CHAPTERLXXXIII
MRCRAWLEYISCONQUERED
ItwasmorethanaweekbeforethearchdeaconreceivedareplyfromMrCrawley,duringwhichtimethedeanhadbeenovertoHogglestockmorethanonce,ashadalsoMrsArabinandLadyLuftontheyounger——andtherehadbeenletterswrittenwithoutend,andthearchdeaconhadbeennearlybesidehimself。’Amanwhopretendstoconscientiousscruplesofthatkindisnotfittohaveaparish,’hehadsaidtohiswife。Hiswifeunderstoodwhathemeant,andItrustthatthereadermayalsounderstandit。Intheordinarycuttingofblocksaveryfinerazorisnotanappropriateinstrument。Thearchdeacon,moreover,lovedthetemporalitiesoftheChurchastemporalities。TheChurchwasbeautifultohimbecauseonemanbyinterestmighthaveathousandayear,whileanothermanequallygood,butwithoutinterest,couldonlyhaveahundred。Andhelikedthemenwhohadtheinterestagreatdealbetterthanthemenwhohaditnot。Hehadbeenwillingtoadmitthepoorperpetualcurate,whohadsolongbeenkeptoutinthecold,withinthepleasantcirclewhichwaswarmwithecclesiasticalgoodthings,andthemanhesitated——becauseofscruples,asthedeantoldhim!’IalwaysbuttonupmypocketwhenIhearofscruples,’thearchdeaconsaid。
ButatlastMrCrawleycondescendedtoacceptStEwold’s。
’Reverendanddearsir,’hesaidinhisletter:’Forthepersonalbenevolenceoftheoffermadetomeinyourletterofthe——instant,Ibegtotenderyoumymostgratefulthanks;asalsoforyougenerouskindnesstome,intellingmeofthehighpraisebestoweduponmebyagentlemanwhoisnownomore——whosecharacterIhaveesteemedandwhosegoodopinionIvalue。Thereis,methinks,somethinginexpressiblydeartomeintherecordedpraiseofthedead。ForthefurtherinstanceofthefriendshipoftheDeanofBarchester,Iamalsothankful。
’SincethereceiptofyourletterIhavedoubtedmuchastomyfitnessfortheworkyouhaveproposedtoentrusttome——notfromanyfeelingthattheparishofStEwold’smaybebeyondmyintellectualpower,butbecausethelattercircumstancesofmylifehavebeenofanaturesostrangeandperplexingthattheyhaveleftmesomewhatindoubtastomyownaptitudeforgoingaboutamongmenwithoutgivingoffenceandbecomingastumblingblock。
’Nevertheless,reverendanddearsir,ifafterthisconfessiononmypartofacertainfaultydemeanourwithwhichIknowwellthatIamafflicted,youarestillwillingtoputtheparishintomyhands,Iwillacceptthecharge——instigatedtodosobytheadviceofallwhomIhaveconsultedonthesubject;and,inthusacceptingit,I
herebypledgemyselftovacateitatamonth’swarning,shouldIbecalleduponbyyoutodosoatanyperiodwithinthenexttwoyears。ShouldIbesofarsuccessfulduringthosetwenty—fourmonthsastohavesatisfiedbothyourselfandmyself,Imaythenperhapsventuretoregardtheprefermentasmyowninperpetuityforlife;——Ihavethehonourtobe,reverendanddearsir,youmosthumbleandfaithfulservant,’JOSIAHCRAWLEY’
’Psha!’saidthearchdeacon,whoprofessedthathedidnotatallliketheletter。’IwonderwhathewouldsayifIsenthimamonth’snoticeatnextMichaelmas?’
’I’msurehewouldgo,’saidMrsGrantly。
’Themorefoolhe,’saidthearchdeacon。
AtthistimeGracewasattheparsonageinaseventhheavenofhappiness。Thearchdeaconwasneverroughtoher,nordidhemakeanyofhisharshremarksaboutherfatherinherpresence。BeforeherStEwold’swasspokenofasthehomethatwastobelongtotheCrawleysforthenexttwentyyears。MrsGrantlywasverylovingwithher,lavishinguponherprettypresents,andwordsthatwereprettierthanpresents。
Grace’slifehadhithertobeensodestituteofthoseprettinessesandsoftnesseswhichcanhardlybehadwithoutmoneythoughmoneyalonewillnotpurchasethem,thatitseemedtohernowthattheheavensrainedgraciousnessuponher。Itwasnotthatthearchdeacon’swatchorherlover’schain,orMrsGrantly’slocket,orthelittletoyfromItalywhichMrsArabinbroughttoherfromthetreasuresofthedeanery,filledherheartwithundueexaltation。Itwasnotthatsherevelledinhernewdelightsofsilverandgoldandshininggems;butthatthesilverandgoldandshininggemswereconstantindicationstoherthatthingshadchanged,notonlyforher,butforherfatherandmother,andbrotherandsister。Shefeltnowmoresurethaneverthatshecouldnothaveenjoyedherlovehadsheacceptedherloverwhilethedisgraceoftheaccusationagainstherfatherremained。Butnow——havingwaitedtillthathadpassedaway,everythingwasanewhappinesstoher。
AtlastitwassettledthatMrandMrsCrawleyweretocometoPlumstead——andtheycame。itwouldbetoolongtotellnowhowgraduallyhadcomeaboutthatchangedstateofthingswhichmadesuchavisitpossible。MrCrawleyhadatfirstdeclaredthatsuchathingwasoutofthequestion。IfStEwold’swastodependuponitStEwold’smustbegivenup。AndIthinkthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibleforhimtogodirectfromHogglestocktoPlumstead。Butitfelloutafterthiswise。
MrHarding’scurateatStEwold’swasnominatedtoHogglestock,andthedeanurgeduponhisfriendCrawleytheexpediencyofgivingupthehouseasquicklyashecoulddoso。GraduallyatthistimeMrCrawleyhadbeenforcedintoacertainamountofintimacywiththehauntsofmen。HehadbeentwiceorthriceatBarchester,andhadlunchedwiththedean。HehadbeenatFramleyforanhourortwo,andhadbeenforcedintosomecommunicationwitholdMrThorne,thesquireofhisnewparish。Theendofthishadbeenthathehadatlastconsentedtotransferhimselfandwifeanddaughtertothedeaneryforafortnight。HehadpreachedonefarewellsermonatHogglestock——not,ashetoldhisaudience,astheirpastor,whichhehadceasedtobenowforsometwoorthreemonths——butastheiroldandlovingfriend,towhomtheuseofhisformerpulpithadbeenlent,thathemightexpresshimselfthusamongthemforthelasttime。Hissermonwasveryshort,andwaspreachedwithoutbookornotes——butheneveroncepausedforawordorhaltedinthestringorrhythmofhisdiscourse。Thedeanwasthereanddeclaredafterwardsthathehadnotgivenhimcreditforsuchpowersofutterance。’Anymancanutteroutofafullheart,’Crawleyhadanswered。’Inthistrumperyaffairaboutmyself,myheartisfull!Ifwecouldonlyhaveourheartsfullinothermatters,ourutterancesthereanentwouldreceivemoreattention。’Toallofthisthedeanmadenoreply。
OnthedayafterthistheCrawleystooktheirfinaldeparturefromHogglestock,allthebrickmakersfromHoggleEndhavingassembledontheoccasion,withapursecontainingseventeenpoundssevenshillingsandsixpence,whichtheyinsistedonpresentingtoMrCrawley,andastowhichtherewasalittledifficulty。Andatthedeanerytheyremainedforafortnight。HowMrsCrawley,undertheguidanceofMrsArabin,hadtheresofartrenchedupontherevenuesofStEwold’sastoprovideforherhusbandandherselfraimentfittingfortheworldlysplendourofPlumstead,neednotherebetoldindetail。Sufficetosay,theraimentwasforthcoming,andMrCrawleyfoundhimselftobetheperplexedpossessorofablackdresscoat,inadditiontothelongfrock,comingnearlytohisfeet,whichwasprovidedforhisdailywear。Touchingthisgarment,therehadbeensomediscussionbetweenthedeanandthenewvicar。Thedeanhaddesiredthatitshouldbecurtailedinlength。Thevicarhadremonstrated——butstillwithsomethingoftheweaknessofcomplianceinhiseye。Thenthedeanhadpersisted。’Surelythepriceoftheclothwantedtoperfectthecomelinessofthegarmentcannotbemuch,’saidthevicar,almostwoefully。Afterthat,thedeanrelented,andthecomelinessofthecoatwasmadeperfect。Thenewblacklongfrock,Ithink,MrCrawleyliked;butthedresscoat,withthesuitcomplete,perplexedhimsorely。
Withhisnewcoat,andsomethingalso,ofnewmanners,heandhiswifewentovertoPlumstead,leavingJaneatthedeanerywithMrsArabin。ThedeanalsowenttoPlumstead。Theyarrivedtherenotmuchbeforedinner,andasGracewastherebeforethemthefirstmomentswerenotsobad。
BeforeMrCrawleyhadhadtimetofeelhimselflostinthedrawing—room,hewassummonedawaytopreparehimselffordinner——fordinner,andforthecoat,whichatthedeaneryhehadbeenallowedtoleaveunworn。’I
wouldwithallmyheartthatImightretiretorest,’hesaidtohiswife,whentheceremonyhadbeenperfected。
’Donotsayso。Godownandtakeyourplacewiththem,andspeakyourmindwiththem——asyousowellknowhow。Whoamongthemcandoitsowell?’
’Ihavebeentold,’saidMrCrawley,’thatyoushalltakeacockwhichislordofthefarmyard——thecockofallthatwalk——andwhenyouhavedaubedhisfeatherswithmud,heshallbethrashedbyeverydunghillcoward。IsaynotthatIwaseverthecockofthewalk,butIknowthattheyhavedaubedmyfeathers。’Thenhewentdownamongtheotherpoultryinthefarmyard。
Atdinnerhewasverysilent,answering,however,withasortofgracefulstatelinessanywordthatMrsGrantlyaddressedtohim。MrThorne,ofUllathorne,wastherealsotomeethisnewvicar,aswasalsoMrThorne’sveryoldsister,MissMonicaThorne。AndLadyAnneGrantlywasthere——shehavingcomewiththeexpressedintentionthatthewivesofthetwobrothersshouldknoweachother——butwithawarmerdesire,I
think,ofseeingMrCrawley,ofwhomtheclericalworldhadbeentalkingsincesomenoticeoftheaccusationsagainsthimhadbecomegeneral。
Therewere,therefore,tenortwelveatthedinner—table,andMrCrawleyhadnotmadeoneatsuchaboardcertainlysincehismarriage。Allwentfairlysmoothwithhimtilltheladieslefttheroom;forthoughLadyAnne,whosatathislefthand,hadperplexedhimsomewhatwithclericalquestions,hehadfoundthathewasnotcalleduponformuchmorethanmonosyllabicresponses。Butinhishearthefearedthearchdeaconandhefeltthatwhentheladiesweregonethearchdeaconwouldnotleavehimaloneinhissilence。
Assoonasthedoorwasclosed,thefirstsubjectmootedwasthatofthePlumsteadfox,whichhadbeensobaselymurderedonMrThorne’sground。
MrThornehadconfessedtheiniquity,haddismissedthemurderousgamekeeper,andallwasserene。Butthegreateronthataccountwasthefeasibilityofdiscussingthequestion,andthearchdeaconhadagooddealtosayaboutit。ThenMrThorneturnedtothenewvicar,andaskedhimwhetherfoxesaboundedinHogglestock。Hadhebeenaskedastotheratsormoles,hewouldhaveknownmoreaboutit。
’Indeed,sir,IknownotwhetherornotherebeanyfoxesintheparishofHogglestock。IdonotremembermethatIeversawone。ItisananimalwhosehabitsIhavenotwatched。’
’ThereisanearthatHoggleBushes,’saidthemajor;’andIneverknewitwithoutalitter。’
’IthinkIknowthedomesticwhereaboutsofeveryfoxinPlumstead,’
saidthearchdeacon,withanill—naturedintentionofastonishingMrCrawley。
’Offoxeswithtwolegsourfriendisspeaking,withoutdoubt,’saidthevicarofStEwold’s,withanattemptatgrimpleasantry。
’OfthemwehavenoneatPlumstead。No——Iwasspeakingofthedearoldfellowwiththebrush。Passthebottle,MrCrawley。Won’tyoufillyourglass?’MrCrawleypassedthebottle,butwouldnotfilltheglass。Thenthedean,lookingupslyly,sawthevexationwritteninthearchdeacon’sface。Theparsonwhomthearchdeaconfearedmostofallwastheparsonwhowouldn’tfillhisglass。
Thenthesubjectwaschanged。’I’mtoldthatthebishophasatlastmadehisreappearanceonhisthrone,’saidthearchdeacon。
’HewasinthecathedrallastSunday,’saidthedean。
’Doesheevermeantopreachagain?’’Heneverdidpreachveryoften,’
saidthedean。
’Agreatdealtoooften,fromallpeoplesay,’saidthearchdeacon。’I
neverheardhimmyself,andnevershall,Idaresay。Youhaveheardhim,MrCrawley?’
’Ihaveneverhadthatgoodfortune,MrArchdeacon。ButlivingasI
shallnowdo,soneartothecity,Imayperhapsbeenabledtoattendthecathedralserviceonsomeholy—dayoftheChurch,whichmaynotrequireprayersinmyownruralparish。Ithinkthattheclergyofthedioceseshouldbeacquaintedwiththeopinions,andwiththevoice,andwiththeverymannerandwordsoftheirbishop。Asthingsarenowdone,thisisnotpossible。Icouldwishthattherewereoccasionsonwhichabishopmightassemblehisclergy,andpreachtothemsermonsadaptedtotheiruse。’
’Whatdoyoucallabishop’scharge,then?’
’ItisusuallyintheprintedformthatIhavereceivedit,’saidMrCrawley。
’Ithinkwehavehadquiteenoughofthatkindofthing,’saidthearchdeacon。
’Heisamanwhoseconversationisnotpleasingtome,’MrCrawleysaidtohiswifethatnight。
’Donotjudgehimtooquickly,Josiah,’hiswifesaid。’Thereissomuchofgoodinhim!Heiskind,andgenerous,andIthinkaffectionate。’
’Butheisoftheearth,earthy。Whenyouandtheotherladieshadretired,theconversationatfirstfellonthehabitsandvalueof——foxes。Ihavebeeninformedthatinthesepartsthefoxisgreatlyprized,aswithoutafoxtorunbeforethedogs,thatscamperingoverthecountrywhichiscalledhunting,andwhichdelightsbythequicknessandperhapstheperiloftheexercise,isnotrelishedbytheriders。OfthewisdomortastehereindisplayedbythehuntersofthedayIsaynothing。ButitseemedtomethatintalkingoffoxesDrGrantlywasmasterofhissubject。Thencethetopicglidedtothedutiesofabishopandtoquestionsofpreaching,astowhichDrGrantlywasnotslowinofferinghisopinion。ButIthoughtthatIwouldratherhaveheardhimtalkaboutthefoxesforaweektogether。’Shesaidnothingmoretohim,knowingwellhowuselessitwastoattempttoturnhimbyanyargument。
Toherthinkingthekindnessofthearchdeacontothempersonallydemandedsomeindulgenceintheexpression,andevenintheformation,ofanopinion,respectinghisclericalpeculiarities。
Onthenextday,however,MrCrawley,havingbeensummonedbythearchdeaconintothelibraryforalittleprivateconversation,foundthathegotonbetterwithhim。HowthearchdeaconconqueredhimmayperhapsbebestdescribedbyafurthernarrationofwhatMrCrawleytoldhiswife。’Itoldhimthatinregardtomoneymatters,ashecalledthem,Ihadnothingtosay。Ionlytrustedthathissonwasawarethatmydaughterhadnomoney,andneverwouldhaveany。"MydearCrawley,"
thearchdeaconsaid——foroflatethereseemstohavegrownupintheworldahabitofgreaterfamiliaritythanthatwhichIthinkdidprevailwhenlastImovedmuchamongmen——"mydearCrawley,Ihaveenoughforboth。""Iwouldwestoodonmoreequalground,"Isaid。Thenasheansweredme,herosefromhischair。"Westand,"saidhe,"ontheperfectlevelonwhichmencanmeeteachother。Wearebothgentlemen。"
"Sir,"Isaid,risingalso,"fromthebottomoftheheartIagreewithyou。Icouldnothavespokensuchwords;butcomingfromyouwhoarerichtomeampoor,theyarehonourabletotheoneandcomfortabletotheother。"’
’Andafterthat?’
’Hetookdownfromtheshelvesavolumeofsomesermonswhichhisfatherpublishedmanyyearsago,andpresentedtome。Ihaveitnowundermyarm。Ithaththeoldbishop’smanuscriptnotes,whichIwillstudycarefully。’Andthusthearchdeaconhadhithisbirdonbothwings。
CHAPTERLXXXIV
CONCLUSION
Itnowonlyremainsformetogathertogetherafewloosestrings,andtiethemtogetherinaknot,sothatmyworkmaynotbecomeuntwisted。
EarlyinJuly,HenryGrantlyandGraceCrawleyweremarriedintheparishchurchofPlumstead——agreatimpropriety,astowhichneitherArchdeaconGrantlynorMrCrawleycouldbegottoassentforalongtime,butwhichwasatlastcarried,notsimplybyaunionofMrsGrantlyandMrsCrawley,norevenbytheassistanceofMrsArabin,butbythestronginterventionofLadyLuftonherself。’OfcourseMissCrawleyoughttobemarriedfromStEwold’svicarage;butwhenthefurniturehasonlybeenhalfgotin,howisitpossible?’WhenLadyLuftonthusspoke,thearchdeacongaveway,andMrCrawleyhadn’talegtostandon。HenryGrantlyhadnotanopiniononthematter。Hetoldhisfatherthatheexpectedthattheywouldmarryhimamongthem,andthatthathadbeenenoughforhim。AsforGrace,nobodyeventhoughtofaskingher;andIdoubtwhethershewouldhaveheardanythingaboutthecontest,hadnotsometidingsofitreachedherfromherlover。MarriedtheywereatPlumstead——andthebreakfastwasgivenwithallthatluxurianceofplentywhichwassodeartothearchdeacon’smind。MrCrawleywastheofficiatingpriest。Withhishandsdroppingbeforehim,foldedhumbly,hetoldthearchdeacon——whenthatPlumsteadquestionhadbeenfinallysettledinoppositiontohiswishes——thathewouldfainhimselfperformtheceremonybywhichhisdearestdaughterwouldbeboundtohermarriageduties。’Andwhoelseshould?’saidthearchdeacon。MrCrawleymutteredthathehadnotknownhowfarhisreverendbrothermighthavebeenwillingtowaivehisrights。Butthearchdeacon,whowasinhighgood—humour——havingjustbestowedalittleponycarriageonhisnewdaughter—in—law——onlylaughedathim;and,iftherumourwhichwashandedaboutthefamiliesbetrue,thearchdeacon,beforetheinterviewwasover,hadpokedMrCrawleyintheribs。MrCrawleymarriedthem;butthearchdeaconassisted——andthedeangavethebrideaway。TheRevCharlesGrantlywastherealso;andastherewas,asamatterofcourse,acloudofcuratesfloatinginthedistance,HenryGrantlywasperhapstobeexcusedfordeclaringtohiswife,whenthepairhadescaped,thatsurelynocouplehadeverbeensotightlybuckledsincemarriagehadfirstbecomeaChurchceremony。
Soonafterthat,MrandMrsCrawleybecamequietatStEwold’s,and,asIthink,contented。Herhappinessbeganveryquickly。Thoughshehadbeengreatlybrokenbyhertroubles,thefirstsightshehadofherhusbandinhisnewlongfrock—coatwentfartorestoreher,andwhilehewasdeclaringhimselftobeacocksodaubedwithmudastobeincapableofcrowing,shewascongratulatingherselfonseeingherhusbandoncemoreclothedasbecamehisposition。Andtheywerelucky,too,asregardedthesquire’shouse;forMrThornewasold,andquiet,andold—
fashioned;andMissThornewasolder,andthoughshewasnotexactlyquiet,shewasveryold—fashionedindeed。SothattheregrewtobeapleasantfriendshipbetweenMissThorneandMrsCrawley。
JohnnyEames,whenlastIheardofhim,wasstillabachelor,and,asI
think,likelytoremainso。AtlasthehadutterlythrownoverSirRaffleBuffle,declaringtohisfriendsthatthespecialdutiesofprivatesecretaryshipwerenotexactlytohistaste。’Yougetsosickatthethirteenthprivatenote,’hesaid,’thatyoufindyourselfunabletocarryonthehumbuganyfarther。’Buthedidnotleavehisoffice。’I’mtheheadofaroom,youknow,’hetoldLadyJuliaDeGuest;’andthere’snothingtotroubleme——andafellow,youknow,oughttohavesomethingtodo。’LadyJuliatoldhim,withagreatdealofenergy,thatshewouldneverforgivehimifhegaveuphisoffice。AfterthateventfulnightwhenheescapedignominiouslyfromthehouseofLadyDemolinesundertheprotectionofthepoliceman’slantern,hedidhearmorethanoncefromPorchesterTerrace,andfromalliesemployedbytheenemywhowasthereresident。’Mycousintheserjeant’provedtobeamyth。JohnnyfoundoutallaboutthatSerjeantRunter,whowasdistantlyconnected,indeed,withthelatehusbandofLadyDemolines,buthadalwayspersistentlydeclinedtohaveanyintercoursewhateverwithherladyship。Fortheserjeantwasarisingman,andLadyDemolineswasnotexactlyprogressingintheworld。Johnnyheardnothingfromtheserjeant;butfromMadalinahegotletterafterletter。Inthefirstsheaskedhimnottothinktoomuchofthelittlejokethathadoccurred。Inhersecond,shedescribedthevehemenceofherlove。Inherthirdthebitternessofherwrath。HerfourthsimplyinvitedhimtocomeanddineinPorchesterTerrace。Herfifthwastheoutpouringofinjuredinnocence。Andthencamelettersfromanattorney。Johnnyanswerednotawordtoanyofthem,andgraduallytheletterswerediscontinued。Withinsixmonthsofthereceiptofthelast,hewasdelightedbyreadingamongthemarriagesinthenewspapers,anoticethatPeterBangles,Esq;,ofthefirmBurtonandBangles,winemerchants,ofHookCourt,hadbeenunitedtoMadalina,daughterofthelateSirConfuciusDemolines,atthechurchofPetertheMartyr。’Mostappropriate,’saidJohnny,ashereadthenoticetoConwayDalrymple,whowasthenbackfromhisweddingtour;’formostassuredlytherewillnowbeanotherPetertheMartyr。’
’I’mnotsosureofthat,’saidConway,whohadheardsomethingofMrPeterBangles。’Therearemenwhohavestrongwillsoftheirownandstronghandsoftheirown。’
’PoorMadalina!’saidJohnny。’Ifhedoesbeather,Ihopehewilldoittenderly。Itmaybethatalittleofitwillsuitherfeveredtemperament。’
BeforethesummerwasoverConwayDalrymplehadbeenmarriedtoClaraVanSiever,andbyasingulararrangementofcircumstanceshadmarriedherwiththefullapprovalofoldMrsVan。MrMusselboro——whosenameI
hopehasnotbeenaltogetherforgotten,thoughthepartplayedbyhimhasbeensubordinate——hadopposedDalrympleintheeffortsmadebytheartisttogetsomethingoutofBroughton’sestateforthebenefitofthewidow。FromcircumstancesofwhichDalrymplelearnedtheparticularswiththeaidofanattorney,itseemedtohimthatcertainfactswerewilfullykeptinthedarkbyMusselboro,andhewentwithhiscomplainttoMrsVanSiever,declaringthathewouldbringthewholeaffairintocourt,unlessalltheworkingsofthefirmweremadecleartohim。MrsVanwasveryinsolenttohim——andeventurnedhimoutofthehouse。But,nevertheless,shedidnotallowMrMusselborotoescape。Whoeverwastobeleftinthedarkshedidnotwishittobeherself;——anditbegantodawnuponherthatherdearMrMusselborowasdeceivingher。ThenshesentforDalrymple,andwithoutawordofapologyforherformerconduct,puthimupontherighttrack。Ashewaspushinghisinquiriesandworkingheavenandearthfortheunfortunatewidow——astowhomhesworedailythatwhenthismatterwassettledhewouldneverseeheragain,soterriblewasshetohimwithhermockaffectionandpretendedhysterics,andfalsemoralities——hewastoldonedaythatshehadgoneoffwithMrMusselboro!MrMusselboro,findingthatthiswasthesurestplainofobtainingforhimselfthelittlebusinessinHookCourt,marriedthewidowofhislatepartner,andisatthismomentprobablycarryingalaw—suitwithMrsVan。Forthelaw—suitConwayDalrymplecarednothing。WhenthequarrelhadbecomehotbetweenMrsVanandherlatemyrmidon,ClarafellintoConway’shandswithoutopposition;and,letthelaw—suitgoasitmay,therewillbeenoughleftofMrsVan’smoneytomakethehouseofMrandMrsConwayDalrympleverycomfortable。
ThepictureofJaelandSiserawasstitchedupwithoutanydifficulty,andIdaresaymostofmyreaderswillrememberithangingonthewallsoftheexhibition。
BeforeItakemyleaveofthedioceseofBarchesterforever,whichI
purposetodointhesucceedingparagraph,Idesiretobeallowedtosayonewordofapologyformyself,inanswertothosewhohaveaccusedme——alwayswithoutbitterness,andgenerallywithtenderness——ofhavingforgotten,inwritingofclergymen,thefirstandmostprominentcharacteristicoftheordinaryEnglishclergyman’slife。Ihavedescribedmanyclergymen,theysay,buthavespokenofthemallasthoughtheirprofessionalduties,theirhighcalling,theirdailyworkingsforthegoodofthosearoundthem,weremattersofnomoment,eithertome,orinmyopinion,tothemselves。Iwouldplead,inanswertothis,thatmyobjecthasbeentopaintthesocialandnottheprofessionallivesofclergymen;andthatIhavebeenledtodoso,firstly,byafeelingthatasnomenaffectmorestrongly,bytheirowncharacter,thesocietyofthosearoundthandocountryclergymen,so,therefore,theirsocialhabitshavebeenworththelabournecessaryforpaintingthem;andsecondly,byafeelingthatthoughI,asanovelist,mayfeelmyselfentitledtowriteofclergymenoutoftheirpulpits,asImayalsowriteoflawyersanddoctors,Ihavenosuchlibertytowriteofthemintheirpulpits。WhenIhavedoneso,ifIhavedoneso,Ihavesofartransgressed。TherearethosewhohavetoldmethatIhavemadeallmyclergymenbad,andnonegood。Imustventuretohinttosuchjudgesthattheyhavetaughttheireyestoloveacolouringhigherthannaturejustifies。Weare,mostofus,apttoloveRaphael’smadonnasbetterthanRembrandt’smatrons。But,thoughwedoso,weknowthatRembrandt’smatronsexisted;butwehaveastrongbeliefthatnosuchwomanasRaphaelpaintedeverdidexist。Inthathepainted,ashemaybesurmisedtohavedone,forpiouspurposes——atleastforChurchpurposes——Raphaelwasjustified;buthadhepaintedsoforfamilyportraiturehewouldhavebeenfalse。HadIwrittenanepicaboutclergymen,IwouldhavetakenStPaulformymodel;butdescribing,asI
haveendeavouredtodo,suchclergymenasIseearoundme,Icouldnotventuretobetranscendental。FormyselfIcanonlysaythatIshallalwaysbehappytosit,whenallowedtodoso,atthetableofArchdeaconGrantly,towalkthroughtheHighStreetofBarchesterarminarmwithMrRobartsofFramley,andtostandaloneandshedatearbeneaththemodestblackstoneinthenorthtranseptofthecathedralonwhichisinscribedthenameofSeptimusHarding。
Andnow,ifthereaderwillallowmetoseizehimaffectionatelybythearm,wewilltogethertakeourlastfarewellofBarsetandofthetowersofBarchester。Imaynotventuretosaytohimthat,inthiscountry,heandItogetherhavewanderedoftenthroughthecountrylanes,andhaveriddentogetheroverthetoowell—woodedfields,orhavestoodtogetherinthecathedralnavelisteningtothepealsoftheorgan,orhavetogethersatatgoodmen’stables,orhaveconfrontedtogethertheangryprideofmenwhowerenotgood。Imaynotboastthatanybesidemyselfhavesorealisedtheplace,andthepeople,andthefacts,astomakesuchreminiscencespossibleasthosewhichIshouldattempttoevokebyanappealtoperfectfellowship。ButtomeBarsethasbeenarealcounty,anditscityarealcity,andthespiresandtowershavebeenbeforemyeyes,andthevoicesofthepeopleareknowntomyears,andthepavementofthecitywaysarefamiliartomyfootsteps。TothemallInowsayfarewell。ThatIhavebeeninducedtowanderamongthemtoolongbymyloveforoldfriendships,andbythesweetnessofoldfaces,isafaultforwhichImayperhapsbemorereadilyforgiven,whenI
repeat,withsolemnityofassurance,thatpromisemadeinmytitle,thatthisshallbethelastchronicleofBarset。
THEEND