’Shehasnotbeentoblameatall，’saidDalrymple。
’That’smyaffairandnotyours，’saidMrsVanSiever，verysharply。
’Butasyou’vebeenatallthistrouble，andhavenowchoppeditup，I
don’tmindpayingyouforyourtimeandpaints；onlyIshallbegladtoknowhowmuchitwillcometo？’
’Therewillbenothingtopay，MrsVanSiever。’
’Howlonghashebeenatit，Clara？’
’Mamma，indeedyouhadbetternotsayanythingaboutpayinghim。’
’IshallsaywhateverIplease，miss。Willtenpoundsdoit，sir？’
’Ifyouchoosetobuythepicture，thepricewillbesevenhundredandfifty，’saidDalrymplewithasmile，pointingtothefragments。
’Sevenhundredandfiftypounds？’saidtheoldwoman。
’ButIstronglyadviseyounottomakethepurchase，’saidDalrymple。
’Sevenhundredandfiftypounds！Icertainlyshallnotgiveyousevenhundredandfiftypounds。’
’Icertainlythinkyoucouldinvestyourmoneybetter，MrsVanSiever。
Butifthethingistobesoldatall，thatismyprice。I’vethoughtthattherewassomejusticeinyourdemandthatitshouldbedestroyed——andthereforeIhavedestroyedit。’
MrsVanSieverhadbeenstandingonthesamespoteversinceshehadenteredtheroom，andnowsheturnedroundtoleavetheroom。
’Ifyouhaveanydemandtomake，IbegthatyouwillsenditinyouraccountforworkdonetoMrMusselboro。Heismymanofbusiness。Clara，areyoureadytocomehome？Thecabiswaitingatthedoor——atsixpencethequarterofanhour，ifyouwillbepleasedtoremember。’
’MrsBroughton，’saidClara，thoughtfulofherraiment，andrememberingthatitmightnotbewellthatsheshouldreturnhome，eveninacab，dressedasJael，’ifyouwillallowme，Iwillgointoyourroomforaminuteortwo。’
’Certainly，Clara，’saidMrsBroughton，preparingtoaccompanyher。
’Butbeforeyougo，MrsBroughton，’saidMrsVanSiever，’itmaybeaswellthatIshouldtellyouthatmydaughterisgoingtobecomethewifeofMrMusselboro。Itmaysimplifymattersthatyoushouldknowthis。’
AndMrsVanSiever，asshespoke，lookedhardatConwayDalrymple。
’Mamma！’exclaimedClara。
’Mydear，’saidMrsVanSiever，’youhadbetterchangeyourdressandcomeawaywithme。’
’NottillIhaveprotestedagainstwhatyouhavesaid，mamma。’
’Youhadbetterleaveyourprotestingalone，Icantellyou。’
’MrsBroughton，’saidClara，’Imustbegyoutounderstandthatmammahasnottheslightestrightintheworldtotellyouwhatshejustnowsaidaboutme。NothingonearthwouldinducemetobecomethewifeofMrBroughton’spartner。’
TherewassomethingwhichmadeClaraunwillingeventonamethemanwhomhermotherhadpubliclyproposedasherfuturehusband。
’Heisn’tMrBroughton’spartner，’saidMrsVanSiever。’MrBroughtonhasnotgotapartner。MrMusselboroistheheadofthefirm。Andastoyourmarryinghim，ofcourse，Ican’tmakeyou。’
’No，mamma，youcannot。’
’MrsBroughtonunderstandsthat，nodoubt；——andso，probably，doesMrDalrymple。Icanonlytellthemwhataremyideas。Ifyouchoosetomarrythesweepatthecrossing，Ican’thelpit。OnlyIdon’tseewhatgoodyouwoulddothesweep，whenhewouldhavetosweepforhimselfandyoutoo。Atanyrate，Isupposeyoumeantogohomewithmenow？’ThenMrsBroughtonandClaralefttheroom，andMrsVanSieverwasleftwithConwayDalrymple。’MrDalrymple，’saidMrsVanSiever，’donotdeceiveyourself。WhatItoldyoujustnowwillcertainlycometopass。’
’Itseemstomethatthatmustdependontheyounglady，’saidDalrymple。
’I’lltellyouwhatcertainlywillnotdependontheyounglady，’saidMrsVanSiever，’andthatiswhetherthemanwhomarriesherwillhavemorewithherthantheclothesshestandsupin。Youwillunderstandthatargument，Isuppose？’
’I’mnotquitesurethatIdo，’saidDalrymple。
’Thenyou’dbettertrytounderstandit。Good—morning，sir。I’msorryyou’vehadtoslityourpicture。’Thenshecurtseyedlow，andwalkedoutontothelanding—place。’Clara，’shecried，’I’mwaitingforyou——sixpenceaquarterofanhour——rememberthat。’InaminuteortwoClaracameouttoher，andthenMrsVanSieverandMissVanSievertooktheirdeparture。
’Oh，Conway，whatamItodo？WhatamItodo？’saidMrsDobbsBroughton。Dalrymplestoodperplexedforafewminutes，andcouldnottellherwhatshewastodo。Shewasinsuchapositionthatitwasveryhardtotellherwhatshewastodo。’Doyoubelieve，Conway，thatheisreallyruined？’
’WhatamItosay？HowamItoknow？’
’Iseethatyoubelieveit，’saidthewretchedwoman。
’Icannotbutbelievethatthereissomethingoftruthinwhatthiswomansays。Whyelseshouldshecomeherewithsuchastory？’Thentherewasapause，duringwhichMrsBroughtonwasburyingherfaceonthearmofthesofa。’I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo，’continuedhe。’I’llgointotheCityandmakeinquiry。ItcanhardlybebutwhatIshalllearnthetruththere。’
Thentherewasanotherpause，attheendofwhichMrsBroughtongotupfromthesofa。
’Tellme，’saidshe：——’whatdoyoumeanaboutthatgirl？’
’Youheardmeaskhertobemywife？’
’Idid！Idid！’
’Isitnotwhatyouintended？’
’Donotaskme。Mymindisbewildered。Mybrainisonfire！Oh，Conway！’
’ShallIgointotheCityasIproposed？’saidDalrymple，whofeltthathemightatanyrateimprovethepositionofcircumstancesbyleavingthehouse。
’Yes；——yes；gointotheCity！Goanywhere。Go。Butstay！Oh，Conway！’Therewasasuddenchangeinhervoiceasshespoke。
’Hark——thereheis，assureaslife。’ThenConwaylistened，andheardafootsteponthestairs，astowhichhehadthenbutlittledoubtthatitwasthefootstepofDobbsBroughton。’Oheavens！Heistipsy！’exclaimedMrsBroughton；’andwhatshallwedo？’ThenDalrympletookherhandandpressedit；andlefttheroom，sothathemightmeetthehusbandonthestairs。Intheonemomentthathehadforreflectionhethoughtitwasbetterthatthereshouldbenoconcealment。
CHAPTERLXI
’IT’SDOGGEDASDOESIT’
Inaccordancewiththeresolutiontowhichtheclericalcommissionhadcomeonthefirstdayoftheirsitting，DrTempestwrotethefollowinglettertoMrCrawley：—
’RECTORY，SILVERBRIDGE，April，9，186—
’DEARSIR，’IhavebeengiventounderstandthatyouhavebeeninformedthattheBishopofBarchesterhasappointedacommissionofclergymenofthediocesetomakeinquiryrespectingcertainaccusationswhich，tothegreatregretofusall，havebeenmadeagainstyou，inrespectofachequefortwentypoundswhichwaspassedbyyoutoatradesmanofthetown。TheclergymenappointedtoformthiscommissionareMrOriel，therectorofGreshamsbury，MrRobarts，thevicarofFramley，MrQuiverful，thewardenofHiram’sHospitalatBarchester，andMrThumble，aclergymanestablishedinthatcity，andmyself。WeheldourfirstmeetingonlastMonday，andInowwritetoyouincompliancewitharesolutiontowhichwecame。BeforetakinganyotherstepswethoughtitbesttoaskyoutoattendushereonnextMonday，attwoo’clock，andIbegthatyouwillacceptthisletterasaninvitationtothateffect。
’Weare，ofcourse，awarethatyouareabouttostandyourtrialatthenextassizesfortheoffenceinquestion。IbegyoutounderstandthatIdonotexpressanyopinionastoyourguilt。ButIthinkitrighttopointouttoyouthatintheeventofajuryfindinganadverseverdict，thebishopwillbeplacedingreatdifficultyunlesshewerefortifiedwiththeopinionofacommissionformedfromyourfellowclericallabourersinthediocese。Shouldsuchadverseverdictunfortunatelybegiven，thebishopwouldhardlybejustifiedinallowingaclergymanplacedasyouthenwouldbeplaced，toreturntohiscureaftertheexpirationofsuchpunishmentasthejudgemightaward，withoutafurtherdecisionfromanecclesiasticalcourt。ThisdecisionhecouldonlyobtainbyproceedingagainstyouundertheActinreferencetoclericaloffences，whichempowershimasbishopofthediocesetobringyoubeforetheCourtofArches——unlessyouwouldthinkwelltosubmityourselfentirelytohisjudgment。Youwill，Ithink，understandwhatImean。Thejudgeatassizesmightfindithisdutytoimprisonaclergymanforamonth——regardingtatclergymansimplyashewouldregardanyotherpersonfoundguiltybyajuryandthusmadesubjecttohisjudgment——andmightdothisforanoffencewhichtheecclesiasticaljudgewouldfindhimselfobligedtovisitwiththeseverersentenceofprolongedsuspension，orevenwithdeprivation。
’Weare，however，clearlyoftheopinionthatshouldthejuryfindthemselvesabletoacquityou，nofurtheractionwhatsoevershouldbetaken。Insuchcasewethinkthatthebishopmayregardyourinnocencetobefullyestablished，andinsuchcaseweshallrecommendhislordshiptolookuponthematterasaltogetheratanend。IcanassureyouthatinsuchcaseIshallsoregarditmyself。
’Youwillperceivethat，asaconsequenceofthisresolution，towhichwehavealreadycome，wearenotmindedtotakeanyinquiriesourselvesintothecircumstancesofyourallegedguilt，tilltheverdictofthejuryshallbegiven。Butshouldyoubeconvicted，wemustinthatcaseadvisethebishoptotaketheproceedingstowhichIhavealluded，ortoabstainfromtakingthem。Wewishtoaskyouwhether，nowthatouropinionhasbeenconveyedtoyou，youwillbewillingtosubmitthebishop’sdecision，intheeventofanadverseverdictbeinggivenbythejury；andwethinkthatitwillbebetterforusallthatyoushouldmeetushereatthehourIhavenamedonMondaynext，thefifteenthinstant。Itisnotourintentiontomakeanyreporttothebishopuntilthetrialshallbeover。——Ihavethehonourtobe，mydearsir，yourobedientservant，’MORTIMERTEMPEST
’TheRev。JosiahCrawley，’Hogglestock。’
InthesameenvelopeDrTempestsentashortprivatenote，inwhichhesaidthatheshouldbeveryhappytoseeMrCrawleyathalf—pastoneontheMondaynamed，thatluncheonwouldbereadyatthathour，andthat，asMrCrawley’sattendancewasrequiredonpublicgrounds，hewouldtakecarethatacarriagewasprovidedfortheday。
MrCrawleyreceivedthisletterinhiswife’spresence，andreaditinsilence。MrsCrawleysawthathepaidcloseattentiontoit，andwassure——shefeltthatshewassure——thatitreferredinsomewaytotheterriblesubjectofthechequefortwentypounds。Indeed，everythingthatcameintothehouse，almosteverywordspokenthere，andeverythoughtthatcameintothebreastofanyofthefamily，hadmoreorlessreferencetothecomingtrial。Howcoulditbeotherwise？Therewasruincomingonthemall——ruinandcompletedisgracecomingonfather，mother，andchildren！Tohavebeenaccuseditselfwasverybad；butnowitseemedtobetheopinionofeveryonethattheverdictmustbeagainsttheman。MrsCrawleyherself，whowasperfectlysureofherhusband’sinnocencebeforeGod，believedthatthejurywouldfindhimguilty——andbelievedalsothathehadbecomepossessedofthemoneyinsomemannerthatwouldhavebeendishonest，hadhenotbeensodifferentfromotherpeopleastobeentitledtobeconsideredinnocentwhereanothermanwouldhavebeenplainlyguilty。Shewasfullofthechequefortwentypounds，andofitsresults。When，therefore，hehadreadtheletterthroughasecondtime，andeventhenhadspokennowordaboutit，ofcourseshecouldnotrefrainfromquestioninghim。’Mylove，’shesaid，’whatistheletter？’
’Itisonbusiness，’heanswered。
Shewassilentforamomentbeforeshespokeagain。’MayInotknowthebusiness？’
’No，’saidhe；’notatpresent。’
’Isitfromthebishop？’
’HaveInotansweredyou？HaveInotgivenyoutounderstandthat，forawhileatleast，Iwouldprefertokeepthecontentsofthisepistletomyself？’Thenhelookedatherverysternly，andafterwardsturnedhiseyesuponthefireplaceandgazedatthefire，asthoughhewerestrivingtoreadtheresomethingofhisfuturefate。Shedidnotmuchregardtheseverityofhisspeech。That，too，likethetakingofthechequeitself，wastobeforgivenhim，becausehewasdifferentfromothermen。Hisblackmoodhadcomeuponhim，cuttinghisteeth。Letthepoorwaywardsuffererbeeversopetulant，themothersimplypitiesandloveshim，andisneverangry。’Ibegyourpardon，Josiah，’shesaid，’butIthoughtitwouldcomfortyoutospeaktomeaboutit。’
’Itwillnotcomfortme，’hesaid。’Nothingcomfortsme。Nothingcancomfortme。Jane，givememyhatandmystick。’Hisdaughterbroughttohimhishatandstick，andwithoutanotherwordhewentoutandleftthem。
AsamatterofcourseheturnedhisstepstowardsHoggleEnd。Whenhedesiredtobelongabsentfromthehouse，healwayswentamongthebrickmakers。Hiswife，asshestoodatthewindowandwatchedthedirectioninwhichhewent，knewthathemightbeawayforhours。Theonlyfriendsoutofhisownfamilywithwhomheeverspokefreelyweresomeofthoseroughparishioners。Buthewasnotthinkingofthebrickmakerswhenhestarted。HewassimplydesirousofreadingagainDrTempest’sletter，andofconsideringit，insomespotwherenoeyecouldseehim。Hewalkedawaywithlongsteps，regardingnothing——neithertherutsinthedirtylane，northeyoungprimroseswhichwerefastshowingthemselvesonthebanks，northegatheringcloudswhichmighthavetoldhimofthecomingrain。Hewentonforacoupleofmiles，tillhehadnearlyreachedtheoutskirtsofthecolonyofHoggleEnd，andthenhesathimselfdownuponagate。Hehadnotbeenthereaminutebeforeafewslowdropsbegantofall，buthewasaltogethertoomuchwrappedupinhisthoughtstoregardtherain。WhatanswershouldhemaketothisletterfromthemanfromSilverbridge？
Thepositionofhisownmindinreferencetohisownguiltorhisowninnocencewasverysingular。Itwassimplythetruththathedidnotknowhowthechequehadcometohim。Hedidknowthathehadblunderedaboutitmostegregiously，especiallywhenhehadaverredthatthischequefortwentypoundshadbeenidenticalwithachequeforanothersumwhichhadbeengiventohimbyMrSoames。Hehadblunderedsince，insayingthatthedeanhadgivenittohim。Therecouldbenodoubtastothis，forthedeanhaddeniedthathehaddoneso。Andhehadcometothinkitverypossiblethathehadindeedpickedthechequeup，andhadafterwardsusedit，havingdepositeditbysomestrangeaccident——notknowingthenwhathewasdoing，orwhatwasthenatureofthebitofpaperinhishand——withthenoteswhichhehadacceptedfromthedeanwithsomuchreluctance，andwithsuchanagonyofspirit。Inallthesethoughtsofhisowndoings，andhisownposition，healmostadmittedtohimselfhisowninsanity，hisinabilitytomanagehisownaffairswiththatdegreeofrationalsequencewhichistakenforgrantedasbelongingtoamanwhenheismadesubjecttocriminallaws。Ashepuzzledhisbraininhiseffortstocreateamemoryastothecheque，andsucceededinbringingtohismindarecollectionthathehadonceknownsomethingaboutthecheque——thatthechequehadatonetimebeenthesubjectofathoughtandaresolution——headmittedtohimselfthatinaccordancewithalllawandallreasonhemustberegardedasathief。Hehadtakenandusedandspentthatwhichheoughttohaveknownwasnothisown——whichhewouldhaveknownnottobehisownbutforsometerribleincapacitywithwhichGodhadinflictedhim。Whatthenmustbetheresult？Hismindwasclearenoughaboutthis。Ifthejuryshouldseeeverythingandknoweverything——ashewouldwishthattheyshoulddo；andifthebishop’scommission，andthebishophimself，andtheCourtofArcheswithitsjudge，couldseeandknoweverything；andifsoseeingandsoknowingtheycouldactwithclearhonestyandperfectwisdom——whatwouldtheydo？Theywoulddeclareofhimthathewasnotathief，onlybecausehewassomuddy—minded，soaddle—patedasnottoknowthedifferencebetweenmeumandtuum！Therecouldbenootherendtoit，letallthelawyersandalltheclergymeninEnglandputtheirwitstoit。Thoughtheknewhimselftobemuddy—mindedandaddle—pated，hecouldseethat。
Andcouldanyonesayofsuchamanthathewasfittobetheacting—clergymanofaparish——tohavefreeholdpossessioninaparishascurerofmen’ssouls！Thebishopwasintherightofit，lethimbetentimesasmeanafellowashewas。
Andyetashesatthereonthegate，whiletheraincamedownheavilyuponhim，evenwhenadmittingthejusticeofthebishop，andthetruthoftheverdictwhichthejurywouldnodoubtgive，andtheproprietyoftheactionwhichthatcold，reasonable，prosperousmanatSilverbridgewouldtake，hepitiedhimselfwithatendernessofcommiserationwhichknewnobounds。Asforthosebelongingtohim，hiswifeandchildren，hispityforthemwasofadifferentkind。Hewouldhavesufferedanyincreaseofsuffering，couldhebysuchagonyhavereleasedthem。Dearlyashelovedthem，hewouldhaveseveredhimselffromthem，haditbeenpossible。Terriblethoughtsastotheirfatehadcomeintohismindintheworstmomentsofhismoodiness——thoughtswhichhehadsufficientstrengthandmanlinesstoputawayfromhimwithastronghand，lesttheyshoulddrivehimtocrimeindeed；andthesehadcomefromthegreatpityhehadfeltforthem。Butthecommiserationwhichhehadfeltforhimselfhadbeendifferentfromthis，andhadmostlyvisitedhimattimeswhenthatotherpitywasforthemomentinabeyance。Whatthoughhehadtakenthecheque，andspentthemoneythoughitwasnothis？Hemightbeguiltybeforethelaw，buthewasnotguiltybeforeGod。Therehadneverbeenathoughtoftheftinhismind，oradesiretostealinhisheart。Heknewthatwellenough。NojurycouldmakehimguiltyoftheftbeforeGod。Andwhatthoughthismixtureofguiltandinnocencehadcomefrommadness——frommadnesswhichthesecourtsmustrecogniseiftheychosetofindhiminnocentofthecrime？Inspiteofhisaberrationsofintellect，iftherewereanysuch，hisministrationsinhisparishweregood。Hadhenotpreachedferventlyandwell——preachingthetruegospel？Hadhenotbeenverydiligentamonghispeople，strivingwithallhismighttolessentheignoranceoftheignorant，andtogildwithgodlinessthelearningoftheinstructed？Hadhenotbeenpatient，enduring，instant，andinallthingsamenabletothelawsandregulationslaiddownbytheChurchforhisguidanceinhisdutiesasaparishclergyman？Whocouldpointoutinwhathehadbeenastray，orwherehehadgoneamiss？ButfortheworkwhichhehaddonewithsomuchzealtheChurchwhichheservedhadpaidhimsomiserableapittancethat，thoughlifeandsoulhadbeenkepttogether，thereason，orafragmentofthereason，hadatmomentsescapedfromhiskeepinginthescramble。Henceitwasthatthisterriblecalamityhadfallenuponhim！
Whohadbeentriedashehadbeentried，andhadgonethroughsuchfirewithlesslossofintellectualpowerthanhehaddone？Hewasstillascholar，thoughnobrotherscholarevercamenearhim，andwouldmakeGreekiambicsashewalkedthroughthelanes。Hismemorywasstoredwithpoetry，thoughnobookevercameintohishands，exceptthoseshornandtatteredvolumeswhichlayuponhistable。Oldproblemsintrigonometrywerethepleasingrelaxationsofhismind，andcomplicationsoffigureswereadelighttohim。Therewasnotoneofthoseprosperousclergymenaroundhim，andwhoscornedhim，whomhecouldnothaveinstructedinHebrew。ItwasalwaysagratificationtohimtorememberthathisoldfriendthedeanwasweakinhisHebrew。He，withtheseacquirements，withthesefitnesses，hadbeenthrustdowntotheground——totheverygranite——andbecauseinthatharshheartlessthrustinghisintellecthadformomentswaveredastocommonthings，cleavingstilltoallitsgrander，noblerpossessions，hewasnowtoberentinpiecesandscatteredtothewinds，asbeingaltogethervile，worthless，andworsethanworthless。Itwasthusthathethoughtofhimself，pityinghimself，ashesatuponthegate，whiletherainfellruthlesslyonhisshoulders。
Hepitiedhimselfwithacommiserationthatwassicklyinspiteofitstruth。Itwasthefaultofthemanthathewasimbuedtoostronglywithself—consciousness。Hecoulddoagreatthingortwo。Hecouldkeepuphiscourageinpositionswhichwouldwashallthecourageoutofmostmen。Hecouldtellthetruththoughtruthshouldruinhim。Hecouldsacrificeallthathehadtoduty。Hecoulddojusticethoughtheheavenshouldfall。Buthecouldnotforgettopaytributetohimselfforthegreatnessofhisownactions；nor，whenacceptingwithaneffortofmeeknessthesmallpaymentmadebytheworldtohim，inreturnforhisgreatworks，couldheforgetthegreatpaymentsmadetoothersforsmallwork。ItwasnotsufficientforhimtorememberthatheknewHebrew，buthemustrememberalsothatthedeandidnot。
Nevertheless，ashesatthereundertherain，hemadeuphismindwithaclearnessthatcertainlyhadinitnothingofthatmuddinessofmindofwhichhehadoftenaccusedhimself。Indeed，theintellectofthismanwasessentiallyclear。Itwassimplythathismemorythatwouldplayhimtricks——hismemoryastothingswhichatthemomentwerenotimportanttohim。Thefactthatthedeanhadgivenhimmoneywasveryimportant，andheremembereditwell。Buttheamountofthemoney，anditsform，atamomentinwhichhehadflatteredhimselfthathemighthavestrengthtoleaveitunused，hadnotbeenimportanttohim。Now，heresolvedthathewouldgotoDrTempest，andthathewouldtellDrTempestthattherewasnotoccasionforanyfurtherinquiry。Hewouldsubmittothebishop，letthebishop’sdecisionbewhatitmight。ThingsweredifferentsincethedayonwhichhehadrefusedMrThumbleadmissiontohispulpit。Atthattimepeoplebelievedhimtobeinnocent，andhesobelievedofhimself。Now，peoplebelievedhimtobeguilty，anditcouldnotberightthatamanheldinsuchslightesteemcouldexercisethefunctionsofaparishpriest，lethisownopinionofhimselfbewhatitmight。Hewouldsubmithimself，andgoanywhere——tothegalleysortheworkhouse，iftheywishedit。Asforhiswifeandchildren，theywould，hesaidtohimself，bebetterwithouthimthanwithhim。Theworldwouldneverbesohardtoawomanortochildrenasithadbeentohim。
Hewassittingsaturatedwithrain——saturatedalsowiththinking——andquiteunobservantofanythingaroundhim，whenhewasaccostedbyanoldmanfromHoggleEnd，withwhomhewaswellacquainted。’Theebewat，MasterCrawley，’saidtheoldman。
’Wet！’saidCrawley，recalledsuddenlybacktotherealitiesoflife。
’Well——yes。Iamwet。That’sbecauseit’sraining。’
’Theebeteemingo’wat。Hadn’ttheebettergohome？’
’Andareyounotwetalso，’saidMrCrawley，lookingattheoldman，whohadbeenatworkinthebrickfield，andwhowassoakedwithmire，andfromwhomthereseemedtocomeasteamofmuddymist。
’Isitme，yerreverence？I’mwatofcourse。Theloikesofusisalwayswat——thatisbarringtheinsidesofus。Itcomestousnaturaltohavetherheumatics。Howisoneofustohelphisselfagainsthavingon’em？Butthereain’tnocallfortheloikesofyoutohavetherheumatics。’
’Myfriend，’saidCrawley，whowasnowstandingontheroad——andashespokeheputouthisarmandtookthebrickmakerbythehand，’thereisaworsecomplaintthanrheumatism——thereis，indeed。’
’There’swhattheycallsthecollerer，’saidGilesHoggett，lookingupintoCrawley’sface。’Thatain’ta—gotholdofyer？’
’Ay，andworsethanthecholera。Amaniskilledalloverwhenheisstruckwithpride——andyethelives。’
’Maybethat’sbadenoughtoo，’saidGiles，withhishandstillheldbytheother。
’Itisbadenough，’saidCrawley，strikinghisbreastwithhislefthand。’Itisbadenough。’
’Tell’eewhat，MasterCrawley；——andyerreverencemustn’tthinkasI
meanstobepreaching；thereain’tnowtamancan’tbearifhe’llonlybedogged。Youtowhome，MasterCrawley，andthinko’that，andmaybeit’lldoyeagoodyet。It’sdoggedasdoesit。Itain’tthinkingaboutit。’ThenGilesHoggettwithdrewhishandfromtheclergyman’s，andwalkedawaytowardshishomeatHoggleEnd。MrCrawleyalsoturnedawayhomewards，andashemadehiswaythroughthelanes，herepeatedtohimselfGilesHoggett’swords。’It’sdoggedasdoesit。It’snotthinkingaboutit。’
HedidnotsayawordtohiswifeonthatafternoonaboutDrTempest；
andshewassomuchtakenupwithhisoutwardconditionwhenhereturned，asalmosttohaveforgottentheletter。Heallowedhimself，butbarelyallowedhimself，tobemadedry，andthenfortheremainderofthedayappliedhimselftolearnthelessonwhichHoggetthadendeavouredtoteachhim。Butthelearningofitwasnoteasy，andhardlybecamemoreeasywhenhehadworkedtheproblemoutinhisownmind，anddiscoveredthatthebrickmaker’sdoggednesssimplymeantself—abnegation——thatamanshouldforcehimselftoendureanythingthatmightbesentuponhim，notonlywithoutoutwardgrumbling，butalsowithoutgrumblinginwardly。
Earlyonthenextmorning，hetoldhiswifethathewasgoingintoSilverbridge。’Itisthatletter——theletterwhichIgotyesterdaythatcallsme，’hesaid。Andthenhehandedhertheletterastowhichhehadrefusedtospeaktoherontheprecedingday。