’ismonstrous。But，somehow，thecircumstanceshavebeenmadetolookbadagainsthim，andtheysaythathemustcomeoverheretothemagistrates。Ioftenthinkthatofallmenintheworldpapaisthemostunfortunate。Everythingseemstogoagainsthim，andyetheissogood！Poormammahasbeenoverhere，andsheisdistracted。Ineversawhersowretchedbefore。ShehasbeentoyourfriendMrWalker，andcametomeafterwardsforaminute。MrWalkerhasgotsomethingtodowithit，thoughmammasaysshethinksheisquitefriendlytopapa。Iwonderwhetheryoucouldfindout，throughMrWalker，whathethinksaboutit。Ofcourse，mammaknowsthatpapahasdonenothingwrong；butshesaysthatthewholethingissomysterious，andthatshedoesnotknowhowtoaccountforthemoney。Papa，youknow，isnotlikeotherpeople。Heforgetsthings；andisalwaysthinking，thinking，thinkingofhisgreatmisfortunes。Poorpapa！MyheartbleedssowhenIrememberallhissorrows，thatIhatemyselfforthinkingaboutmyself。
’Whenmammaleftme——anditwasthenIfirstknewthatpapawouldreallyhavetobetried——I
wenttoMissAnnabella，andtoldherthatIwouldgohome。Sheaskedmewhy，andIsaidIwouldnotdisgraceherhousebystayinginit。Shegotupandtookmeinherarms，andtherecameatearoutofbothherdearoldeyes，andshesaidthatifanythingevilcametopapa——whichshewouldnotbelieve，assheknewhimtobeagoodman——thereshouldbeahomeinherhousenotonlyforme，butformammaandJane。
Isn’tsheawonderfulwoman？WhenIthinkofher，I
sometimesthinkthatshemustbeanangelalready。
Thenshebecameveryserious——forjustbefore，throughhertearsshehadtriedtosmile——andshetoldmetorememberthatallpeoplecouldnotbelikeher，whohadnobodytolooktobutherselfandhersister；andthatatpresentImusttaskmyselfnottothinkofthatwhichIhadbeenthinkingofbefore。
Shedidnotmentionanybody’sname，butofcourseI
understoodverywellwhatshemeant；andIsupposesheisright。Isaidnothinginanswertoher，forI
couldnotspeak。Shewasholdingmyhand，andItookhersupandkissedit，toshowher，ifIcould，thatI
knewthatshewasright；butIcouldnothavespokenaboutitforalltheworld。Itwasnottendayssincethatsheherself，withallherprudence，toldmethatshethoughtIoughttomakeupmymindwhatanswerI
wouldgivehim。AndthenIdidnotsayanything；butofcoursesheknew。AndafterthatMissAnnespokequitefreelyaboutit，sothatIhadtobeghertobesilentevenbeforethegirls。Youknowhowimprudentsheis。Butitisallovernow。OfcourseMissAnnabellaisright。Hehasgotagreatmanypeopletothinkof；hisfatherandmother，andhisdarlinglittleEdith，whomhebroughtheretwice，andleftherwithusoncefortwodays，sothatshegottoknowmequitewell；andItooksuchaloveforher，thatI
couldnotbeartopartwithher。ButIthinksometimesthatallourfamilyareborntobeunfortunate，andthenItellmyselfthatIwillneverhopeforanythingagain。
’Praywritetomesoon。Ifeelasthoughnothingonearthcouldcomfortme，andyetIshallliketohaveyourletter。Dear，dearLily，IamnotevenyetsowretchedbutwhatIshallrejoicetobetoldgoodnewsofyou。IfitonlycouldbeasJohnwishesit！Andwhyshoulditnot？Itseemstomethatnobodyhasarightorareasontobyunhappyexceptus。Good—bye，dearestLily。
’Youraffectionatefriend，’GRACECRAWLEY’
’P。S。——IthinkIhavemadeupmymindthatIwillgobacktoHogglestockatonceifthemagistratesdecideagainstpapa。IthinkIshouldbedoingtheschoolharmifIweretostayhere。’
TheanswertothisletterdidnotreachMissCrawleytillafterthemagistrate’shearingontheThursday，butitwillbebetterforourstorythatitshouldbegivenherthanpostponeduntiltheresultofthatmeetingshallhavebeentold。MissDale’sanswerwasasfollows：—
’ALLINGTON，——December，186—
’DEARGRACE，’Yourletterhasmademeveryunhappy。IfitcanatallcomfortyoutoknowthatmammaandI
sympathisewithyoualtogether，inthatyoumayatanyratebesure。Butinsuchtroublesnothingwillgivecomfort。Theymustbeborne，tillthefireofmisfortuneburnsitselfout。
’IhadheardabouttheaffairadayortwobeforeIgotyournote。Ourclergyman，MrBoyce，toldusofit。Ofcourseweallknowthatthechargemustbealtogetherunfounded，andmammasaysthatthetruthwillbesuretoshowitselfatlast。Butthatconvictiondoesnotcuretheevil，andIcanwellunderstandthatyourfathershouldsuffergrievously；
andIpityyourmotherquiteasmuchasIdohim。
’AsforMajorGrantly，ifhebesuchamanasI
tookhimtobefromthelittleIsawofhim，allthiswouldmakenodifferencetohim。Iamsurethatitoughttomakenone。Whetheritshouldnotmakeadifferenceinyouisanotherquestion。Ithinkitshould；andIthinkyouranswertohimshouldbethatyoucouldnotevenconsideranysuchpropositionwhileyourfatherwasinsogreattrouble。Iamsomucholderthanyou，andseemtohavesomuchexperience，thatIdonotscruple，asyouwillsee，tocomedownuponyouwithalltheweightofmywisdom。
’AboutthatothersubjectIhadrathersaynothing。Ihaveknownyourcousinallmylifealmost；
andIregardnoonemorekindlythanIdohim。WhenI
thinkofmyfriends，heisalwaystheoneofthedearest。Butwhenonethinksofgoingbeyondfriendship，evenifonetriestodoso，therearesomanybarriers！
’Youraffectionatefriend，’LILYDALE
’Mammabidsmesaythatshewouldbedelightedtohaveyouherewheneveritmightsuityoutocome；
andIaddtothismessagemyentreatythatyouwillcomeatonce。YousaythatyouthinkyououghttoleaveMissPrettyman’sforawhile。Icanwellunderstandyourfeeling；butasyoursisteriswithyourmother，surelyyouhadbettercometous——Imeanquiteatonce。Iwillnotscrupletotellyouwhatmammasays，becauseIknowyourgoodsense。Shesaysthatastheinterestoftheschoolmaypossiblybeconcerned，andasyouhavenoregularengagement，shethinksyououghttoleaveSilverbridge；butshesaysthatitwillbebetterthatyoucometousthanthatyoushouldgohome。Ifyouwenthome，peoplemightsaythathadleftinsomesortofdisgrace。Cometous，andwhenallthisisputright，thenyougobacktoSilverbridge；andthen，ifacertainpersonspeaksagain，youcanmakeadifferentanswer。Mammaquiteunderstandsthatyouaretocome；soyouhaveonlytoaskyourownmamma，andcomeatonce。’
Thisletter，thereaderwillunderstand，didnotreachGraceCrawleytillaftertheall—importantThursday；butbeforethatdayhadcomeround，GracehadtoldMissPrettyman——hadtoldboththeMissPrettymans——thatshewasresolvedtoleavethem。Shehaddonethiswithoutconsultinghermother，driventoitbyvariousmotives。Sheknewherfather’sconductwasbeingdiscussedbythegirlsatschool，andthatthingsweresaidofhimwhichitcouldnotbutbeforthedisadvantageofMissPrettymanthatanyoneshouldsayofateacherintheestablishment。Shefelt，too，thatshecouldnotholdupherheadinSilverbridgeinthesedays，asitwouldbecomehertodoifsheretainedherposition。Shedidstrugglegallantly，andsucceededmuchmorenearlythanshewasherselfaware。Shewasallbutabletocarryherselfasthoughnoterribleaccusationwasbeingmadeagainstherfather。Ofthestruggle，however，shewasnotherselfthelessconscious，andshetoldherselfthatonthataccountalsoshemustgo。AndthenshemustgobecauseofMajorGrantly。Whetherhewasmindedtocomeandspeaktoherthatoneotherneededword，orwhetherhewasnotsominded，itwouldbebetterthatsheshouldbeawayfromSilverbridge。Ifhespokeitshecouldonlyanswerhimbythenegative；sheshouldleaveherselfthepowerofthinkingthathissilencehadbeencausedbyherabsence，andnotbyhiscoldnessorindifference。
Sheasked，therefore，foraninterviewwithMissPrettyman，andwasshownintotheeldersister’sroom，ateleveno’clockontheTuesdaymorning。TheelderMissPrettymannevercameintotheschoolherselftilltwelve，butwasinthehabitofhavinginterviewswiththeyoungladies——whichweresometimesveryawfulintheirnature——forthetwoprevioushours。Duringtheseinterviewsanimmenseamountofbusinesswasdone，andthefortunesinlifeofsomegirlsweresaidtohavebeenmadeormarred；aswhen，forinstance，MissCrimptonhadbeenadvisedtostayathomewithheruncleinEngland，insteadofgoingoutwithhersisterstoIndia，bothofwhichsistersweremarriedwithinthreemonthsoftheirlandinginBombay。Thewayinwhichshegavehercounselonsuchoccasionswasveryefficacious。NooneknewbetterthanMissPrettymanthatacockcancrowmosteffectivelyinhisownfarmyard，andthereforeallcrowingintendedtobeeffectivewasdonebyherwithintheshrineofherownpeculiarroom。
’Well，mydear，whatisit？’shesaidtoGrace。’Sitinthearm—chair，mydear，andwecanthentalkcomfortably。’Theteachers，whentheywereclosetedwithMissPrettyman，werealwaysaskedtositinthearm—chair，whereasasmall，straight—backed，uneasychairwaskeptfortheuseoftheyoungladies。Andtherewas，too，astoolofrepentance，outagainstthewall，veryuncomfortableindeedforyoungladieswhohadnotbehavedthemselvessoprettilyasyoungladiesgenerallydo。
Graceseatedherself，andthenbeganherspeechveryquickly。’MissPrettyman，’shesaid，’IhavemadeupmymindthatIwillgohome，ifyouplease。’
’Andwhyshouldyougohome，Grace？DidInottellyouthatyoushouldhaveahomehere？’MissPrettymanhadweakeyes，andwasverysmall，andhadneverpossessedanyclaimtobecalledgood—looking。Andsheassumednothingofthemajesticalawefromanyadornmentorstudiedamplificationoftheoutwardwomanbymeansofimpressivetrappings。Thepossessorofanunobservanteyemighthavecalledheramean—looking，littleoldwoman。Andcertainlytherewouldhavebeennothingawfulinhertoanyonewhocameacrossherotherwisethanasaladyhavingauthorityinherownschool。Butwithinherownprecincts，shedidknowhowtosurroundherselfwithadignitywhichallfeltwhoapproachedherthere。GraceCrawley，assheheardthesimplequestionwhichMissPrettymanhadasked，unconsciouslyacknowledgedthestrengthofthewoman’smanner。Shealreadystoodrebukedforhavingproposedaplansoungracious，sounnecessary，andsounwise。
’IthinkIoughttobewithmammaatpresent，’saidGrace。
’Youmotherhashersisterwithher。’
’Yes，MissPrettyman，Janeisthere。’
’Ifthereisnootherreason，Icannotthinkthatthatcanbeheldtobeareasonnow。Ofcourseyourmotherwouldliketohaveyoualways；
unlessyoushouldbemarried——butthentherearereasonswhythisshouldnotbeso。’
’Ofcoursethereare。’
’Idonotthink——thatis，ifIknowallthatthereistobeknown——Idonotthink，Isay，thattherecanbeanygoodgroundforyourleavingusnow——justnow。’
ThenGracesatsilentforamoment，gatheringhercourage，andcollectingherwords；andafterthatshespoke。’Itisbecauseofpapa，andbecauseofthischarge——’
’But，Grace——’
’Iknowwhatyouaregoingtosay，MissPrettyman；——thatis，IthinkI
know。’
’Ifyouhearme，youmaybesurethatyouknow。’
’ButIwantyoutohearmeforonemomentfirst。Ibegyourpardon，MissPrettyman；Idoindeed，butIwanttosaythisbeforeyougoon。I
mustgohome，andIknowIought。Wearealldisgraced，andIwon’tstopheretodisgracetheschool。Iknowpapahasdonenothingwrong；butneverthelesswearedisgraced。ThepolicearetobringhiminhereonThursday，andeverybodyinSilverbridgewillknowit。ItcannotberightthatIshouldbehereteachingintheschool，whileitisallgoingon；——andIwon’t。And，MissPrettyman，Icouldn’tdoit，indeedI
couldn’t。Ican’tbringmyselftothinkofanythingIamdoing。IndeedI
can’t；andthen，MissPrettyman，thereareotherreasons。’Bythetimethatshehadproceededthusfar，GraceCrawley’swordswerenearlychokedbyhertears。
’Andwhataretheotherreasons，Grace？’
’Idon’tknow，’saidGrace，strugglingtospeakthroughhertears。
’ButIknow，’saidMissPrettyman。’Iknowthemall。Iknowallyourreasons，andItellyouthatinmyopinionyououghttoremainwhereyouare，andnotgoaway。Theveryreasonswhichtoyouarereasonsforyourgoing，tomearereasonsforyourremaininghere。’
’Ican’tremain。Iamdeterminedtogo。Idon’tmindyouandMissAnne，butIcan’tbeartohavethegirlslookingatme——andtheservants。’
ThenMissPrettymanpausedawhile，thinkingofwhatwordsofwisdomwouldbemostappropriateinthepresentconjuncture。Butwordsofwisdomdidnotseemtocomeeasilytoher，havingforthemomentbeenbanishedbyatendernessofheart。’Comehere，mylove，’shesaidatlast。’Comehere，Grace。’SlowlyGracegotupfromherseatandcameround，andstoodbyMissPrettyman’selbow。MissPrettymanpushedherchairalittleback，andpushedherselfalittleforward，andstretchingoutonehand，placedherarmroundGrace’swaist，andwiththeothertookholdofGrace’shand，andthusdrewherdownandkissedthegirl’sforeheadandlips。AndthenGracefoundherselfkneelingatherfriend’sfeet。’Grace，’shesaid，’doyounotknowthatIloveyou？DoyounotknowthatIloveyoudearly？’InanswertothisGracekissedthewitheredhandsheheldinhers，whilethewarmtearstrickleduponMissPrettyman’sknuckles。’Iloveyouasthoughyouweremyown，’exclaimedtheschoolmistress；’andwillyounottrustme，thatIknowwhatisbestforyou？’
’Imustgohome，’saidGrace。
’Ofcourseyoushall，ifyouthinkitrightatlast；butletustalkofit。Nooneinthehouse，youknow，hastheslightestsuspicionthatyourfatherhasdoneanythingthatisintheleastdishonourable。’
’Iknowthatyouhavenot。’
’No，norhasAnne。’MissPrettymansaidthisasthoughnooneinthathousebeyondherselfandhersisterhadarighttohaveanyopiniononanysubject。
’Iknowthat，’saidGrace。
’Well，mydear。Ifwethinkso——’
’Buttheservant，MissPrettyman？’
’Ifanyservantinthishousesaysawordtooffendyou，I’ll——I’ll——’
’Theydon’tsayanything，MissPrettyman，buttheylook。Indeed，I’dbettergohome。IndeedIhad！’
’Donotyouthinkyourmotherhascaresenoughuponher，andburdenenough，withoutanothermouthtofeed，andanotherheadtoshelter？Youhaven’tthoughtofthat，Grace。’
’Yes，Ihave。’
’Andforthework，whilstyouarenotquitewellyoushallnotbetroubledwithteaching。Ihavesomeoldpapersthatwantcopyingandsettlings，andyoushallsithereanddothatjustforanemployment。
AnneknowsthatI’velongwantedtohaveitdone，andI’lltellherthatyouhavekindlypromisedtodoitforme。’
’No；no；no，’saidGrace；’Imustgohome。’ShewasstillkneelingatMissPrettyman’sknee，andstillholdingMissPrettyman’shand。Andthen，atthatmoment，therecameataponthedoor，gentlebutyetnothumble，atapwhichacknowledged，onthepartofthetapper，thesupremacyinthatroomoftheladywhowassittingthere，butwhichstillclaimedadmittancealmostasaright。ThetapwaswellknownbybothofthemtobethetapofMissAnne。Graceimmediatelyjumpedup，andMissPrettymansettledherselfinherchairwithamotionwhichalmostseemedtoindicatesomefeelingofshameastoherlateposition。
’IsupposeImaycomein？’saidMissAnne，openingthedoorandinsertingherhead。
’Yes，youmaycomein——ifyouhaveanythingtosay，’saidMissPrettyman，withanairwhichseemedtobeintendedtoasserthersupremacy。But，intruth，shewassimplycollectingthewisdomanddignitywhichhadbeensomewhatdissipatedbyhertenderness。
’IdidnotknowthatGraceCrawleywashere，’saidMissAnne。
’GraceCrawleyishere，’saidMissPrettyman。
’Whatisthematter，Grace？’saidMissAnne，seeinghertears。
’Nevermindnow，’saidMissPrettyman。
’Poordear，I’msureI’msorryasthoughsheweremyownsister，’saidAnne。’But，Annabella，Iwanttospeaktoyouespecially。’
’Tome，inprivate？’
’Yes，toyou；inprivate，ifGracewon’tmind？’
ThenGracepreparedtogo。Butasshewasgoing，MissAnne，uponwhosebrowaheavyburdenofthoughtwaslying，stoppedhersuddenly。’Grace，mydear，’shesaid，’goupstairstoyourroom，willyou？——notacrossthehalltotheschool。’
’Andwhyshouldn’tshegototheschool？’saidMissPrettyman。
MissAnnepausedforamoment，andthenanswered——unwillingly，asthoughdriventomakeareplywhichsheknewtobeindiscreet。’Becausethereissomebodyinthehall。’
’Gotoyourroom，dear，’saidMissPrettyman。AndGracewenttoherroom，neverturninganeyedowntowardsthehall。’Whoisit？’saidMissPrettyman。
’MajorGrantlyishere，askingtoseeyou，’saidMissAnne。
CHAPTERVII
MISSPRETTYMAN’SPRIVATEROOM
MajorGrantly，whenthreatenedbyhisfatherwithpecuniarypunishment，shouldhedemeanhimselfbysuchamarriageasthathehadproposedtohimself，haddeclaredthathewouldofferhishandtoMissCrawleyonthenextmorning。This，however，hehadnotdone。Hehadnotdoneit，partlybecausehedidnotquitebelievehisfather’sthreat，andpartlybecausehefeltthatthatthreatwasalmostjustified——forthepresentmoment——bythecircumstancesinwhichGraceCrawley’sfatherhadplacedhimself。
HenryGrantlyacknowledged，ashedrovehimselfhomeonthemorningafterhisdinnerattherectory，thatinthismatterofhismarriagehedidowemuchtohisfamily。Shouldhemarryatall，heowedittothemtomarryalady。AndGraceCrawley——sohetoldhimself——wasalady。Andheowedittothemtobringamongthemashiswifeawomanwhoshouldnotdisgracehimorthembyhereducation，manners，orevenbyherpersonalappearance。InalltheserespectsGraceCrawleywas，inhisjudgment，quiteasgoodastheyhadarighttoexpecthertobe，andinsomerespectsagreatdealsuperiortothattypeofwomanhoodwithwhichtheyhadbeenmostgenerallyconversant。’Ifeverybodyhadherdue，mysisterisn’tfittoholdacandletoher，’hesaidtohimself。Itmustbeacknowledged，therefore，thathewasreallyinlovewithGraceCrawley；andhedeclaredtohimselfoverandoveragain，thathisfamilyhadnorighttodemandthatheshouldmarryawomanwithmoney。Thearchdeacon’ssonbynomeansdespisedmoney。Howcouldhe，havingcomeforthasabirdfledgedfromsuchanestastherectoryatPlumsteadEpiscopi？BeforehehadbeenbroughtbyhisbetternatureandtruejudgmenttoseethatGraceCrawleywasthegreaterwomanofthetwo，hehadnearlysubmittedhimselftothetwentythousandpoundsofMissEmilyDunstable——tothat，andhergood—humourandrosyfreshnesscombined。Butheregardedhimselfasthewell—to—dosonofaveryrichfather。Hisonlychildwasamplyprovidedfor；andhefeltthat，asregardedmoney，hehadarighttodoashepleased。Hefeltthiswithdoublestrengthafterhisfather’sthreat。
Buthehadnorighttomakeamarriagebywhichhisfamilywouldbedisgraced。Whetherhewasrightorwronginsupposingthathewoulddisgracehisfamilywerehetomarrythedaughterofaconvictedthief，itishardlynecessarytodiscusshere。Hetoldhimselfthatitwouldbeso——tellinghimselfalsothat，bythesternlawsoftheworld，thesonandthedaughtermustpayfortheoffenceofthefatherandmother。Evenamongthepoor，whowouldwillinglymarrythechildofamanwhohadbeenhanged？Buthecarriedtheargumentbeyondthis，thinkingmuchofthematter，andendeavouringtothinkofitnotonlyjustlybutgenerously。IftheaccusationagainstCrawleywerefalse——ifthemanwerebeinginjuredbyanunjustcharge——evenifhe，Grantly，couldmakehimselfthinkthatthegirl’sfatherhadnotstolenthemoney，thenhewoulddareeverythingandgoon。Idonotknowthathisargumentwasgood，orthathismindwaslogicalonthematter。Heoughttohavefeltthathisownjudgmentastotheman’sguiltwaslesslikelytobecorrectthanthatofthosewhosedutyitwasandwouldbetoformandtoexpressajudgmentonthematter；andastoGraceherself，shewasequallyinnocentwhetherherfatherwereguiltyornotguilty。Ifheweretobedebarredfromaskingforherhandbyhisfeelingsforherfatherandmother，heshouldhardlyhavetrustedtohisownskillinascertainingtherealtruthastotheallegedtheft。Buthewasnotlogical，andthus，meaningtobegenerous，hebecameunjust。
HefoundthatamongthoseinSilverbridgewhomhepresumedtobebestinformedonsuchmatters，therewasagrowingopinionthatMrCrawleyhadstolenthemoney。HewasintimatewithalltheWalkers，andwasabletofindoutthatMrsWalkerknewthatherhusbandbelievedintheclergyman’sguilt。HewasbynomeansaloneinhiswillingnesstoacceptMrWalker’sopinionasthetrueopinion。Silverbridge，generally，wasendeavouringtodressitselfinMrWalker’sglass，andtobelieveasMrWalkerbelieved。TheladiesofSilverbridge，includingtheMissPrettymans，wereawarethatMrWalkerhadbeenverykindbothtoMrandMrsCrawley，andarguedfromthisthatMrWalkermustthinkthemaninnocent。ButHenryGrantly，whodidnotdaretoaskadirectquestionofthesolicitor，wentcunninglytowork，andclosetedhimselfwithMrsWalker——withMrsWalker，whoknewwellofthegoodfortunethatwashoveringoverGrace’sheadandwassonearlysettlingitselfonhershoulders。ShewouldhavegivenafingertobeabletowhitewashMrCrawleyinthemajor’sestimation。Normustitbesupposedthatshetoldthemajorinplainwordsthatherhusbandhadconvincedhimselfoftheman’sguilt。Inplainwordsnoquestionwasaskedbetweenthem，andinplainwordsnoopinionwasexpressed。Buttherewasthelookofsorrowinthewoman’seye，therewastheabsenceofreferencetoherhusband’sassurancethatthemanwasinnocent，therewastheairofsettledgriefwhichtoldofherownconviction；andthemajorlefther，convincedthatMrsWalkerbelievedMrCrawleytobeguilty。
ThenhewenttoBarchester；notopen—mouthedwithinquiry，butratherwithopenears，anditseemedtohimthatallmeninBarchesterwereofonemind。Therewasacounty—clubinBarchester，andatthiscounty—clubninemenoutoftenweretalkingaboutMrCrawley。Itwasbynomeansnecessarythatamanshouldaskquestionsonthesubject。Opinionwasexpressedsofreelythatnosuchaskingwasrequired；andopinioninBarchester——atanyrateinthecounty—club——seemednowtobeallofonemind。TherehadbeeneverydispositionatfirsttobelieveMrCrawleytobeinnocent。HehadbeenbelievedtobeinnocentevenafterhehadsaidwronglythatthechequehadbeenpaidtohimbyMrSoames；buthehadsincestatedthathehadreceiveditfromDeanArabin，andthatstatementwasalsoshowntobefalse。Amanwhohasachequechangedonhisownbehalfisboundatleasttoshowwherehegotthecheque。MrCrawleyhadnotonlyfailedtodothis，buthadgiventwofalseexcuses。
HenryGrantly，ashedrovehometoSilverbridgeontheSundayafternoon，summedupalltheevidenceinhisownmind，andbroughtinaverdictofGuiltyagainstthefatherofthegirlwhomheloved。
OnthefollowingmorninghewalkedintoSilverbridgeandcalledatMissPrettyman’shouse。AshewentalonghisheartwaswarmertowardsGracethanithadeverbeenbefore。Hehadtoldhimselfthathewasnowboundtoabstain，forhisfather’ssake，fromdoingthatwhichhehadtoldhisfatherhecertainlywoulddo。Butheknewalso，thathehadsaidthatwhich，thoughitdidnotbindhimtoMissCrawley，gaveherarighttoexpectthathewouldsobindhimself。AndMissPrettymancouldnotbutbeawareofwhathisintentionhadbeen，andcouldnotbutexpectthatheshouldnotbeexplicit。Hadhebeenawisemanaltogether，hewouldprobablyhaveabstainedfromsayinganythingatthepresentmoment——awiseman，thatis，inthewaysandfeelingsoftheworldinsuchmatters。But，astherearemenwhowillallowthemselvesallimaginablelatitudeintheirtreatmentofwomen，believingthattheworldwillcondoneanyamountoffaultofthatnature，sothereareothermen，andaclassofmenwhichonthewholeisthemorenumerousofthetwo，whoaretremblinglyalivetothedangerofcensureonthishead——andtothedangerofcensurenotonlyfromothersbutfromthemselvesalso。MajorGrantlyhaddonethatwhichmadehimthinkitimperativeuponhimtodosomethingfurther，anddothatsomethingatonce。