IHowDidHeGetIt？
IIByHeavens，HeHadBetterNot！
IIITheArchdeacon’sThreatIVTheClergyman’sHouseatHogglestockVWhattheWorldThoughtaboutitVIGraceCrawleyVIIMissPrettyman’sPrivateRoomVIIIMrCrawleyisTakentoSilverbridgeIXGraceCrawleyGoestoAllingtonXDinneratFramleyCourtXITheBishopSendshisInhibitionXIIMrCrawleySeeksforSympathyXIIITheBishop’sAngelXIVMajorGrantlyConsultsaFriendXVUpinLondonXVIDowninAllingtonXVIIMrCrawleyisSummonedtoBarchesterXVIIITheBishopofBarchesterisCrushedXIXWhereDiditComeFrom？
XXWhatMrWalkerThoughtaboutitXXIMrRobartsonhisEmbassyXXIIMajorGrantlyatHomeXXIIIMissLilyDale’sResolutionXXIVMrsDobbsBroughton’sDinner—PartyXXVMissMadalinaDemolinesXXVIThePictureXXVIIAHeroatHomeXXVIIIShowingHowMajorGrantlytookaWalkXXIXMissLilyDale’sLogicXXXShowingwhatMajorGrantlydidafterhisWalkXXXIShowinghowMajorGrantlyReturnedtoGuestwickXXXIIMrToogoodXXXIIIThePlumsteadFoxesXXXIVMrsProudieSendsforherLawyerXXXVLilyDalewritesTwoWordsinherBookXXXVIGraceCrawleyReturnsHomeXXXVIIHookCourtXXXVIIIJaelXXXIXANewFlirtationXLMrToogood’sIdeasaboutSocietyXLIGraceCrawleyatHomeXLIIMrToogoodTravelsProfessionallyXLIIIMrCrosbieGoestotheCityXLIV’ISupposeIMustLetYouHaveIt’
XLVLilyDaleGoestoLondonXLVITheBayswaterRomanceXLVIIDrTempestatthePalaceXLVIIITheSoftnessofSirRaffleBuffleXLIXNeartheCloseLLadyLufton’sPropositionLIMrsDobbsBroughtonPilesherFagotsLIIWhydon’tyouhavean’It’forYourself？
LIIIRottenRowLIVTheClericalCommissionLVFramleyParsonageLVITheArchdeaconGoestoFramleyLVIIADoublePledgeLVIIITheCross—grainednessofMenLIXALadyPresentsherComplimentstoMissL。D。
LXTheEndofJaelandSiseraLXI’It’sDoggedasDoesIt’
LXIIMrCrawley’sLettertotheDeanLXIIITwoVistorstoHogglestockLXIVTheTragedyinHookCourtLXVMissVanSievermakesherChoiceLXVIRequiescatinPaceLXVIIInMemoriamLXVIIITheObstinacyofMrCrawleyLXIXMrCrawley’sLastAppearanceinhisownPulpitLXXMrsArabinisCaughtLXXIMrToogoodatSilverbridgeLXXIIThereisComfortatPlumsteadLXXIVTheCrawleysareInformedLXXVMadalina’sHeartisBleedingLXXVIIThinkheisLightofHeartLXXVIITheShatteredTreeLXXVIIITheArabinsReturntoBarchesterLXXIXMrCrawleySpeaksofhisCoatLXXXMissDemolinesDesirestoBecomeaFinger—postLXXXIBarchesterCloistersLXXXIITheLastSceneatHogglestockLXXXIIIMrCrawleyisConqueredLXXXIVConclusionCHAPTERI
HOWDIDHEGETIT？
’Icanneverbringmyselftobelieveit，John，’saidMaryWalkertheprettydaughterofMrGeorgeWalker，attorneyofSilverbridge。WalkerandWinthropwasthenameofthefirm，andtheywererespectablepeople，whodidallthesolicitors’businessthathadtobedoneinthatpartofBarsetshireonbehalfoftheCrown，wereemployedonthelocalbusinessoftheDukeofOmnium，whoisgreatinthoseparts，andaltogetherheldtheirheadsuphigh，asprovinciallawyersoftendo。They——theWalkers——livedinagreatbrickhouseinthemiddleofthetown，gavedinners，towhichthecountygentlemennotunfrequentlycondescendedtocome，andinamildwayledthefashioninSilverbridge。’Icanneverbringmyselftobelieveit，John，’saidMissWalker。
’You’llhavetobringyourselftobelieveit，’saidJohn，withouttakinghiseyesfromhisbook。
’Aclergyman——andsuchaclergymantoo！’
’Idon’tseethatthathasanythingtodowithit。’Andashenowspoke，Johndidtakehiseyesofhisbook。’Whyshouldnotaclergymanturnthiefaswellasanybodyelse？Yougirlsalwaysseemtoforgetthatclergymenareonlymenafterall。’
’Theirconductislikelytobebetterthanthatofothermen，Ithink。’
’Idenyitutterly，’saidJohnWalker。’I’llundertaketosaythatatthismomenttherearemoreclergymenindebtinBarsetshirethanthereareeitherlawyersordoctors。Thismanhasalwaysbeenindebt。SincehehasbeeninthecountyIdon’tthinkhehaseverbeenabletoshowhisfaceintheHighStreetofSilverbridge。’
’John，thatissayingmorethanyouhavearighttosay，’saidMrsWalker。
’Why，mother，thisverychequewasgiventoabutcherwhohadthreatenedafewdaysbeforetopostbillsallaboutthecounty，givinganaccountofthedebtthatwasduetohim，ifthemoneywasnotpaidatonce。’
’MoreshameforMrFletcher，’saidMary。’HehasmadeafortuneasbutcherinSilverbridge。’
’Whathasthattodowithit？Ofcourseamanlikestohavehismoney。
Hehadwrittenthreetimestothebishop，andhehadsentamanovertoHogglestocktogethislittlebillsettledsixdaysrunning。Youseehegotitatlast。Ofcourse，atradesmanmustlookforhismoney。’
’Mamma，doyouthinkthatMrCrawleystolethecheque？’Mary，assheaskedthequestion，cameandstoodoverhermother，lookingatherwithanxiouseyes。
’Iwouldrathergivenoopinion，dear。’
’Butyoumustthinksomethingwheneverybodyistalkingaboutit，mamma。’
’Ofcoursemymotherthinkshedid，’saidJohn，goingbacktohisbook。
’Itisimpossiblethatsheshouldthinkotherwise。’
’Thatisnotfair，John，’saidMrsWalker；’andIwon’thaveyoufabricatethoughtsforme，orputtheexpressionofthemintomymouth。
Thewholeaffairisverypainful，andasyourfatherisengagedintheinquiry，Ithinkthatthelesssaidaboutthematterinthishousethebetter。Iamsurethatthatwouldbeyourfather’sfeeling。’
’Idonotseethatatall，’saidJohn。’MrCrawleyisnotmorethananyothermanjustbecausehe’saclergyman。Ihateallthatkindofclap—trap。TherearealotofpeoplehereinSilverbridgewhothinkthemattershouldn’tbefollowedup，justbecausethemanisinapositionwhichmakesthecrimemorecriminalinhimthanitwouldbeinanother。’
’ButIfeelsurethatMrCrawleyhascommittednocrimeatall，’saidMary。
’Mydear，’saidMrsWalker，’IhavejustsaidthatIwouldratheryouwouldnottalkaboutit。Papawillbeindirectly。’
’Iwon’t，mamma，only——’
’Only！yes；justonly！’saidJohn。’She’dgoontilldinnerifanyonewouldstaytohearher。’
’You’vesaidtwiceasmuchasIhave，John。’ButJohnhadlefttheroombeforehissister’swordscouldreachhim。
’Youknow，mamma，itisquiteimpossiblenottohelpthinkingofit，’
saidMary。
’Idaresayitis，mydear。’
’Andwhenoneknowsthepeopleitdoesmakeitsodreadful。’
’Butdoyouknowthem？IneverspoketoMrCrawleyinmylife，andIdonotthinkIeversawher。’
’IknewGraceverywell——whensheusedtocomefirsttoMissPrettyman’sschool。’
’Poorgirl。Ipityher。’
’Pityher！Pityisnowordforit，mamma。Myheartbleedsforthem。
AndyetIdonotbelieveforamomentthathestolethecheque。Howcanitbepossible？Forthoughhemayhavebeenindebtbecausetheyhavebeensovery，very，poor，yetweallknowthathehasbeenanexcellentclergyman。WhentheRobartseswerediningherelast，IheardMrsRobartssaythatforpietyanddevotiontohisdutiesshehadhardlyeverseenanyoneequaltohim。AndtheRobartsesknowmoreofthemthananybody。’
’Theysaythatthedeanishisgreatfriend。’
’WhatapityitisthattheArabinsshouldbeawayjustnowwhenheisinsuchtrouble。’Andinthiswaythemotheranddaughterwentondiscussingthequestionoftheclergyman’sguildinspiteofMrsWalker’sexpresseddesirethatnothingmoremightbesaidaboutit。ButMrsWalker，likemanyothermothers，wasapttobemorefreeinconversewithherdaughterthanshewaswithherson。Whiletheywerethustalkingthefathercameinfromhisoffice，andthenthesubjectwasdropped。Hewasamanbetweenfiftyandsixtyyearsofage，withgreyhair，rathershort，andsomewhatcorpulent，butstillgiftedwiththatamountofpersonalcomelinesswhichcomfortablepositionandtherespectofotherswillgenerallyseemtogive。Amanrarelycarrieshimselfmeanlywhomtheworldholdsinhighesteem。
’Iamverytired，mydear，’saidMrWalker。
’Youlooktired。Comeandsitdownforafewminutesbeforeyoudress。
Mary，getyourfather’sslippers。’Maryinstantlyrantothedoor。
’Thanks，mydarling，’saidthefather。Andthenhewhisperedtohiswife，assoonasMarywasoutofhearing。’Ifeartheunfortunatemanisguilty。Ifearheis！Ifearheis！’
’Oh，heavens！whatwillbecomeofthem？’
’Whatindeed？Shehasbeenwithmetoday。’
’Hasshe？Andwhatcouldyousaytoher？’
’ItoldheratfirstthatIcouldnotseeher，andbeggedhernottospeaktomeaboutit。Itriedtomakeherunderstandthatsheshouldgotosomeoneelse。Butitwasofnouse。’
’Andhowdiditend？’
’Iaskedtogointoyou，butshedeclined。Shesaidyoucoulddonothingforher。’
’Anddoesshethinkherhusbandguilty？’
’No，indeed。Shethinkhimguilty！Nothingonearth——orfromheaveneither，asItakeit，wouldmakehersupposeittobepossible。Shecamesimplytotellmehowgoodhewas。’
’Iloveherforthat，’saidMrsWalker。
’SodidI。Butwhatisthegoodoflovingher？Thankyou，dearest。
I’llgetyourslippersforyousomeday，perhaps。’
ThewholecountywasastirwiththismatterofthisallegedguiltoftheReverendMrCrawley——thewholecountyalmostaskeenlyasthefamilyofMrWalker，ofSilverbridge。Thecrimelaidtohischargewasthetheftofachequefortwentypounds，whichhewassaidtohavestolenoutofapocket—bookleftordroppedinhishouse，andtohavepassedasmoneyintothehandsofoneFletcher，abutcherofSilverbridge，towhomhewasindebted。MrCrawleywasinthosedaystheperpetualcurateofHogglestock，apariahinthenorthernextremityofEastBarsetshire；amanknownbyallwhoknewanythingofhimtobeverypoor——anunhappy，moody，disappointedman，uponwhomthetroublesoftheworldalwaysseemedtocomewithadoubleweight。Buthehadeverbeenrespectedasaclergyman，sincehisoldfriendMrArabin，thedeanofBarchester，hadgivenhimthesmallincumbencywhichhenowheld。Thoughmoody，unhappy，anddisappointed，hewasahard—working，conscientiouspastor，amongthepoorpeoplewithwhomhislotwascast；forintheparishofHogglestockthereresidedonlyafewfarmershigherindegreethanfieldlabourers，brickmakers，andsuchlike。MrCrawleyhadnowpassedsometenyearsofhislifeatHogglestock；andduringthoseyearshehadworkedveryhardtodohisduty，strugglingtoteachthepeoplearoundhimperhapstoomuchofthemystery，butsomethingofthecomfort，ofreligion。Thathehadbecamepopularinhisparishcannotbesaidofhim。Hewasnotamantomakehimselfpopularinanyposition。Ihavesaidthathewasmoodyanddisappointed。Hewasevenworsethanthis；hewasmorose，sometimesalmosttoinsanity。Therehadbeendaysinwhichevenhiswifehadfounditimpossibletodealwithhimotherwisethanaswithanacknowledgedlunatic。Andthiswasknownamongthefarmers，whotalkedabouttheirclergymanamongthemselvesasthoughhewereamadman。Butamongtheverypoor，amongthebrickmakersofHoggleEnd——alawless，drunken，terriblyroughlotofhumanity——hewasheldinhighrespect；fortheyknewthathelivedhardly，astheylived；thatheworkedhard，astheyworked；andthattheoutsideworldwashardtohim，asitwastothem；
andtherehadbeenanapparentsincerityofgodlinessabouttheman，andamanifeststruggletodohisdutyinspiteoftheworld’sill—usage，whichhadwonitswayevenwiththerough；sothatMrCrawley’snamehadstoodhighwithmanyintheparish，inspiteoftheunfortunatepeculiarityofhisdisposition。Thiswasthemanwhowasnowaccusedofstealingachequefortwentypounds。
Butbeforethecircumstancesoftheallegedtheftarestated，awordortwomustbesaidastoMrCrawley’sfamily。Itisdeclaredthatagoodwifeisacrowntoherhusband，butMrsCrawleyhasbeenmuchmorethanacrowntohim。Ashadregardedalltheinnerlifeoftheman——allthatportionofhislifewhichhadnotbeenpassedinthepulpitorinpastoralteaching——shehadbeencrown，throne，andsceptreallinone。
Thatshehadenduredwithhimandonhisbehalfthemiseriesofpoverty，andthetroublesofalifewhichhadknownnosmiles，isperhapsnottobeallegedasmuchtoherhonour。Shehadjoinedherselftohimforbetterorworse，anditwashermanifestdutytobearsuchthings；wivesalwayshavetobearthem，knowingwhentheymarrythattheymusttaketheirchance。MrCrawleymighthavebeenabishop，andMrsCrawley，whenshemarriedhim，perhapsthoughtitprobablethatsuchwouldbehisfortune。Insteadofthathewasnow，justashewasapproachinghisfiftiethyear，aperpetualcurate，withanincomeofonehundredandthirtypoundsperannum——andafamily。ThathadbeenMrsCrawley’sluckinlife，andofcoursesheboreit。Butshehadalsodonemuchmorethanthis。Shehadstrivenhardtobecontented，or，rather，toappeartobecontented，whenhehadbeenmostwretchedandmostmoody。Shehadstruggledtoconcealfromhimherownconvictiontohishalf—insanity，treatinghimatthesametimewiththerespectduetoanhonouredfatherofafamily，andwiththecarefulmeasuredindulgencefitforasickandwaywardchild。Inalltheterribletroublesoftheirlifehercouragehadbeenhigherthanhis。Themetalofwhichshewasmadehadbeentemperedtoasteelwhichwasveryrareandfine，buttherarenessandfinenessofwhichhehadfailedtoappreciate。Hehadoftentoldherthatshewaswithoutpride，becauseshewasstoopedtoreceivefromothersonhisbehalfandonbehalfoftheirchildren，thingswhichwereneedful，butwhichshecouldnotbuy。Hehadtoldherthatshewasabeggar，andthatitwasbettertostarvethantobeg。Shehadbornetherebukewithoutawordinreply，andhadthenbeggedagainforhim，andhadenduredthestarvationherself。Nothingintheirpovertyhad，foryearspast，beenashametoher；buteveryaccidentoftheirpovertywasstill，andeverhadbeen，alivingdisgracetohim。
Theyhadhadmanychildren，andthreewerestillalive。Oftheeldest，GraceCrawley，weshallhearmuchinthecomingstory。Shewasatthistimenineteenyearsold，andtherewerethosewhosaid，thatinspiteofherpoverty，hershabbyoutwardapparel，andacertainthin，unfledged，unroundedformofperson，awantoffulnessinthelinesofherfigure，shewastheprettiestgirlinthatpartoftheworld。ShewaslivingnowataschoolinSilverbridge，whereforthelastyearshehadbeenateacher；andthereweremanyinSilverbridgewhodeclaredthatverybrightprospectswereopeningtoher——thatyoungMajorGrantlyofCrosbyLodge，who，thoughawidowerwithayoungchild，wasthecynosureofallfemaleeyesinandaroundSilverbridge，hadfoundbeautyinherthinface，andthatGraceCrawley’sfortunewasmadeintheteeth，asitwere，oftheprevailingill—fortuneofthefamily。BobCrawley，whowastwoyearsyounger，wasnotatMalbro’School，fromwhenceitwasintendedthatheshouldproceedtoCambridge，andbeeducatedthereattheexpenseofhisgodfatherDeanArabin。Inthisalsotheworldsawastrokeofgoodluck。ButthennothingwasluckytoMrCrawley。Bob，indeed，whohaddonewellatschool，mightdowellatCambridge——mightachievegreatthingsthere。ButMrCrawleywouldalmostpreferredthattheboyshouldworkinthefields，thanthatheshouldbeeducatedinamannersomanifestlyeleemosynary。Andthenhisclothes！Howwashetobeprovidedwithclothesfiteitherforschoolorforcollege？ButthedeanandMrsCrawleybetweenthemmanagedthis，leavingMrCrawleyverymuchinthedark，asMrsCrawleywasinthehabitofleavinghim。Thentherewasayoungerdaughter，Jane，stillathome，whopassedherlifebetweenhermother’swork—tableandherfather’sGreek，mendinglinen，andlearningtoscaniambics——forMrCrawleyinhisearlydayshadbeenaripescholar。
Andnowtherehadcomeuponthemallthisterriblycrushingdisaster。
ThatpoorMrCrawleyhadgraduallygothimselfintoamessofdebtatSilverbridge，fromwhichhehadbeenquiteunabletoextricatehimself，wasgenerallyknownbyalltheworldbothofSilverbridgeandHogglestock。ToagreatmanyitwasknownthatDeanArabinhadpaidmoneyforhim，verymuchcontrarytohisownconsent，andthathehadquarrelled，orattemptedtoquarrel，withthedeaninconsequence——hadsoattempted，althoughthemoneyhadinpartpassedthroughhisownhands。Therehadbeenonecreditor，Fletcher，thebutcheratSilverbridge，whohadoflatebeenspeciallyharduponpoorCrawley。
Thisman，whohadnotbeenwithoutgoodnatureinhisdealings，hadheardstoriesofthedean’sgood—willandsuchlike，andhadloudlyexpressedhisopinionthattheperpetualcurateofHogglestockwouldshowahigherprideinallowinghimselftobeindebtedtoarichbrotherclergyman，thaninremainingunderthethrallofabutcher。Andthusarumourhadgrownup。Andhenthebutcherhadwrittenrepeatedletterstothebishop——tobishopProudieofBarchester，whohadfirstcausedhischaplaintoanswerthem，andhadtoldMrCrawleysomewhatroundlywhatwashisopinionofaclergymanwhoatemeatanddidnotpayforit。ButnothingthatbishopcouldsayordoenabledMrCrawleytopaythebutcher。ItwasverygrievoustosuchamanasMrCrawleytoreceivetheselettersfromsuchamanasBishopProudie；buttheletterscame，andmadefesteringwounds，butthentherewasanendofthem。Andatlasttherehadcomeforthfromthebutcher’sshopathreatthatifthemoneywerenotpaidbyacertaindate，printedbillswouldbepostedaboutthecountry。AllwhoheardofthisinSilverbridgewereveryangrywithMrFletcher，fornoonetherehadeverknownatradesmantotakesuchastepbefore；butFletchersworethathewouldpersevere，anddefendedhimselfbyshowingthatsixorsevenmonthssince，inthespringoftheyear，MrCrawleyhadbeenpayingmoneyinSilverbridge，buthadpaidnonetohim——tohimwhohadbeennotonlyhisearliest，buthismostenduringcreditor。’HegotmoneyfromthedeaninMarch，’saidMrFletchertoMrWalker’andhepaidtwelvepoundstentoGreen，andseventeenpoundstoGroburythebaker。’ItwasthatseventeenpoundstoGrobury，thebaker，forflour，whichmadethebutcherfixedlydeterminedtosmitethepoorclergymanhipandthigh。’AndhepaidmoneytoHallandtoMrsHolt，andtoadealmore；buthenevercamenearmyshop。Ifhehadevenshownhimself，Iwouldnothavesomuchaboutit。’Andthenadaybeforethedaynamed，MrsCrawleyhadcomeintoSilverbridge，andhadpaidthebutchertwentypoundsinfourfive—poundnotes。SofarFletcherthebutcherhadbeensuccessful。
Somesixweeksafterthis，inquirybegantobemadeastoacertainchequefortwentypoundsdrawnbyLordLuftononhisbankersinLondon，whichchequehadbeenlostintheearlyspringbyMrSoames，LordLufton’smanofbusinessinBarsetshire，togetherwithapocket—bookinwhichithadbeenfolded。Thispocket—bookSoameshadbelievedhimselftohaveleftitatMrCrawley’shouse，andhadgonesofar，evenatthetimeoftheloss，astoexpresshisabsoluteconvictionthathehadsoleftit。HewasinthehabitofpayingarentchargetoMrCrawleyonbehalfofLordLufton，amountingtotwentypoundsfourshillings，everyhalf—year。LordLuftonheldthelargetithesofHogglestock，andpaidannuallyasumoffortypoundseightshillingstotheincumbent。Thisamountwas，asarule，remittedpunctuallybyMrSoamesthroughthepost。Ontheoccasionnowspokenof，hehadhadsomereasontovisitHogglestock，andhadpaidthemoneypersonallytoMrCrawley。Ofsomuchthereisnodoubt。ButhehadpaiditbyachequedrawnbyhimselfonhisownbankersatBarchester，andthatchequehadbeencashedintheordinarywayonthenextmorning。OnreturningtohisownhouseinBarchesterhehadmissedhispocket—book，andhadwrittentoMrCrawleytomakeinquiry。Therehadbeennomoneyinit，beyondthechequedrawnbyLordLuftonfortwentypounds。MrCrawleyhadansweredthisletterbyanother，sayingthatnopocket—bookhadbeenfoundinhishouse。AllthishadhappenedinMarch。
InOctober，MrsCrawleypaidtwentypoundstoFletcher，thebutcher，andinNovemberLordLufton’schequewastracedbackthroughtheBarchesterbanktoMrCrawley’shands。AbrickmakerofHoggleEnd，muchfavouredbyMrCrawley，hadaskedforchangeoverthecounterofthisBarchesterbank——not，aswillbeunderstood，thebankonwhichthechequewasdrawn——andhadreceivedit。Theaccommodationhadbeenrefusedtothemanatfirst，butwhenhepresentedthechequethesecondday，bearingMrCrawley’nameonthebackofit，togetherwithanotefromMrCrawleyhimself，themoneyhadbeengivenforit；andtheidenticalnotessopaidhadbeengiventoFletcher，thebutcheronthenextdaybyMrsCrawley。Wheninquirywasmade，MrCrawleystatedthatthechequehadbeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames，onbehalfoftherentchargeduetohimbyLordLufton。Buttheerrorofthisstatementwasatoncemademanifest。
Therewasthecheque，signedbyMrSoameshimself，fortheexactamount——twentypoundsfourshillings。Ashehimselfdeclared，hehadneverinhislifepaidmoneyonbehalfofLordLuftonbyachequedrawnonhislordship。ThechequegivenbyLordLufton，andwhichhadbeenlost，hadbeenaprivatematterbetweenthem。Hislordshiphadsimplywantedchangeinhispocket，andhisagenthadgivenittohim。MrCrawleywasspeedilyshowntobealtogetherwronginthestatementmadetoaccountforthepossessionofthecheque。
Thenhebecameverymoodyandwouldsaynothingfurther。Buthiswife，whohadknownnothingofhisfirststatementwhenmade，cameforwardanddeclaredthatshebelievedthechequefortwentypoundstobepartofapresentgivenbyDeanArabintoherhusbandinAprillast。Therehadbeen，shesaid，greatheart—burningsaboutthisgift，andshehardlydaredtospeaktoherhusbandonthesubject。AnexecutionhadbeenthreatenedinthehousebyGrobury，thebaker，ofwhichthedeanhadheard。ThentherehadbeensomescenesatthedeanerybetweenherhusbandandthedeanandMrsArabin，astowhichshehadsubsequentlyheardmuchfromMrsArabin。MrsArabinhadtoldherthatmoneyhadbeengiven——andatlasttaken。Indeed，somuchhadbeenveryapparent，asbillshadbeenpaidtotheamountofatleastfiftypounds。Whenthethreatmadebythebutcherhadreachedherhusband’sears，theeffectuponhimhadbeenverygrievous。AllthiswasthestorytoldbyMrsCrawleytoMrWalker，thelawyer，whenhewaspushinghisinquiries。
She，poorwoman，atanyratetoldallsheknew。Herhusbandhadtoldheronemorning，whenthebutcher’sthreatwasweighingheavilyonhismind，speakingtoherinsuchahumourthatshefounditimpossibletocross—
questionhim，thathehadstillmoneyleft，thoughitwasmoneywhichhehadhopedthathewouldnotbedriventouse；andhehadgivenherfourfivepoundnotesandhadtoldhertogotoSilverbridgeandsatisfythemanwhowassoeagerforhismoney。Shehaddoneso，andhadfeltnodoubtthatthemoneysoforthcominghadbeengivenbythedean。ThatwasthestorytoldbyMrsCrawley。
Buthowcouldsheexplainherhusband’sstatementsastothecheque，whichhadbeenshowntobealtogetherfalse？AllthispassedbetweenMrWalkerandMrsCrawley，andthelawyerwasverygentlewithher。Inthefirststagesoftheinquiryhehadsimplydesiredtolearnthetruth，andplacetheclergymanabovesuspicion。Latterly，beingboundashewastofollowupofficially，hewouldnothaveseenMrsCrawley，hadhebeenabletoescapethatlady’simportunity。’MrWalker，’shehadsaid，atlast，’youdonotknowmyhusband。NooneknowshimbutI。Itishardtohavetotellyouallofourtroubles。’’IfIcanlessenthem，trustmethatIwilldoso，’saidthelawyer。’Noone，Ithink，canlessentheminthisworld，’saidthelady。’Thetruthis，sir，thatmyhusbandoftenknowsnotwhathesays。WhenhedeclaredthatthemoneyhadbeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames，mostcertainlyhethoughtso。Therearetimeswheninhismiseryheknowsnotwhathesays——whenheforgetseverything。’
UptothisperiodMrWalkerhadnotsuspectedMrCrawleyofanythingdishonest，nordidhesuspecthimasyet。Thepoormanhadprobablyreceivedthemoneyfromthedean，andhadtoldthelieaboutit，notchoosingtoownthathehadtakenthemoneyfromhisrichfriend，andthinkingthattherewouldbenofurtherinquiry。Hehadbeenveryfoolish，andthatwouldbetheendofit。MrSoameswasbynomeanssogood—naturedinhisbelief。’Howshouldmypocket—bookhavegotintoDeanArabin’shands？’saidMrSoames，almost