Ithinkwedid。Andnowwhatwillwedo？Hehasresignedhisliving，bothtoyouandtome，asIhear——youbeingthepatron。Itwillsimplybenecessary，Ithink，thatheshouldasktohavetheletterscancelled。Then，asItakeit，thereneedbenorestitution。
　　Youcannotthink，MrDean，howmuchIhavethoughtaboutitall。’
　　Thenthedeanunfoldedhisbudget，andexplainedtothebishophowhehopedthatthelivingofStEwold’s，whichwas，aftersomeecclesiasticalfashion，attachedtotherectoryofPlumstead，andwhichwasnowvacantbythedemiseofMrHarding，mightbeconferredbythearchdeaconuponMrCrawley。Itwasnecessarytoexplainalsothatthiscouldnotbedonequiteimmediately，andindoingthisthedeanencounteredsomelittledifficulty。Thearchdeacon，hesaid，wishedtobeallowedanotherweektothinkaboutit；andthereforeperhapsprovisionforthedutiesofHogglestockmightyetbemadeforafewSundays。Thebishop，thedeansaid，mighteasilyunderstandthat，afterwhathasoccurred，MrCrawleywouldhardlywishtogoagainintothatpulpit，unlesshedidsoasresumingduties，whichwouldnecessarilybepermanentwithhim。Toallthisthebishopassented，buthewasapparentlystruckwithmuchwonderatthechoicemadebythearchdeacon。
　　’Ishouldhavethought，MrDean，’hesaid，’thatMrCrawleywasthelastmantohavesuitedthearchdeacon’schoice。’
　　’ThearchdeaconandImarriedsisters，mylord。’
　　’Oh，ah！yes。AndheputsthenominationofStEwold’satyourdisposition。IamsureIshallbedelightedtoinstitutesoworthyagentlemanasMrCrawley。’Thenthedeantookhisleaveofthebishop——aswewillalso。Poordearbishop！Iaminclinedtothinkthathewasrightinhisregretsastothelittleparsonage。NotthathisfailureatBarchester，andhispresentconsciousnessoflonelyincompetence，weremainlyduetoanypositiveinefficiencyonhisownpart。Hemighthavebeenasufficientlygoodbishop，haditnotbeenthatMrsProudiewassomuchmoreasufficientlygoodbishop’swife。Wewillnowsayfarewelltohim，withahopethattheloppedtreemayyetbecomegreenagain，andtosomeextentfruitful，althoughallitsbeautifulheadandrichnessofwavingfoliagehavebeentakenfromit。
　　AboutaweekafterthisHenryGrantlyrodeoverfromCosbyLodgetoHogglestock。IthasjustbeensaidthatthoughtheassizeshadpassedbyandthoughallquestionofMrCrawley’sguiltwasnowsetaside，novisitorhadoflatemadehiswayovertoHogglestock。IfancythatGraceCrawleyforgot，inthefullnessofhermemoryastootherthings，thatMrHarding，ofwhosedeathsheheard，hadbeenherlover’sgrandfather——andthatthereforetheremightpossiblybesomedelay。Hadtherebeenmuchsaidbetweenthemotherandthedaughteraboutthelover，nodoubtallthiswouldhavebeenexplained；butGracewasveryreticent，andtherewereothermattersintheHogglestockhouseholdwhichinthosedaysoccupiedMrsCrawley’smind。Howweretheyagaintobeginlife？for，inverytruth，lifeasithadexistedwiththembefore，hadbeenbroughttoanend。ButGracerememberedwellthesortofcompactwhichexistedbetweenherandherlover；——thecompactwhichhadbeenmadeinverywordsbetweenherselfandherlover’sfather。CompleteinherestimationashadbeentheheavenopenedtoherbyHenryGrantly’soffer，shehadrefuseditall——lestsheshouldbringdisgraceuponhim。Butthedisgracewasnotcertain；andifherfathershouldbemadefreefromit，then——then——thenHenryGrantlyoughttocometoherandbeatherfeetwithalltheexpeditionpossibletohim。Thatwasherreadingofthecompact。Shehadoncedeclared，whenspeakingofthepossibledisgracewhichmightattachitselftoherfamilyandtohername，thatherpovertydidnot’signifyabit’。Shewasnotashamedofherfather——onlyoftheaccusationagainstherfather。Thereforeshehadhurriedhomewhenthataccusationwaswithdrawn，desirousthatherlovershouldtellherofhislove——ifhechosetorepeatsuchtelling——amidstallthepoorthingsofHogglestock，andnotamongthechairs，andtablesandgooddinnersofluxuriousFramley。MrsRobartshadgivenatrueinterpretationtoLadyLuftonofthehastewhichGracehaddisplayed。
　　Butsheneednothavebeeninsogreatahurry。Shehadbeenathomealreadyaboveafortnight，andasyethehadmadenosign。Atlastshesaidawordtohermother。’MightInotasktogobacktoMissPrettyman’snow，mamma？’’Ithink，dear，youhadbetterwaittillthingsarealittlesettled。Papaistohearagainfromthedeanverysoon。YouseetheyareallingreatsorrowatBarchesteraboutpoorMrHarding’sdeath。’’Grace！’saidJane，rushingintothehousealmostspeechless，atthatmoment，’hereheis！——onhorseback。’IdonotknowwhyJaneshouldhavetalkedaboutMajorGrantlyassimply’he’。Therehadbeennoconversationamongthesisterstojustifyherinsuchamodeofspeech。
　　Gracehadnotamomenttoputtwoandtwotogether，sothatshemightrealisethemeaningofwhathermotherhadsaid；but，nevertheless，shefeltatthemomentthattheman，comingashehaddonenow，hadcomewithallcommendablespeed。Howfoolishshehadbeenwithherwretchedimpatience！
　　Therehewascertainly，tyinghishorsetotherailing。’Mamma，whatamItosaytohim？’
　　’Nay，dear；heisyourownfriend——ofyourownmaking。Youmustsaywhatyouthinkfit。’
　　’Youarenotgoing？’
　　’Ithinkwehadbetter，dear。Thenshewent，andJanewithher，andJaneopenedthedoorforMajorGrantly。MrCrawleyhimselfwasaway，atHoggleEnd，anddidnotreturntillafterMajorGrantlyhadlefttheparsonage。Jane，asshegreetedthegrandgentleman，whomshehadseenandnomorethanseen，hardlyknewwhattosaytohim。When，afteraminute’shesitation，shetoldhimthatGracewasinthere——pointingtothesitting—roomdoor，shefeltthatshehadbeenveryawkward。HenryGrantly，however，didnot，Ithink，feelherawkwardness，beingconsciousofsomesmalldifficultiesofhisown。When，however，hefoundthatGracewasalone，thetaskbeforehimatoncelosthalfitsdifficulties。’Grace，’hesaid，’amIrighttocometoyounow？’
　　’Idonotknow，’shesaid。’Icannottell。’
　　’DearestGrace，thereisnoreasononearthnowwhyyoushouldnotbemywife。’
　　’Istherenot？’
　　’Iknowofnone——ifyoucanloveme。Yousawmyfather？’
　　’Yes，Isawhim。’
　　’Andyouheardwhathesaid？’
　　’Ihardlyrememberwhathesaid；——buthekissedme，andIthoughthewasverykind。’
　　WhatlittleattemptHenryGrantlythenmade，thinkingthathecoulddonobetterthanfollowcloselytheexampleofsoexcellentafather，neednotbeexplainedwithminuteness。ButIthinkthathisfirsteffortwasnotsuccessful。Gracewasembarrassedandretreated，anditwasnottillshehadbeencompelledtogiveadirectanswertoadirectquestionthatshesubmittedtoallowhisarmroundherwaist。Butwhenshehadansweredthatquestionshewasalmostmorehumblethanbecomesamaidenwhohasjustbeenwooedandwon。Amaidenwhohasbeenwooedandwon，generallythinksthatitisshewhohasconquered，andchoosestobetriumphantaccordingly。ButGracewasevenmeanenoughtothankherlover。’Idonotknowwhyyoushouldbesogoodtome，’shesaid。
　　’BecauseIloveyou，’saidhe，’betterthanalltheworld。’
　　’Bywhyshouldyoubesogoodtomeasthat？Whyshouldyouloveme？I
　　amsuchapoorthingforamanlikeyoutolove。’
　　’Ihavehadthewittoseethatyouarenotapoorthing，Grace；anditisthusthatIhaveearnedmytreasure。Somegirlsarepoorthings，andsomearerichtreasures。’
　　’Iflovecanmakemeatreasure，Iwillbeyourtreasure。Andiflovecanmakemerich，Iwillberichforyou。’AfterthatIthinkhehadnodifficultyinfollowinginhisfather’sfootsteps。
　　AfterawhileMrsCrawleycamein，andtherewasmuchpleasanttalkingamongthem，whileHenryGrantlysathappilywithhislove，asthoughwaitingforMrCrawley’sreturn。ButthoughhewastherenearlyallmorningMrCrawleydidnotreturn。’Ithinkhelikesthebrickmakersbetterthananybodyintheworld，exceptourselves，’saidGrace。’I
　　don’tknowhowhewillmanagetogetonwithouthisfriends。’BeforeGracehassaidthis，MajorGrantlyhadtoldallhisstory，andhadproducedaletterfromhisfather，addressedtoMrCrawley，ofwhichthereadershallhaveacopy，althoughatthistimetheletterhadnotbeenopened。Theletterwasasfollows：—
　　’PLUMSTEADRECTORY，May，186—
　　’MYDEARSIR，’YouwillnodoubthaveheardthatMrHarding，thevicarofStEwold’s，whowasthefatherofmywifeandofMrsArabin，hasbeentakenfromus。Thelosstousofsoexcellentandsodearamanhasbeenverygreat。IhaveconferredwithmyfriendtheDeanofBarchesterastoanewnomination，andI
　　venturetorequestyouracceptanceofthepreferment；ifitshouldsuityoutomovefromHogglestocktoStEwold’s。ItmaybeaswellthatIshouldstateplainlymyreasonsformakingthisoffertoagentlemanwithwhomIamnotpersonallyacquainted。MrHarding，onhisdeath—bed，himselfsuggestedit，movedtheretobywhathehadheardofthecruelandundeservedpersecutiontowhichyouhadbeensubjected；asalso——onwhichpointhewasveryurgentinwhathesaid——bythecharacterwhichyoubearinthedioceseforzealandpiety。Imayalsoadd，thatthecloseconnectionwhich，asIunderstand，islikelytotakeplacebetweenyourfamilyandminehasbeenanadditionalreasonformytakingthisstep，andthelongfriendshipwhichhasexistedbetweenyouandmywife’sbrother—in—law，theDeanofBarchester，isathird。
　　’StEwold’sisworth350poundsperannum，besidesthehouse，whichissufficientlycommodiousforamoderatefamily。Thepopulationisabouttwelvehundred，ofwhichmorethanahalfconsistsofpersonsdwellinginanoutskirtofthecity——fortheparishrunsalmostintoBarchester。
　　’Ishallbegladtohearyourreplywithaslittledelayasmaysuityourconvenience，andintheeventofyouracceptingtheoffer——whichIsincerelytrustthatyoumaybeenabletodo——Ishallhopetohaveanearlyopportunityofseeingyou，withreferencetoyourinstitutiontotheparish。
　　’AllowmealsotosaytoyouandMrsCrawleythat，ifwehavebeencorrectlyinformedastothatothereventtowhichIhavealluded，webothhopethatwemayhaveanearlyopportunityofmakingourselvespersonallyacquaintedwiththeparentsofayoungladywhoistobesodeartous。AsI
　　havemetyourdaughter，Imayperhapsbeallowedtosendhermykindestlove。If，asmydaughter—in—law，shecomesuptotheimpressionwhichshegavemeatourfirstmeeting，I，atanyrate，shallbesatisfied。——Ihavethehonourtobe，mydearsir，youmostfaithfulservant，’THEOPHILUSGRANTLY’
　　Thisletterthearchdeaconhadshowntohiswife，bywhomithadnotbeenverywarmlyapproved。Nothing，MrsGrantlyhadsaid，couldbeprettierthanwhatthearchdeaconhadsaidaboutGrace。MrsCrawley，nodoubt，wouldbesatisfiedwiththat。ButMrCrawleywassuchastrangeman！’HewillbestrangerthanItakehimtobeifhedoesnotacceptStEwold’s，’saidthearchdeacon。’Butinofferingit，’saidMrsGrantly，’youhavenotasaidawordofyourownhighopinionofhismerits。’’I
　　havenotaveryhighopinionofthem，’saidthearchdeacon。’Yourfatherhad，andIhavesaidso。AndasIhavethemostprofoundrespectforyourfather’sopinioninsuchamatter，Ihavepermittedthattoovercomemyownhesitation。’Thiswasprettyfromthehusbandtothewifeasitregardedherfather，whohadnowgonefromthem；and，therefore，MrsGrantlyaccepteditwithoutfurtherargument。Thereadermayprobablyfeelassuredthatthearchdeaconhadnever，duringtheirjointlives，actedinanychurchmatterupontheadvicegiventohimbyMrHarding；anditwasprobablythecasealsothatthelivingwouldhavebeenofferedtoMrCrawley，ifnothinghadbeensaidbyMrHardingonthesubject；butitdidnotbecomeMrsGrantlyeventothinkofallthis。Thearchdeacon，havingmadehisgraciousspeechaboutherfather，wasnotagainaskedtoalterhisletter。’Isupposehewillacceptit，’
　　saidMrsGrantly。’Ishouldthinkthatheprobablymay，’saidthearchdeacon。
　　SoGrace，knowingwhatwasthepurportoftheletter，satwithitbetweenherfingers，whileherloversatbesideher，fullofvariousplansforthefuture。Thiswashisfirstlover’spresenttoher；——andwhatapresentitwas！Comfort，andhappiness，andapleasanthomeforallherfamily。’StEwold’sisn’tthebesthouseintheworld，’saidthemajor，’becauseitisold，andwhatIcallpiecemeal；butitisverypretty，andcertainlynice。’’ThatisjustthesortofparsonagethatI
　　dreamabout，’saidJane。’Andthegardenispleasantwitholdtrees，’
　　saidthemajor。’Ialwaysdreamaboutoldtrees，’saidJane，’onlyI’mafraidI’mtoooldmyselftobelettoclimbupthemnow。’MrsCrawleysaidverylittle，butsatwithhereyesfulloftears。Wasitpossiblethat，atlast，beforetheworldhadcloseduponher，shewastoenjoysomethingagainofthecomfortswhichshehadknowninherearlyyears，andtoagainsurroundedbythosedecenciesoflifewhichoflatehadbeenalmostbanishedfromherhomeofpoverty！
　　Theirvariousplansforthefuture——fortheimmediatefuture——wereverystartling。GracewastogooveratoncetoPlumstead，whitherEdithhadbeenalreadytransferredfromCosbyLodge。Thatwasallverywell；therewasnothingverystartlingorimpracticableinthat。TheFramleyladies，havingnoneofthosedoubtsastowhatwascomingwhichhadforawhileperplexedGraceherself，hadtakenlittlelibertieswithherwardrobe，whichenabledsuchavisittobemadewithoutoverwhelmingdifficulties。
　　Butthemajorwasequallyeager——oratanyrateimperious——inhisrequisitionforavisitfromMrandMrsCrawleythemselvestoPlumsteadrectory。MrsCrawleydidnotdaretoputforwardtheplainunadornedreasonsagainstit，asMrCrawleyhaddonewhendiscussingthesubjectofavisittothedeanery。Norcouldshequiteventuretoexplainthatshefearedthearchdeaconandherhusbandwouldhardlymixwelltogetherinsociety。Withwhom，indeed，wasitpossiblethatherhusbandshouldmixwell，afterhislongandhardly—triedseclusion？Shecouldonlypleadthatbothherhusbandandherselfweresolittleusedtogoingoutthatshefeared——shefeared——shefearedsheknewnotwhat。’We’llgetoverallthat，’saidthemajor，almostcontemptuously。’Itisonlythefirstplungethatisdisagreeable。’Perhapsthemajordidnotknowhowverydisagreeableafirstplungemaybe！
　　Attwoo’clockHenryGrantlygotuptogo。’Ishouldverymuchliketohaveseenhim，butIfearIcannotwaitanylonger。Asitis，thepatienceofmyhorsehasbeensurprising。’ThenGracewalkedoutwithhimtothegateandputherhanduponhisbridleashemounted，andthoughhowwonderfulwasthepowerofFortune，thatthegoddessshouldhavesentsogallantagentlemantobeherlordandherlover。’I
　　declareIdon’tquitebelieveitevenyet，’shesaid，intheletterwhichshewrotetoLilyDalethatnight。
　　ItwasfourbeforeMrCrawleyreturnedtohishouse，andthenhewasveryweary。ThereweremanysickinthesedaysatHoggleEnd，andhehadgonefromcottagetocottagethroughtheday。GilesHoggettwasalmostunabletoworkfromrheumatism，butstillwasoftheopinionthatdoggednessmightcarryhimon。’It’sbeenadealo’servicetoyou，MusterCrawley，’hesaid。’Wehearsaboutitall。Ifyouhadn’tabeendogged，where’dyouabeennow？’WithGilesHoggettandothershehadremainedalltheday，andnowhecamehomewearyandbeaten。’You’lltellhimfirst，’Gracehadsaid，’andthenI’llgivehimtheletter。’
　　Thewifewasthefirsttotellhimofthegoodfortunethatwascoming。
　　Heflunghimselfintotheoldchairassoonasheentered，andaskedforsomebreadandtea。’Janehasalreadygoneforit，dear，’saidhiswife。
　　’Wehavehadavisitorhere，Josiah。’
　　’Avisitor——whatvisitor？’
　　’Grace’sownfriend——HenryGrantly。’
　　’Grace，comehere，thatImaykissyouandblessyou，’hesaidverysolemnly。’Itwouldseemthattheworldisgoingtobeverygoodtoyou。’
　　’Papa，youmustreadthisletterfirst。’
　　’BeforeIkissmyowndarling？’Thenshekneltathisfeet。’Isee，’
　　hesaid，takingtheletter；’itisfromyourlover’sfather。
　　Peradventurehesignifieshisconsent，whichwouldsurelybeneedfulbeforesuchamarriagewouldbeseemly。’
　　’Itisn’taboutme，papa，atall。’
　　’Notaboutyou？Ifso，thatwouldbemostunpromising。But，inanycase，youaremybestdarling。’Thenhekissedherandblessedher，andslowlyopenedtheletter。Hiswifehadnowcomeclosetohim，andwasstandingoverhim，touchinghim，sothatshealsocouldreadthearchdeacon’sletter。Grace，whowasstillinfrontofhim，couldseetheworkingofhisfaceashereadit；butevenshecouldnottellwhetherhewasgratified，oroffended，ordismayed。Whenhehadgotasfarasthefirstofferofthepresentation，heceasedreadingitforawhile，andlookedroundabouttheroomasthoughlostinthought。’Letmeseewhatfurtherhewritestome，’hethensaid；andafterthathecontinuedtheletterslowlytotheend。’Nay，mychild，youwereinerrorinsayingthathewrotenotaboutyou。’Tisthewritingofyouthathehasputsomerealheartintohiswords。Hewritesasthoughhishomewouldbewelcometoyou。’
　　’AnddoeshenotmakeStEwold’swelcometoyou，papa？’
　　’Hemakesmewelcometoacceptit——ifImayusethewordaftertheordinaryandsomewhatfaultyparlanceofmankind。’
　　’Andyouwillacceptit——ofcourse？’
　　’Iknownotthat，mydear。Theacceptanceofacureofsoulsisathingnottobedecidedoninamoment——asisthecolourofagarmentortheshapeofatoy。NorwouldIcondescendtotakethisthingfromthearchdeacon’shands，ifIthoughtthathebestoweditsimplythatthefatherofhisdaughter—in—lawmightnolongerbeaccountedpoor。’
　　’Doeshesaythat，papa？’
　　’Hegivesitasacollateralreason，basinghisofferfirstonthekindlyexpressedjudgmentofonewhoisnomore。Thenhereferstothefriendshipofthedean。Ifhebelievedthatthejudgmentofhislatefather—in—lawinsoweightyamatterwerethebesttoberelieduponofallthatwereathiscommand，thenhewouldhavedonewelltotrusttoit。Butinsuchacaseheshouldhavebolsteredupagoodgroundforactionwithnocollateralsupportswhichareweak——andworsethanweak。
　　However，itshallhavemybestconsideration，whereuntoIhopethatwisdomwillbegiventomewhereonlysuchwisdomcanbehad。’
　　’Josiah，’saidhiswifetohim，whentheywerealone，’youwillnotrefuseit？’
　　’Notwillingly——notifitmaybeaccepted。Alas！youneednoturgeme，whenthetemptationissostrong！’