MrToogoodlaughedtoo。Helaughedloudandcheerily。Andthenheaskedasuddenquestion，keepinghiseyeashedidsouponalittlesquareopenwindowwhichcommunicatedbetweenthelandlord’sprivateroomandthebar。Throughthissmallaperturehecouldseeashestoodaportionofthehatwornbythemanwiththerednose。Sincehehadbeenintheroomwiththelandlord，themanwiththerednosehadmovedhisheadtwice，oneachoccasiondrawinghimselfcloserintohiscorner；butMrToogood，bymovingalso，hadstillcontrivedtokeepamorselofthathatinsight。Helaughedcheerilyatthelandlord’sjoke，andthenheaskedasuddenquestion——lookingatthemorselofthathatashedidso。
　　’MrStringer，’saidhe，’howdoyoupayyourrent，andtowhomdoyoupayit？’Therewasimmediatelyajerkinthehat，andthenitdisappeared。Toogood，steppingtotheopendoor，sawthatthered—nosedclerkhadtakenhishatoffandwasverybusyathisaccounts。
　　’HowdoIpaymyrent？’saidMrStringer，thelandlord。’Well，sir，sincethiscursedgouthasbeensobad，it’shardenoughtopayitatallsometimes。Youain’theretolookforit，sir，areyou？’
　　’NotI，’saidToogood。’Itwasonlyachancequestion。’HefeltthathehadnothingmoretodowithMrStringer，thelandlord。MrStringer，thelandlord，knewnothingaboutMrSoames’scheque。’What’sthenameofyourclerk？’saidhe。
　　’Thenameofmyclerk？’saidMrStringer。’Whydoyouwanttoknowthenameofmyclerk？’
　　’Doesheeverpaytherentforyou？’
　　’Well，yes；hedoes，attimes。Hepaysitintothebankfortheladyasownsthishouse。Isthereanyreasonforyouaskingthesequestions，sir。Itisn’tusual，youknow，forastranger，sir。’
　　Toogoodthewholeofthistimewasstandingwithhiseyeuponthered—nosedman，andthered—nosedmancouldnotmove。Thered—nosedmanheardallthequestionsandthelandlord’sanswers，andcouldnotevenpretendthathedidnothearthem。’Iammycousin’sclerk，’saidhe，puttingonhishat，andcominguptoMrToogoodwithaswagger。’MynameisDanStringer，andI’mMrJohnStringer’scousin。I’velivedwithMrJohnStringerfortwelveyearandmore，andI’ma’mostaswellknowninBarchesterashimself。Haveyouanythingtosaytome，sir？’
　　’Well，yes；Ihave，’saidToogood。
　　’Ibelieveyou’retheoneofthemattorneysfromLondon？’saidMrDanStringer。
　　’That’strue。IamanattorneyfromLondon。’
　　’Ihopethere’snothingwrong？’saidthegoutyman，tryingtogetoffhischair，butnotsucceeding。’Ifthereisanythingwrongerthanusual，Dan，dotellme。Isthereanythingwrong，sir？’andthelandlordappealedpiteouslytoMrToogood。
　　’Neveryoumind，John，’saidDan。’Youkeepyourselfquiet，anddon’tanswernoneofhisquestions。He’soneofthemlowsort，heis。Iknowhim。IknowedhimforwhatheisdirectlyIsawhim。Ferretingabout——that’shisgame；toseeifthere’sanythingtobegot。’
　　’Butwhatisheferretingfor？’saidMrJohnStringer。
　　’I’mferretingforMrSoames’schequefortwentypounds，’saidMrToogood。
　　’That’sthechequetheparsonstole，’saidDanStringer。’He’stobetriedforitatthe’sizes。’
　　’You’veheardaboutMrSoamesandhischeque，andaboutMrCrawley，I
　　daresay？’saidMrToogood。
　　’I’veheardadealaboutthem，’saidthelandlord。
　　’Andso，Idaresay，haveyou？’saidToogood，turningtoDanStringer。
　　ButDanStringerdidnotseeminclinedtocarryontheconversationanyfurther。Whenhewashardlypressed，hedeclaredthathejusthadheardthattherewassomeparsonintroubleaboutasumofmoney；butthatheknewnomoreaboutitthanthat。Hedidn’tknowwhetheritwasachequeoranotethattheparsonhadtaken，andhadneverbeensufficientlyinterestedinthemattertomakeanyinquiry。
　　’Butyou’vejustsaidthatMrSoames’schequewasthechequetheparsonstole，’saidtheastonishedlandlord，turningwithopeneyes，uponhiscousin。
　　’Youbeblowed，’saidDanStringer，theclerk，toMrJohnStringer，thelandlord；andthenwalkedoutoftheroombacktothebar。
　　’Iunderstandnothingaboutit——nothingatall，’saidthegoutyman。
　　’Iunderstandnearlyallaboutit，’saidMrToogood，followingthered—nosedclerk。Therewasnonecessitythatheshouldtroublethelandlordanyfurther。Helefttheroom，andwentthroughthebar，andashepassedoutalongthehall，hefoundDanStringerwithhishatontalkingtothewaiter。Thewaiterimmediatelypulledhimselfup，andadjustedhisdirtynapkinunderhisarm，afterthefashionofwaiters，andshowedthatheintendedtobeciviltothecustomersofthehouse。
　　Butheoftherednosecockedhishat，andlookedwithinsolenceatMrToogood，anddefiedhim。’There’snothingIdohatesomuchasthemlow—bredOldBaileyattorneys，’saidMrDanStringertothewaiter，inavoiceintendedtoreachMrToogood’sears。ThenMrToogoodtoldhimselfthatDanStringerwasnotthethiefhimself，andthatitmightbeverydifficulttoprovethatDanhadevenbeenthereceiverofstolengoods。
　　Hehad，however，nodoubtinhisownmindbutthatsuchwasthecase。
　　Hefirstwenttothepoliceoffice，andthereexplainedhisbusiness。
　　NobodyatthepoliceofficepretendedtoforgetMrSoames’scheque，orMrCrawley’sposition。Theconstablewentsofarastoswearthattherewasn’taman，woman，orchildinallBarchesterwhowasnottalkingofMrCrawleyatthatpresentmoment。ThenMrToogoodwentwiththeconstabletotheprivatehouseofthemayor，andhadalittleconversationwiththemayor。’Notguilty！’saidthemayor，withincredulity，whenhefirstheardthenewsaboutCrawley。ButwhenheheardMrToogood’sstory，orasmuchofitasitwasnecessarythatheshouldhear，heyieldedreluctantly。’Dear，dear！’hesaid。’I’dhavebetanything’twashewhostoleit。’Andafterthathemayorwasquitesad。OnlyletusthinkwhatacomfortableexcitementitwouldcreatethroughoutEnglandifitwassurmisedthatanarchbishophadforgedadeed；andhowEnglandwouldlosewhenitwasdiscoveredthatthearchbishopwasinnocent！AsthearchbishopandhisforgerywouldbetoEngland，sowasMrCrawleyandthechequefortwentypoundstoBarchesteranditsmayor。Nevertheless，themayorpromisedhisassistancetoMrToogood。
　　MrToogood，stillneglectinghisred—nosedfriend，wentnexttothedeanery，hopingthathemightagainseeMrHarding。MrHardingwas，hewastold，tooilltobeseen。MrHarding，MrsBaxtersaid，couldneverbeseennowbystrangers，noryetbyfriends，unlesstheywereveryoldfriends。’There’sbeenadealofchangesinceyouwereherelast，sire。
　　Irememberyoucoming，sir。YouweretalkingtoMrHardingaboutthepoorclergymanasistobetried。’HedidnotstoptotellMrsBaxterthewholestoryofMrCrawley’sinnocence；buthavinglearnedthatamessagehadbeenreceivedtosaythatMrsArabinwouldbehomeonthenextTuesday——thisbeingFriday——hetookhisleaveofMrsBaxter。HisnextvisitwastoMrSoames，wholivedthreemilesoutinthecountry。
　　HefounditverydifficulttoconvinceMrSoames。MrSoameswasmorestaunchinhisbeliefofMrCrawley’sguiltthananyonewhomToogoodhadyetencountered。’Inevertookthechequeoutofhishouse，’saidMrSoames。’Butyouhavenotstatedthatonoath，’saidMrToogood。’No，’
　　rejoinedtheother；’andIneverwill。Ican’tsweartoit；butyetI’msureofit。’HeacknowledgedthathehadbeendrivenbyamannamedScuttle，andthatScuttlemighthavepickedupthecheque，ifithadbeendroppedinthegig。Butthechequehadnotbeendroppedinthegig。
　　ThechequehadbeendroppedinMrCrawley’shouse。’WhydidhesaythenthatIpaidittohim？’saidMrSoames，whenMrToogoodspokeconfidentlyofMrCrawley’sinnocence。’Ah，whyindeed？’answeredToogood。’Ifhehadnotbeenfoolenoughtodothat，weshouldhavebeensavedallthistrouble。Allthesame，hedidnotstealyourmoney，MrSoames；andJemScuttledidstealit。Unfortunately，JemScuttleisinNewZealandbythistime。’’Ofcourse，itispossible，’saidMrSoames，ashebowedMrToogoodout。MrSoamesdidnotlikeMrToogood。
　　ThateveningagentlemanwitharednoseaskedattheBarchesterstationforasecond—classticketforLondonbytheupnight—mailtrain。Hewaswell—knownatthestation，andthestation—mastermadesomelittleinquiry。’AllthewaytoLondontonight，MrStringer？’hesaid。
　　’Yes——alltheway，’saidthered—nosedmansulkily。
　　’Idon’tthinkyou’dbettergouptoLondontonight，MrStringer，’saidatallman，steppingoutofthedoorofthebooking—office。’Ithinkyou’dbettercomebackwithmetoBarchester。Idoindeed。’Therewassomelittleargumentontheoccasion；butthestranger，whowasadetectivepoliceman，carriedhispoint，andMrDanStringerdidreturntoBarchester。
　　CHAPTERLXXIII
　　THEREISCOMFORTATPLUMSTEAD
　　HenryGrantlyhadwrittenthefollowingshortlettertoMrsGrantlywhenhehadmadeuphismindtopulldowntheauctioneer’sbills。’DEAR
　　MOTHER——Ihavepostponedthesale，notlikingtorefuseyouanything。AsfarasIcansee，IshallbeforcedtoleaveCosbyLodge，asIcertainlyshalldoallIcantomakeGraceCrawleymywife。Isaythisthattheremaybenomisunderstandingwithmyfather。Theauctioneerhaspromisedtohavethebillsremoved。——Youraffectionateson，HENRYGRANTLY’
　　ThishadbeenwrittenbythemajorontheFridaybeforeMrWalkerhadbroughtuptohimthetidingsofMrToogoodandMrsArabin’ssolutionoftheCrawleydifficulty；butitdidnotreachPlumsteadtillthefollowingmorning。MrsGrantlyimmediatelytookthegladnewsaboutthesaletoherhusband——notofcourseshowinghimtheletter，beingfartoowiseforthat，andgivinghimcreditforbeingtoowisetoaskforit。
　　’Henryhasarrangedwiththeauctioneer，’shesaidjoyfully；’andthebillshavebeenallpulleddown。’
　　’Howdoyouknow？’
　　’I’vejustheardfromhim。Hehastoldmeso。Come，mydear，letmehavethepleasureofhearingyousaythatthingsshallbepleasantagainbetweenyouandhim。Hehasyielded。’
　　’Idon’tseemuchyieldinginit。’
　　’Hehasdonewhatyouwanted。Whatmorecanhedo？’
　　’Iwanthimtocomeoverhere，andtakeaninterestinthings，andnottreatmeasthoughIwereanobody。’WithinanhourofthisthemajorhadarrivedatPlumstead，ladenwiththestoryofMrsArabinandthecheque，andofMrCrawley’sinnocence——ladennotonlywithsuchtidingsashehadreceivedfromMrWalker，butalsowithfurtherdetails，whichhadreceivedfromMrToogood。ForhehadcomethroughBarchester，andhadseenMrToogoodonhisway。ThiswasontheSaturdaymorning，andhehadbreakfastedwithMrToogoodat’TheDragonofWantly’。MrToogoodhadtoldhimofhissuspicions——howthered—nosedmanhadbeenstoppedandhadbeensummonedasawitnessforMrCrawley’strial——andhowhewasnowundersurveillanceofthepolice。Grantlyhadnotcaredverymuchaboutthered—nosedman，confininghispresentsolicitudetothequestionwhetherGraceCrawley’sfatherwouldcertainlybeshowntohavebeeninnocentofthetheft。’There’snotadoubtaboutit，major，’saidMrToogood；’noadoubtonearth。Butwe’dbetterbealittlequiettillyourauntcomeshome——justalittlequiet。’InspiteofhisdesireforquiescenceMrToogoodconsentedtoarevelationbeingatoncemadetothearchdeaconandMrsGrantly。’AndI’lltellyouwhat，major；assoonaseverMrsArabinishere，andhasgivenusherownwordtoacton，youandIwillgoovertoHogglestockandastonishthem。Ishouldliketogomyself，because，yousee，MrsCrawleyismycousin，andwehavetakenalittletroubleaboutthismatter。’Tothisthemajorassented；buthealtogetherdeclinedtoassistinMrToogood’sspeculationsrespectingtheunfortunateDanStringer。Itwasagreedbetweenthemthatforthepresentnovisitshouldbemadetothepalace，asitwasthoughtthatMrThumblehadbetterbeallowedtogotoHogglestockdutiesonthenextSunday。Asmatterswent，however，MrThumbledidnotdoso。HehadpaidhislastvisittoHogglestock。
　　ItmaybeaswelltoexplainherethattheunfortunateMrSnapperwasconstrainedtogoouttoHogglestockontheSundaywhichwasnowapproaching——whichfelloutasfollows。ItmightbeallverywellforMrToogoodtoarrangethathewouldnottellthispersonorthatpersonofthenewswhichhehadbroughtdownfromLondon；butashehadtoldthepoliceatBarchester，ofcoursethetalefounditswaytothepalace。MrThumbleheardit，andhavingcomebythistimethoroughlytohateHogglestockandallthatbelongedtoit，hepleadedtoMrSnapperthatthisreportofferedamplereasonwhyheneednotagainvisitthatdetestedparish。MrSnapperdidnotseeitinthesamelight。’YoumaybesureMrCrawleywillnotgetintothepulpitafterhisresignation，MrThumble。’
　　’Hisresignationmeansnothing，’saidThumble。
　　’Itmeansagreatdeal，’saidSnapper；’andthedutiesmustbeprovidedfor。’
　　’Iwon’tprovideforthem，’saidThumble；’andsoyoumaytellthebishop。’InthesedaysMrThumblewasveryangrywiththebishop，forthebishophadnotyetseenhimsincethedeathofMrsProudie。
　　MrSnapperhadnoalternativebuttogotothebishop。Thebishopinthesedayswasverymildtothosewhomhesaw，givenbuttofewwords，andalittleastray——asthoughhehadhadoneofhislimbscutoff——asMrSnapperexpressedittoMrsSnapper。’Ishouldn’twonderifhefeltasthoughallhislimbswerecutoff，’saidMrsSnapper；’youmustgivehimtime，andhe’llcomeroundby—and—by。’IaminclinedtothinkthatMrsSnapper’sopinionofthebishop’sfeelingsandconditionwascorrect。InhisdifficultyrespectingHogglestockandMrThumble，MrSnapperwenttothebishop，andspokeperhapsalittletooharshlyofMrThumble。
　　’Ithink，uponthewhole，Snapper，thatyouhadbettergoyourself，’
　　saidthebishop。
　　’Doyouthinkso，mylord？’saidSnapper。’Itwillbeinconvenient。’
　　’Everythingisinconvenient；butyou’dbettergo。Andlookhere，Snapper，ifIwereyou，Iwouldn’tsayanythingoutatHogglestockaboutthecheque。Wedon’tknowwhatitmaycometoyet。’MrSnapper，withaheavyheart，lefthispatron，notatalllikingthetaskthatwasbeforehim。Buthiswifeencouragedhimtobeobedient。Hewastheownerofaone—horsecarriage，andtheworkwasnot，therefore，sohardtohimasitwouldhavebeenandhadbeentopoorMrThumble。And，moreover，hiswifepromisedtogowithhim。MrSnapperandMrsSnapperdidgoovertoHogglestock，andthedutywasdone。MrsSnapperspokeawordortwotoMrsCrawley，andMrSnapperspokeawordortwotoMrCrawley；butnotawordwassaidaboutthenewsastoMrSoames’scheque，whichwasnowalmostcurrentinBarchester。Indeed，nowhisperaboutithadasyetreachedHogglestock。
　　’Onewordwithyou，reverendsir，’saidMrCrawleytothechaplain，asthelatterwascomingoutofthechurch，’astotheparishwork，sir，duringtheweek——Ishouldbegladifyouwouldfavourmewithyouropinion。’
　　’AboutwhatMrCrawley？’
　　’WhetheryouthinkthatImaybeallowed，withoutscandal，tovisitthesick——andtogiveinstructionintheschool。’
　　’Surely——surely，MrCrawley。Whynot？’
　　’MrThumblegavemetounderstandthatthebishopwasveryurgentthatI
　　shouldinterfereinnowayintheministrationsoftheparish。TwicehedidenjoinonmethatIshouldnotinterfere——unnecessarily，asitseemedtome。’
　　’Quiteunnecessary，’saidMrSnapper。’Andthebishopwillbeobligedtoyou，MrCrawley，ifyou’lljustseethatthingsgoonallstraight。’
　　’Iwishitwerepossibletoknowwithaccuracywhathisideaofstraightnessis，’saidMrCrawleytohiswife。’Itmaybethatthingsarestraighttohimwhentheyareburiedasitwereoutofsight，andputawaywithouttrouble。Ihopeitbenotsowiththebishop。’Whenhewentintohisschoolandremembered——ashedidrememberthrougheveryminuteofhisteaching——thathewastoreceivenoportionofthepoorstipendwhichwasallottedfortheclericaldutiesoftheparish，hetoldhimselfthattherewasgrossinjusticeinthewayinwhichthingswerebeingmadestraightatHogglestock。
　　ButwemustgobacktothemajorandthearchdeaconatPlumstead——inwhichcomfortableparishthingsweregenerallymadestraightmoreeasilythanatHogglestock。HenryGrantlywentoverfromBarchestertoPlumsteadinagigfromthe’TheDragon’，andmadehiswayatonceintohisfather’sstudy。Thearchdeaconwasseatedtherewithsundrymanuscriptsbeforehim，andwithonehalf—finishedmanuscript——aswashiswontoneverySaturdaymorning。’Hallo，Harry，’hesaid。’Ididn’texpectyouintheleast。’ItwasbarelyanhoursincehehadtoldMrsGrantlythathiscomplaintagainsthissonwasthathewouldn’tcomeandmakehimselfcomfortableattherectory。
　　’Father，’saidhe，givingthearchdeaconhishand，’youhaveheardnothingyetaboutMrCrawley？’
　　’No，’saidthearchdeacon，jumpingup；’nothingnew；——whatisit？’ManyideasaboutMrCrawleyatthatmomentflittedacrossthearchdeacon’smind。Coulditbethattheunfortunatemanhadcommittedsuicide，overcomebyhistroubles？
　　’Ithasallcomeout。Hegotthechequefrommyaunt。’
　　’FromyourauntEleanor？’
　　’Yes；frommyauntEleanor。ShehastelegraphedoverfromVenicetosaythatshegavetheidenticalchequetoCrawley。Thatisallweknowatpresent——exceptthatshehaswrittenanaccountofthemattertoyou，andthatshewillbehereherselfasquickasshecancome。’
　　’Whogotthemessage，Henry？’
　　’Crawley’slawyer——afellownamedToogood，acousinofhiswife’s——averydecentfellow，’addedthemajor，rememberinghownecessaryitwasthatheshouldreconcilehisfathertoalltheCrawleybelongings。’He’stobeoverhereonMonday，andthenwillarrangewhatistobedone。’
　　’Doneinwhatway，Henry？’
　　’There’sagreatdealtobedoneyet。Crawleydoesnotknowhimselfatthismomenthowthechequegotintohishands。Hemustbetoldandsomethingmustbesettledabouttheliving。They’vetakenthelivingawayfromhimamongthem。Andthentheindictmentmustbequashed，orsomethingofthatkinddone。ToogoodhasgotholdofthescoundrelatBarchesterwhoreallystolethechequefromSoames；——orthinkshehas。
　　It’sthatDanStringer。’
　　’He’sgotholdofaregularscamp，then。IneverknewanygoodofDanStringer，’saidthearchdeacon。
　　ThenMrsGrantlywastold，andthewholestorywasrepeatedagain，withmanyexpressionsofcommiserationinreferencetoalltheCrawleys。Thearchdeacondidnotjoinintheseatfirst，beingrathershyonthathead。ItwasveryhardforhimtohavetospeaktohissonabouttheCrawleysasthoughtheywerepeopleinallrespectsestimableandwell—conducted，andsatisfactory。MrsGrantlyunderstoodthissowell，thateverynowandthenshesaidsomehalf—laughingwordrespectingMrCrawley’speculiarities，feelingthatinthiswayshemighteaseherhusband’sdifficulties。’Hemustbetheoddestmanthateverlived，’
　　saidMrsGrantly，’nottohaveknownwherehegotthecheque。’Thearchdeaconshookhishead，andrubbedhishandsashewalkedabouttheroom。’Isupposetoomuchlearninghasupsethim，’saidthearchdeacon。
　　’Theysayhe’snotverygoodattalkingEnglish，butputhiminGreekandheneverstops。’
　　ThearchdeaconwasperfectlyawarethathehadtoadmitMrCrawleytohisgoodwill，andthatasforGraceCrawley——itwasessentiallynecessarythatsheshouldbeadmittedtohisheartofhearts。Hehadpromisedasmuch。ItmustbeacknowledgedthatArchdeaconGrantlyalwayskepthispromises，andespeciallysuchpromisesasthese。Andindeeditwasthenatureofthemanthatwhenhehadbeenangrywiththoseheloved，heshouldbeunhappytillhehadfoundsomeescapefromhisanger。Hecouldnotenduretohavetoowntohimselfthathehadbeenwrong，buthecouldbecontentwithaveryincompleterecognitionofhishavingbeenintheright。ThepostershadbeenpulleddownandMrCrawley，ashewasnowtold，hadnotstolenthecheque。Thatwassufficient。Ifhissonwouldonlydrinkaglassortwoofwinewithhimcomfortably，andtalkdutifullyaboutthePlumsteadfoxes，allshouldbeheldtoberight，andGraceCrawleyshouldbereceivedwithlavishpaternalembraces。ThearchdeaconhadkissedGraceonce，andhefeltthathecoulddosoagainwithoutanunpleasantstrainuponhisfeelings。
　　’Saysomethingtoyourfatheraboutthepropertyafterdinner，’saidMrsGrantlytohersonwhentheywerealonetogether。
　　’Aboutwhatproperty？’
　　’Aboutthisproperty，oranyproperty；youknowwhatImean；——somethingtoshowthatyouareinterestedabouthisaffairs。Heisdoingthebesthecantomakethingsright。’Afterdinner，overtheclaret，MrThorne’sterriblesininreferencetothetrappingoffoxeswasaccordinglyagainbroughtup，andthearchdeaconbecamebeautifullyirate，andexpressedhisanimosity——whichhedidnotintheleastfeel——againstanoldfriendwithanenergywhichwouldhavedelightedhiswife，ifshecouldhaveheardhim。’IshalltellThornemymind，certainly。HeandIareveryoldfriends；wehaveknowneachotherallourlives；butIcannotputupwiththiskindofthing——andIwillnot。It’sallbecausehe’safraidofhisowngamekeeper。’Andyetthearchdeaconhadneverriddenafterafoxinhislife，andnevermeanttodoso；norhadintruthbeenalwayssoveryanxiousthatfoxesshouldbefoundinhiscovers。ThatfoxwhichhadbeensofortunatelytrappedjustoutsidethePlumsteadpropertyaffordedamostpleasantescapeforthesteamofhisanger。
　　WhenhebegantotalktohiswifeaboutMrThorne’swickedgamekeeper，shewassosurethatallwasright，thatshesaidawordofherextremedesiretoseeGraceCrawley。
　　’Ifhe’stomarryher，wemightaswellhaveheroverhere，’saidthearchdeacon。
　　’That’sjustwhatIwasthinking，’saidMrsGrantly。Andthusthingsattherectorygotthemselvesarranged。
　　OntheSundaymorningtheexpectedletterfromVenicecametohand，andwasreadonthatmorningveryanxiously，notonlybyMrsGrantlyandthemajor，butbythearchdeaconalso，inspiteofthesanctityoftheday。
　　Indeedthearchdeaconhadbeenverystoutlyanti—sabbatarialwhenthequestionofstoppingtheSundayposttoPlumsteadhadbeenmootedinthevillage，givingthosewhoonthatoccasionwerethespecialfriendsofthepostmantounderstandthatheconsideredthemtobenumbskulls，andlittlebetterthanidiots。Thepostman，findingtheparsontobeagainsthim，hadseenthattherewasnochanceforhim，andhadallowedthemattertodrop。MrsArabin’sletterwaslongandeager，andfullofrepetitions，butitdidexplainclearlytohimtheexactmannerinwhichthechequehadfounditswayintoMrCrawley’shand。’Franciscameuptome，’shesaidinherletter——Francisbeingherhusband，thedean——’andaskedmeforthemoney，whichIhadpromisedtomakeupinapacket。Thepacketwasnotready，andhewouldnotwait，declaringthatMrCrawleywasinsuchaflurrythathedidnotliketoleavehim。Iwasthereforetobringitdowntothedoor。Iwenttomydesk，andthinkingthatI
　　couldsparethetwentypoundsaswellasthefifty，Iputthechequeintotheenvelope，togetherwiththenotes，andhandedthepackettoFrancisatthedoor。IthinkItoldFrancisafterwardsthatIputseventypoundsintotheenvelope，insteadoffifty，butofthisIwillnotbesure。AtanyrateMrCrawleygotMrSoames’schequefromme。’
　　Theselastwordssheunderscored，andthenwentontoexplainhowthechequehadbeenpaidtoherashorttimebeforebyDanStringer。
　　’ThenToogoodwasrightaboutthefellow，’saidthearchdeacon。
　　’Ihopethey’llhanghim，’saidMrsGrantly。’Hemusthaveknownallthetimewhatdreadfulmiseryhewasbringinguponthisunfortunatefamily。’
　　’Idon’tsupposeDanStringercaredmuchaboutthat，’saidthemajor。
　　’Notastraw，’saidthearchdeacon，andthenallhurriedofftochurch；
　　andthearchdeaconpreachedthesermoninthefabricationofwhichhehadbeeninterruptedbyhisson，andwhichthereforebarelyenabledhimtoturnaquarterofanhourfromthegivingoutofhistext。Itwashisconstantpracticetopreachforafulltwentyminutes。
　　AsBarchesterlayonthedirectroadfromPlumsteadtoHogglestock，itwasthoughtwellthatwordshouldbesenttoMrToogood，desiringhimnottocomeouttoPlumsteadontheMondaymorning。MajorGrantlyproposedtocallforhimatthe’Dragon’，andtotakehimfromthencetoHogglestock。’Youhadbettertakeyourmother’shorsesallthrough，’