’ismonstrous。But，somehow，thecircumstanceshavebeenmadetolookbadagainsthim，andtheysaythathemustcomeoverheretothemagistrates。Ioftenthinkthatofallmenintheworldpapaisthemostunfortunate。Everythingseemstogoagainsthim，andyetheissogood！Poormammahasbeenoverhere，andsheisdistracted。Ineversawhersowretchedbefore。ShehasbeentoyourfriendMrWalker，andcametomeafterwardsforaminute。MrWalkerhasgotsomethingtodowithit，thoughmammasaysshethinksheisquitefriendlytopapa。Iwonderwhetheryoucouldfindout，throughMrWalker，whathethinksaboutit。Ofcourse，mammaknowsthatpapahasdonenothingwrong；butshesaysthatthewholethingissomysterious，andthatshedoesnotknowhowtoaccountforthemoney。Papa，youknow，isnotlikeotherpeople。Heforgetsthings；andisalwaysthinking，thinking，thinkingofhisgreatmisfortunes。Poorpapa！MyheartbleedssowhenIrememberallhissorrows，thatIhatemyselfforthinkingaboutmyself。
　　’Whenmammaleftme——anditwasthenIfirstknewthatpapawouldreallyhavetobetried——I
　　wenttoMissAnnabella，andtoldherthatIwouldgohome。Sheaskedmewhy，andIsaidIwouldnotdisgraceherhousebystayinginit。Shegotupandtookmeinherarms，andtherecameatearoutofbothherdearoldeyes，andshesaidthatifanythingevilcametopapa——whichshewouldnotbelieve，assheknewhimtobeagoodman——thereshouldbeahomeinherhousenotonlyforme，butformammaandJane。
　　Isn’tsheawonderfulwoman？WhenIthinkofher，I
　　sometimesthinkthatshemustbeanangelalready。
　　Thenshebecameveryserious——forjustbefore，throughhertearsshehadtriedtosmile——andshetoldmetorememberthatallpeoplecouldnotbelikeher，whohadnobodytolooktobutherselfandhersister；andthatatpresentImusttaskmyselfnottothinkofthatwhichIhadbeenthinkingofbefore。
　　Shedidnotmentionanybody’sname，butofcourseI
　　understoodverywellwhatshemeant；andIsupposesheisright。Isaidnothinginanswertoher，forI
　　couldnotspeak。Shewasholdingmyhand，andItookhersupandkissedit，toshowher，ifIcould，thatI
　　knewthatshewasright；butIcouldnothavespokenaboutitforalltheworld。Itwasnottendayssincethatsheherself，withallherprudence，toldmethatshethoughtIoughttomakeupmymindwhatanswerI
　　wouldgivehim。AndthenIdidnotsayanything；butofcoursesheknew。AndafterthatMissAnnespokequitefreelyaboutit，sothatIhadtobeghertobesilentevenbeforethegirls。Youknowhowimprudentsheis。Butitisallovernow。OfcourseMissAnnabellaisright。Hehasgotagreatmanypeopletothinkof；hisfatherandmother，andhisdarlinglittleEdith，whomhebroughtheretwice，andleftherwithusoncefortwodays，sothatshegottoknowmequitewell；andItooksuchaloveforher，thatI
　　couldnotbeartopartwithher。ButIthinksometimesthatallourfamilyareborntobeunfortunate，andthenItellmyselfthatIwillneverhopeforanythingagain。
　　’Praywritetomesoon。Ifeelasthoughnothingonearthcouldcomfortme，andyetIshallliketohaveyourletter。Dear，dearLily，IamnotevenyetsowretchedbutwhatIshallrejoicetobetoldgoodnewsofyou。IfitonlycouldbeasJohnwishesit！Andwhyshoulditnot？Itseemstomethatnobodyhasarightorareasontobyunhappyexceptus。Good—bye，dearestLily。
　　’Youraffectionatefriend，’GRACECRAWLEY’
　　’P。S。——IthinkIhavemadeupmymindthatIwillgobacktoHogglestockatonceifthemagistratesdecideagainstpapa。IthinkIshouldbedoingtheschoolharmifIweretostayhere。’
　　TheanswertothisletterdidnotreachMissCrawleytillafterthemagistrate’shearingontheThursday，butitwillbebetterforourstorythatitshouldbegivenherthanpostponeduntiltheresultofthatmeetingshallhavebeentold。MissDale’sanswerwasasfollows：—
　　’ALLINGTON，——December，186—
　　’DEARGRACE，’Yourletterhasmademeveryunhappy。IfitcanatallcomfortyoutoknowthatmammaandI
　　sympathisewithyoualtogether，inthatyoumayatanyratebesure。Butinsuchtroublesnothingwillgivecomfort。Theymustbeborne，tillthefireofmisfortuneburnsitselfout。
　　’IhadheardabouttheaffairadayortwobeforeIgotyournote。Ourclergyman，MrBoyce，toldusofit。Ofcourseweallknowthatthechargemustbealtogetherunfounded，andmammasaysthatthetruthwillbesuretoshowitselfatlast。Butthatconvictiondoesnotcuretheevil，andIcanwellunderstandthatyourfathershouldsuffergrievously；
　　andIpityyourmotherquiteasmuchasIdohim。
　　’AsforMajorGrantly，ifhebesuchamanasI
　　tookhimtobefromthelittleIsawofhim，allthiswouldmakenodifferencetohim。Iamsurethatitoughttomakenone。Whetheritshouldnotmakeadifferenceinyouisanotherquestion。Ithinkitshould；andIthinkyouranswertohimshouldbethatyoucouldnotevenconsideranysuchpropositionwhileyourfatherwasinsogreattrouble。Iamsomucholderthanyou，andseemtohavesomuchexperience，thatIdonotscruple，asyouwillsee，tocomedownuponyouwithalltheweightofmywisdom。
　　’AboutthatothersubjectIhadrathersaynothing。Ihaveknownyourcousinallmylifealmost；
　　andIregardnoonemorekindlythanIdohim。WhenI
　　thinkofmyfriends，heisalwaystheoneofthedearest。Butwhenonethinksofgoingbeyondfriendship，evenifonetriestodoso，therearesomanybarriers！
　　’Youraffectionatefriend，’LILYDALE
　　’Mammabidsmesaythatshewouldbedelightedtohaveyouherewheneveritmightsuityoutocome；
　　andIaddtothismessagemyentreatythatyouwillcomeatonce。YousaythatyouthinkyououghttoleaveMissPrettyman’sforawhile。Icanwellunderstandyourfeeling；butasyoursisteriswithyourmother，surelyyouhadbettercometous——Imeanquiteatonce。Iwillnotscrupletotellyouwhatmammasays，becauseIknowyourgoodsense。Shesaysthatastheinterestoftheschoolmaypossiblybeconcerned，andasyouhavenoregularengagement，shethinksyououghttoleaveSilverbridge；butshesaysthatitwillbebetterthatyoucometousthanthatyoushouldgohome。Ifyouwenthome，peoplemightsaythathadleftinsomesortofdisgrace。Cometous，andwhenallthisisputright，thenyougobacktoSilverbridge；andthen，ifacertainpersonspeaksagain，youcanmakeadifferentanswer。Mammaquiteunderstandsthatyouaretocome；soyouhaveonlytoaskyourownmamma，andcomeatonce。’
　　Thisletter，thereaderwillunderstand，didnotreachGraceCrawleytillaftertheall—importantThursday；butbeforethatdayhadcomeround，GracehadtoldMissPrettyman——hadtoldboththeMissPrettymans——thatshewasresolvedtoleavethem。Shehaddonethiswithoutconsultinghermother，driventoitbyvariousmotives。Sheknewherfather’sconductwasbeingdiscussedbythegirlsatschool，andthatthingsweresaidofhimwhichitcouldnotbutbeforthedisadvantageofMissPrettymanthatanyoneshouldsayofateacherintheestablishment。Shefelt，too，thatshecouldnotholdupherheadinSilverbridgeinthesedays，asitwouldbecomehertodoifsheretainedherposition。Shedidstrugglegallantly，andsucceededmuchmorenearlythanshewasherselfaware。Shewasallbutabletocarryherselfasthoughnoterribleaccusationwasbeingmadeagainstherfather。Ofthestruggle，however，shewasnotherselfthelessconscious，andshetoldherselfthatonthataccountalsoshemustgo。AndthenshemustgobecauseofMajorGrantly。Whetherhewasmindedtocomeandspeaktoherthatoneotherneededword，orwhetherhewasnotsominded，itwouldbebetterthatsheshouldbeawayfromSilverbridge。Ifhespokeitshecouldonlyanswerhimbythenegative；sheshouldleaveherselfthepowerofthinkingthathissilencehadbeencausedbyherabsence，andnotbyhiscoldnessorindifference。
　　Sheasked，therefore，foraninterviewwithMissPrettyman，andwasshownintotheeldersister’sroom，ateleveno’clockontheTuesdaymorning。TheelderMissPrettymannevercameintotheschoolherselftilltwelve，butwasinthehabitofhavinginterviewswiththeyoungladies——whichweresometimesveryawfulintheirnature——forthetwoprevioushours。Duringtheseinterviewsanimmenseamountofbusinesswasdone，andthefortunesinlifeofsomegirlsweresaidtohavebeenmadeormarred；aswhen，forinstance，MissCrimptonhadbeenadvisedtostayathomewithheruncleinEngland，insteadofgoingoutwithhersisterstoIndia，bothofwhichsistersweremarriedwithinthreemonthsoftheirlandinginBombay。Thewayinwhichshegavehercounselonsuchoccasionswasveryefficacious。NooneknewbetterthanMissPrettymanthatacockcancrowmosteffectivelyinhisownfarmyard，andthereforeallcrowingintendedtobeeffectivewasdonebyherwithintheshrineofherownpeculiarroom。
　　’Well，mydear，whatisit？’shesaidtoGrace。’Sitinthearm—chair，mydear，andwecanthentalkcomfortably。’Theteachers，whentheywereclosetedwithMissPrettyman，werealwaysaskedtositinthearm—chair，whereasasmall，straight—backed，uneasychairwaskeptfortheuseoftheyoungladies。Andtherewas，too，astoolofrepentance，outagainstthewall，veryuncomfortableindeedforyoungladieswhohadnotbehavedthemselvessoprettilyasyoungladiesgenerallydo。
　　Graceseatedherself，andthenbeganherspeechveryquickly。’MissPrettyman，’shesaid，’IhavemadeupmymindthatIwillgohome，ifyouplease。’
　　’Andwhyshouldyougohome，Grace？DidInottellyouthatyoushouldhaveahomehere？’MissPrettymanhadweakeyes，andwasverysmall，andhadneverpossessedanyclaimtobecalledgood—looking。Andsheassumednothingofthemajesticalawefromanyadornmentorstudiedamplificationoftheoutwardwomanbymeansofimpressivetrappings。Thepossessorofanunobservanteyemighthavecalledheramean—looking，littleoldwoman。Andcertainlytherewouldhavebeennothingawfulinhertoanyonewhocameacrossherotherwisethanasaladyhavingauthorityinherownschool。Butwithinherownprecincts，shedidknowhowtosurroundherselfwithadignitywhichallfeltwhoapproachedherthere。GraceCrawley，assheheardthesimplequestionwhichMissPrettymanhadasked，unconsciouslyacknowledgedthestrengthofthewoman’smanner。Shealreadystoodrebukedforhavingproposedaplansoungracious，sounnecessary，andsounwise。
　　’IthinkIoughttobewithmammaatpresent，’saidGrace。
　　’Youmotherhashersisterwithher。’
　　’Yes，MissPrettyman，Janeisthere。’
　　’Ifthereisnootherreason，Icannotthinkthatthatcanbeheldtobeareasonnow。Ofcourseyourmotherwouldliketohaveyoualways；
　　unlessyoushouldbemarried——butthentherearereasonswhythisshouldnotbeso。’
　　’Ofcoursethereare。’
　　’Idonotthink——thatis，ifIknowallthatthereistobeknown——Idonotthink，Isay，thattherecanbeanygoodgroundforyourleavingusnow——justnow。’
　　ThenGracesatsilentforamoment，gatheringhercourage，andcollectingherwords；andafterthatshespoke。’Itisbecauseofpapa，andbecauseofthischarge——’
　　’But，Grace——’
　　’Iknowwhatyouaregoingtosay，MissPrettyman；——thatis，IthinkI
　　know。’
　　’Ifyouhearme，youmaybesurethatyouknow。’
　　’ButIwantyoutohearmeforonemomentfirst。Ibegyourpardon，MissPrettyman；Idoindeed，butIwanttosaythisbeforeyougoon。I
　　mustgohome，andIknowIought。Wearealldisgraced，andIwon’tstopheretodisgracetheschool。Iknowpapahasdonenothingwrong；butneverthelesswearedisgraced。ThepolicearetobringhiminhereonThursday，andeverybodyinSilverbridgewillknowit。ItcannotberightthatIshouldbehereteachingintheschool，whileitisallgoingon；——andIwon’t。And，MissPrettyman，Icouldn’tdoit，indeedI
　　couldn’t。Ican’tbringmyselftothinkofanythingIamdoing。IndeedI
　　can’t；andthen，MissPrettyman，thereareotherreasons。’Bythetimethatshehadproceededthusfar，GraceCrawley’swordswerenearlychokedbyhertears。
　　’Andwhataretheotherreasons，Grace？’
　　’Idon’tknow，’saidGrace，strugglingtospeakthroughhertears。
　　’ButIknow，’saidMissPrettyman。’Iknowthemall。Iknowallyourreasons，andItellyouthatinmyopinionyououghttoremainwhereyouare，andnotgoaway。Theveryreasonswhichtoyouarereasonsforyourgoing，tomearereasonsforyourremaininghere。’
　　’Ican’tremain。Iamdeterminedtogo。Idon’tmindyouandMissAnne，butIcan’tbeartohavethegirlslookingatme——andtheservants。’
　　ThenMissPrettymanpausedawhile，thinkingofwhatwordsofwisdomwouldbemostappropriateinthepresentconjuncture。Butwordsofwisdomdidnotseemtocomeeasilytoher，havingforthemomentbeenbanishedbyatendernessofheart。’Comehere，mylove，’shesaidatlast。’Comehere，Grace。’SlowlyGracegotupfromherseatandcameround，andstoodbyMissPrettyman’selbow。MissPrettymanpushedherchairalittleback，andpushedherselfalittleforward，andstretchingoutonehand，placedherarmroundGrace’swaist，andwiththeothertookholdofGrace’shand，andthusdrewherdownandkissedthegirl’sforeheadandlips。AndthenGracefoundherselfkneelingatherfriend’sfeet。’Grace，’shesaid，’doyounotknowthatIloveyou？DoyounotknowthatIloveyoudearly？’InanswertothisGracekissedthewitheredhandsheheldinhers，whilethewarmtearstrickleduponMissPrettyman’sknuckles。’Iloveyouasthoughyouweremyown，’exclaimedtheschoolmistress；’andwillyounottrustme，thatIknowwhatisbestforyou？’
　　’Imustgohome，’saidGrace。
　　’Ofcourseyoushall，ifyouthinkitrightatlast；butletustalkofit。Nooneinthehouse，youknow，hastheslightestsuspicionthatyourfatherhasdoneanythingthatisintheleastdishonourable。’
　　’Iknowthatyouhavenot。’
　　’No，norhasAnne。’MissPrettymansaidthisasthoughnooneinthathousebeyondherselfandhersisterhadarighttohaveanyopiniononanysubject。
　　’Iknowthat，’saidGrace。
　　’Well，mydear。Ifwethinkso——’
　　’Buttheservant，MissPrettyman？’
　　’Ifanyservantinthishousesaysawordtooffendyou，I’ll——I’ll——’
　　’Theydon’tsayanything，MissPrettyman，buttheylook。Indeed，I’dbettergohome。IndeedIhad！’
　　’Donotyouthinkyourmotherhascaresenoughuponher，andburdenenough，withoutanothermouthtofeed，andanotherheadtoshelter？Youhaven’tthoughtofthat，Grace。’
　　’Yes，Ihave。’
　　’Andforthework，whilstyouarenotquitewellyoushallnotbetroubledwithteaching。Ihavesomeoldpapersthatwantcopyingandsettlings，andyoushallsithereanddothatjustforanemployment。
　　AnneknowsthatI’velongwantedtohaveitdone，andI’lltellherthatyouhavekindlypromisedtodoitforme。’
　　’No；no；no，’saidGrace；’Imustgohome。’ShewasstillkneelingatMissPrettyman’sknee，andstillholdingMissPrettyman’shand。Andthen，atthatmoment，therecameataponthedoor，gentlebutyetnothumble，atapwhichacknowledged，onthepartofthetapper，thesupremacyinthatroomoftheladywhowassittingthere，butwhichstillclaimedadmittancealmostasaright。ThetapwaswellknownbybothofthemtobethetapofMissAnne。Graceimmediatelyjumpedup，andMissPrettymansettledherselfinherchairwithamotionwhichalmostseemedtoindicatesomefeelingofshameastoherlateposition。
　　’IsupposeImaycomein？’saidMissAnne，openingthedoorandinsertingherhead。
　　’Yes，youmaycomein——ifyouhaveanythingtosay，’saidMissPrettyman，withanairwhichseemedtobeintendedtoasserthersupremacy。But，intruth，shewassimplycollectingthewisdomanddignitywhichhadbeensomewhatdissipatedbyhertenderness。
　　’IdidnotknowthatGraceCrawleywashere，’saidMissAnne。
　　’GraceCrawleyishere，’saidMissPrettyman。
　　’Whatisthematter，Grace？’saidMissAnne，seeinghertears。
　　’Nevermindnow，’saidMissPrettyman。
　　’Poordear，I’msureI’msorryasthoughsheweremyownsister，’saidAnne。’But，Annabella，Iwanttospeaktoyouespecially。’
　　’Tome，inprivate？’
　　’Yes，toyou；inprivate，ifGracewon’tmind？’
　　ThenGracepreparedtogo。Butasshewasgoing，MissAnne，uponwhosebrowaheavyburdenofthoughtwaslying，stoppedhersuddenly。’Grace，mydear，’shesaid，’goupstairstoyourroom，willyou？——notacrossthehalltotheschool。’
　　’Andwhyshouldn’tshegototheschool？’saidMissPrettyman。
　　MissAnnepausedforamoment，andthenanswered——unwillingly，asthoughdriventomakeareplywhichsheknewtobeindiscreet。’Becausethereissomebodyinthehall。’
　　’Gotoyourroom，dear，’saidMissPrettyman。AndGracewenttoherroom，neverturninganeyedowntowardsthehall。’Whoisit？’saidMissPrettyman。
　　’MajorGrantlyishere，askingtoseeyou，’saidMissAnne。
　　CHAPTERVII
　　MISSPRETTYMAN’SPRIVATEROOM
　　MajorGrantly，whenthreatenedbyhisfatherwithpecuniarypunishment，shouldhedemeanhimselfbysuchamarriageasthathehadproposedtohimself，haddeclaredthathewouldofferhishandtoMissCrawleyonthenextmorning。This，however，hehadnotdone。Hehadnotdoneit，partlybecausehedidnotquitebelievehisfather’sthreat，andpartlybecausehefeltthatthatthreatwasalmostjustified——forthepresentmoment——bythecircumstancesinwhichGraceCrawley’sfatherhadplacedhimself。
　　HenryGrantlyacknowledged，ashedrovehimselfhomeonthemorningafterhisdinnerattherectory，thatinthismatterofhismarriagehedidowemuchtohisfamily。Shouldhemarryatall，heowedittothemtomarryalady。AndGraceCrawley——sohetoldhimself——wasalady。Andheowedittothemtobringamongthemashiswifeawomanwhoshouldnotdisgracehimorthembyhereducation，manners，orevenbyherpersonalappearance。InalltheserespectsGraceCrawleywas，inhisjudgment，quiteasgoodastheyhadarighttoexpecthertobe，andinsomerespectsagreatdealsuperiortothattypeofwomanhoodwithwhichtheyhadbeenmostgenerallyconversant。’Ifeverybodyhadherdue，mysisterisn’tfittoholdacandletoher，’hesaidtohimself。Itmustbeacknowledged，therefore，thathewasreallyinlovewithGraceCrawley；andhedeclaredtohimselfoverandoveragain，thathisfamilyhadnorighttodemandthatheshouldmarryawomanwithmoney。Thearchdeacon’ssonbynomeansdespisedmoney。Howcouldhe，havingcomeforthasabirdfledgedfromsuchanestastherectoryatPlumsteadEpiscopi？BeforehehadbeenbroughtbyhisbetternatureandtruejudgmenttoseethatGraceCrawleywasthegreaterwomanofthetwo，hehadnearlysubmittedhimselftothetwentythousandpoundsofMissEmilyDunstable——tothat，andhergood—humourandrosyfreshnesscombined。Butheregardedhimselfasthewell—to—dosonofaveryrichfather。Hisonlychildwasamplyprovidedfor；andhefeltthat，asregardedmoney，hehadarighttodoashepleased。Hefeltthiswithdoublestrengthafterhisfather’sthreat。
　　Buthehadnorighttomakeamarriagebywhichhisfamilywouldbedisgraced。Whetherhewasrightorwronginsupposingthathewoulddisgracehisfamilywerehetomarrythedaughterofaconvictedthief，itishardlynecessarytodiscusshere。Hetoldhimselfthatitwouldbeso——tellinghimselfalsothat，bythesternlawsoftheworld，thesonandthedaughtermustpayfortheoffenceofthefatherandmother。Evenamongthepoor，whowouldwillinglymarrythechildofamanwhohadbeenhanged？Buthecarriedtheargumentbeyondthis，thinkingmuchofthematter，andendeavouringtothinkofitnotonlyjustlybutgenerously。IftheaccusationagainstCrawleywerefalse——ifthemanwerebeinginjuredbyanunjustcharge——evenifhe，Grantly，couldmakehimselfthinkthatthegirl’sfatherhadnotstolenthemoney，thenhewoulddareeverythingandgoon。Idonotknowthathisargumentwasgood，orthathismindwaslogicalonthematter。Heoughttohavefeltthathisownjudgmentastotheman’sguiltwaslesslikelytobecorrectthanthatofthosewhosedutyitwasandwouldbetoformandtoexpressajudgmentonthematter；andastoGraceherself，shewasequallyinnocentwhetherherfatherwereguiltyornotguilty。Ifheweretobedebarredfromaskingforherhandbyhisfeelingsforherfatherandmother，heshouldhardlyhavetrustedtohisownskillinascertainingtherealtruthastotheallegedtheft。Buthewasnotlogical，andthus，meaningtobegenerous，hebecameunjust。
　　HefoundthatamongthoseinSilverbridgewhomhepresumedtobebestinformedonsuchmatters，therewasagrowingopinionthatMrCrawleyhadstolenthemoney。HewasintimatewithalltheWalkers，andwasabletofindoutthatMrsWalkerknewthatherhusbandbelievedintheclergyman’sguilt。HewasbynomeansaloneinhiswillingnesstoacceptMrWalker’sopinionasthetrueopinion。Silverbridge，generally，wasendeavouringtodressitselfinMrWalker’sglass，andtobelieveasMrWalkerbelieved。TheladiesofSilverbridge，includingtheMissPrettymans，wereawarethatMrWalkerhadbeenverykindbothtoMrandMrsCrawley，andarguedfromthisthatMrWalkermustthinkthemaninnocent。ButHenryGrantly，whodidnotdaretoaskadirectquestionofthesolicitor，wentcunninglytowork，andclosetedhimselfwithMrsWalker——withMrsWalker，whoknewwellofthegoodfortunethatwashoveringoverGrace’sheadandwassonearlysettlingitselfonhershoulders。ShewouldhavegivenafingertobeabletowhitewashMrCrawleyinthemajor’sestimation。Normustitbesupposedthatshetoldthemajorinplainwordsthatherhusbandhadconvincedhimselfoftheman’sguilt。Inplainwordsnoquestionwasaskedbetweenthem，andinplainwordsnoopinionwasexpressed。Buttherewasthelookofsorrowinthewoman’seye，therewastheabsenceofreferencetoherhusband’sassurancethatthemanwasinnocent，therewastheairofsettledgriefwhichtoldofherownconviction；andthemajorlefther，convincedthatMrsWalkerbelievedMrCrawleytobeguilty。
　　ThenhewenttoBarchester；notopen—mouthedwithinquiry，butratherwithopenears，anditseemedtohimthatallmeninBarchesterwereofonemind。Therewasacounty—clubinBarchester，andatthiscounty—clubninemenoutoftenweretalkingaboutMrCrawley。Itwasbynomeansnecessarythatamanshouldaskquestionsonthesubject。Opinionwasexpressedsofreelythatnosuchaskingwasrequired；andopinioninBarchester——atanyrateinthecounty—club——seemednowtobeallofonemind。TherehadbeeneverydispositionatfirsttobelieveMrCrawleytobeinnocent。HehadbeenbelievedtobeinnocentevenafterhehadsaidwronglythatthechequehadbeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames；buthehadsincestatedthathehadreceiveditfromDeanArabin，andthatstatementwasalsoshowntobefalse。Amanwhohasachequechangedonhisownbehalfisboundatleasttoshowwherehegotthecheque。MrCrawleyhadnotonlyfailedtodothis，buthadgiventwofalseexcuses。
　　HenryGrantly，ashedrovehometoSilverbridgeontheSundayafternoon，summedupalltheevidenceinhisownmind，andbroughtinaverdictofGuiltyagainstthefatherofthegirlwhomheloved。
　　OnthefollowingmorninghewalkedintoSilverbridgeandcalledatMissPrettyman’shouse。AshewentalonghisheartwaswarmertowardsGracethanithadeverbeenbefore。Hehadtoldhimselfthathewasnowboundtoabstain，forhisfather’ssake，fromdoingthatwhichhehadtoldhisfatherhecertainlywoulddo。Butheknewalso，thathehadsaidthatwhich，thoughitdidnotbindhimtoMissCrawley，gaveherarighttoexpectthathewouldsobindhimself。AndMissPrettymancouldnotbutbeawareofwhathisintentionhadbeen，andcouldnotbutexpectthatheshouldnotbeexplicit。Hadhebeenawisemanaltogether，hewouldprobablyhaveabstainedfromsayinganythingatthepresentmoment——awiseman，thatis，inthewaysandfeelingsoftheworldinsuchmatters。But，astherearemenwhowillallowthemselvesallimaginablelatitudeintheirtreatmentofwomen，believingthattheworldwillcondoneanyamountoffaultofthatnature，sothereareothermen，andaclassofmenwhichonthewholeisthemorenumerousofthetwo，whoaretremblinglyalivetothedangerofcensureonthishead——andtothedangerofcensurenotonlyfromothersbutfromthemselvesalso。MajorGrantlyhaddonethatwhichmadehimthinkitimperativeuponhimtodosomethingfurther，anddothatsomethingatonce。