’DoyouthinkthatIwouldtellyouafalsehoodaboutit？WhatImeantwasthatitisakindofthingthatonedoesn’tliketalkingabout，merelybecausestoriesarebandiedabout。Peoplearesofondofsayingthatthismanisengagedtothatwoman，andofmakinguptales；anditseemssofoolishtocontradictsuchthings。’
　　’Butyouknowthatyouusedtobeveryfondofher。’
　　Hehadtakenuphishatwhenhehadrisenfromthesofa，andwasstillstandingwithitreadyinhishand。Hewasevennowhalf—mindedtoescape；andthenameofLilyDaleinMissDemoline’smouthwassodistastefultohimthathewouldhavedoneso——hewouldhavegoneinsheerdisgust，hadshenotstoodinhisway，sothathecouldnotescapewithoutmovingher，orgoingroundbehindthesofa。Shedidnotstirtomakewayforhim，anditmaybethatsheunderstoodthathewasherprisoner，inspiteofherlatecommandtohimtogo。Itmaybe，also，thatsheunderstoodhisvexationandthecauseofit，andthatshesawtheexpediencyofleavingLilyDalealoneforthepresent。Atanyrate，shepressedhimnomoreuponthematter。’Arewetobefriendsagain？’
　　shesaid。
　　’Ihopeso，’saidJohnny。
　　’Thereismyhand，then。’SoJohnnytookherhandandpressedit，andhelditforalittlewhile——justlongenoughtoseemtogiveameaningtotheaction。’Youwillgettounderstandmesomeday，’shesaid，’andwilllearnthatIdonotliketobereckonedamongtheeverybodiesbythoseforwhomIreally——really——reallyhavearegard。WhenIamangry，Iamangry。’
　　’Youwereveryangryjustnow，whenyoushowedmethewaytothedoor。’
　　’AndImeantittoo——fortheminute。Onlythink——supposingyouhadgone！Weshouldneverhaveseeneachotheragain；——never，never！Whatachangeonewordmaymake！’
　　’Onewordoftendoesmakeachange。’
　　’Doesitnot？Justalittle"yes"or"no"。A"no"issaidwhena"yes"
　　ismeant，andthentherecomesnosecondchance，andwhatachangethatmaybefrombrighthopestodesolation！Or，worseagain，a"yes"issaidwhena"no"shouldbesaid——whenthespeakerknowsthatitshouldbe"no"。Whatadifferencethat"no"makes！Whenonethinksofit，onewondersthatawomanshouldeversayanythingbut"no"。’
　　’Theyneverdidsayanythingelsetome，’saidJohnny。
　　’Idon’tbelieveit。Idaresaythetruthis，youneveraskedanybody。’
　　’Didanybodyeveraskyou？’
　　’Whatwouldyougivetoknow？ButIwilltellyoufrankly；——yes。Andonce——onceIthoughtthatmyanswerwouldnothavebeena"no"。’
　　’Butyouchangedyourmind？’
　　’WhenthemomentcameIcouldnotbringmyselftosaythewordthatshouldrobmeofmylibertyforever。Ihadsaid"no"tohimoftenenoughbefore——poorfellow；andonthisoccasion，hetoldmethathehadaskedmeforthelasttime。"Ishallnotgivemyselfanotherchance，"hesaid，"forIshallbeonboardshipwithinaweek。"Imerelybadehimgood—bye。ItwastheonlyanswerIgavehim。Heunderstoodme，andsincethatdayhisfoothasnotpressedhisnativesoil。’
　　’Andwasitallbecauseyouaresofondofyourliberty？’saidJohnny。
　　’Perhaps——Ididnot——lovehim，’saidMissDemolines，thoughtfully。Shewasnowagainseatedinherchair，andJohnEameshadgonebacktohiscornerofthesofa。’IfIhadreallylovedhim，Isupposeitwouldhavebeenotherwise。Hewasagallantfellow，andhadtwothousandayearofhisown，inIndiastockandothersecurities。’
　　’Dearme！Andhehasnotmarriedyet？’
　　’HewrotemeawordtosaythathewouldnevermarrytillIwasmarried——butthatonthedaythatheshouldhearofmywedding，hewouldgotothefirstsinglewomannearhimandpropose。Itwasadrollthingtosay；wasitnot？’
　　’Thesinglewomanoughttofeelherselfflattered。’
　　’Hewouldfindplentytoaccepthim。Besidesbeingsowelloffhewasaveryhandsomefellow，andisconnectedwithpeopleoftitle。Hehadeverythingtorecommendhim。’
　　’Andyetyourefusedhim？’
　　’Yes。YouthinkIwasfoolish；——doyounot？’
　　’Idon’tthinkyouwerefoolishifyoudidn’tcareforhim。’
　　’Itwasmydestiny，Isuppose；IdaresayIwaswrong。Othergirlsmarrywithoutviolentlove，anddoverywellafterwards。LookatMariaClutterbuck。’
　　ThenameofMariaClutterbuckhadbecomeodioustoJohnEames。AslongasMissDemolineswouldcontinuetotalkaboutherselfhecouldlistenwithsomeamountofgratification。ConversationonthatsubjectwasthenaturalprogressoftheBayswaterromance。AndifMadalinawouldonlycallherfriendbyherpresentname，hehadnostrongobjectiontoanoccasionalmentionofthelady；butthecombinednamesofMariaClutterbuckhadcometobeabsolutelydistastefultohim。HedidnotbelieveintheMariaClutterbuckfriendship——eitherinitspastorpresentexistence，asdescribedbyMadalina。Indeed，hedidnotputstrongfaithinanythingthatMadalinasaidtohim。Inthehandsomegentlemanwithtwothousandayear，hedidnotbelieveatall。ButthehandsomegentlemanhadonlybeenmentionedonceinthecourseofhisacquaintancewithMissDemolines，whereasMariaClutterbuckhadcomeupsooften！’UponmywordImustwishyougood—bye，’hesaid。’Itisgoingforeleveno’clock，andIhavetostarttomorrowatseven。’
　　’Whatdifferencedoesthatmake？’
　　’Afellowwantstogetalittlesleep，youknow。’
　　’Go，then；——goandgetyoursleep。Whatasleepy—headgenerationitis。’Johnnylongedtoaskwhetherthelastgenerationwaslesssleepy—headed，andwhetherthegentlemanwithtwothousandayearsatuptalkingallnightbeforehepressedhisfootforthelasttimeonhisnativesoil；buthedidnotdare。Ashesaidtohimselfafterwards，’ItwouldnotdotobringtheBayswaterromancetoosuddenlytotermination！’’Butbeforeyougo，’shecontinued，’Imustsaythewordtoyouaboutthatpicture。DidyouspeaktoMrDalrymple？’
　　’Ididnot。IhavebeensobusywithdifferentthingsthatIhavenotseenhim。’
　　’Andnowyouaregoing？’
　　’Well——totellthetruth，IthinkIshallseehimtonight，inspiteofmybeingsosleepy—headed。IwrotehimalinethatIwouldlookinandsmokeacigarwithhimifhechancedtobeathome！’
　　’Andthatiswhyyouwanttogo。Agentlemancannotlivewithouthiscigarnow。’
　　’ItisespeciallyatyourbiddingthatIamgoingtoseehim。’
　　’Gothen——andmakeyourfriendunderstandthatifhecontinuesthispictureofhis，hewillbringhimselftogreattrouble，andwillprobablyruinthewomanforwhomheprofesses，Ipresume，tofeelsomethinglikefriendship。YoumaytellhimthatMrsVanSieverhasalreadyheardofit。’
　　’Whotoldher？’demandedJohnny。
　　’Nevermind。Youneednotlookatmelikethat。ItwasnotI。Doyousupposethatsecretscanbekeptwhensomanypeopleknowthem？EveryservantinMaria’shouseknowsallaboutit。’
　　’Asforthat，Idon’tsupposeMrsBroughtonmakesanygreatsecretofit。’
　　’DoyouthinkshehastoldMrsBroughton？Iamsureshehasnot。ImaysaythatIknowshehasnot。MariaClutterbuckisinfatuated。Thereisnootherexcusetobemadeforher。’
　　’Good—bye，’saidJohnny，hurriedly。
　　’Andyouarereallygoing？’
　　’Well——yes。Isupposeso。’
　　’Gothen。Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou。’
　　’IshallcomeandcalldirectlyIreturn，’saidJohnny。
　　’Youmaydoasyoupleaseaboutthat，sir。’
　　’Doyoumeanthatyouwon’tbegladtoseemeagain？’
　　’Iamnotgoingtoflatteryou，MrEames。Mammawillbewellbythattime，Ihope，andIdonotmindtellingyouthatyouareafavouritewithher。’Johnnythoughtthatthiswasparticularlykind，ashehadseensoverylittleoftheoldlady。’Ifyouchoosetocalluponher，’
　　saidMadalina，’ofcourseshewillbegladtoseeyou。’
　　’ButIwasspeakingofyourself，youknow？’andJohnnypermittedhimselfforamomenttolooktenderlyather。
　　’ThenfrommyselfprayunderstandthatIwillsaynothingtoflatteryourself—love。’
　　’IthoughtyouwouldbekinderjustwhenIwasgoingaway。’
　　’IthinkIhavebeenquitekindenough。Asyouobservedyourselfjustnow，itisnearlyeleveno’clock，andImustaskyoutogoaway。Bonvoyage，andahappyreturntoyou。’
　　’AndyouwillbegladtoseemewhenIamback？Tellthatyouwillbegladtoseeme。’
　　’Iwilltellyounothingofthekind。MrEames，ifyoudo，Iwillbeveryangrywithyou。’Andthenhewent。
　　OnhiswaybacktohisownlodgingshedidcallonConwayDalrymple，andinspiteofhisneedforearlyrising，satsmokingwiththeartistforanhour。’Ifyoudon’ttakecare，youngman，’saidhisfriend，’youwillfindyourselfinascrapewithyourMadalina。’
　　’Whatsortofscrape？’
　　’AsyouwalkawayfromPorchesterTerracesomefineday，youwillhavetocongratulateyourselfonhavingmadeasuccessfuloverturetowardsmatrimony。’
　　’Youdon’tthinkIamsuchafoolasthatcomesto？’
　　’Othermenaswiseasyouhavedonethesamesoughtofthing。MissDemolinesisveryclever，andIdaresayyoufinditamusing。’
　　’Itisn’tsomuchthatshe’sclever，andIcanhardlysaythatitisamusing。Onegetsawfullytiredofit，youknow。Butafellowmusthavesomethingtodo，andthatisasgoodasanythingelse。’
　　’Isupposeyouhavenotheardthatoneyoungmanlevantedlastyeartosavehimselffromabreachofpromisecase？’
　　’IwonderwhetherhehadanymoneyinIndiansecurities？’
　　’Whatmakesyouaskthat？’
　　’Nothinginparticular。’
　　’Whateverlittlehechosetosave，andIthinkthatIheardthathewenttoCanada。HisnamewasShorter；andtheysaythat，ontheeveofhisgoing，Madalinasenthimwordthatshehadnoobjectiontothecolonies，andthat，underthepressingemergencyofhisexpatriation，shewaswillingtobecomeMrsShorterwithmoreexpeditionthanusuallyattendsfashionableweddings。Shorter，however，escaped，andhasneverbeenseenbackagain。’
　　Eamesdeclaredthathedidnotbelieveawordofit。Nevertheless，ashewalkedhomehecametotheconclusionthatifMrShortermusthavebeenthehandsomegentlemanwithIndiansecurities，towhom’no’hadbeensaidoncetoooften。
　　WhilesittingwithConwayDalrymple，hehadforgottentosayawordaboutJaelandSisera。
　　CHAPTERXLVII
　　DRTEMPESTATTHEPALACE。
　　IntimationhadbeensentfromthepalacetoDrTempestofSilverbridgeofthebishop’sintentionthatacommissionshouldbeheldbyhim，asruraldean，withotherneighbouringclergymen，asassessorswithhim，thatinquirymightbemadeonthepartoftheChurchintothequestionofMrCrawley’sguilt。ItmustbeunderstoodthatbythistimetheopinionhadbecomeverygeneralthatMrCrawleyhadbeenguilty——thathehadfoundthechequeinhishouse，andthathehad，afterholdingitformanymonths，succumbedtotemptation，andappliedittohisownpurposes。Butvariousexcusesweremadeforhimbythosewhosobelieved。Inthefirstplaceitwasfeltbyallwhoreallyknewanythingoftheman’scharacter，thattheveryfactofhiscommittingsuchacrimeprovedhimtobehardlyresponsibleforhisactions。Hemusthaveknown，hadnotalljudgmentinsuchmattersbeentakenfromhim，thatthechequewouldcertainlybetracedbacktohishands。Noattempthadbeenmadeinthedisposingofittodisposeofitinsuchawaythatthetraceshouldbeobliterated。Hehadsimplygivenittoaneighbourwithadirectiontohaveitcashed，andhadwrittenhisownnameonthebackofit。Andtherefore，thoughtherecouldbenodoubtastothetheftinthemindofthosewhosupposedthathehadfoundthechequeinhisownhouse，yettheguiltofthetheftseemedtobealmostannihilatedbythefollyofthethief。Andthenhispoverty，andhisstruggles，andthesufferingsofhiswife，wereremembered；andstoriesweretoldfrommouthtomouthofhisindustryinhisprofession，ofhisgreatzealamongthebrickmakersofHoggleEnd，ofactsofcharitydonebyhimwhichstartledthepeopleofthedistrictintoadmiration：——howhehadworkedwithhisownhandsforthesickpoortowhomhecouldnotgivereliefinmoney，turningawoman’smangleforacoupleofhours，andcarryingaboy’sloadalongthelanes。DrTempestandothersdeclaredthathehadderogatedfromthedignityofhispositionasanEnglishparishclergymanbysuchacts；but，nevertheless，thestoriesofthesedeedsactedstronglyonthemindsofbothmenandwomen，creatinganadmirationforMrCrawleywhichwasmuchstrongerthanthecondemnationofhisguilt。
　　EvenMrsWalkerandherdaughter，andtheMissPrettymans，hadsofargivenwaythattheyhadceasedtoasseveratetheirbeliefinMrCrawley’sinnocence。Theycontentedthemselveswithsimplyexpressingahopethathewouldbeacquittedbyajury，andthatwhenheshouldbesoacquittedthethingmightbeallowedtorest。Ifhehadsinned，nodoubthehadrepented。Andthentherewereseriousdebateswhetherhemightnothavestolenthemoneywithoutmuchsin，beingmadorhalf—mad——touchedwithmadnesswhenhetookit；andwhetherhemightnot，inspiteofsuchtemporarytouchofmadness，bewellfittedforhisparishduties。Sorrowhadafflictedhimgrievously；butthatsorrow，thoughithadincapacitatedhimforthemanagementofhisownaffairs，hadnotrenderedhimunfitfortheministrationofhisparish。Suchweretheargumentsnowusedinhisfavourbythewomenaroundhim；andthemenwerenotkeentocontradictthem。Thewishthatheshouldbeacquittedandallowedtoremaininhisparsonagewasverygeneral。
　　Whenthereforeitbecameknownthatthebishophaddecidedtoputonfootanotherinvestigation，withtheviewofbringingMrCrawley’sconductunderecclesiasticalcondemnation，almosteverybodyaccusedthebishopofpersecution。TheworldofthediocesedeclaredthatMrsProudiewasatwork，andthatthebishophimselfwasnobetterthanapuppet。Itwasinvainthatcertainclearheadedmenamongtheclergy，ofwhomDrTempesthimselfwasone，pointedoutthatthebishopafterallmightperhapsberight；——thatifMrCrawleywereguilty，andifheshouldbefoundtohavebeensobyajury，itmightbeabsolutelynecessarythatanecclesiasticalcourtshouldtakesomecognizanceofthecrimebeyondthatoftakenbythecivillaw。’Thejury，’saidDrTempest，discussingthecasewithMrRobartsandotherclericalneighbours——’thejurymayprobablyfindhimguiltyandrecommendtohimmercy。Thejudgewillhaveheardhischaracter，andwillhavebeenmadeacquaintedwiththemannerofhislife，andwilldealaslightlywiththecaseasthelawwillallowhim。ForaughtIknowhemaybeimprisonedforamonth。Iwishitmightbefornomorethanaday——oranhour。Butwhenhecomesoutfromhismonth’simprisonment——howthen？
　　Surelyitshouldbeacaseforecclesiasticalinquiry，whetheraclergymanwhohascommittedatheftshouldbeallowedtogointohispulpitdirectlyhecomesoutofprison？’ButtheanswertothiswasthatMrCrawleyhadalwaysbeenagoodclergyman，wasagoodclergymanatthismoment，andwouldbeagoodclergymanwhenhedidcomeoutofprison。
　　ButDrTempest，thoughhehadarguedinthisway，wasbynomeanseagerforthecommencementofthecommissionoverwhichhewastobecalledupontopreside。Inspiteofsuchargumentsastheabove，whichcamefromtheman’sheadwhenhisheadwasbroughttobearonthematter，therewasathoroughdesirewithinhishearttoopposethebishop。HehadnostrongsympathywithMrCrawley，ashadothers。HewouldhavehadMrCrawleysilencedwithoutregret，presumingMrCrawleytobeguilty。
　　Buthehadamuchstrongerfeelingwithregardtothebishop。Hadtherebeenanyquestionofsilencingthebishop——couldithavebeenpossibletotakestepsinthatdirection——hewouldhavebeenveryactive。Itmaythereforebeunderstoodthatinspiteofhisdefenceofthebishop’spresentproceedingsastothecommission，hewasanxiousthatthebishopshouldfail，andanxioustoputimpedimentsinthebishop’sway，shoulditappeartohimthathecoulddosowithjustice。DrTempestwaswellknownamonghisparishionerstobehardandunsympathetic，somesaidunfeelingalso，andcruel；butitwasadmittedbythosewhodislikedhimthemostthathewasbothpracticalandjust，andthathecaredforthewelfareofmany，thoughhewasrarelytouchedbythemiseryofone。SuchwasthemanwhowasrectorofSilverbridgeandruraldeaninthedistrict，andwhowasnowcalleduponbythebishoptoassisthiminmakingfurtherinquiryastothiswretchedchequefortwentypounds。
　　OnceatthisperiodArchdeaconGrantlyandDrTempestmeteachotheranddiscussedthequestionofMrCrawley’sguilt。Boththesemenwereinimicaltothepresentbishopofthediocese，andbothhadperhapsrespectedtheoldbishopbeyondallothermen。Buttheyweredifferentinthis，thatthearchdeaconhatedDrProudieasapartisan——whereasDrTempestopposedthebishoponcertainprincipleswhichheendeavouredtomakeclear，atanyratetohimself。’Wrong！’saidthearchdeacon，speakingofthebishop’sintentionofissuingacommission——’ofcoursehe’swrong。Howcouldanythingrightcomefromhimorfromher？Ishouldbesorrytohavetodohisbidding。’
　　’IthinkyouarealittleharduponBishopProudie，’saidDrTempest。
　　’Onecannotbeharduponhim，’saidthearchdeacon。’Heissoscandalouslyweak，andsheissoradicallyvicious，thattheycannotbutbewrongtogether。Theveryfactthatsuchamanshouldbeabishopamongusistometerriblystrongevidenceofevildayscoming。’
　　’YouaremoreimpulsivethanIam，’saidDrTempest。’InthiscaseIamsorryforthepoorman，who，Iamsure，honestinthemain。ButI
　　believethatinsuchacaseyourfatherwouldhavedonejustwhatthepresentbishopisdoing；——thathecouldhavedonenothingelse；andasI
　　thinkthatDrProudieisrightIshalldoallthatIcantoassisthiminthecommission。’
　　Thebishop’ssecretaryhadwrittentoDrTempest，tellinghimofthebishop’spurpose；andnow，inoneofthelastdaysinMarch，thebishophimselfwrotetoDrTempest，askinghimtocomeovertothepalace。Theletterwaswordedmostcourteously，andexpressedveryfeelinglythegreatregretwhichthewriterfeltatbeingobligedtotaketheseproceedingsagainstaclergymaninhisdiocese。BishopProudieknewhowtowritesuchaletter。Bythewritingofsuchletters，andbythemakingofspeechesinthesamestrain，hehadbecomeBishopofBarchester。Now，inthisletter，hebeggedDrTempesttocomeovertohim，sayinghowdelightedMrsProudiewouldbetoseehimatthepalace。
　　Thenhewentontoexplainthegreatdifficultywhichhefelt，andgreatsorrowalso，indealingwiththismatterofMrCrawley。Helooked，therefore，confidentlyforDrTempest’sassistance。ThinkingtodothebestforMrCrawley，andanxioustoenableMrCrawleytoremaininquietretirementtillthetrialshouldbeover，hehadsentaclergymanovertoHogglestock，whowouldhaverelievedMrCrawleyfromtheburdenofthechurch—services；——butMrCrawleywouldhavenoneofthisrelief。MrCrawleyhadbeenobstinateandoverbearing，andhadpersistedinclaiminghisrighttohisownpulpit。Thereforewasthebishopobligedtointerferelegally，andthereforewasheunderthenecessityofaskingDrTempesttoassisthim。WouldDrTempestcomeoverontheMonday，andstaytillWednesday？
　　Theletterwasaverygoodletter，andDrTempestwasobligedtodoashewasasked。Hesofarmodifiedthebishop’spropositionthathereducedthesojournatthepalacebyonenight。HewrotetosaythathewouldhavethepleasureofdiningwiththebishopandMrsProudieontheMonday，butwouldreturnhomeontheTuesday，assoonasthebusinessinhandwouldpermithim。’Ishallgetonverywellwithhim，’hesaidtohiswife，beforehestarted；’butIamafraidofthewoman。Ifsheinterferestherewillbearow。’’Then，mydear，’saidhiswife，’therewillbearow，forIamtoldthatshealwaysinterferes。’Onreachingthepalacehalf—an—hourbeforedinner—time，DrTempestfoundthatotherguestswereexpected，andondescendingtothegreatyellowdrawing—room，whichwasusedonlyonstateoccasions，heencounteredMrsProudie，andtwoofherdaughtersarrayedinfullpanoplyoffemalearmour。Shereceivedhimwithhersweetestsmiles，andiftherehadbeenanyformerenmitybetweenSilverbridgeandthepalace，itwasnowallforgotten。SheregrettedgreatlythatMrsTempesthadnotaccompaniedthedoctor；——forMrsTempestalsohadbeeninvited。ButMrsTempestwasnotquiteaswellasshemighthavebeen，thedoctorhadsaid，andveryrarelysleptawayfromhome。Andthenthebishopcameinandgreetedhisguestwithhispleasantestgoodhumour。ItwasquiteasorrowtohimthatSilverbridgewassodistant，andthathesawsolittleofDrTempest；buthehopedthatthatmightbesomewhatmendednow，andthatleisuremightbefoundforsocialdelights；——toallwhichDrTempestsaidbutlittle，bowingtothebishopateachseparateexpressionofhislordship’skindness。
　　Thereweregueststherethateveningwhodidnotoftensitatthebishop’stable。ThearchdeaconandMrsGrantlyhadbeensummonedfromPlumstead，andhadobeyedthesummons。Greataswastheenmitybetweenthebishopandthearchdeacon，ithadneverquitetakentheformofopenpalpablehostility。Each，therefore，askedtheothertodinnerperhapsonceeveryyear；andeachwenttotheother，perhaps，onceintwoyears。
　　AndDrThornefromChaldicoteswastherebutwithouthiswife，whointhesedayswasupinLondon。MrsProudiealwaysexpressedawarmfriendshipforMrsThorne，andonthisoccasionloudlyregrettedherabsence。’Youmusttellher，DrThorne，howexceedinglymuchwemissher。’DrThorne，whowasaccustomedtohearhiswifespeakofherdearfriendMrsProudiewithalmostunmeasuredridicule，promisedthathewoulddoso。’WearesorrytheLufton’scouldn’tcometous，’saidMrsProudie——notalludingtothedowager，ofwhomitwaswellknownthatnoearthlyinducementwouldhavesufficedtomakeherputherfootwithinMrsProudie’sroom——’butoneofthechildrenisill，andshecouldn’tleavehim。’ButtheGreshamsweretherefromBoxallHill，andtheThornesfromUllathorne，and，withtheexceptionofasinglechaplain，whopretendedtocarve，DrTempestandthearchdeaconweretheonlyclericalguestsatthetable。FromallwhichDrTempleknewthatthebishopwasanxioustotreathimwithspecialconsiderationonthepresentoccasion。