butintellingherhewouldkeeptohimselfwhathehadsaidastotheresultofanacquittalinacivilcourt。Sheneednotyetbetoldthathehadpromisedtotakesuchaverdictassufficingalsoforanecclesiasticalacquittal。Inthisspirithisletterwaswrittenandsentoffbeforeheagainsawhiswife。
　　Hedidnotmeethertilltheycametogetherinthedrawing—roombeforedinner。Inexplainingthewholetruthastocircumstancesastheyexistedatthepalaceatthemoment，itmustbeacknowledgedthatMrsProudieherself，greataswashercourage，andwideasweretheresourceswhichshepossessedwithinherself，wassomewhatappalledbythepositionofaffairs。IfearthatitmaynowbetoolateformetoexcitemuchsympathyinthemindofanyreaderonbehalfofMrsProudie。
　　Ishallneverbeabletomakeherpopular。Butshehadvirtues，andtheirexistencenowmadeherunhappy。Shedidregardthedignityofherhusband，andshefeltatthepresentmomentthatshehadalmostcompromisedit。Shedidalsoregardthewelfareoftheclergymenaroundher，thinkingofcourseinageneralwaythatcertainofthemwhoagreedwithherweretheclergymenwhosewelfareshouldbestudied，andthatcertainofthemwhodisagreedwithherweretheclergymenwhosewelfareshouldbepostponed。Butnowanideamadeitswayintoherbosomthatshewasnotperhapsdoingthebestforthewelfareofthediocesegenerally。Whatifitshouldcometopassthatalltheclergymenofthedioceseshouldrefusetoopentheirmouthsinherpresenceonecclesiasticalsubjects，asDrTempesthaddone？Thisspecialdaywasnotoneonwhichshewaswellcontentedwithherself，thoughbynomeansonthataccountwasherangermitigatedagainsttheoffendingruraldean。
　　Duringdinnershestruggledtosayawordortwotoherhusband，asthoughtherehadbeennoquarrelbetweenthem。Withhimthematterhadgonesodeepthathecouldnotanswerherinthesamespirit。Thereweresundrymembersofthefamilypresent——daughters，andason—in—law，andadaughter’sfriendwhowasstayingwiththem；buteveninthehopeofappearingtobeserenebeforethemhecouldnotstrugglethroughhisdeepdespondence。Hewasverysilent，andtohiswife’swordsheansweredhardlyanything。Hewascourteousandgentlewiththemall，buthespokeaslittleaswaspossible，andduringtheeveninghesatalone，withhisheadleaningonhishand——notpretendingeventoread。Hewasawarethatitwastoolatetomakeevenanattempttoconcealhismiseryandhisdisgracefromhisownfamily。
　　Hiswifecametohimthatnightinhisdressing—roominaspiritoffemininesoftnessthatwasveryunusualwithher。’Mydear，’saidshe，’letusforgetwhatoccurredthismorning。Iftherehasbeenanger，weareboundasChristianstoforgetit。’Shestoodoverhimasshespoke，andputherhanduponhisshoulderalmostcaressingly。
　　’Whenaman’sheartisbroken，hecannotforgetit，’washisreply。Shestillstoodbyhim，andstillkeptherhanduponhim：butshecouldthinkofnootherwordsofcomforttosay。’Iwillgotobed，’hesaid。
　　’Itisthebestplaceforme。’Thenshelefthim，andhewenttobed。
　　CHAPTERXLVIII
　　THESOFTNESSOFSIRRAFFLEBUFFLE
　　WehaveseenthatJohnEameswaspreparedtostartonhisjourneyinsearchoftheArabins，andhaveseenhimafterhehadtakenfarewellofhisofficeandofhismasterthere，previoustohisdeparture；butthatmatterofhisdeparturehadnotbeenarrangedaltogetherwithcomfortasfarashisofficialinterestswereconcerned。HehadbeenperhapsalittleabruptinhismodeofinformingSirRaffleBuffle，thattherewasapressingcauseforhisofficialabsence，andSirRafflehadrepliedtohimthatnoprivatepressurecouldbeallowedtointerferewithhispublicduties。’Imustgo，SirRaffle，atanyrate，’Johnnyhadsaid；
　　’itisamatteraffectingmyfamilyandmustnotbeneglected。’’Ifyouintendtogowithoutleave，’saidSirRaffle，’IpresumeyouwillfirstputyourresignationintothehandsofMrKissing。’NowMrKissingwasthesecretarytotheBoard。Thishadbeenseriousundoubtedly。JohnEameswasnotspeciallyanxioustokeephispresentpositionasprivatesecretarytoSirRaffle，buthecertainlyhadnodesiretogiveuphisprofessionaltogether。Hesaidnothingmoretothegreatmanonthatoccasion，butbeforehelefttheofficehewroteaprivatenotetothechairmanexpressingtheextremeimportanceofthebusiness，andbeggingthathemightbegivenleaveofabsence。Onthenextmorninghereceiveditbackwithaveryfewwordswrittenacrossit。’Itcan’tbedone，’
　　werethefewwordswhichSirRaffleBufflehadwrittenacrossthenotefromhisprivatesecretary。HerewasadifficultywhichJohnnyhadnotanticipated，andwhichseemedtobeinsuperable。SirRafflewouldnothaveansweredhiminthatstrainifhehadnotbeenverymuchinearnest。
　　’Ishouldsendhimamedicalcertificate，’saidCordell，hisfriendofold。
　　’Nonsense，’saidEames。
　　’Idon’tseethatitisnonsenseatall。Theycan’tgetoveramedicalcertificatefromarespectableman；andeverybodyhasgotsomethingthematterwithhimofsomekind。’
　　’Ishouldgoandlethimdohisworst，’saidFisher，whowasanotherclerk。’Itwouldn’tbemorethanputtingyoudownaplaceortwo。Astolosingyourpresentberthyoudon’tmindthat，andtheywouldneverthinkofdismissingyou。’
　　’ButIdomindbeingputdownaplaceortwo，’saidJohnny，whocouldnotforgetthatwerehesoputdownhisfriendFisherwouldgainthestepwhichhewouldlose。
　　’Ishouldgivehimabarrelofoysters，andtalktohimabouttheChancelloroftheExchequer，’saidFitHoward，whohadbeenprivatesecretarybeforeEames，andmightthereforebesupposedtoknowtheman。
　　’ThatmighthavedoneverywellifIhadnotaskedhim，andbeenrefusedfirst，’saidJohnEames。’I’lltellwhatI’lldo。I’llwritealongletteronasheetoffoolscappaper，witharegularmargin，sothatitmustcomebeforetheBoard，andperhapsthatwillfrightenhim。’
　　WhenhementionedhisdifficultyonthateveningtoMrToogood，thelawyerbeggedhimtogiveuphisjourney。’Itwillonlybesendingaclerk，anditwon’tcostsoverymuchafterall，’saidToogood。ButJohnny’spridecouldnotallowhimtogiveway。’I’mnotgoingtobedoneaboutit，’saidhe。’I’mnotgoingtoresign，butIwillgoeventhoughhemaydismissme。Idon’tthinkitwillcometothat，butifitdoesitmust。’Hisunclebeggedhimnottothinkofsuchanalternative；
　　butthisdiscussiontookplaceafterdinner，andawayfromtheoffice，andEameswouldnotsubmittobowhisnecktoauthority。’Ifitcomestothat，’saidhe，’afellowmightaswellbeaslaveatonce。Andwhatistheuseofafellowhavingalittlemoneyifitdoesnotmakehimindependent？Youmaybesureofonething，Ishallgo；’andthatonthedayfixed。
　　OnthenextmorningJohnEameswasverysilentwhenhewentintoSirRaffle’sroomattheoffice。Therewasnowonlythisdayandanotherbeforethatfixedforhisdeparture，anditwasofcourseverynecessarythatmattersshouldbearranged。ButhesaidnothingtoSirRaffleduringthemorning。Thegreatmanhimselfwascondescendingandendeavouringtobekind。Heknewthathissternrefusalhadgreatlyirritatedhisprivatesecretary，andwasanxioustoshowthat，thoughinthecauseofpublicdutyhewasobligedtobestern，hewasquitewillingtoforgethissternnesswhenthenecessityforithadpassedaway。Onthismorning，therefore，hewasverycheery。Butintheafternoon，whenmostofthemenhadlefttheoffice，Johnnyappearedbeforethechairmanforthelasttimethatdaywithaverylongface。Hewasdressedinblack，andhadchangedhisordinarymorningcoatforafrock，whichgavehimanappearancealtogetherunlikethatwhichwascustomarytohim。Andhespokealmostinawhisper，veryslowly；andwhenSirRafflejoked——andSirRaffleoftenwouldjoke——henotonlydidnotlaugh，butheabsolutelysighed。’Isthereanythingthematterwithyou，Eames？’askedSirRaffle。
　　’Iamingreattrouble，’saidJohnEames。
　　’Andwhatisyourtrouble？’
　　’ItisessentialforthehonourofoneofmyfamilythatIshouldbeatFlorencebythisdayweek。IcannotmakeupmymindwhatIoughttodo。
　　Idonotwishtolosemypositioninthepublicservice，towhich，asyouknow，Iamwarmlyattached；butIcannotsubmittoseethehonourofmyfamilysacrificed！’
　　’Eames，’saidSirRaffle，’thatmustbenonsense；——thatmustbenonsense。Therecanbenoreasonwhyyoushouldalwaysexpecttohaveyourownwayineverything。’
　　’OfcourseifIgowithoutleaveIshallbedismissed。’
　　’Ofcourseyouwill。Itisoutofthequestionthatayoungmanshouldtakethebitbetweenhisteethinthatway。’
　　’Asfortakingthebitbetweenhisteeth，SirRaffle，Idonotthinkthatanymanwasevermoreobedient，perhapsIshouldsaymoresubmissive，thanIhavebeen。Buttheremustbealimittoeverything。’
　　’Whatdoyoumeanbythat，MrEames？’saidSirRaffle，turninginangeruponhisprivatesecretary。ButJohnnydisregardedhisanger。Johnny，indeed，hadmadeuphismindthatSirRaffleshouldbeveryangry。’Whatdoyoumean，MrEames，bysayingthattheremustbealimit？Iknownothingaboutlimits。Onewouldsupposeyouintendedtomakeanaccusationagainstme。’
　　’SoIdo。Ithink，SirRaffle，thatyouaretreatingmewithgreatcruelty。Ihaveexplainedtoyoumyfamilycircumstances——’
　　’Youhaveexplainednothing，MrEames。’
　　’Yes，Ihave，SirRaffle。Ihaveexplainedtoyouthatmattersrelatingtooneofmyfamily，whichmateriallyaffectthehonourofacertainoneofitsmembers，demandthatIshouldgoatoncetoFlorence。YoutellmethatifIgoIshallbedismissed。’
　　’Ofcourseyoumustnotgowithoutleave。Ineverheardofsuchathinginmylife。’AndSirRaffleliftedhishandstowardsheaven，almostindismay。
　　’SoIhavedrawnupashortstatementofthecircumstances，whichIhopemaybereadattheBoardwhenthequestionofmydismissalcomesbeforeit。’
　　’Youmeantogo，then？’
　　’Yes，SirRaffle；Imustgo。ThehonourofacertainbranchofmyfamilydemandsthatIshoulddoso。AsIhaveforsometimebeensoespeciallyunderyou，IthoughtitwouldbepropertoshowyouwhatI
　　havesaidbeforeIsendmyletterin，andthereforeIhavebroughtitwithme。Hereitis。’AndJohnnyhandedtoSirRaffleanofficialdocumentoflargedimensions。
　　SirRafflebegantobeuncomfortable。Hehadacquiredacharacterfortyrannyinthepublicserviceofwhichhewasaware，thoughhethoughtthatheknewwellthathehadneverdeservedit。Someofficialbig—wig——perhapsthatChancelloroftheExchequerofwhomhewassofond——hadononeoccasionhintedtohimthatalittlesoftnessofusagewouldbecompatiblewiththeprejudicesoftheage。SoftnesswasimpossibletoSirRaffle；buthistemperwassufficientlyunderhiscontroltoenablehimtoencountertherebuke，andtopullhimselfupfromtimetotimewhenhefoundhimselftemptedtospeakloudandtotakethingswithahighhand。Heknewthataclerkshouldnotbedismissedforleavinghisoffice，whocouldshowthathisabsencehadbeencausedbysomematterreallyaffectingtheinterestofhisfamily；
　　andthatwerehetodriveEamestogoonthisoccasionwithoutleave，Eameswouldsimplybecalledintostatewhatwasthematterofmomentwhichhadtakenhimaway。ProbablyhehadstatedthatmatterofmomentinthisverydocumentwhichSirRafflewasholdinginhishand。ButSirRafflewasnotwillingtobeconqueredbythedocument。Ifitwasnecessarythatheshouldgiveway，hewouldmuchprefertogiveway——outofhisowngood—nature，letussay——withoutlookingatthedocumentatall。’Imust，underthecircumstances，declinetoreadthis，’hesaid，’unlessitshouldcomebeforemeofficially，’andhehandedbackthepaper。
　　’Ithoughtitbesttoletyouseeitifyoupleased，’saidJohnEames。
　　Thenheturnedroundasthoughheweregoingtoleavetheroom；butsuddenlyheturnedbackagain。’Idon’tliketoleaveyou，SirRaffle，withoutsayinggood—bye。Idonotsupposeweshallmeetagain。Ofcourseyoumustdoyourduty，andIdonotwishyoutothinkthatIhaveanypersonalill—willagainstyou。’Sosaying，heputouthishandtoSirRaffleasthoughtotakeafinalfarewell。SirRafflelookedathiminamazement。Hewasdressed，ashasbeensaid，inblack，anddidnotlookliketheJohnEamesofeverydaytowhomSirRafflewasaccustomed。
　　’Idon’tunderstandthisatall，’saidSirRaffle。
　　’Iwasafraidthatitwasonlytooplain，’saidJohnEames。
　　’Andyoumustgo？’
　　’Oh，yes；——thatiscertain。Ihavepledgedmyselftogo。’
　　’OfcourseIdon’tknowanythingofthismatterthatissoimportanttoyourfamily。’
　　’No；youdonot，’saidJohnny。
　　’Can’tyouexplainittome，then？sothatImayhavesomereason——ifthereisanyreason。’
　　ThenJohntoldthestoryofMrCrawley——aconsiderableportionofthestory；andinhistellingofit，IthinkitprobablethatheputmoreweightuponthenecessityofhismissiontoItalythanitcouldhavefairlybeenmadetobear。InthecourseofthenarrationSirRaffledidoncecontrivetosuggestthatalawyergoingtoFlorencemightdothebusinessatanyrateaswellasJohnEames。ButJohnnydeniedthis。’No，SirRaffle，itisimpossible；quiteimpossible，’hesaid。’Ifyousawthelawyerwhoisactinginthematter，MrToogood，whoisalsomyuncle，hewouldtellyouthesame。’SirRafflehadalreadyheardsomethingofthestoryofMrCrawley，andwasnowwillingtoacceptthesadtragedyofthatcaseasanexcuseforhisprivatesecretary’ssomewhatinsubordinateconduct。’Underthecircumstances，Eames，I
　　supposeyoumustgo；butIthinkyoushouldhavetoldmeallaboutitbefore。’
　　’Ididnotliketotroubleyou，SirRaffle，withprivatebusiness。’
　　’Itisalwaysbesttotellthewholeofthestory，’saidSirRaffle。
　　Johnnybeingquitecontentwiththeupshotofthenegotiationsacceptedthisgentlerebukeinsilenceandwithdrew。Onthenextdayheappearedagainattheofficeinhisordinarycostume，andanideacrossedSirRaffle’sbrainthathehadbeenpartly’done’bytheaffectationofacostume。’I’llbeevenwithhimsomeday，’saidSirRaffletohimself。
　　’I’vegotmyleave，boys，’saidEameswhenhewentoutintotheroominwhichhisthreefriendssat。
　　’No！’saidCradell。
　　’ButIhave，’saidJohnny。
　　’Youdon’tmeanthatoldHuffleScufflehasgivenitoutofhisownhead？’SaidFisher。
　　’Indeedhehas，’saidJohnny；’andbadeGodblessmeintothebargain。’
　　’Andyoudidn’tgivehimtheoysters？’saidFitHoward。
　　’Notashell，’saidJohnny。
　　’I’mblessedifyoudon’tbeatcock—fighting，’saidCradell，lostinadmirationathisfriend’sadroitness。
　　WeknowhowJohnpassedhiseveningafterthat。HewentfirsttoseeLilyDaleatheruncle’slodgingsinSackvilleStreet，fromthencehewastakentothepresenceofthecharmingMadalinainPorchesterTerrace，andthenwoundupthenightwithhisfriendConwayDalrymple。
　　Whenhegottohisbedhefelthimselftohavebeentriumphant，butinspiteofhistriumphhewasashamedofhimself。WhyhadheleftLilytogotoMadalina？AshethoughtofthishequotedtohimselfagainsthimselfHamlet’soften—quotedappealofthetwoportraits。HowcouldhenotdespisehimselfinthathecouldfindanypleasureinMadalina，havingaLilyDaletofillhisthoughts？’Butsheisnotfairtome，’hesaidtohimself——thinkingthustocomforthimself。Buthedidnotcomforthimself。
　　Onthenextmorningearlyhisuncle，MrToogoodmethimattheDoverRailwayStation。’Uponmyword，Johnny，you’reacleverfellow，’saidhe。’IneverthoughtyouwouldmakeitallrightwithSirRaffle。’
　　’Asrightasatrivet，uncle。Therearesomepeople，ifyoucanonlygettolearnthelengthoftheirfeet，youcanalwaysfitthemwithshoesafterwards。’
　　’You’llgodirecttoFlorence，Johnny？’
　　’Yes，Ithinkso。Fromwhatwehaveheard，MrsArabinmustbeeitherthereoratVenice，andIdon’tsupposeIcouldlearnfromanyoneatParisatwhichtownsheisstayingatthismoment。’
　　’HeraddressisFlorence：——posterestante，Florence。Youwillbesuretofindoutatanyofthehotelswheresheisstaying，orwhereshehasbeenstaying。’
　　’ButwhenIhavefoundher，Idon’tsupposeshecantellmeanything，’
　　saidJohnny。
　　’Whocantell？Shemayorshemaynot。Mybeliefisthatthemoneywasherpresentaltogetherandnothis。Itseemsthattheydon’tmixtheirmoneys。Hehasalwayssomescrupleaboutitbecauseofhersonbyaformermarriage，andtheyalwayshavedifferentaccountsattheirbankers’。IfoundthatoutwhenIwasatBarchester。’
　　’ButCrawleywashisfriend。’
　　’Yes，Crawleywashisfriend；butIdon’tknowthatfifty—poundnoteshavealwaysbeensoplentifulwithhim。Deans’incomesain’twhattheywere，youknow。’
　　’Idon’tknowanythingaboutthat，’saidJohnny。
　　’Well；theyarenot。Andhehasnothingofhisown，asfarasIcanlearn。Itwouldbejustthethingforhertodo——togivemoneytohisfriend。Atanyrateshewilltellyouwhetheritwasornot。’
　　’AndthenIwillgoontoJerusalem，afterhim。’
　　’Shouldyoufinditnecessary。Hewillprobablybeonhiswayback，andshewillknowwhereyoucanhithimontheroad。Youmustmakehimunderstandthatitisessentialthatheshouldbeheresomelittletimebeforethetrial。Youcanunderstand，Johnny；——andashespokeMrToogoodloweredhisvoicetoawhisper，thoughtheywerewalkingtogetherontheplatformoftherailwaystation，andcouldnotpossiblyhavebeenoverheardbyanyone。’Youcanunderstandthatitmaybenecessarytoprovethatheisnotexactlycomposmentis，andifsoitwillbeessentialthatheshouldhavesomeinfluentialfriendnearhim。
　　Otherwisethatbishopwilltramplehimintodust。’IfMrToogoodcouldhaveseenthebishopatthistimeandhavereadthetroublesofthepoorman’sheart，hewouldhardlyhavespokenofhimasbeingsoterribleatyrant。
　　’Iunderstandallthat，’saidJohnny。
　　’Ihopethedeanisagoodfellow。’
　　’Theytellmeheisaverygoodfellow。’
　　’Ineverdidseemuchinbishopsordeansasyet，’saidJohnny，’andI
　　shouldfeelratherawe—strucktravellingwithone。’
　　’Ishouldfancythatadeanisverymuchlikeanybodyelse。’
　　’Buttheman’shatwouldcowme。’
　　’Idaresayyou’llfindhimwalkingaboutJerusalemwithawide—awakeon，andabigstickinhishand，probablysmokingacigar。Deanscontrivetogetoutoftheirarmoursometimes，astheknightsofoldusedto。Bishops，Ifancy，finditmoredifficult。Well——good—bye，oldfellow。I’mverymuchobligedtoyouforgoing——Iam，indeed。Idon’tdoubtbutwhatweshallpullthrough，somehow。’
　　ThenMrToogoodwenthometobreakfast，andfromhisownhouseheproceededtohisoffice。Whenhehadbeenthereanhourortwo，therecametohimamessengerfromtheIncome—TaxOffice，withanofficialnoteaddressedtohimselfbySirRaffleBuffle——anotewhichlookedtobeveryofficial。SirRaffleBufflepresentedhiscomplimentstoMrToogood，andcouldMrToogoodfavourSirRBwiththepresentaddressofMrJohnEames。’Oldfox，’saidMrToogood——’butthensuchastupidoldfox！AsifitwaslikelythatIshouldhavepoachedonJohnnyifanythingwaswrong。’SoMrToogoodsenthiscomplimentstoSirRaffleBuffle，andbeggedtoinformSirRBthatMrJohnEameswasawayonveryparticularfamilybusiness，whichwouldtakehiminthefirstinstancetoFlorence；——butthatfromFlorencehewouldprobablyhavetogoontoJerusalemwithoutthelossofanhour。’Stupidoldfool！’saidMrToogood，ashesentoffhisreplybythemessenger。
　　CHAPTERXLIX
　　NEARTHECLOSE
　　Iwonderwhetheranyonewillreadthesepageswhohasneverknownanythingofthebitternessofafamilyquarrel？Ifso，Ishallhaveareaderveryfortunate，orelseverycold—blooded。Itwouldbewrongtosaythatloveproducesquarrels；butlovedoesproducethoseintimaterelationsofwhichquarrellingistoooftenoneoftheconsequences——oneoftheconsequenceswhichfrequentlyseemtobesonatural，andsometimesseemtobeunavoidable。Onebrotherrebukestheother——andwhatbrotherseverlivedtogetherbetweenwhomthereisnosuchrebuking？——thensomewarmwordismisunderstoodandhotterwordsfollowandthereisaquarrel。Thehusbandtyrannizes，knowingthatitishisdutytodirect，andthewifedisobeys，oronlypartiallyobeys，thinkingthatalittleindependencewillbecomeher——andsothereisaquarrel。
　　Thefather，anxiousonlyforhisson’sgood，looksintothatson’sfuturewithothereyesthanthoseofhissonhimself——andsothereisaquarrel。Theycomeveryeasilythesequarrels，butthequittancefromthemissometimesterriblydifficult。Muchofthoughtisnecessarybeforetheangrymancanrememberthathetooinpartmayhavebeenwrong；andanyattemptatsuchthinkingisalmostbeyondthepowerofhimwhoiscarefullynursinghiswrath，letitcool！Butthenursingofsuchquarrellingkillsallhappiness。Theverymanwhoisnursinghiswrathlestitcool——hiswrathagainstonewhomhelovesperhapsthebestofallwhomithasbeengiventohimtolove——ishimselfwretchedaslongasitlasts。Hisangerpoisonseverypleasureofhislife。Heissullenathismeals，andcannotunderstandhisbookasheturnsthepages。Hiswork，letitbewhatitmay，isilldone。Heisfullofhisquarrel——nursingit。Heistellinghimselfhowmuchhehaslovedthatwickedone，andthatnowthatwickedoneisrepayinghimsimplywithwickedness！Andyetthewickedoneisatthatverymomentdearertohimthanever。Ifthatwickedonewouldonlybeforgivenhowsweetwouldbetheworldagain！Andyethenurseshiswrath。
　　SoitwasinthesedayswithArchdeaconGrantly。Hewasveryangrywithhisson。Itishardlytoomuchtosaythatineverymomentofhislife，whetherwakingorsleeping，hewasthinkingoftheinjuryhissonwasdoinghim。Hehadalmostcometoforgetthefactthathisangerhadbeenfirstrousedbythefeelingthathissonwasabouttodohimselfaninjury——tocuthisownthroat。Variousotherconsiderationshadnowaddedthemselvestothat，andfillednotonlyhismindbuthisdailyconversationwithhiswife。HowterriblewouldbethedisgracetoLordHartletop，howincurabletheinjurytoGriselda，themarchioness，shouldthebrother—in—lawoftheone，andthebrotheroftheother，marrythedaughterofaconvictedthief！Ofhimselfhewouldsaynothing。Sohedeclaredconstantly，thoughofhimselfhedidsayagreatdeal。Ofhimselfhewouldsaynothing，thoughofcoursesuchamarriagewouldruinhiminthecounty。’Mydear，’saidhiswife，’thatisnonsense。
　　Thatisreallynonsense。Ifeelsurethereisnotasinglepersoninthecountywhowouldthinkofthemarriageinsuchalight。’Thenthearchdeaconwouldhavequarrelledwithhiswife，too，hadshenotbeentoowisetoadmitsuchaquarrel。MrsGrantlywasverywiseandknewthatittooktwopersonstomakeaquarrel。Hetoldheroverandoveragainthatshewasinleaguewithherson——thatshewasencouraginghersontomarryGraceCrawley。’Ibelievethatinyourheartyouwishit，’
　　heoncesaidtoher。’No，mydear，Idonotwishit。Idonotthinkitabecomingmarriage。Butifhedoesmarryher，Ishouldwishtoreceivehiswifeinmyhouseandcertainlywouldnotquarrelwithhim。’’Iwillneverreceiveher，’thearchdeaconhadreplied；’andasforhim，IcanonlysaythatinsuchacaseIwillmakenoprovisionforhisfamily。’
　　Itwillberememberedthatthearchdeaconhadonaformeroccasioninstructedhiswifetowritetotheirsonandtellhimofhisfather’sdetermination。MrsGrantlyhadsomanoeuvredthatalittletimehadbeengained，andthatthoseinstructionshadnotbeeninsisteduponinalltheirbitterness。SincethattimeMajorGrantlyhadrenewedhisassurancethathewouldmarryGraceCrawleyifGraceCrawleywouldaccepthim——writingonthisoccasiondirecttohisfather——andhadaskedhisfatherwhether，insuchacase，hewastolookforwardtobedisinherited。’ItisessentialthatIshouldknow，’themajorhadsaid，’becauseinsuchacaseImusttakeimmediatemeasuresforleavingthisplace。’Hisfatherhadsentbackhisletter，writingafewwordsatthebottomofit。’Ifyoudoasyouproposeabove，youmustexpectnothingfromme。’Thewordswerewritteninlargeroundhandwriting，veryhurriedly，andthesonwhenhereceivedthemperfectlyunderstoodthemoodofhisfather’smindwhenhewrotethem。