Thewholemindofthemanwas，asshetoldherself，withinhergrasp。Hemighthavetakenthetwentypounds；hemighthavetakenitandspentit，thoughitwasnothisown；butyethewasnothief。Norwasheamadman。
NomanmoresaneinpreachingthegospelofhisLord，inmakingintelligibletotheignorantthepromisesofhisSaviour，evergotintoaparishpulpit，ortaughtinaparishschool。Theintellectofthemanwasasclearasrunningwaterinallthingsnotappertainingtohisdailylife，anditsdifficulties。Hecouldbelogicalwithavengeance——sologicalastocauseinfinitetroubletohiswife，who，withallhergoodsense，wasnotlogical。AndhehadGreekathisfingers’ends——ashisdaughterverywellknew。AndeventothisdayhewouldsometimesrecitetothemEnglishpoetry，linesafterlines，stanzasuponstanzas，inasweetlowmelancholyvoice，onlongwintereveningswhenoccasionallytheburdenofhistroubleswouldbelightertohimthanwasusual。BooksinLatinandinFrenchhereadwithasmucheaseasinEnglish，andtookdelightinsuchascametohim，whenhewouldcondescendtoacceptsuchloansfromthedeanery。Andtherewasattimesalightnessofheartabouttheman。InthecourseofthelastwinterhehadtranslatedintoGreekirregularversetheverynobleballadofLordBateman，maintainingtherhythmandtherhyme，andhadrepeateditwithuncouthgleetillhisdaughterknewitallbyheart。
Andwhentherehadcometohimafive—poundnotefromsomeadmiringmagazineeditorasthepriceofthesame——stillthroughthedean’shands——hehadbrighteneduphisheartandhadthoughtforanhourortwothatevenyettheworldwouldsmileuponhim。Hiswifeknewwellthathewasnotmad；butyetsheknewthatthereweredarkmomentswithhim，inwhichhismindwassomuchastraythathecouldnotjustlybecalledtoaccountastowhathemightrememberandwhathemightforget。Howwoulditbepossibletoexplainallthistoajudgeandjury，sothattheymightneithersaythathewasdishonest，noryetthathewasmad？
’Perhapshepickeditup，andhadforgotten，’herdaughtersaidtoher。
Perhapsitwasso，butshemightnotasyetadmitasmucheventoherchild。
’Itisamystery，dear，asyet，which，withGod’said，willbeunravelled。Ofonethingweatleastmaybesure；thatyourpapahasnotwilfullydoneanythingwrong。’
’Ofcoursewearesureofthat，mamma。’
MrsCrawleyhadmanytroublesduringthenextfourorfivedays，ofwhichtheworst，perhaps，hadreferencetotheservicesoftheSundaywhichintervenedbetweenthedayofhervisittoSilverbridgeandthesittingofthemagistrates。OntheSaturdayitwasnecessarythatheshouldpreparehissermons，ofwhichhepreachedtwoeverySunday，thoughhiscongregationconsistedonlyoffarmers，brickmakers，andagriculturallabourers，whowouldwillinglyhavedispensedwiththesecond。MrsCrawleyproposedtosendovertoMrRobarts，aneighbouringclergyman，fortheloanofacurate。MrRobartswasawarmfriendtotheCrawleys，andinsuchanemergencywouldprobablyhavecomehimself；butMrCrawleywouldnothearofit。ThediscussiontookplaceearlyontheSaturdaymorning，beforeitwasasyetdaylight，forthepoorwomanwasthinkingdayandnightofherhusband’stroubles，andithadthisgoodeffect，thatimmediatelyafterbreakfastheseatedhimselfathisdesk，andworkedathistaskasthoughhehadforgottenallelseintheworld。
AndontheSundaymorninghewentintohisschoolbeforethehourofthechurchservice，ashadbeenhiswont，andtaughtthereasthougheverythingwithhimwasasusual。Someofthechildrenwereabsent，havingheardoftheirteacher’stribulation，andhavingbeentoldprobablythathewouldremithiswork；andfortheseabsentoneshesentingreatanger。Thepoorbairnscamecreepingin，forhewasamanwhobyhismannershadbeenabletosecuretheirobedienceinspiteofhispoverty。AndhepreachedtothepeopleofhisparishonthatSunday，ashehadalwayspreached；eagerly，clearly，andwithaneloquencefittedfortheheartsofsuchanaudience。Noonewouldhaveguessedfromhistonesandgesturesandappearanceonthatoccasion，thattherewasaughtwrongwithhim——unlesstherehadbeensomeobserverkeenenoughtoperceivethatthegreatercarewhichheused，andthespecialeagernessofhiswords，denotedaspecialframeofmind。
Afterthat，afterthosechurchserviceswereover，hesankagainandneverrousedhimselftillthedreadeddayhadcome。
CHAPTERV
WHATTHEWORLDTHOUGHTOFIT
OpinionatSilverbridge，atBarchester，andthroughoutthecounty，wasverymuchdividedastotheguiltorinnocenceofMrCrawley。UptothetimeofMrsCrawley’svisittoSilverbridge，theaffairhadnotbeenmuchdiscussed。TogiveMrSoameshisduehehadbenomeansbeenanxioustopressthematteragainsttheclergyman；buthehadbeenforcedtogoonwithit。Whilethefirstchequewasmissing，LordLuftonhadsenthimasecondchequeforthemoney，andthelosshadthusfallenuponhislordship。Thechequehadofcoursebeentraced，andinquiryhadofcoursebeenmadeastoMrCrawley’spossessionofit。WhenthatgentlemandeclaredthathehadreceiveditfromMrSoames，MrSoameshadbeenforcedtocontradictandtoresentsuchassertion。WhenMrCrawleyhadafterwardssaidthatthemoneyhadcometohimfromthedean，andwhenthedeanhadshownthatthiswasalsountrue，MrSoames，confidentashewasthathehaddroppedthepocket—bookatMrCrawley’shouse，couldnotbutcontinuetheinvestigation。Hehaddonesowithasmuchsilenceasthenatureoftheworkadmitted。Butbythedayofthemagistrate’smeetingatSilverbridge，thesubjecthadbecomecommonthroughthecounty，andmen’smindsweremuchdivided。
AllHogglestockbelievedtheirparsontobeinnocent；butthenallHogglestockbelievedhimtobemad。AtSilverbridgethetradesmenwithwhomhehaddealt，andtowhomhehadowed，andstillowed，money，alldeclaredhimtobeinnocent。Theyknewsomethingofthemanpersonally，andcouldnotbelievehimtobeathief。AlltheladiesatSilverbridge，too，weresureofhisinnocence。Itwastothemimpossiblethatsuchamanshouldhavestolentwentypounds。’Mydear，’saidtheeldestMissPrettymantopoorGraceCrawley，’inEngland，wherethelawsaregood，nogentlemanisevermadeouttobeguiltywhenheisinnocent；andyourpapa，ofcourse，isinnocent。Thereforeyoushouldnottroubleyourself。’’Itwillbreakpapa’sheart，’Gracehadsaid，andshedidtroubleherself。ButthegentlemeninSilverbridgeweremadeofsternerstuff，andbelievedthemantobeguilty，clergymanandgentlemanthoughhewas。MrWalker，whoamongthelightsinSilverbridgewastheleadinglight，wouldnotspeakaworduponthesubjecttoanybody；andtheneverybody，whowasanybody，knewthatMrWalkerwasconvincedoftheman’sguilt。HadMrWalkerbelievedhimtobeinnocent，histonguewouldhavebeenreadyenough。JohnWalker，whowasinthehabitoflaughingathisfather’sgoodnature，hadnodoubtuponthesubject。MrWinthrop，MrWalker’spartner，shookhishead。PeopledidnotthinkmuchofMrWinthrop，exceptingcertainunmarriedladies；forMrWinthropwasabachelor，andhadplentyofmoney。PeopledidnotthinkmuchofMrWinthrop；butstillonthissubjecthemightknowsomething，andwhenheshookhisheadhemanifestlyintendedtoindicateguilt。AndDrTempest，therectorofSilverbridge，didnothesitatetodeclarehisbeliefintheguiltoftheincumbentofHogglestock。Nomanreverencesaclergyman，asaclergyman，soslightlyasabrotherclergyman。ToDrTempestitappearedtobeneitherverystrangenorveryterriblethatMrCrawleyshouldhavestolentwentypounds。’Whatisamantodo，’hesaid，’whenheseeshischildrenstarving？Heshouldnothavemarriedonsuchaprefermentasthat。’MrCrawleyhadmarried，however，longbeforehegotthelivingatHogglestock。
ThereweretwoLadyLuftons——mother—in—lawanddaughter—in—law——whoatthistimewerelivingtogetheratFramleyHall，LordLufton’sseatinthecountyofBarset，andtherewereboththoroughlyconvincedofMrCrawley’sinnocence。Theelderladyhadlivedmuchamongclergymen，andcouldhardly，Ithink，byanymeanshavebeenbroughttobelieveintheguiltofanymanwhohadtakenuponhimselftheordersoftheChurchofEngland。ShehadalsoknownMrCrawleypersonallyforsomeyears，andwasoneofthosewhocouldnotadmittoherselfthatanyonewasvilewhohadbeenneartoherself。Shebelievedintenselyinthewickednessoftheoutsideworld，oftheworldwhichwasfarawayfromherself，andofwhichsheneversawanything；buttheywhowereneartoher，andwhohadevenbecomedeartoher，orwhoevenhadbeenrespectedbyher，weremade，asitwere，saintsinherimagination。Theywerebroughtintotheinnercircle，andcouldhardlybeexpelled。Shewasanoldwomanwhothoughtallevilofthoseshedidnotknow，andallgoodofthosewhomshedidknow；andasshedidknowMrCrawley，shewasquitesurethathehadnotstolenMrSoames’stwentypounds。ShedidknowMrSoamesalso；
andthustherewasamysteryfortheunravellingofwhichshewasveryanxious。AndtheyoungLadyLuftonwasequallysure，andperhapswithbetterreasonforsuchcertainty。
Shehad，intruth，knownmoreofMrCrawleypersonally，thananyoneinthecounty，unlessitwasthedean。TheyoungerLadyLufton，thepresentLordLufton’swife，hadsojournedatonetimeinMrCrawley’shouse，amidsttheCrawleypoverty，livingastheylived，andnursingMrsCrawleythroughanillnesswhichhadwellnighbeenfataltoher；andtheyoungerLadyLuftonbelievedinMrCrawley——asMrCrawleybelievedinher。
’Itisquiteimpossible，mydear，’theoldwomansaidtoherdaughter—in—law。
’Quiteimpossible，mylady。’Thedowagerwasalwayscalled’mylady’，bothbyherdaughterandherson’swife，exceptwheninthepresenceoftheirchildren，whenshewasaddressedas’grandmamma’。’ThinkhowwellIknewhim。It’snousetalkingofevidence。Noevidencewouldmakemebelieveit。’
’Norme；andIthinkitagreatshamethatsuchareportshouldbespreadabout。’
’IsupposeMrSoamescouldnothelphimself？’saidtheyoungerlady，whowasnotherselfveryfondofMrSoames。
’Ludovicsaysthathehasonlydonewhathewasobligedtodo。’TheLudovicspokenofwasLordLufton。
Thistookplaceinthemorning，butintheeveningtheaffairwasagaindiscussedatFramleyHall。Indeed，forsomedays，therewashardlyanyothersubjectheldtobeworthyofdiscussioninthecounty。MrRobarts，theclergymanoftheparishandthebrotheroftheyoungerLadyLufton，wasdiningatthehallwithhiswife，andthethreeladieshadtogetherexpressedtheirperfectconvictionofthefalsenessoftheaccusation。
ButwhenLordLuftonandMrRobartsweretogetheraftertheladieshadleftthem，therewasmuchlesscertaintyofthisexpressed。’ByJove，’
saidLordLufton，’’Idon’tknowwhattothinkofit。IwishwithallmyheartthatSoameshadsaidnothingaboutit，andthatthechequehadpassedwithoutremark。’
’Thatwasimpossible。WhenthebankersenttoSoames，hewasobligedtotakethematterup。’
’Ofcoursehewas。ButI’msorrythatitwasso。Forthelifeofme，I
can’tconceivehowthechequegotintoCrawley’shands。’
’Iimagineithadbeenlyinginthehouse，andthatCrawleyhadcometothinkthatitwashisown。’
’But，mydearMark，’saidLordLufton，’excusemeifIsaythatthat’snonsense。Whatdowedowhenapoormanhascometothinkthatanotherman’spropertyishisown？Wesendhimtoprisonformakingthemistake。’
’Ihopetheywon’tsentCrawleytoprison。’
’Ihopesotoo；butwhatisajurytodo？’
’Youthinkitwillgotoajury，then？’
’Ido，’saidLordLufton。’Idon’tseehowthemagistratescansavethemselvesfromcommittinghim。Itisoneofthosecasesinwhicheveryoneconcernedwouldwishtodropitifitwereonlypossible。Butitisnotpossible。Ontheevidence，asoneseesitatpresent，oneisboundtosaythatitisacaseforthejury。’
’Ibelievethatheismad，’saidthebrotherparson。
’Healwayswas，asfarasIcouldlearn，’saidthelord。’Ineverknewhimmyself。Youdo，Ithink？’
’Ohyes，Iknowhim。’andthevicarofFramleybecamesilentandthoughtfulasthememoryofacertaininterviewbetweenhimselfandMrCrawleycamebackintohismind。AtthattimethewatershadnearlyclosedoverhisheadandMrCrawleyhadgivenhimsomeassistance。Whenthegentlemenhadagainfoundtheladies，theykepttheirowndoubtstothemselves；foratFramleyHall，asatpresenttenanted，femalevoicesandfemaleinfluencespredominatedoverthosewhichcamefromtheothersex。
AtBarchester，thecathedralcityofthecountyinwhichtheCrawleyslived，opinionwasviolentlyagainstMrCrawley。InthecityMrsProudie，thewifeofthebishop，wastheleaderofopinioningeneral，andshewasverystronginherbeliefoftheman’sguilt。Shehadknownmuchofclergymenallherlife，asitbehovedabishop’swifetodo，andshehadnoneofthatmingledweaknessandignorancewhichtaughtsomanyladiesinBarchestertosupposethatanordainedclergymancouldnotbecomeathief。ShehatedoldLadyLuftonwithallherheart，andoldLadyLuftonhatedheraswarmly。MrsProudiewouldsayfrequentlythatLadyLuftonwasaconceitedoldidiot，andLadyLuftonwoulddeclareasfrequentlythatMrsProudiewasavulgarvirago。ItwasknownatthepalaceinBarchesterthatkindnesshadbeenshowntotheCrawleysbythefamilyatFramleyHall，andthisalonewouldhavebeensufficienttomakeMrsProudiebelievethatMrCrawleycouldbeguiltyofanycrime。
AndasMrsProudiebelieved，sodidthebishopbelieve。’Itisaterribledisgracetothediocese，’saidthebishop，shakinghishead，andpattinghisapronashesatbyhisstudyfire。
’Fiddlestick！’saidMrsProudie。
’But，mydear——abeneficedclergyman。’
’Youmustgetridofhim；that’sall。Youmustbefirmwhetherhebeacquittedorconvicted。’
’Butifhe’sacquitted，Icannotgetridofhim，mydear。’
’Yes，youcan，ifyouarefirm。Andyoumustbefirm。Isitnottruethathehasbeendisgracefullyinvolvedindebteversincehehasbeenthere；thatyouhavebeenpesteredbylettersfromunfortunatetradesmenwhocannotgettheirmoneyfromhim？’
’Thatistrue，mydear，certainly。’
’Andisthatkindofthingtogoon？Hecannotcometothepalaceasallclergymenshoulddo，becausehehasgotnoclothestocomein。Isawhimonceaboutthelanes，andIneversetmyeyesonsuchanobjectinallmylife！IwouldnotbelievethatthemanwasaclergymantillJohntoldme。Heisadisgracetothediocese，andhemustbegotridof。I
feelsureofhisguilt，andIhopehewillbeconvicted。Oneisboundtohopethataguiltymanshouldbeconvicted。Butifheescapesconviction，youmustsequestratethelivingbecauseofthedebts。Theincomeisenoughtogetanexcellentcurate。ItwouldjustdoforThumble。’Toallofwhichthebishopmadenoreply，butsimplynoddedhisheadandpattedhisapron。Heknewthathecouldnotdoexactlywhathiswiferequiredofhim；butifitshouldsoturnoutthatpoorCrawleywasfoundtobeguilty，thenthematterwouldbecomparativelyeasy。
’Itshouldbeanexampletous，thatweshouldlooktoourownsteps，mydear，’saidthebishop。
’That’sallverywell，’saidMrsProudie，’butithasbecomeyourduty，andminetoo，tolookuponthestepsofotherpeople；andthatdutywemustdo。’
’Ofcourse，mydear，ofcourse。’ThatwasthetoneinwhichthequestionofMrCrawley’sallegedguiltwasdiscussedatthepalace。
WehavealreadyheardwhatwassaidonthesubjectatthehouseofArchdeaconGrantly。Asthedayspassedby，andasothertidingscamein，confirmatoryofthosewhichhadbeforereachedhim，thearchdeaconfelthimselfunablenottobelieveintheman’sguilt。Andthefearwhichheentertainedastohisson’sintendedmarriagewithGraceCrawley，tendedtoincreasethestrengthofthatbelief。DrGrantlyhadbeenaverysuccessfulmanintheworld，andonallordinaryoccasionshadbeenabletoshowthatboldfrontwithwhichsuccessendowsaman。Buthestillhadhismomentsofweakness，andfearedgreatlylestanythingofmisfortuneshouldtouchhimandmarthecomelyroundnessofhisprosperity。Hewasverywealthy。Thewifeofhisbosomhadbeentohimallthatawifeshouldbe。Hisreputationintheclericalworldstoodveryhigh。Histwosonshadhithertodonewellintheworld，notonlyasregardedtheirhappiness，butastomarriagealso，andastosocialstanding。Buthowgreatwouldbethefallifhissonshouldatlastmarrythedaughterofaconvictedthief！HowwouldtheProudiesrejoiceoverhim——theProudieswhohadbeencrushedtothegroundbythesuccessoftheHartletopalliance；andhowwouldthelow—churchcurates，whoswarmedinBarsetshire，gathertogetherandscreamindelightoverhisdismay！’Butwhyshouldwesaythatheisguilty？’saidMrsGrantly。
’Ithardlymattersasfarasweareconcerned，whethertheyfindhimguiltyornot，’saidthearchdeacon；’ifHenrymarriesthatgirlmyheartwillbebroken。’
ButperhapstonooneexcepttheCrawleysthemselveshadthemattercausedsomuchterribleanxietyastothearchdeacon’sson。HehadtoldhisfatherthathehadmadeanofferofmarriagetoGraceCrawley，andhehadtoldthetruth。Butthereareperhapsfewmenwhomakesuchoffersindirecttermswithouthavingalreadysaidanddonethatwhichmakessuchofferssimplynecessaryasthefinalclosingofanacceptedbargain。ItwassoatanyratebetweenMajorGrantlyandMissCrawley，andMajorGrantlyacknowledgedtohimselfthatitwasso。HeacknowledgedalsotohimselfthatasregardedGraceherselfhehadnowishtogobackfromhisimpliedintentions。Nothingthateitherhisfatherormothermightsaywouldshakehiminthat。Butcoulditbehisdutytobindhimselftothefamilyofaconvictedthief？Coulditberightthatheshoulddisgracehisfatherandhismotherandhissisterandhisonechildbysuchaconnexion？Hehadaman’sheart，andthepovertyoftheCrawleyscausedhimnosolicitude。Butheshrankfromthecontaminationofaprison。
CHAPTERVI
GRACECRAWLEY
IthasalreadybeensaidthatGraceCrawleywasatthistimelivingwiththetwoMissPrettymans，whokeptagirls’schoolatSilverbridge。TwomorebenignantladiesthantheMissPrettymansneverpresidedoversuchanestablishment。Theyoungerwasfat，andfresh，andfair，andseemedtobealwaysrunningoverwiththemilkofhumankindness。Theotherwasverythinandverysmall，andsomewhatafflictedwithbadhealth——wasweak，too，intheeyes，andsubjecttorackingheadaches，sothatitwasconsideredgenerallythatshewasunabletotakemuchactivepartintheeducationofthepupils。Butitwasconsideredasgenerallythatshedidallthethinking，thatsheknewmorethananyotherwomaninBarsetshire，andthatallthePrettymanschemesforeducationemanatedfromhermind。Itwassaid，too，bythosewhoknewthembest，thathersister’sgood—naturewasasnothingtohers；thatshewasthemostcharitable，themostloving，andthemostconscientiousofschool—mistresses。ThiswasMissAnnabellaPrettyman，theelder；andperhapsitmaybeinferredthatsomeportionofhergreatcharacterforvirtuemayhavebeenduetothefactthatnobodyeversawheroutofherownhouse。Shecouldnotevengotochurch，becausetheopenairbroughtonneuralgia。Shewasthereforeperhapstakentobemagnificent，partlybecauseshewasunknown。MissAnnePrettyman，theyounger，wentaboutfrequentlytotea—parties——wouldgo，indeed，toanypartytowhichshemightbeinvited；andwasknowntohaveapleasanttasteforpoundcakeandsweetmeats。Beingseensomuchintheouterworld，shebecamecommon，andhercharacterdidnotstandsohighasdidthatofhersister。Somepeoplewereill—naturedenoughtosaythatshewantedtomarryMrWinthrop；butofwhatmaidenladythatgoesoutintheworldarenotsuchstoriestold？AndallsuchstoriesinSilverbridgeweretoldwithspecialreferencetoMrWinthrop。
MissCrawley，atpresent，livedwiththeMissPrettymans，andassistedthemintheschool。Thisarrangementhadbeengoingonforthelasttwelvemonths，sincethetimeinwhichGracewouldhavelefttheschoolinthenaturalcourseofthings。Therehadbeennobargainmade，andnointentionthatGraceshouldstay。Shehadbeeninvitedtofilltheplaceofanabsentsuperintendent，first，foronemonth，thenforanother，andthenfortwomoremonths；andwhentheassistantcameback，theMissPrettymansthoughttherewerereasonswhyGraceshouldbeaskedtoremainalittlelonger。ButtheytookgreatcaretoletthefashionableworldofSilverbridgeknowthatGraceCrawleywasavisitorwiththem，andnotateacher。’Wepayhernosalary，oranythingofthatkind，’
saidMissAnnPrettyman；astatement，however，whichwasbynomeanstrue，forduringthoselastfourmonthstheregularstipendhadbeenpaidtoher；andtwicesincethen，MissAnnabellaPrettyman，whomanagedallthemoneymatters，hadcalledGraceintoherlittleroom，andhadmadealittlespeech，andhadputalittlebitofpaperintoherhand。
’IknowIoughtnottotakeit，’GracehadsaidtoherfriendAnne。’IfIwasnothere，therewouldbenooneinmyplace。’’Nonsense，mydear，’
AnnePrettymanhadsaid；’itisthegreatestcomforttousintheworld。
Andyoushouldmakeyourselfnice，youknow，forhissake。Allthegentlemenlikeit。’ThenGracehadbeenveryangry，andhadswornthatshewouldgivethemoneybackagain。Nevertheless，Ithinkshedidmakeherselfasniceassheknewhowtodo。AndfromallthisitmaybeseenthattheMissPrettymanshadhithertoquiteapprovedofMajorGrantly’sattentions。
ButwhenthisterribleaffaircameonaboutthechequewhichhadbeenlostandfoundandtracedtoMrCrawley’shands，MissAnnePrettymansaidnothingfurthertoGraceCrawleyaboutMajorGrantly。ItwasnotthatshethoughtthatMrCrawleywasguilty，butsheknewenoughoftheworldtobeawarethatsuspicionofsuchguiltmightcompelsuchamanasMajorGrantlytochangehismind。’Ifhehadonlypopped，’Annesaidtohersister，’itwouldhavebeenallright。Hewouldneverhavegonebackfromhisword。’’Mydear，’saidAnnabella，’Iwishyouwouldnottalkaboutpopping。Itisaterribleword。’’Ishouldn’t，toanyoneexceptyou，’saidAnne。
TherehadcometoSilverbridgesomefewmonthssince，onavisittoMrsWalker，ayoungladyfromAllington，intheneighbouringcounty，betweenwhomandGraceCrawleytherehadgrownupfromcircumstancesawarmfriendship。GracehadacousininLondon——aclerkhighupandwell—to—doinapublicoffice，anephewofhermother’s——andthiscousinwas，andforyearshadbeen，violentlysmitteninloveforthisyounglady。Buttheyounglady’stalehadbeensad，andthoughsheacknowledgedfeelingsofthemostaffectionatefriendshipforthecousin，shecouldnotbringherselftoacknowledgemore。GraceCrawleyhadmettheyoungladyatSilverbridge，andwordshadbeenspokenaboutthecousin；andthoughtheyoungladyfromAllingtonwassomeyearsolderthanGrace，therehadgrownuptobeafriendship，and，asisnotuncommonbetweenyoungladies，therehadbeenanagreementthattheywouldcorrespond。ThenameoftheladywasMissLilyDale，andthenameofthewell—to—docousinwasMrJohnEames。
AtthepresentmomentMissDalewasathomewithhermotheratAllington，andGraceCrawleyinherterriblesorrowwrotetoherfriend，pouringoutherwholeheart。AsGrace’sletterandMissDale’sanswerwillassistusinourstory，Iwillventuretogivethemboth。
’SILVERBRIDGE，——December，186—
’DEARESTLILY，’Ihardlyknowhowtotellyouwhathashappened，itissoveryterrible。Butperhapsyouwillhavehearditalready，aseverybodyistalkingaboutithere。Ithasgotintothenewspapers，andthereforeitcannotbekeptsecret。NotthatIshouldkeepanythingfromyou；onlythisissoverydreadfulthatIhardlyknowhowtowriteit。Somebodysays——aMrSoames，Ibelieveitis——thatpapahastakensomemoneythatdoesnotbelongtohim，andheistobebroughtbeforethemagistratesandtried。Ofcoursepapahasdonenothingwrong。Idothinkhewouldbethelastmanintheworldtotakeapennythatdidnotbelongtohim。Youknowhowpoorheis；whatalifehehashad！ButIthinkhewouldalmostsoonerseemammastarving；——Iamsurehewouldratherbestarvedhimself，thenevenborrowashillingwhichhecouldnotpay。Tosupposethathewouldtakemoney’
（shehadtriedtowritetheword’steal’butshecouldnotbringherpentoformtheletters）