Littlemiseriesofthatkindwouldcrowduponhim。Hehadarrivedatatimeinlifeinwhichsuchmiseriesmakesuchmenverymiserable;butyethethoughtthathecouldendurethem。Andwhatotherwretchednesswouldcometohim?Shewouldscoldhim——frightfully,loudly,scornfully,andworsethanall,continually。Butofthishehadsomuchhabitually,thatanythingaddedmightbebornealso;——ifonlyhecouldbesurethatthescoldingsshouldgooninprivate,thattheworldofthepalaceshouldnotbeallowedtoheartherevilingstowhichhewouldbesubjected。Buttobescoldedpubliclywasthegreatevilwhichhedreadedbeyondallevils。Hewaswellawarethatthepalacewouldknowhismisfortune,thatitwasknown,andfreelydiscussedbyall,fromtheexaminingchaplaindowntothepalaceboot—boy;——nay,thatitwasknowntoallthediocese;butyethecouldsmileuponthosearoundhim,andlookasthoughheheldhisownlikeothermen——unlesswhenopenviolencewasdisplayed。Butwhenthatvoicewasheardaloudalongthecorridorsofthepalace,andwhenhewassummonedimperiouslybythewoman,callingforthebishop,sothatallBarchesterheardit,andwhenhewascompelledtocreepforthfromhisstudy,atthesoundofthatsummons,withdistressedface,andshakinghands,andshorthurryingsteps——abeingtobepitiedevenbyadeacon——notventuringtoassumeanairofmasterdomshouldhechancetomeetahousemaidonthestairs——then,atsuchmomentsasthat,hewouldfeelthatanysubmissionwasbetterthanthemiserywhichhesuffered。Andhewellknewthatshouldhenowrebel,thewholehousewouldbeinaturmoil。Hewouldbebishopedhere,bishopedthere,beforetheeyesofallpalatialmenandwomen,tilllifewouldbeaburdentohim。Sohegotupfromhisseatoverthefire,andwenttohisdeskandwrotetheletter。Theletterwasasfollows:——
THEPALACE,BARCHESTER,——December,186—’
’REVERENDSIR,——
(heleftoutthedear,becauseheknewthatifheinsertedithewouldbecompelledtowritetheletteroveragain)。
’Ihaveheardtodaywiththegreatesttroubleofspirit,thatyouhavebeentakenbeforeabenchofmagistratesassembledatSilverbridge,havingpreviouslybeenarrestedbythepoliceinyourparsonagehouseatHogglestock,andthatthemagistratesofSilverbridgehavecommittedyoutotakeyourtrialatthenextassizesatBarchester,onachargeoftheft。
’Farbeitfrommetoprejudgethecase。Youwillunderstand,reverendsir,thatIexpressnoopinionwhateverastoyourguiltorinnocenceinthismatter。Ifyouhavebeenguilty,maytheLordgiveyougracetorepentofyourgreatsinandtomakesuchamendsasmaycomefromimmediateacknowledgementandconfession,ifyouareinnocent,mayHeprotectyou,andmakeyourinnocenceshinebeforeallmen。IneithercasemaytheLordbewithyouandkeepyourfeetfromfurtherstumbling。
’ButIwritetoyounowasyourbishop,toexplaintoyouthat,circumstancedasyouare,youcannotwithdecencyperformthechurchservicesofyourparish。IhavethatconfidenceinyouthatI
doubtnotthatyouwillagreewithmeinthis,andwillbegratefultomeforrelievingyoufromtheimmediateperplexitiesofyourposition。Ihave,therefore,appointedRevCalebThumbletoperformthedutiesofincumbentofHogglestocktillsuchtimeasajuryshallhavedecideduponyourcaseatBarchester;
andinorderthatyoumayatoncebecomeacquaintedwithMrThumble,aswillbemostconvenientthatyoushoulddo,Iwillcommissionhimtodeliverthisletterintoyourhandpersonallytomorrow,trustingthatyouwillreceivehimwiththatbrotherlyspiritinwhichheissentonthispainfulmission。
’TouchingtheremunerationtowhichMrThumblewillbecomeentitledforhistemporaryministrationintheparishofHogglestock,Idonotatpresentlaydownanystrictinjunction。Hemust,atanyrate,bepaidataratenotlessthanthatordinarilyaffordedforacurate。
’IwillonceagainexpressmyferventhopethattheLordmaybringyoutoseethetruestateofyourownsoul,andthatHemayfillyouwiththegraceofrepentance,sothatthebitterwavesofthepresenthourmaynotpassoveryourheadanddestroyyou。
’Ihavethehonourtobe,ReverendSir,’YourfaithfulservantinChrist,’T。BARNUM’
(BaronumCastrumhavingbeentheoldRomannamefromwhichthemodernBarchesterisderived,thebishopsofthediocesehavealwayssignedthemselvesBarnum。)
ThebishophadhardlyfinishedhisletterwhenMrsProudiereturnedtothestudy,followedbytheRevCalebThumble。MrThumblewasalittleman,aboutfortyyearsofage,whohadawifeandchildrenlivinginBarchester,andwhoexistedonsuchchanceclericalcrumbsasmightfallfromthetableofthebishop’spatronage。PeopleinBarchestersaidthatMrsThumblewasacousinofMrsProudie’s;butasMrsProudiestoutlydeniedtheconnexion,itmaybesupposedthatthepeopleofBarchesterwerewrong。And,hadMrThumble’swifeintruthbeenacousin,MrsProudiewouldsurelyhaveprovidedforhimduringthemanyyearsinwhichthediocesehadbeeninherhands。Nosuchprovisionhadbeenmade,andMrThumble,whohadnotbeenlivinginthedioceseforthreeyears,hadreceivednothingelsefromthebishopthansuchchanceemploymentasthiswhichhewasnottoundertakeatHogglestock。Hewasahumble,mild—voicedman,whenwithinthepalaceprecincts,andhadsofarsucceededinmakinghiswayamonghisbrethreninthecathedralcityastobeemployednotunfrequentlyforabsentminorcanonsinchantingtheweek—dayservices,beingremuneratedforhisworkattherateofabouttwoshillingsandsixpenceaservice。
Thebishophandedthelettertohiswife,observinginanoff—handkindofwaythatshemightaswellseewhathesaid。’OfcourseIshallreadit,’saidMrsProudie。Andthebishopwinced,visibly,becauseMrThumblewaspresent。’Quiteright,’saidMrsProudie,’quiterighttolethimknowthatyouknewhehadbeenarrested——actuallyarrestedbythepolice。’
’Ithoughtitpropertomentionthat,becauseofthescandal,’saidthebishop。
’Oh,ithasbeenterribleinthecity,’saidMrThumble。
’Nevermind,MrThumble,’saidMrsProudie。’Nevermindthatatpresent。’Thenshecontinuedtoreadtheletter。’What’sthis?
Confession!Thatmustcomeout,bishop。Itwillneverdothatyoushouldrecommendconfessiontoanybody,underanycircumstances。’
’But,mydea——’
’Itmustcomeout,bishop。’
’Mylordhasnotmeantauricularconfession,’suggestedMrThumble。ThenMrsProudieturnedaroundandlookedatMrThumble,andMrThumblenearlysankamidstthetablesandchairs。’Ibegyourpardon,MrsProudie,’hesaid,’Ididn’tmeantointrude。’
’Thewordmustcomeout,bishop,’repeatedMrsProudie。’Thereshouldbenostumblingblockspreparedforfeetthatareonlytooreadytofall。’Andtheworddidcomeout。
’Now,MrThumble,’saidthelady,asshegavethelettertohersatellite,’thebishopandIwishyoutobeatHogglestockearlytomorrow。Youshouldtherenotlaterthanten,certainly。’ThenshepauseduntilMrThumblehadgiventherequiredpromise。’Andwerequestthatyouwillbeveryfirminthemissionwhichisconfidedtoyou,amissionwhich,asofcourse,yousee,isofaverydelicateandimportantnature。Youmustbefirm。’
’Iwillendeavour,’saidMrThumble。
’ThebishopandIbothfeelthatthismostunfortunatemanmustnotunderanycircumstancesbeallowedtoperformtheservicesoftheChurchwhilethischargeishangingoverhim——achargeastothetruthofwhichnosanemancanentertainadoubt。’
’I’mafraidnot,MrsProudie,’saidMrThumble。
’ThebishopandIthereforearemostanxiousthatyoushouldmakeMrCrawleyunderstandatonce——atonce,’andthelady,asshespoke,liftedupherhandwithaneloquentviolencewhichhaditseffectonMrThumble,’thatheisinhibited,’——thebishopshookinhisshoes——’inhibitedfromtheperformanceofanyofhissacredduties。’
Thereupon,MrThumblepromisedobedienceandwenthisway。
CHAPTERXII
MRCRAWLEYSEEKSFORSYMPATHY
MatterswentverybadlyindeedintheparsonageatHogglestock。OntheFridaymorning,themorningofthedayafterhiscommittal,MrCrawleygotupveryearly,longbeforethedaylight,anddressinghimselfinthedark,gropedhiswaydownstairs。Hiswifehavingvainlystriventopersuadehimtoremainwherehewas,followedhimintothecoldroombelowwithalightedcandle。Shefoundhimstandingwithhishatonandwithhisoldcloak,asthoughhewerepreparedtogoout。’Whydoyoudothis?’shesaid。’Youwillmakeyourselfillwiththecoldandthenightair;andthenyou,andItoo,willbeworsethanwenoware。’
’Wecannotbeworse。Youcannotbeworse,andformeitdoesnotsignify。Letitpass。’
’Iwillnotletyoupass,Josiah。Beamanandbearit。AskGodforstrength,insteadofseekingitinanover—indulgenceofyourownsorrow。’
’Indulgence!’
’Yes,love;——indulgence。Itisindulgence。Youwillallowyourmindtodwellonnothingforamomentbutyourownwrongs。’
’WhatelsehaveIthatIcanthinkof?Isnotalltheworldagainstme?’
’AmIagainstyou?’
’SometimesIthinkyouare。Whenyouaccusemeofself—indulgenceyouareagainstme——me,whoformyselfhavedesirednothingbuttobeallowedtodomyduty,andtohavebreadenoughtokeepmealive,andclothestomakemedecent。’
’Isitnotself—indulgence,thisgivingwaytogrief?Whowouldknowsowellasyouhowtoteachthelessonofendurancetoothers?Come,love。
Laydownyourhat。Itcannotbefittingthatyoushouldgooutintothewetandcoldoftherawmorning。’
Foramomenthehesitated,butassheraisedherhandtotakehiscloakfromhimhedrewbackfromher,andwouldnotpermitit。’IshallfindthoseupwhomIwanttosee,’hesaid。’Imustvisitmyflock,andI
darenotgothroughtheparishbydaylightlesttheyhootaftermeasathief。’
’NotoneinHogglestockwouldsayawordtoinsultyou。’
’Wouldtheynot?Theverychildrenintheschoolwhisperatme。Letmepass,Isay。Ithasnotyetcometothat,thatIshouldbestoppedinmyegressandingress。Theyhave——bailedme;andwhiletheirbaillasts,I
maygowhereIwill。’
’Oh,Josiah,whatwordstome!HaveIeverstoppedyourliberty?WouldInotgivemylifetosecureit?’
’Letmego,then,now。ItellyouthatIhavebusinessinhand。’
’ButIwillgowithyou。Iwellbereadyinaninstant。’
’Yougo!Whyshouldyougo?Aretherenotthechildrenforyoutomind?’
’ThereisonlyJane。’
’Staywithher,then。Whyshouldyougoabouttheparish?’Shestillheldhimbythecloak,andlookedanxiouslyupintohisface。’Woman,’
hesaid,raisinghisvoice,’whatisthatyoudread?Icommandyoutotellmewhatitisyoufear?’Hehadnowtakenholdofherbytheshoulder,slightlythrustingherfromhim,sothathemightseeherface,bythedimlightofthesinglecandle。’Speak,Isay。WhatisitthatyouthinkIshalldo?’
’Dearest,Iknowthatyouwillbebetterathome,betterwithme,thanyoucanbeonsuchamorningasthisoutinthecolddampair。’
’Andisthatall?’Helookedhardather,whileshereturnedhisgazewithbeseechinglovingeyes。’Ittherenothingbehind,thatyouwillnottellme?’
Shepausedforamomentbeforeshereplied。Shehadneverliedtohim。
Shecouldnotlietohim。’Iwishyouknewmyhearttowardsyou,’shesaid,’withallandeverythinginit。’
’Iknowyourheartwell,butIwanttoknowyourmind。Whywouldyoupersuademenottogooutamongmypoor?’
’Becauseitwillbebadforyoutobeoutaloneinthedarklanes,inthemudandwet,thinkingofyoursorrow。Youwillbroodoverittillyouwillloseyoursensesthroughtheintensityofyourgrief。Youwillstandoutinthecoldair,forgetfulofeverythingaroundyou,tillyourlimbswillbenumbed,andyourbloodchilled——’
’Andthen——?’
’Oh,Josiah,donotholdmelikethat,andlookatmesoangrily。’
’AndeventhenIwillbearmyburdentilltheLordinHismercyshallseefittorelieveme。EventhenIwillendure,thoughabarebodkinorleafofhemlockwouldputanendtoit。Letmepasson;youneedfearnothing。’
Shedidlethimpasswithoutanotherword,andhewentoutofthehouse,shuttingthedoorafterhimnoiselessly,andclosingthewicketgateofthegarden。Forawhileshesatherselfdownonthenearestchair,andtriedtomakeuphermindhowshemightbesttreathiminhispresentstateofmind。Asregardedthepresentmorningherheartwasatease。
Shenewthathewoulddonownothingofthatwhichshehadapprehended。
Shecouldtrusthimnottobefalseinhiswordtoher,thoughshecouldnotbeforehavetrustedhimnottocommitsomuchheavierasin。Ifhewouldreallyemployhimselffrommorningtillnightamongthepoor,hewouldbebetterso——histroublewouldbeeasierofendurance——thanwithanyotheremploymentwhichhecouldadopt。Whatshemostdreadedwasthatheshouldsitidleoverthefireanddonothing。Whenhewassoseatedshecouldreadhismind,asthoughitwasopentoherasabook。
Shehadbeenquiterightwhenshehadaccusedhimofover—indulgenceinhisgrief。Hedidgivewaytoittillitbecamealuxurytohim——aluxurywhichshewouldnothavehadthehearttodenyhim,hadshenotfeltittobeofallluxuriesthemostpernicious。Duringtheselonghours,inwhichhewouldsitspeechless,doingnothing,hewastellinghimselffromminutetominutethatofallGod’screatures,hewasthemostheavilyafflicted,andwasrevellinginthesenseoftheinjusticedonetohim。Hewasrecallingallthefactsoflife,hiseducation,whichhadbeencostly,and,asregardedknowledge,successful;hisvocationtotheChurch,wheninhisyouthhehaddeterminedtodevotehimselftotheserviceofhisSaviour,disregardingpromotionorthefavourofmen;theshort,sweetdaysofhisearlylove,inwhichhehaddevotedhimselfagain——thinkingnothingofself,buteverythingofher;
hisdiligentworking,inwhichhehadeverdonehisveryutmostfortheparishinwhichhewasplaced,andalwayshisbestforthepoorest;thesuccessofothermenwhohadbeenhiscompeers,and,ashetoooftentoldhimself,intellectuallyhisinferiors;thenofhischildren,whohadbeencarriedofffromhislovetothechurchyard——overwhosegraveshehimselfhadstood,readingoutthepatheticwordsofthefuneralservicewithunswervingvoiceandableedingheart;andthenofhischildrenstillliving,wholovedtheirmothersomuchbetterthantheylovedhim。Andhewouldrecallthecircumstancesoftheirpoverty——howhehadbeendriventoacceptalms,toflyfromcreditors,tohidehimself,toseehischairsandtablesseizedbeforetheeyesofthoseoverwhomhehadbeensetastheirspiritualpastor。Andinitall,I
think,therewasnothingsobittertothemanasthederogationfromthespiritualgrandeurofhispositionaspriestamongmen,whichcameasonenecessaryresultfromhispoverty。StPaulcouldgoforthwithoutmoneyinhispurseorshoesonhisfeetortwosuitstohisback,andhispovertyneverstoodinthewayofhispreaching,orhinderedthevenerationofthefaithful。StPaul,indeed,wascalledupontobearstripes,wasflungintoprison,encounteredterribledangers。ButMrCrawley——sohetoldhimself——couldhaveencounteredallthatwithoutflinching。Thestripesandscornoftheunfaithfulwouldhavebeennothingtohim,ifonlythefaithfulwouldhavebelievedinhim,poorashewas,astheywouldhavebelievedinhimhadhebeenrich!Eventheywhomhehadmostlovedandtreatedhimalmostwithderision,becausehewasnowdifferentfromthem。DeanArabinhadlaughedathimbecausehehadpersistedinwalkingtenmilesthroughthemudinsteadofbeingconveyedinthedean’scarriage;andyet,afterthat,hehadbeendriventoacceptthedean’scharity!Noonerespectedhim。Noone!Hisverywifethoughtthathewasalunatic。Andnowhehadbeenpubliclybrandedasathief;andinalllikelihoodwouldendhisdaysinagaol!Suchwerealwayshisthoughtsashesatidle,silent,moody,overthefire;
andhiswifeknewwelltheircurrents。Itwouldcertainlybebetterthatheshoulddrivehimselftosomeemployment,ifanyemploymentcouldbefoundpossibleforhim。
Whenshehadbeenaloneforafewminutes,MrsCrawleygotupfromherchair,andgoingintothekitchen,lightedthefirethere,andputthekettleoverit,andbegantopreparesuchbreakfastforherhusbandasthemeansinthehouseafforded。Thenshecalledthesleepingservant—girl,whowaslittlemorethanachild,andwentintoherowngirl’sroom,andthenshegotintobedwithherdaughter。
’Ihavebeenupwithyourpapa,dear,andIamcold。’
’Oh,mamma,poormamma!Whyispapaupsoearly?’
’Hehasgoneouttovisitsomeofthebrickmakers,beforetheygototheirwork。Itisbetterforhimtobeemployed。’
’But,mamma,itispitchdark。’
’Yes,dear,itisstilldark。Sleepagainforawhile,andIwillsleeptoo。IthinkGracewillbeheretonight,andthentherewillbenoroomformehere。’
MrCrawleywentforthandmadehiswaywithrapidstepstoaportionofthisparishnearlytwomilesfromhishouse,throughwhichwascarriedacanal,affordingwatercommunicationinsomeintricatewaybothtoLondonandBristol。Andonthebrinkofthiscanaltherehadsprungupacolonyofbrickmakers,thenatureoftheearthinthosepartscombiningwiththecanaltomakebrickmakingasuitabletrade。Theworkmenthereassembledwerenot,forthemostpart,native—bornHogglestockians,orfolkdescendedfromHogglestockianparents。Theyhadcomethitherfromunknownregions,aslabourersofthatclassdocomewhentheyareneeded。Someyoungmenfromthatandneighbouringparisheshadjoinedthemselvestothecolony,alluredbywages,anddisregardingthemenacesoftheneighbouringfarmers;buttheywereallinappearanceandmannersnearerakintotheraceofnavviesthantoordinaryrurallabourers。
Theyhadabadnameinthecountry;butitmaybethattheirnamewasworsethantheirdeserts。Thefarmershatedthem,andconsequentlytheyhatedthefarmers。Theyhadabeershop,andagrocer’sshop,andahuxter’sshopfortheirownaccommodation,andwereconsequentlyvilifiedbythesmallold—establishedtradesmenaroundthem。Theygotdrunkoccasionally,butIdoubtwhethertheydrankmorethandidthefarmersthemselvesonmarket—day。Theyfoughtamongthemselvessometimes,buttheyforgaveeachotherfreely,andseemedtohavenoobjectiontoblackeyes。Ifearthattheywerenotalwaysgoodtotheirwives,norweretheirwivesalwaysgoodtothem;butitshouldberememberedthatamongthepoor,especiallywhentheyliveinclusters,suchmisfortunescannotbehiddenastheymayamidstthedecentbelongingsofmorewealthypeople。Thattheyworkedveryhardwascertain;anditwascertainalsothatveryfewoftheirnumberevercameuponthepoorrates。Whatbecameoftheoldbrickmakersnooneknew。Whoeverseesaworn—outnavvy?
MrCrawley,eversincefirstcomingintoHogglestock,hadbeenverybusyamongthesebrickmakers,andbynomeanswithoutsuccess。Indeedthefarmershadquarrelledwithhimbecausethebrickmakershadsocrowdedtheparishchurch,astoleavebutscantroomfordecentpeople。’Dootheyfolkpaytithes?That’swhatIwant’untotellme?’arguedonefarmer——notaltogetherunnaturally,believingashedidthatMrCrawleywaspaidbytithesoutofhisownpocket。ButMrCrawleyhaddonehisbesttomakethebrickmakerwelcomeatthechurch,scandalisingthefarmersbycausingthemtositorstandinanyportionofthechurchwhichwashithertounappropriated。Hehadbeenconstantinhispersonalvisitstothem,andhadfelthimselftomoreaStPaulwiththemthanwithanyotherofhisneighboursaroundhim。
Itwasacoldmorning,buttherainoftheprecedingeveninghadgivenwaytofrost,andtheair,thoughsharp,wasdry。Thegroundunderthefeetwascrisp,havingfeltthewindandfrost,andwasnolongercloggedwithmud。Inhispresentstateofmindthewalkwasgoodforourpoorpastor,andexhilaratedhim;butstill,ashewent,hethoughtalwaysofhisinjuries。Hisownwifebelievedthathewasabouttocommitsuicide,andforsobelievinghewasveryangrywithher;andyet,ashewellknew,theideaofmakingawaywithhimselfhadflittedthroughhisownmindadozentimes。Notfromhisownwifecouldhegetrealsympathy。Hewouldseewhathecoulddowithacertainbrickmakerofhisacquaintance。
’Areyouhere,Dan?’hesaid,knockingatthedoorofacottagewhichstoodalone,closetothetowingpathofthecanal,andclosealsotoaforlorncornerofthemuddy,watery,ugly,disorderedbrick—field。Itwasnowjustpastsixo’clock,andthemenwouldberising,asinmidwintertheycommencedtheirworkatseven。Thecottagewasanunalluring,straightbrick—builttenement,seemingasthoughintendedtobeoneofarowwhichhadneverprogressedbeyondNumberOne。Avoiceansweredfromtheinterior,inquiringwhowasthevisitor,towhichMrCrawleyrepliedbygivinghisname。Thenthekeywasturnedinthelock,andDanMorris,thebrickmaker,appearedwithacandleinhishand。Hehadbeenengagedinlightingthefire,withaviewtohisownbreakfast。
’Whereisyourwife,Dan?’askedMrCrawley。Themanansweredbypointingwithashortpoker,whichheheldinhishand,tothebed,whichwashalf—screenedfromtheroombyaraggedcurtain,whichhungfromtheceilinghalf—waydowntothefloor。’AndaretheDarvelshere?’
askedMrCrawley。ThenMorris,againusingthepoker,pointedupwards,showingthattheDarvelswerestillintheirallottedabodeupstairs。
’You’reearlyout,MusterCrawley,’saidMorris,andthenhewentonwithhisfire。’Dratthesticks,iftheybean’taswetastheold’unhisself。Getup,oldwoman,anddoyoudoit,forIcan’t。Theywun’tkindleforme,nohow。’Buttheoldwoman,havingwellnotedthepresenceofMrCrawley,thoughtitbettertoremainwhereshewas。
MrCrawleysathimselfdownbytheobstinatefire,andbegantoarrangethesticks。’Dan,Dan,’saidavoicefromthebed,’sureyouwouldn’tlethisreverencetroublehimselfwiththefire。’
’HowbeItokeephimfromit,ifhechooses?Ididn’taxhim。’ThenMorrisstoodbyandwatched,andafterawhileMrCrawleysucceededinhisattempt。
’Howcoulditburnwhenyouhadnotgiventhesmallsparkacurrentofairtohelpit?’saidMrCrawley。
’Incoursenot,’saidthewoman,’buthebesuchstupid。’
Thehusbandsaidnowordinacknowledgementofthiscompliment,nordidhethankMrCrawleyforwhathehaddone,norappearasthoughheintendedtotakeanynoticeofhim。HewasgoingonwithhisworkwhenMrCrawleyagaininterruptedhim。
’HowdidyougetbackfromSilverbridgeyesterday,Dan?’
’Footedit——alltheblessedway。’
’It’sonlyeightmiles。’
’AndIfooteditthere,andthat’ssixteen。AndIpaidone—and—
sixpenceforbeerandgrub;——s’helpmeIdid。’
’Dan!’saidavoicefromthebed,rebukinghimfortheimproprietyofhislanguage。
’Well;Ibegpardon,butIdid。Andtheyguv’metwobob;——justtwoplainshillingsby——’
’Dan!’
’AndI’d’vearnedthree—and—sixhereatbrickmakingeasy;that’swhatI
wuld。How’sapoormantolivethatway?They’llnotcotchmeatBarchester’Sizesatthatprice;theymaybesureofthat。Lookthere——that’swhatI’vegotformyday。’Andheputhishandintohisbreeches—pocketandfetchedoutasixpence。’How’samantofillhisbellyoutofthat。Damnation!’
’Dan!’
’Well,whatdidIsay?Holdyourjaw,willyou,andnotbehalloaingatmethatway?IknowwhatIamsayingof,andwhatI’madoingof。’
’Iwishthey’dgivenyousomethingmorewithallmyheart,’saidCrawley。
’Weknowsthat,’criedthewomanfromthebed。’Weissureofthat,yourreverence。’
’Sixpence!’saidtheman,scornfully。’Ifthey’dhaveguv’menothingatallbuttherunofmyteethatthepublic—house,I’d’vetakenitbetter。Butsixpence!’