’Itdoesnotsignify，’saidMrsGrantly。’Donotletussayanythingmoreaboutit。Ofcoursewecannothaveeverything。Iamtoldthechilddoesherdutyinhersphereoflife，andIsupposeweoughttobecontented。’ThenMrsGrantlywentuptoherownroom，andthereshecried。NothingwassaidtothemajorontheunpleasantsubjectoftheCrawleysbeforedinner。Hemethissisterinthedrawing—room，andwasallowedtokisshernoblecheek。’IhopeEdithiswell，Henry，’saidthesister。’Quitewell；andlittleDumbelloisthesame，Ihope？’’Thankyou，yes；quitewell。’Themajornevermadeinquiriesaftertheaugustfamily，orwouldallowittoappearthathewasconsciousofbeingshoneuponbythewifeofamarquis。AnyadulationwhichGriseldareceivedofthatkindcamefromherfather，andtherefore，unconsciouslyshehadlearnedtothinkthatherfatherwasmorebetterbredthantheothermembersofherfamily，andmorefittedbynaturetomoveinthatsacredcircletowhichsheherselfhadbeenexalted。Weneednotdwelluponthedinner，whichwasbutadullaffair。MrsGrantlystrovetocarryonthefamilypartyexactlyasitwouldhavebeencarriedonhadherdaughtermarriedthesonofsomeneighbouringsquire；butsheherselfwasconsciousofthestruggle，andthefactoftherebeingastruggleproducedfailure。Therector’sservantstreatedthedaughterofthehousewithspecialawe，andthemarchionessherselfmoved，andspoke，andate，anddrankwithacoldmagnificence，whichIthinkhadbecomeasecondnaturewithher，butwhichwasnotonthataccountthelessoppressive。Eventhearchdeacon，whoenjoyedsomethinginthatwhichwassodisagreeabletohiswife，feltareliefwhenhewasleftaloneafterdinnerwithhisson。Hefeltrelievedashissongotuptoopenthedoorforhismotherandsister，butwasawareatthesametimethathehadbeforehimamostdifficultandpossiblyamostdisastroustask。HisdearsonHenrywasnotamantobetalkedsmoothlyoutof，orinto，anypropriety。Hehadawillofhisown，andhavinghithertobeenasuccessfulman，whoinyouthhadfallenintofewyouthfultroubles——whohadneverjustifiedhisfatherinusingsternparentalauthority——wasnotnowinclinedtobendhisneck。’Henry，’saidthearchdeacon，’whatareyoudrinking？That’s’34port，butit’snotjustwhatitshouldbe。
ShallIsendforanotherbottle？’
’Itwilldoforme，sir。Ishallonlytakeaglass。’
’Ishalldrinktwoorthreeglassesofclaret。Butyouyoungfellowshavebecomesodesperatelytemperate。’
’Wetakeourwineatdinner，sir。’
’By—the—by，howwellGriseldaislooking。’
’Yes，sheis。It’salwayseasyforwomentolookwellwhenthey’rerich。’HowwouldGraceCrawleylook，then，whowaspooraspovertyitself，andwhowouldremainpoor，ifhissonwasfoolenoughtomarryher？Thatwasthetrainofthoughtwhichranthroughthearchdeacon’smind。’Idonotthinkmuchofriches，’saidhe，’butitisalwayswellthatagentleman’swifeoragentleman’sdaughtershouldhaveasufficiencytomaintainherpositioninlife。’
’Youmaysaythesame，sir，ofeverybody’swifeandeverybody’sdaughter。’
’YouknowwhatImean，Henry。’
’IamnotquitesurethatIdo，sir。’
’PerhapsIhadbetterspeakoutatonce。Arumourhasreachedyourmotherandme，whichwedon’tbelieveforamoment，butwhich，nevertheless，makesusunhappyevenasareport。TheysaythatthereisayoungwomanlivinginSilverbridgetowhomyouarebecomingattached。’
’IsthereanyreasonwhyIshouldnotbecomeattachedtoayoungwomaninSilverbridge？——thoughIhopeanyyoungwomantowhomImaybecomeattachedwillbeworthyatanyrateofbeingcalledayounglady。’
’Ihopeso，Henry；Ihopeso。Idohopeso。’
Thearchdeaconlookedacrossathisson’sface，andhisheartsankwithinhim。Hisson’svoiceandhisson’seyesseemedtotellhimtwothings。Theyseemedtotellhim，firstly，thattherumouraboutGraceCrawleywastrue；and，secondly，thatthemajorwasresolvednottobetalkedoutofhisfolly。’Butyouarenotengagedtoanyone，areyou？’
saidthearchdeacon。Thesondidnotatfirstmakeanyanswer，andthenthefatherrepeatedthequestion。’Consideringourmutualpositions，Henry，Ithinkyououghttotellmeifyouareengaged。’
’Iamnotengaged。HadIbecomeso，Ishouldhavetakenthefirstopportunityoftellingyouormymother。’
’ThankGod。Now，mydearboy，Icanspeakoutmoreplainly。TheyoungwomanwhosenameIhaveheardisdaughtertothatMrCrawleywhoisperpetualcurateatHogglestock。Iknewthattherecouldbenothinginit。’
’Butthereissomethinginit，sir。’
’Whatisthereinit？Donotkeepmeinsuspense，Henry。Whatisityoumean？’
’Itisratherhardtobecross—questionedinthiswayonsuchasubject。
Whenyouexpressyourselfasthankfulthatthereisnothingintherumour，Iamforcedtostopyou，asotherwiseitispossiblethathereafteryoumaysaythatIhavedeceivedyou。’
’Butyoudon’tmeantomarryher？’
’Icertainlydonotpledgemyselfnottodoso。’
’Doyoumeantotellme，Henry，thatyouareinlovewithMissCrawley？’
Thentherewasanotherpause，duringwhichthearchdeaconsatlookingforananswer；butthemajorneversaidaword。’AmItosupposethatyouintendtoloweryourselfbymarryingayoungwomanwhocannotpossiblyhaveenjoyedanyoftheadvantagesofalady’seducation？Isaynothingoftheimprudenceofthething；nothingofherownwantoffortune；nothingofyourhavingtomaintainawholefamilysteepedinpoverty；nothingofthedebtsandcharacterofthefather，uponwhom，asIunderstand，atthismomentthererestsagravesuspicionof——of——of——whatI’mafraidImustcalldownrighttheft。’
’Downrighttheft，certainly，ifhewereguilty。’
’Isaynothingofthat；butlookingattheyoungwomanherself——’
’Sheissimplythebesteducatedgirlwhomithaseverbeenmylottomeet。’
’Henry，Ihavearighttoexpectthatyouwillbehonestwithme。’
’Iamhonestwithyou。’
’Doyoumeantoaskthisgirltomarryyou？’
’Idonotthinkthatyouhaveanyrighttoaskmethatquestion，sir。’
’Ihavearightatanyratetotellyouthis，thatifyousofardisgraceyourselfandme，Ishallconsidermyselfboundtowithdrawfromyouallthesanctionwhichwouldbeconveyedbymy——my——continuedassistance。’
’Doyouintendmetounderstandthatyouwillstopmyincome？’
’CertainlyIshould。’
’Then，sir，Ithinkyouwouldbehavetomemostcruelly。Youadvisedmetogiveupmyprofession。’
’NotinorderthatyoumightmarryGraceCrawley。’
’IclaimtheprivilegeofamanofmyagetodoasIpleaseinsuchamatterasmarriage。MissCrawleyisalady。Herfatherisaclergyman，asismine。Herfather’soldestfriendismyuncle。Thereisnothingonearthagainstherexceptherpoverty。IdonotthinkIeverheardofsuchcrueltyonafather’spart。’
’Verywell，Henry。’
’Ihaveendeavouredtodomydutybyyou，sir，always；andbymymother。
Youcantreatmeinthisway，ifyouplease，butitwillnothaveanyeffectonmyconduct。Youcanstopmyallowancetomorrow，ifyoulikeit。IhadnotyetmadeupmymindtomakeanoffertoMissCrawley，butIshalldosotomorrowmorning。’
Thiswasverybadindeed，andthearchdeaconwasextremelyunhappy。Hewasbynomeansatheartacruelman。Helovedhischildrendearly。Ifthisdisagreeablemarriageweretotakeplace，hewoulddoubtlessdoexactlyashiswifehadpredicted。Hewouldnotstophisson’sincomeforasinglequarter；and，thoughhewentontellinghimselfthathewouldstopit，heknewinhisownheartthatanysuchseveritywasbeyondhispower。Hewasagenerousmaninmoneymatters——havingadislikeforpovertywhichwasnotgenerous——andforhisownsakecouldnothaveenduredtoseeasonofhisinwant。Buthewasterriblyanxioustoexercisethepowerwhichtheuseofthethreatmightgivehim。’Henry，’hesaid，’youaretreatingmebadly，verybadly。Myanxietyhasalwaysbeenforthewelfareofmychildren。DoyouthinkthatMissCrawleywouldbeafittingsister—in—lawforthatdeargirlupstairs？’
’CertainlyIdo，orforanyotherdeargirlintheworld；exceptingthatGriselda，whoisnotclever，wouldhardlybeabletoappreciateMissCrawley，whoisclever。’
’Griseldanotclever！Goodheavens！’Thentherewasanotherpause，andasthemajorsaidnothing，thefathercontinuedhisentreaties。’Pray，praythinkofwhatmywishesare，andyourmother’s。Youarenotcommittedasyet。Praythinkofuswhilethereistime。Iwouldratherdoubleyourincome，ifIsawyoumarryanyonethatwecouldnamehere。’
’Ihaveenoughasitis，ifImayonlybeallowedtoknowthatitwillnotbecapriciouslywithdrawn。’Thearchdeaconfilledhisglassunconsciously，andsippedhiswine，whilehethoughtwhatfurtherhemightsay。Perhapsitmightbebetterthatheshouldsaynothingfurtheratthemoment。Themajor，however，wasindiscreet，andpushedthequestion。’MayIunderstand，sir，thatyouthreatiswithdrawn，andthatmyincomeissecure？’
’What，ifyoumarrythisgirl？’
’Yessir；willmyincomebecontinuedtomeifImarryMissCrawley？’
’No，itwillnot。’Thenthefathergotuphastily，pushedthedecanterbackangrilyfromhishand，andwithoutsayinganotherwordwalkedawayintothedrawing—room。Thateveningattherectorywasgloomy。Thearchdeaconnowandagainsaidawordortwotohisdaughter，andhisdaughteransweredhiminmonosyllables。Themajorsatapartmoodily，andspoketonoone。MrsGrantly，understandingwellwhathadpassed，knewthatnothingcouldbedoneatthepresentmomenttorestorefamilycomfort；soshesatbythefireandknitted。Exactlyattentheyallwenttobed。
’DearHenry，’saidthemothertohersonthenextmorning；’thinkmuchofyourselfandofyourchild，andofus，beforeyoutakeanygreatstepinyourlife。’
’Iwill，mother，’saidhe。Thenhewentoutandputonhiswrapper，andgotintohisdog—cart，anddrovehimselftoSilverbridge。Hehadnotspokentohisfathersincetheywereinthedining—roomonthepreviousevening。Whenhestarted，themarchionesshadnotyetcomedownstairs；
butatelevenshebreakfasted，andattwelveshealsowastakenaway。
PoorMrsGrantlyhadnothadmuchcomfortfromherchildren’svisits。
CHAPTERIV
THECLERGYMAN’SHOUSEATHOGGLESTOCK
MrsCrawleyhadwalkedfromHogglestocktoSilverbridgeontheoccasionofhervisittoMrWalker，theattorney，andhadbeenkindlysentbackbythatgentlemaninhiswife’slittleopencarriage。Thetidingswhichshebroughthomewithhertoherhusbandwereverygrievous。ThemagistrateswouldsitonthenextThursday——itwasthenFriday——andMrCrawleyhadbetterappearbeforethemtoanswerthechargemadebyMrSoames。Hewouldbeservedwithasummons，whichhewouldobeyofhisownaccord。TherehadbeenmanypointsverycloselydiscussedbetweenWalkerandMrsCrawley，astowhichtherehadbeengreatdifficultyinthechoiceofwordswhichshouldbetenderenoughtoconveytohertheveryfactsastheystood。WouldMrCrawleycome，ormustapolicemanbesenttofetchhim？Themagistratehadalreadyissuedawarrantforhisapprehension。Suchintruthwasthefact，buttheyhadagreedwithMrWalker，thatastherewasnoreasonablegroundforanticipatinganyattemptatescapeonthepartofthereverendgentleman，thelawyermightusewhatgentlemeanshecouldforensuringtheclergyman’sattendance。CouldMrsCrawleyundertaketosaythathewouldappear？MrsCrawleydidundertakeeitherthatherhusbandshouldappearontheThursday，orelsethatshewouldsendoverintheearlypartoftheweekanddeclareherinabilitytoensurehisappearance。Inthatcaseitwasunderstoodthepolicemanmustcome。ThenMrWalkerhadsuggestedthatMrCrawleyhadbetteremployalawyer。UponthisMrsCrawleyhadlookedbeseechinglyupintoMrWalker’sface，andhadaskedhimtoundertaketheduty。Hewasofcourseobligedtoexplainthathewasalreadyemployedontheotherside。MrSoameshadsecuredhisservices，andthoughhewaswillingtodoallinhispowertomitigatethesufferingsofthefamily，hecouldnotabandonthedutyhehadundertaken。Henamedanotherattorney，however，andthensentthepoorwomanhomeinhiswife’scarriage。’Ifearthatunfortunatemanisguilty。Ifearheis，’
MrWalkerhadsaidtohiswifewithintenminutesofthedepartureofthevisitor。
MrsCrawleywouldnotallowherselftobedrivenuptothegardengatebeforeherownhouse，buthadleftthecarriagesomethreehundredyardsoffdowntheroadandfromthenceshewalkedhome。Itwasnowquitedark。ItwasnearlysixintheeveningonawetDecembernight，andalthoughcloaksandshawlshadbeensuppliedtoher，shewaswetandcoldwhenshereachedherhome。Butatsuchamoment，anxiousasshewastopreventtheadditionalevilwhichwouldcometothemfromillnesstoherselfshecouldnotpassthroughtoherroomtillshehadspokentoherhusband。Hewassittingintheonesitting—roomontheleftsideofthepassageasthehousewasentered，andwithhimwastheirdaughterJane，agirlnownearlysixteenyearsofage。Therewasnolightintheroom，andhardlymorethanasparkoffireshowedinthegrate。Thefatherwassittingononesideofthehearth，inanoldarm—chair，andtherehehadsatforthelasthourwithoutspeaking。Hisdaughterhadbeeninandoutoftheroom，andhadendeavouredtogainhisattentionnowandagainbyaword，buthehadneveransweredher，andhadnotevennoticedherpresence。AtthemomentwhenMrsCrawley’sstepwashearduponthegravelwhichledtothedoor，Janewaskneelingbeforethefirewithahanduponherfather’sarm。Shehadtriedtogetherhandintohis，buthehadeitherbeenawareoftheattempt，orrejectedit。
’Hereismamma，atlast，’saidJane，risingtoherfeetashermotherenteredthehouse。
’Areyouallinthedark，’saidMrsCrawley，strivingtospeakinavoicethatshouldnotsoundsorrowful。
’Yes，mamma；weareinthedark。Papaishere。Oh，mamma，howwetyouare！’
’Yes，dear。Itisraining。Getalightoutofthekitchen，Jane，andI
willgoupstairsintwominutes。’ThenwhenJanewasgone，thewifemadeherwayinthedarkovertoherhusband’sside，andspokeawordtohim。
’Josiah，’shesaid，’willyounotspeaktome？’
’WhatshouldIspeakabout？Wherehaveyoubeen？’
’IhavebeentoSilverbridge。IhavebeentoMrWalker。He，atanyrate，isverykind’
’Idon’twanthiskindness。Iwantnoman’skindness。MrWalkeristheattorney，Ibelieve。Kindindeed！’
’Imeanconsiderate。Josiah，letustothebestwecaninthistrouble。
Wehavehadothersasheavybefore。’
’Butnonetocrushmeasthiswillcrushme。Well；whatamItodo？AmItogotoprison——tonight？’Atthismomenthisdaughterreturnedwithacandle，andthemothercouldnotmakeheransweratonce。Itwasawretched，poverty—strickenroom。Bydegreesthecarpethaddisappeared，whichhadbeenlaiddownsomenineortenyearssince，whentheyhadfirstcometoHogglestock，andwhicheventhenhadnotbeennew。Nownothingbutapoorfragmentofitremainedinfrontofthefire—place。
Inthemiddleoftheroomtherewasatablewhichhadoncebeenlarge；
butoneflapofitwasgonealtogether，andtheotherflapslopedgrievouslytowardsthefloor，theweaknessofoldagehavingfallenintoitslegs。Thereweretwoorthreesmallertablesabout，buttheystoodproppedagainstwalls，thenceobtainingasecuritywhichtheirownstrengthwouldnotgivethem。Atthefurtherendoftheroomtherewasanancientpieceoffurniture，whichwasalwayscalled’papa’ssecretary’，atwhichMrCrawleycustomarilysatandwrotehissermons，anddidallworkthatwasdonebyhimwithinthehouse。Themanwhohadmadeit，sometimeinthelastcentury，hadintendedittobealockedguardianfordomesticdocuments，andthereceptacleforallthatwasmostprivateinthehouseofsomepaterfamilias。ButbeneaththehandsofMrCrawleyitalwaysstoodopen；andwiththeexceptionofthesmallspaceatwhichhewrote，wascoveredwithdog’s—earedbooks，fromnearlyallofwhichthecovershaddisappeared。
ThereweretheretwooddvolumesofEuripides，aGreekTestament，anOdyssey，aduodecimoPindar，andaminiatureAnacreon。TherewashalfaHorace——thetwofirstbooksoftheOdesatthebeginningandtheDeArtePoeticaattheendhavingdisappeared。TherewasalittlebitofavolumeofCicero，andtherewereCaesar’s’Commentaries’intwovolumes，sostoutlyboundthattheyhaddefiedthecombinedill—usageoftimeandtheCrawleyfamily。Allthesewerepileduponthesecretary，withmanyothers——oddvolumesofsermonsandthelike；buttheGreekandLatinlayatthetop，andshowedsignsoffrequentuse。Therewasonearm—chairintheroom——aWindsorchair，assuchusedtobecalled，madesoftbyanoldcushionintheback，inwhichMrCrawleysatwhenbothheandhiswifewereintheroom，andMrsCrawleywhenhewasabsent。Andtherewasanoldhorsehairsofa——nowalmostdenudedofitshorsehair——butthat，likethetablesrequiredtheassistanceofafriendlywall。Thentherewasahalfadozenofotherchairs——allofdifferentsorts——andtheycompletedthefurnitureoftheroom。ItwasnotsucharoomasonewouldwishtoseeinhabitedbyanbeneficedclergymanoftheChurchofEngland；buttheywhoknowwhatmoneywilldoandwhatitwillnot，willunderstandhoweasilyamanwithafamily，andwithahundredandthirtypoundsayear，maybebroughttotheneedofinhabitingsuchachamber。
Whenitisrememberedthatthreepoundsofmeataday，atninepenceapound，willcostoverfortypoundsayear，thereneedbenodifficultyinunderstandingthatitmaybeso。Breadforsuchafamilymustcostatleasttwenty—fivepounds。Clothesforfivepersonsofwhomonemustatanyrateweartheraimentofagentleman，canhardlybefoundforlessthantenpoundsayearahead。Thenthereremainsfifteenpoundsfortea，sugar，beer，wages，education，amusementsandthelike。Insuchcircumstancesagentlemancanhardlypaymuchfortherenewaloffurniture！
MrsCrawleycouldnotanswerherhusband’squestionbeforeherdaughter，andwasthereforeobligedtomakeanotherexcuseforagainsendingheroutoftheroom。’Jane，dear，’shesaid，’bringmythingsdowntothekitchenandIwillchangethembythefire。Iwillbethereintwominutes，whenIhavehadawordwithyourpapa。’ThegirlwentimmediatelyandthenMrsCrawleyansweredherhusband’squestion。’No，mydear；thereisnoquestionofyougoingtoprison。’
’Buttherewillbe。’
’IhaveundertakenthatyoushallattendbeforethemagistratesatSilverbridgeinThursdaynext，attwelveo’clock。Youwilldothat？’
’Doit！Youmean，Isuppose，tosaythatImustgothere。Isanybodytocomeandfetchme？’
’Nobodywillcome。Onlyyoumustpromisethatyouwillbethere。Ihavepromisedforyou。Youwillgo；willyounot？’Shestoodleaningoverhim，halfembracinghim，waitingforananswer；butforawhilehegavenone。’YouwilltellmethatyouwilldowhatIhaveundertakenforyou，Josiah？’
’IthinkIwouldratherthattheyfetchedme。IthinkthatIwillnotgomyself。’
’Andhavepolicemencomeforyouintheparish！MrWalkerhaspromisedthathewillsendoverhisphaeton。Hesentmehomeinittoday。’
’Iwantnobody’sphaeton。IfIgoIwillwalk。Ifitweretentimesthedistance，andthoughIhadnotashoelefttomyfeetIwouldwalk。
IfIgothereatall，ofmyownaccord，Iwillwalkthere。’
’Butyouwillgo？’
’WhatdoIcarefortheparish？Whatmatterswhoseesmenow？IcannotbedegradedasworsethanIam。Everybodyknowsit。’
’Thereisnodisgracewithoutguilt，’saidhiswife。
’Everybodythinksmeguilty。Iseeitintheireyes。Thechildrenknowofit，andIhearwhispersintheschool。\"MrCrawleyhastakensomemoney。\"Iheardthegirlsayitmyself。’
’Whatmatterswhatthegirlsays？’
’AndyetyouwouldhavemegoinafinecarriagetoSilverbridge，asthoughtoawedding。IfIamwantedletthemtakemeastheywouldanother。Ishallbehereforthem——unlessIamdead。’
AtthismomentJaneappeared，pressinghermothertotakeoffherwetclothes，andMrsCrawleywentwithherdaughtertothekitchen。Theonered—armedyounggirlwhowastheironlyservantwassentaway，andthenthemotherandthechilddiscussedhowbesttheymightprevailontheheadofthefamily。’But，mamma，itmustcomeright；mustitnot？’
’Itrustitwill；Ithinkitwill。ButIcannotseemywayasyet。’
’Papacannothavedoneanythingwrong。’
’No，mydear；hehasdonenothingwrong。Hehasmadegreatmistakes，itishardtomakepeopleunderstandthathehasnotintentionallyspokenuntruths。Heiseverthinkingofotherthings，abouttheschool，andhissermons，andhedoesnotremember。’
’Andabouthowpoorweare，mamma。’
’Hehasmuchtooccupyhismind，andheforgetsthingswhichdwellinthememoryofotherpeople。HesaidthathehadgotthismoneyfromMrSoames，andofcoursehethoughtitwasso。’
’Andwheredidhegetit，mamma？’
’Ah——IwishIknew。IshouldhavesaidthatIhadseeneveryshillingthatcameintothehouse；butIknownothingofthischeque——whenceitcame。’
’Butwillnotpapatellyou？’
’Hewouldtellmeifheknew。Hethinksitcamefromthedean。’
’Andareyousurethatitdidnot？’
’Yes；quitesure；assureasIcanbeofanything。Thedeantoldmehewouldgivehimfiftypounds，andthefiftypoundscame。Ihadtheminmyownhands。Andhewaswrittentosaythatitwasso。’
’Butcouldn’titbepartofthefiftypounds？’
’No，dear，no。’
’Thenwheredidpapagetit？Perhapshepickeditupandhasforgotten？’
TothisMrsCrawleymadenoreply。Theideathatthechequehadbeenfoundbyherhusband——hadbeenpickedupasJanehadsaid——hadoccurredalsotoJane’smother。MrSoameswasconfidentthathehaddroppedthepocket—bookattheparsonage。MrsCrawleyhadalwaysdislikedMrSoames，thinkinghimtobehard，cruelandvulgar。Shewouldnothavehesitatedtobelievehimguiltyofafalsehood，orevenofdirectdishonesty，ifbysobelievingshecouldinherownmindhavefoundthemeansofreconcilingherhusband’spossessionofthechequewithabsolutetruthonhispart。Butshecouldnotdoso。EventhoughSoameshad，withdevilishpremeditatedmalice，slippedthechequeintoherhusband’spocket，hishavingdonesowouldnotaccountforherhusband’shavingusedthechequewhenhefounditthere。Shewasdriventomakeexcusesforhimwhich，validastheymightbewithherself，couldnotbevalidwithothers。HehadsaidthatSoameshadpaidthechequetohim。Thatwasclearlyamistake。Hehadsaidthatthechequehadbeengiventohimbythedean。Thatwasclearlyanothermistake。Sheknew，orthoughtsheknew，thathe，beingsuchashewas，mightmakeblunderssuchasthese，andyetbetrue。Shebelievedthatsuchstatementsmightbeblundersandnotfalsehoods——soconvincedwasshethatherhusband’smindwouldnotactatalltimesasdothemindsofothermen。Buthavingsuchaconvictionshewasdriventobelievealsothatalmostanythingmightbepossible。Soamesmayhavebeenright，orhemighthavedropped，notthebook，butthecheque。ShehadnodifficultyinpresumingSoamestobewronginanydetail，ifbysosupposingshecouldmaketheexculpationofherhusbandeasiertoherself。IfvillainyonthepartofSoameswasneedfultohertheory，Soameswouldbecometoheravillainatonce——oftheblackestdie。Mightitnotbepossiblethatthechequehavingthusfallenintoherhusband’shands，hehadcome，afterawhile，tothinkthatithadbeensenttohimbyhisfriend，thedean？Andifitwereso，woulditbepossibletomakeotherssobelieve？Thattherewassomemistakewhichwouldbeeasilyexplainedwereherhusband’smindlucidatallpoints，butwhichshecouldnotexplainbecauseofthedarknessofhismind，shewasthoroughlyconvinced。Butweresheherselftoputforwardsuchadefenceonherhusband’spart，shewouldindoingsobedriventosaythathewasalunatic——thathewasincapableofmanagingtheaffairsofhimselforhisfamily。Itseemedtoherthatshewouldbecompelledtohavehimprovedtobeeitherathieforamadman。Andyetsheknewthathewasneither。Thathewasnotathiefwasascleartoherasthesunatnoonday。Couldshehavelainonthisman’sbosomfortwentyyears，andnotyethavelearnedthesecretsoftheheartbeneath？