CHAPTERXLI
　　GRACECRAWLEYATHOME
　　OnthemorningafterhisreturnfromLondon，MrCrawleyshowedsymptomsofgreatfatigue，andhiswifeimploredhimtoremaininbed。Butthishewouldnotdo。Hewouldgetup，andgooutdowntothebrickfields。Hehasspeciallyboundhimself，hesaid，toseethatthedutiesoftheparishshouldnotsufferbybeingleftinhishands。Thebishophadendeavouredtoplacetheminotherhands，buthehadpersistedinretainingthem。Ashaddonesohecouldallownowearinessofhisowntointerfere——andespeciallynowearinessinducedbylaboursundertakenonhisownbehalf。Thedayintheweekhadcomeroundonwhichitwashiswonttovisitthebrickmakers，andhewouldvisitthem。SohedraggedhimselfoutofhisbedandwentforthamidstthecoldstormofaharshwetMarchmorning。Hiswifewellknewwhensheheardhisfirstwordonthatmorningthatoneofthoseterriblemoodshadcomeuponhimwhichmadeherdoubtwhethersheoughttoallowhimtogoanywherealone。
　　Latterlytherehadbeensomeimprovementinhismentalhealth。SincethedayofhisencounterwiththebishopandMrsProudie，thoughhehadbeenasstubbornasever，hehadbeenlessapparentlyunhappy，lessdepressedinspirits。AndthejourneytoLondonhaddonehimgood。Hiswifehadcongratulatedherselfonfindinghimabletosetabouthisworklikeanotherman，andhehimselfhadexperiencedarenewal，ifnotofhope，atanyrate，ofcourage，whichhadgivenhimacomfortwhichhehadrecognised。Hiscommon—sensehadnotbeenverystrikinginhisinterviewwithMrToogood，butyethehadtalkedmorerationallythenandhadgivenabetteraccountofthematterinhandthancouldhavebeenexpectedfromhimforsomeweekspreviously。Butnowthelabourwasover，areactionhadcomeuponhim，andhewentawayfromhishousehavinghardlyspokenawordtohiswifeafterthespeechwhichhemadeabouthisdutytohisparish。
　　Ithinkthatatthistimenobodysawclearlytheworkingofhismind——notevenhiswife，whostudieditveryclosely，whogavehimcreditforallhishighqualities，andwhohadgraduallylearnedtoacknowledgetoherselfthatshemustdistrusthisjudgmentinmanythings。Sheknewthathewasgood，andyetweak，thathewasafflictedbyfalseprideandsupportedbytruepride，thathisintellectwasstillverybright，yetsodismallyobscuredonmanysidesasalmosttojustifypeopleinsayingthathewasmad。Sheknewthathewasalmostasaint，andyetalmostacastawaythroughvanityandhatredofthoseabovehim。
　　Butshedidnotknowthatheknewallthisofhimselfalso。Shedidnotcomprehendthatheshouldbehourlytellinghimselfthatpeoplewerecallinghimmadandweresocallinghimwithtruth。Itdidnotoccurtoherthathecouldseeherinsightintohim。Shedoubtedastothewayinwhichhehadgotthecheque——neverimagining，however，thathehadwilfullystolenit——thinkingthathismindhadbeensomuchastrayastoadmitofhisfindingitandusingitwithoutwilfulguilt——thinkingalso，alas，thatamanwhocouldsoactwashardlyfitforsuchdutiesasthosewhichwereentrustedtohim。Butshedidnotdreamthatthiswaspreciselyhisownideaofhisownstateandofhisownposition；
　　——thathewasalwaysinquiringofhimselfwhetherhewasnotmad；
　　whether，ifmad，hewasnotboundtolaydownhisoffice；thathewasevertaxinghimselfwithimproperhostilitytothebishop——neverforgettingforamomenthiswrathagainstthebishopandthebishop’swife，stillcomfortinghimselftogotothepalaceandtherehumblytorelinquishhisclericalauthority。Suchacourseofactionhewasproposingtohimself，butnotwithanyrealisedideathathewouldsoact。Hewasasamanwhowalksalongariver’sbankthinkingofsuicide，calculatingnowbesthemightkillhimself——whethertheriverdoesnotofferanopportunitytoogoodtobeneglected，tellinghimselfthatthewaterispleasantandcool，andthathisearswouldsoonbedeaftotheharshnoisesoftheworld——butyetknowing，orthinkingthatheknows，thatheneverwillkillhimself。SoitwaswithMrCrawley。Thoughhisimaginationpicturedtohimselfthewholescene——howhewouldhumblehimselftothegroundasheacknowledgedhisunfitness，howhewouldendurethesmall—voicedtriumphofthelittlebishop，how，fromtheabjectnessofhisownhumility，evenfromthegroundonwhichhewouldbecrouching，hewouldrebuketheloud—mouthedtriumphofthebishop’swife；thoughtherewasnotouchwantingtothepicturewhichhethusdrew——hedidnotreallyproposetohimselftocommitthisprofessionalsuicide。Hiswife，too，hadconsideredwhetheritmightbeintruthbecomingthatheshouldgiveuphisclericalduties，atanyrateforawhile；butshehadneverthoughtthattheideawaspresenttohismindalso。
　　MrToogoodhadtoldhimthatpeoplewouldsaythathewasmad；andMrToogoodhadlookedathim，whenhedeclaredforthesecondtimethathehadnoknowledgewhencethechequehadcometohim，asthoughhiswordsweretoberegardedasthewordsofsomesickchild；’Mad！’hesaidtohimself，ashewalkedhomefromthestationthatnight。’Well；yes；andwhatifIammad？WhenIthinkofallthatIhaveenduredmywonderisthatIshouldnothavebeenmadsooner。’Andthenheprayed——yes，prayed，thatinhismadnesstheDevilmightnotbetoostrongforhim，andthathemightbepreservedfromsometerriblesinofmurderorviolence。What，iftheideashouldcometohiminhismadnessthatitwouldbewellforhimtoslayhiswifeandhischildren？Onlythatwaswantingtomakehimofallmenthemostunfortunate。
　　Hewentdownamongthebrickmakersonthefollowingmorning，leavingthehousealmostwithoutamorseloffood，andheremainedatHoggleEndforthegreaterpartoftheday。Thereweresickpersonstherewithwhomheprayed，andthenhesattalkingwithroughmenwhiletheyatetheirdinners，andhereadpassagesfromtheBibletowomenwhiletheywashedtheirhusband’sclothes。Andforawhilehesatwithalittlegirlinhislapteachingthechildheralphabet。Ifitwerepossibleforhimhewoulddohisduty。Hewouldsparehimselfinnothing，thoughhemightsuffereventofainting。Andonthisoccasionhedidsuffer——almosttofainting，forashereturnedhomeintheafternoonhewasforcedtoleanfromtimetotimeagainstthebanksontheroad—side，whilethecoldsweatofweaknesstrickleddownhisface，inorderthathemightrecoverstrengthtogoonafewyards。Buthewouldpersevere。IfGodwouldbutleavetohimmindenoughforhiswork，hewouldgoon。Nopersonalsufferingshoulddeterhim。Hetoldhimselfthattherehadbeenmenintheworldwhosesufferingsweresharpereventhanhisown。Ofwhatsorthadbeenthelifeofthemanwhohadstoodforyearsatthetopofapillar？Butthenthemanonthepillarhadbeenhonouredbyallaroundhim。Andthus，thoughhehadthoughtofthemanonthepillartoencouragehimselfberememberinghowlamentablehadbeenthatman’ssufferings，hecametoreflectthatafterallhisownsufferingswereperhapskeenerthanthoseofthemanonthepillar。
　　Whenhereachedhome，hewasveryill。Therewasnodoubtaboutitthen。Hestaggeredtohisarm—chair，andstaredathiswifefirst，andthensmiledatherwithhisghastlysmile。Hetrembledallover，andwhenfoodwasbroughttohimhecouldnoteatit。Earlyonthenextmorningthedoctorwasbyhisbedside，andbeforethateveningcamehewasdelirious。Hehadbeenatintervalsinthisstatefornearlytwodays，whenMrsCrawleywrotetoGrace，andthoughshehadrestrainedherselftellingeverything，shehadwrittenwithsufficientstrengthtobringGraceatoncetoherfather’sbedside。
　　HewasnotsoillwhenGracearrivedhomebutthatheknewher，andheseemedtoreceivedsomecomfortfromhercoming。BeforeshehadbeeninthehouseanhourshewasreadingGreektohim，andtherewasnowanderinginhismindastothedueemphasistobegiventotheplaintsoftheinjuredheroines，orastothepropermeaningofthechoruses。
　　Andashelaywithhisheadhalfburiedinthepillows，heshoutedoutlongpassages，linesfromtragicplaysbythescore，andforawhileseemedtohavealltheenjoymentofadearoldpleasureplacednewlywithinhisreach。Buthetiredofthisafterawhile，andthen，havinglookedroundtoseethathiswifewasnotintheroom，hebegantotalkofhimself。
　　’SoyouhavebeentoAllington，mydear？’
　　’Yes，papa。’
　　’Isitaprettyplace？’
　　’Yes，papa；——verypretty。’
　　’Andtheyweregoodtoyou？’
　　’Yes，papa；——verygood。’
　　’Hadtheyheardanythingthereabout——me；ofthistrialthatistocomeon？’
　　’Yes，papa；theyhadheardofit。’
　　’Andwhatdidtheysay？Youneednotthinkthatyouwillshockmebytellingme。Theycannotsayworsetherethanpeoplehavesaidhereorthinkworse。’
　　’Theydon’tthinkatallbadlyofyouatAllington，papa。’
　　’Buttheymustthinkbadlyofmeifthemagistratesareright。’
　　’Theysupposethattherehasbeenamistake；——asweallthink。’
　　’Theydonottrymenattheassizesformistakes。’
　　’Thatyouhavebeenmistaken，Imean；——andthemagistratesmistaken。’
　　’Butcannothavebeenmistaken，Grace。’
　　’Idon’tknowhowtoexplainmyself，papa；butweallknowthatitisverysad，andarequitesurethatyouhavenevermeantforonemomenttodoanythingthatiswrong。’
　　’Butpeoplewhentheyare——youknowwhatImean，Grace；whentheyarenotthemselves——dothingsthatarewrongwithoutmeaningit。’Thenhepaused，whilesheremainedstandingbyhimwithherhandonthebackofhis。Shewaslookingathisface，whichhadbeenturnedtowardsherwhiletheywerereadingtogether，butwhichnowwassofarmovedthatsheknewthathiseyescouldnotbefixeduponhers。’Ofcourseifthebishopordersit，itshallbeso，’hesaid。’Itisquiteenoughformethatheisabishop。’
　　’Whathasthebishopordered，papa？’
　　’Nothingatall。Itisshewhodoesit。Hehasgivenmenoopinionaboutit。Ofcoursenot。Hehasnonetogive。Itisthewoman。YougoandtellherfrommethatinsuchamatterIwillnotobeythewordofanywomanliving。Goatonce，whenItellyou。’
　　Thensheknewthatherfather’smindwaswandering，andshekneltdownbythebedside，stillholdinghishand。
　　’Grace，’hesaid。
　　’Yes，papa，Iamhere。’
　　’WhydoyounotdowhatItellyou？’Andhesatuprightinhisbed。’I
　　supposeyouareafraidofthewoman。’
　　’Ishouldbeafraidofher，dearpapa。’
　　’Iwasnotafraidofher。Whenshespoketome，Iwouldhavenothingtosaytoher；——notaword；——notaword。’Ashesaidthis，hewavedhishandsabout。’Butasforhim——ifitmustbe，itmust。IknowIamnotfitforit。OfcourseIamnot。Whois？Butwhathasheeverdonethatheshouldbedean？Ibeathimateverything；almostateverything。HegottheNewdigate，andthatwasaboutall。UponmywordIthinkthatwasall。’
　　’ButDrArabinlovesyoutruly，dearpapa。’
　　’Loveme！psha！Doesheevercomeheretotea，asheusedtodo？No！
　　Irememberbutteringtoastforhimdownonmykneesbeforethefire，becausehelikedit——andkeepingallthecreamforhim。Heshouldhavemyheart’sbloodifhewantedit。Butnow；——lookathisbooks，Grace。
　　It’stheoutsideofthemhecaresfor。Theyareallgilt，butIdoubtifheeverreads。Asforher——Iwillnotallowanywomantotellmemyduty。No；——butmyMaker；notevenyourmother，whoisthebestofwomen。Andasforher，withherlittlehusbanddanglingatherapron—
　　strings，asacall—whistletobeblownintowhenshepleases——thatsheshoulddaretoteachmemyduty！No！Themeninthejury—boxmaydecidehowtheywill。Iftheycanbelieveaplainstory，letthem！Ifnot——letthemdoastheyplease。Iamreadytobearitall。’
　　’Dearpapa，youaretired。Willyounottrytosleep？’
　　’TellMrsProudiewhatIsay；andasforArabin’smoney，Itookit。I
　　knowItookit。Whatwouldyouhavemedo？ShallI——seethem——allstarve？’Thenhefellbackuponhisbedanddidsleep。
　　Thenextdayhewasbetter，andinsistedupongettingoutofbed，andonsittinginhisoldarm—chairoverthefire。AndtheGreekbookswereagainhadout；andGrace，notatallunwillingly，wasputthroughherfacings。’Ifyoudon’ttakecare，mydear，’hesaid，’Janewillbeatyouyet。Sheunderstandstheforceoftheverbsbetterthanyoudo。’
　　’Iamverygladthatsheisdoingsowell，papa。IamsureIshallnotbegrudgeherhersuperiority。’
　　’Ah，butyoushouldbegrudgeither！’Janewassittingbyatthetime，andthetwosisterswereholdingeachotherBythehand。’Alwaystobethebest；——alwaystobeinadvanceofothers。Thatshouldbeyourmotto。’
　　’Butwecan’tbothbebest，papa，’saidJane。
　　’Youcanbothstrivetobebest。ButGracehasthebettervoice。I
　　rememberwhenIknewthewholeofthe"Antigone"byheart。Yougirlsshouldseewhichcanlearnitfirst。’
　　’Itwouldtakesuchalongtime，’saidJane。
　　’Youarewrong，andwhatcanyoudobetterwithyourleisurehours？Fie，Jane！Ididnotexpectitfromyou。WhenIwaslearningitIhadeightorninepupils，andreadanhouradaywitheachofthem。ButIthinkthatnobodyworksnowastheyusedtoworkthen。Whereisyourmamma？
　　TellherIthinkIcouldgetoutasfarasMrsCox’s，ifshewouldhelpmedress。’Soonafterthishewasinbedagain，andhisheadwaswandering；butstilltheyknewthathewasbetterthanhehadbeen。
　　’YouaremoreofacomforttoyourpapathanIcanbe，’saidMrsCrawleytohereldestdaughterthatnightastheysattogether，wheneverybodyelsewasinbed。
　　’Donotsaythat，mamma。Papadoesnotthinkso。’
　　’IcannotreadGreekplaystohimasyoucando。Icanonlynursehiminhisillnessandendeavourtodomyduty。Doyouknow，Grace，thatitIambeginningtofearthathehalfdoubtsme？’
　　’Oh，mamma！’
　　’Thathehalfdoubtsme，andishalfafraidofme。Hedoesnotthinkasheusedtodo，thatIamaltogether，heartandsoul，onhisside。Icanseeitinhiseyesashewatchesme。HethinksthatIamtiredofhim——tiredofhissufferings，tiredofhispoverty，tiredoftheevilwhichmensayofhim。IamnotsurebutwhathethinksthatIsuspecthim。’
　　’Ofwhat，mamma？’
　　’Ofgeneralunfitnessfortheworkhehastodo。Thefeelingisnotstrongasyet，butIfearthathewillteachhimselftothinkthathehasanenemyathishearth——notafriend。Itwillbethesaddestmistakeheevermade。’
　　’Hetoldmetodaythatyouwerethebestofwomen。Thosewerehisverywords。’
　　’Werethey，mydear？Iamgladatleastthatheshouldsaysotoyou。
　　Hehasbeenbettersinceyoucame；——agreatdealbetter。ForonedayI
　　wasfrightened；butIamverysorrynowthatIsentforyou。’
　　’Iamsoglad，mamma；soveryglad。’
　　’Youwerehappythere——andcomfortable。Andiftheyweregladtohaveyou，whyshouldIhavebroughtyouaway？’
　　’ButIwasnothappy；——eventhoughtheywereverygoodtome。HowcouldIbehappytherewhenIwasthinkingofyouandpapaandJanehereathome？Whateverthereisher，Iwouldsoonershareitwithyouthanbeanywhereelse——whilethistroublelasts。’
　　’Mydarling！——itisagreatcomforttoseeyouagain。’
　　’OnlythatIknewthatonelessinthehousewouldbeasavingtoyouI
　　shouldnothavegone。Whenthereisunhappiness，peopleshouldstaytogether；——shouldn’tthey，mamma？’Theyweresittingquiteclosetoeachother，onanoldsofainasmallupstairsroom，fromwhichadooropenedintothelargerchamberinwhichMrCrawleywaslying。IthadbeenarrangedbetweenthemthatonthisnightMrsCrawleyshouldremainwithherhusband，andthatGraceshouldgotobed。Itwasnowpastoneo’clock，butshewasstillthere，clingingtohermother’sside，withhermother’sarmdrawnroundher。’Mamma，’shesaid，whentheyhadbothbeensilentforsometenminutes。’Ihavegotsomethingtotellyou。’
　　’Tonight？’
　　’Yes，mamma；tonight，ifyouwillletme。’
　　’Butyoupromisedthatyouwouldgotobed。Youwereupalllastnight。’
　　’Iamnotsleepy，mamma。’
　　’Ofcourseyoushalltellmewhatyouplease，dearest。Isitasecret？
　　IsitsomethingIamnottorepeat？’
　　’Youmustsayhowthatoughttobe，mamma。Ishallnottellittoanyoneelse。’
　　’Well，dear？’
　　’Sitcomfortably，mamma；——there；likethat，andletmehaveyourhand。
　　It’saterriblestorytohavetotell。’
　　’Aterriblestory，Grace？’
　　’Imeanthatyoumustnotdrawawayfromme。Ishallwanttofeelthatyouarequiteclosetome。Mamma，whileIwasatAllington，MajorGrantlycamethere？’
　　’Didhe，mydear？’
　　’Yes，mamma。’
　　’Didheknowthembefore？’
　　’No，mamma；notattheSmallHouse。Buthecamethere——toseeme。Heaskedme——tobehiswife。Don’tmove，mamma。’
　　’Mydarlingchild！Iwon’tmove，dearest。Well；andwhatdidyousaytohim？Godblesshim，atanyrate。MayGodblesshim，becausehehasseenwithatrueeye，andfeltwithanobleinstinct。Itissomething，Grace，tohavebeenwooedbysuchamanatsuchatime。’
　　’Mamma，itdidmakemefeelproud；itdid。’
　　’Youhadknownhimwellbefore——ofcourse？Iknewthatyouandhewerefriends，Grace。’
　　’Yes，wewerefriends。Ialwayslikedhim。Iusednottoknowwhattothinkabouthim。MissAnnePrettymantoldmethatitwouldbeso；andoncebeforeIhadthoughtsomyself。’
　　’Andhadyoumadeupyourmindwhattosaytohim？’
　　’Yes，Ididthen。ButIdidnotsayit。’
　　’Didnotsaywhatyouhadmadeupyourmindtosay？’
　　’Thatwasbeforeallthishappenedtopapa。’
　　’Iunderstandyou，dearest。’
　　’WhenMissAnnePrettymantoldmethatIshouldbereadywithmyanswer，andwhenIsawthatMissPrettymanherselfusedtolethimcometothehouseandseemedtowishthatIshouldseehimwhenhecame，andwhenheoncewas——soverygentleandkind，andwhenhesaidthathewantedmetoloveEdith——Oh，mamma！’
　　’Yes，darling，Iknow。Ofcourseyoulovedhim。’
　　’Yes，mamma。AndIdolovehim。Howcouldonenotlovehim？’
　　’Ilovehim——forlovingyou。’
　　’But，mamma，oneisboundnottodoaharmtoanyonethatoneloves。SowhenhecametoAllingtonItoldhimthatIcouldnotbehiswife。’
　　’Didyou，mydear？’
　　’Yes；Idid。WasInotright？OughtItogotohimtobringadisgraceuponallthefamily，justbecauseheissogoodthatheasksme？ShallI
　　injurehimbecausehewantstodomeaservice？’
　　’Ifhelovesyou，Grace，theservicehewillrequirewillbeyourloveinreturn。’
　　’Thatisallverywell，mamma——inbooks；butIdonotbelieveitinreality。Beinginloveisverynice，andinpoetrytheymakeitouttobeeverything。ButIdonotthinkIshouldmakeMajorGrantlyhappyifwhenIbecamehiswifehisownfatherandmotherwouldnotseehim。I
　　knowIshouldbesowretched，myself，thatIcouldnotlive。’
　　’Butwoulditbeso？’
　　’Yes；——Ithinkitwould。Andthearchdeaconisveryrich，andcanleaveallhismoneyawayfromMajorGrantlyifhepleases。ThinkwhatIshouldfeelifIwerethecauseofEdithlosingherfortune！’
　　’Butwhydoyousupposetheseterriblethings？’
　　’Ihaveareasonforsupposingthem。Thismustbeasecret。MissAnnePrettymanwrotetome。’
　　’IwishMissAnnePrettyman’shandhadbeeninthefire。’
　　’No，mamma；no，shewasright。WouldnotIhavewished，doyouthink，tohavelearnedallthetruthaboutthematterbeforeIansweredhim？
　　Besides，itmadenodifference。Icouldhavemadenootheranswerwhilepapaisundersuchaterribleban。Itisnotimeforustothinkofbeinginlove。Wehavegottoloveeachother。Isn’titso，mamma？’Themotherdidnotanswerinwords，butslippingdownonherkneesbeforeherchildthrewherarmsfoundhergirl’sbodyinacloseembrace。’Dearmamma；dearestmamma；thisiswhatIwanted；——thatyoushouldloveme。’
　　’Loveyou，myangel！’
　　’Andtrustme；——andthatweshouldunderstandeachother，andstandclosebyeachother。Wecandosomuchtocomfortoneanother；——butwecannotcomfortotherpeople。’
　　’Hemustknowthatbesthimself，Grace；——butwhatdidhesaymoretoyou？’
　　’Idon’tthinkhesaidanythingmore。’
　　’Hejustleftyouthen？’
　　’Hesaidonethingmore。’
　　’Andwhatwasthat？’
　　’Hesaid——buthehadnorighttosayit。’
　　’Whatwasit，dear？’
　　’ThatheknewthatIlovedhim，andthattherefore——But，mamma，donotthinkofthat。Iwillneverbehiswife——never，inoppositiontohisfamily。’
　　’Buthedidnottakeyouranswer？’
　　’Hemusttakeit，mamma。Heshalltakeit。Ifhecanbestubborn，socanI。Ifheknowshowtothinkofmemorethanhimself，IcanthinkofhimandEdithmorethanofmyself。Thatisnotquiteall，mamma。Thenhewrotetome。Thereishisletter。’
　　MrsCrawleyreadtheletter。’Isupposeyouansweredit？’
　　’Yes，Iansweredit。Itwasverybad，myletter。Ishouldthinkafterallthathewillneverwanttohaveanythingmoretosaytome。Itriedfortwodays，butIcouldnotwriteaniceletter。’
　　’Butwhatdidyousay？’
　　’Idon’tintheleastremember。Itdoesnotintheleastsignifynow，butitwassuchabadletter。’
　　’Idaresayitwasverynice。’
　　’Itwasterriblystiff，andallaboutagentleman。’
　　’Allaboutagentleman！Whatdoyoumean，mydear？’
　　’Gentlemanissuchafrightfulwordtohavetousetoagentleman；butI
　　didnotknowwhatelsetosay。Mamma，ifyouplease，wewon’ttalkaboutit；——notabouttheletter，Imean。Asforhim，I’lltalkabouthimforeverifyoulikeit。Idon’tmeantobeabitbroken—hearted。’
　　’Itseemstomethatheisagentleman。’
　　’Yes，mamma，thatheis；anditisthatwhichmakesmesoproud。WhenI
　　thinkofit，Icanhardlyholdmyself。ButnowI’vetoldyoueverything，andI’llgoaway，andgotobed。’
　　CHAPTERXLII
　　MRTOOGOODTRAVELSPROFESSIONALLY
　　MrToogoodpaidanothervisittoBarsetshire，inorderthathemightgetalittlefurtherinformationwhichhethoughtwouldbenecessarybeforedespatchinghisnephewuponthetracesofDeanArabinandhiswife。HewentdowntoBarchesterafterhisworkwasoverbyaneveningtrain，andputhimselfupat’TheDragonofWantly’，intendingtohavethewholeofthenextdayforhiswork。MrWalkerhadaskedhimtocomeandtakeareturnpotluckdinnerwithMrsWalkeratSilverbridge；andthishehadsaidthathewoulddo。Afterhaving’rummagedaboutfortidings’inBarchester，ashecalledit，hewouldtakethetrainforSilverbridge，andwouldgetbacktotownintimeforbusinessonthethirdday。’Onedaywon’tbemuch，youknow，’hesaidtohispartner，ashemadehalfanapologyforabsentinghimselfonbusinesswhichwasnottobeinanydegreeremunerative。’Thatsortofthingisverywellwhenonedoesitwithoutanyexpense’saidCrump。’Soitis，’saidToogood；’andtheexpensewon’tmakeitanyworse。’Hehadmadeuphismind，anditwasnotprobablethatanythingMrCrumpmightsaywoulddeterhim。
　　HesawJohnEamesbeforehestarted。’You’llbereadythisdayweek，willyou？’JohnEamespromisedthathewould。’Itwillcostyousomefortypounds，Ishouldsay。ByGeorge——ifyouhavetogoontoJerusalem，itwillcostyoumore。’Inanswertothis，Johnnypleadedthatitwouldbeasgoodasanyothertourtohim。Hewouldseetheworld。’I’lltellyouwhat，’saidToogood；’I’llpayhalf。Onlyyoumustn’ttellCrump。AnditwillbequiteaswellnottotellMaria。’ButJohnnywouldhearnothingofthisscheme。Hewouldpaytheentirecostofhisownjourney。Hehadlotsofmoney，hesaid，andwouldlikenothingbetter。’ThenI’llrundown，’saidToogood，’andrummageupwhattidingsIcan。Asforwritingtothedean，what’sthegoodofwritingtoamanwhenyoudon’tknowwhereheis？Businesslettersalwayslieathotelsfortwomonths，andthencomebackwithdoublepostage。FromallIcanhear，you’llstumbleonherbeforeyoufindhim。Ifwedonothingelsebutbringhimback，itwillbeagreatthingtohavethesupportofsuchafriendinthecourt。ABarchesterjurywon’tliketofindamanguiltywhoishand—and—glovewiththedean。’
　　MrToogoodreachedthe’Dragon’abouteleveno’clock，andallowedthebootstogivehimapairofslippersandacandlestick。Buthewouldtogotobedjustatthatmoment。Hewouldgointothecoffee—roomfirst，andhaveaglassofhotbrandy—and—water。Sothehotbrandy—and—waterwasbroughttohim，andacigar，andashesmokedanddrankheconversedwiththewaiter。Themanwasawaiteroftheancientclass，agrey—hairedwaiter，withseedyclothes，andadirtytowelunderhisarm；