’Andhislordship，shouldhesodecide，willarmmewithsuchpoweronmynextcomingaswillenablemetocarryouthislordship’swishes。’
’Hislordshipwillabidebythelaw，aswillyoualso。’Inspeakingtheselastwordshestoodwiththedoorinhishand，andMrThumble，notknowinghowtoincreaseorevenmaintainhisfirmness，thoughtitbesttopassout，andmounthisgreyponyandrideaway。
’Thepoormanthoughtthatyouwerelaughingathimwhenyoucalledhimanangelofthechurch，’saidMrsCrawley，cominguptohimandsmilingonhim。
’HadItoldhimhewassimplyamessenger，hewouldhavetakenitworse；——poorfool！Whentheyhaveridthemselvesofmetheymayputhimhere，inmychurch；butnotyet——notyet。WhereisJane？TellherthatI
amreadytocommencetheSevenagainstThebeswithher。’ThenJanewasimmediatelysentforoutoftheschool，andtheSevenagainstThebeswascommencedwithgreatenergy。OftenduringthenexthourandahalfMrsCrawleyfromthekitchenwouldhearhimreadingout，orrathersayingbyrote，withsonorousrollingvoice，greatpassagesfromsomechorus，andshewasverythankfultothebishop，whohadsentovertothemamessageandmessengerwhichhadbeensosalutaryintheireffectuponherhusband。’Intruthanangelofthechurch，’shesaidtoherselfasshechoppeduptheonionsforthemutton—broth；andeverafterwardssheregardedMrThumbleasan’angel’。
CHAPTERXIV
MAJORGRANTLYCONSULTSAFRIEND
GraceCrawleypassedthroughSilverbridgeonherwaytoAllingtonontheMonday，andontheTuesdaymorningMajorGrantlyreceivedaveryshortnotefromMissPrettyman，tellinghimthatshehaddoneso。’DearSir，——IthinkyouwillbeverygladtolearnthatourfriendMissCrawleywentfromusyesterdayonavisittoherfriend，MissDale，atAllington。——Yourstruly，AnnabellaPrettyman。’Thenotesaidnomorethanthat。MajorGrantlywasgladtogetit，obtainingfromitthesatisfactionwhichamanalwaysfeelswhenheispresumedtobeconcernedintheaffairsoftheladywithwhomheisinlove。AndheregardedMissPrettymanwithfavourableeyesasadiscreetandfriendlywoman。Nevertheless，hewasnotaltogetherhappy。TheveryfactthatMissPrettymanshouldwritetohimonsuchasubjectmadehimfeelthathewasboundtoGraceCrawley。Heknewenoughofhimselftobesurethathecouldnotgiveherupwithoutmakinghimselfmiserable。Andyet，asregardedherfather，thingsweregoingfrombadtoworse。EverybodynowsaidthattheevidencewassostrongagainstMrCrawleyastoleavehardlyanydoubtofhisguilt。EventheladiesinSilverbridgewerebeginningtogiveuphiscause，acknowledgingthatthemoneycouldnothavecomerightfullyintohishands，andexcusinghimonthepleaofpartialinsanity。’Hehaspickeditupandputitbyformonths，andthenthoughtthatitwashisown……’TheladiesatSilverbridgecouldfindnothingbettertosayforhimthanthat；andwhenyoungMrWalkerremarkedthatsuchlittlemistakeswerethecustomarycausesofmenbeingtakentoprison，theladiesofSilverbridgedidnotknowhowtoanswerhim。IthadcometobetheiropinionthatMrCrawleywasaffectedwithapartiallunacy，whichoughttobeforgiveninonetowhomtheworldhadbeensocruel；andwhenyoungMrWalkerendeavouredtoexplaintothemthatamanmustbesanealtogetherormadaltogether，andthatMrCrawleymust，ifsane，belockedupasathief，andifmad，lockedupasamadman，theysighed，andwereconvincedthatuntiltheworldshouldhavebeenimprovedbyanewinfusionofromance，andastrongerfeelingofjustice，MrJohnWalkerwasright。
AndtheresultofthisgeneralopinionmadeitswaytoMajorGrantly，andmadeitsway，also，tothearchdeaconatPlumstead。Astothemajor，ingivinghimhisdue，itmustbeexplainedthatthemorecertainhebecameofthefather’sguilt，themorecertainalsohebecameofthedaughter’smerits。Itwasveryhard。Thewholethingwascruellyhard。
Itwascruellyharduponhimthatheshouldbebroughtintothistrouble，andbeforcedtotakeuponhimselfthearmourofaknight—errantfortheredressofthewrongonthepartoftheyounglady。Butwhenaloneinhishouse，orwithhischild，hedeclaredtohimselfthathewoulddoso。ItmightwellbethathecouldnotliveinBarsetshireafterhehadmarriedMrCrawley’sdaughter。Hehadinheritedfromhisfatherenoughofthatlongingforascendancyamongthosearoundhimtomakehimfeelthatinsuchcircumstanceshewouldbewretched。
Buthewouldbemademorewretchedbytheself—knowledgethathehadbehavedbadlytothegirlheloved；andtheworldbeyondBarsetshirewasopentohim。HewouldtakeherwithhimtoCanada，toNewZealand，ortosomeotherfar—awaycountry，andtherebeginhislifeagain。Shouldhisfatherchoosetopunishhimforsodoingbydisinheritinghim，theywouldbepoorenough；but，inhispresentframeofmind，themajorwasabletoregardsuchpovertyashonourableandnotaltogetherdisagreeable。
HehadbeenoutshootingalldayatChaldicotes，withDrThorneandapartywhowerestayinginthehousethere，andhadbeentalkingaboutMrCrawley，firstwithonemanandthenwithanother。LordLuftonhadbeenthere，andyoungGreshamfromGreshambury，andMrRobarts，theclergyman，andnewshadcomeamongthemoftheattemptmadebythebishoptostopMrCrawleyfrompreaching。MrRobartshadbeenoftheopinionthatMrCrawleyshouldhavegivenway；andLordLufton，whosharedhismother’sintensedislikeofeverythingthatcamefromthepalace，hadswornthathewasrighttoresist。ThesympathyofthewholepartyhadbeenwithMrCrawley；buttheyhadallagreedthathehadstolenthemoney。
’Ifearhe’llhavetogivewaytothebishopatlast，’LordLuftonhadsaid。
’Andwhatonearthwillbecomeofhischildren，’saidthedoctor。’Thinkofthefateofthatprettygirl；forsheisaveryprettygirl。Itwillbetheruinofher。Nomanwillallowhimselftofallinlovewithherwhenherfathershallhavebeenfoundguiltyofstealingachequefortwentypounds。’
’Wemustdosomethingforthewholefamily，’saidthelord。’Isay，Thorne，youhaven’thalfthegameherthatthereusedtobeinpooroldSowerby’stime。’
’Haven’tI？’saidthedoctor。’Yousee，Sowerbyhadbeenatitallhisdays，andneverdidanythingelse。Ionlybeganlateinlife。’
ThemajorhadintendedtostayanddineatChaldicotes，butwhenheheardwhatwassaidaboutGrace，hisheartbecamesad，andhemadesomeexcuseastothechild，andreturnedhome。DrThornehaddeclaredthatnomancouldallowhimselftofallinlovewithher。Butwhatifamanhadfalleninlovewithherbeforehand？Whatifamanhadnotonlyfalleninlove，butspokenofhislove？Hadhebeenalonewiththedoctor，hewould，Ithink，havetoldhimthewholeofhistrouble；forinallthecountytherewasnomanwhomhewouldsoonerhavetrustedwithhissecret。ThisDrThornewasknownfarandwideforhissoftheart，hisopenhand，andhiswell—sustainedindifferencetotheworld’sopinionsonmostofthosesocialmatterswithwhichtheworldmeddles；
andthereforethewordswhichhehadspokenhadmoreweightwithMajorGrantlythantheywouldhavehadfromotherlips。AshedrovehomehealmostmadeuphismindthathewouldconsultDrThorneuponthematter。
Thereweremanyyoungermenwithwhomhewasveryintimate——FrankGresham，forinstance，andLordLuftonhimself；butthiswasanaffairwhichhehardlyknewwhotodiscusswithayoungman。ToDrThornehethoughtthathecouldbringhimselftotellthewholestory。
IntheeveningtherecametohimamessagefromPlumstead，withaletterfromhisfatherandsomepresentforthechild。Heknewatoncethatthepresenthadbeenthussentasanexcusefortheletter。Hisfathermighthavewrittenbythepost，orcourse；butthatwouldhavegiventohisletteracertainairandtonewhichhehadnotwishedittobear。Aftersomemessagefromthemajor’smother，andsomeallusiontoEdith，thearchdeaconstruckoffuponthematterthatwasnearhisheart。
’IfearitisallupwiththatunfortunatemanatHogglestock，’hesaid。
’FromwhatIhearoftheevidencewhichcameoutbeforethemagistrates，therecan，Ithink，benodoubtastohisguilt。Haveyouheardthatthebishopsentoveronthefollowingdaytostophimfrompreaching？Hedidso，andsentagainontheSunday。ButCrawleywouldnotgiveway，andsofarIrespecttheman；for，asamatterofcourse，whateverthebishopdid，orattemptedtodo，hewoulddowithanextremebadtaste，probablywithgrossignoranceastohisowndutyandastothedutyofthemanunderhim。IamtoldthatonthefirstdayCrawleyturnedoutofhishousethemessengersenttohim——somestrayclergymanwhomMrsProudiekeepsinthehouse；andthatonSundaythestairstothereading—deskandpulpitwereoccupiedbyalotofbrickmakers，amongwhomtheparsonfromBarchesterdidnotventuretoattempttomakehisway，althoughhewasfortifiedbythepresenceofoneofthecathedralvergersandbyoneofthepalacefootmen。Asfortherest，Ihavenodoubtitisalltrue。
IpityCrawleyfrommyheart。Poor，unfortunateman！Thegeneralopinionseemstobethatheisnotintruthresponsibleforwhathedoes。Asforhisvictoryoverthebishop，nothingonearthcouldbebetter。
’Yourmotherparticularlywishesyoutocomeovertousbeforetheendoftheweek，andtobringEdith。Yourgrandfatherwillbehere，andheisbecomingsoinfirmthathewillnevercometousforanotherChristmas。Ofcourseyouwillstayforthenewyear。’
ThoughtheletterwasfullofMrCrawleyandhisaffairstherewasnotawordaboutGrace。This，however，wasquitenatural。MajorGrantlyperfectlywellunderstoodhisfather’sanxietytocarryhispointwithoutseemingtoalludetothedisagreeablesubject。’Myfatherisveryclever，’hesaidtohimself，’veryclever。Butheisn’tsocleverbutonecanseehowcleverheis。’
OnthenextdayhewentintoSilverbridge，intendingtocallonMissPrettyman；norwashecalledupontodoso，ashenevergotasfarasthatlady’shouse。WhilewalkinguptheHighStreethesawMrsThorneinhercarriage，and，asamatterofcourse，hestoppedtospeaktoher。HeknewMrsThornequiteasintimatelyashedidherhusband，andlikedherquiteaswell。’MajorGrantly，’shesaid，speakingoutloudtohim，halfacrossthestreet；’Iwasveryangrywithyouyesterday。Whydidyounotcomeuptodinner？Wehadaroomreadyforyouandeverything。’
’Iwasnotquitewell，MrsThorne。’
’Fiddlestick。Don’ttellmeofnotbeingwell。TherewasEmilybreakingherheartaboutyou。’
’I’msure，MissDunstable——’
’Totellyouthetruth，Ithinkshe’llgetoverit。Itwon’tbemortalwithher。Butdotellme，MajorGrantly，whatarewetothinkaboutthispoorMrCrawley？Itwassogoodofyoutobeoneofhisbailsmen。’
’HewouldhavefoundtwentyinSilverbridge，ifhehadwantedthem。’
’Anddoyouhearthathehasdefiedthebishop？Idosolikehimforthat。NotbutwhatpoorMrsProudieisthedearestfriendIhaveintheworld，andI’malwaysfightingabattlewitholdLadyLuftononherbehalf。Butonelikestoseeone’sfriendsworstedsometimes。’
’Idon’tquiteunderstandwhatdidhappenatHogglestockontheSunday，’
saidthemajor。
’Somesayhehadthebishop’schaplainputunderthepump。Idon’tbelievethat；butthereisnodoubtthatwhenthepoorfellowtriedtogetintothepulpit，theytookhimandcarriedhimneckandheelsoutofthechurch。But，tellme，MajorGrantly，whatistobecomeofthefamily？’
’Heavenknows！’
’Isitnotsad？Andthateldestgirlissonice！Theytellmethatsheisperfect——notonlyinbeauty，butinmannersandaccomplishments。
EverybodysaysthatshetalksGreekjustaswellasshedoesEnglish，andthatsheunderstandsphilosophyfromthetoptothebottom。’
’Atanyrate，sheissogoodandsolovelythatonecannotbutpityher。’
’Youknowher，MajorGrantly？By—the—by，ofcourseyoudo，asyouwerestayingwithheratFramley。’
’Yes，Iknowher。’
’Whatistobecomeofher？I’mgoingyourway。Youmightaswellgetintothecarriage，andI’lldriveyouhome。Ifheissenttoprison——andtheysayhemustbesenttoprison——whatistobecomeofthem？’ThenMajorGrantlydidgetintothecarriage，and，beforehegotoutagain，hehadtoldMrsThornethewholestoryofhislove。
Shelistenedtohimwiththeclosestattention；onlyinterruptinghimnowandthenwithlittlewords，intendedtosignifyherapproval。He，ashetoldhistale，didnotlookherintheface，butsatwithhiseyesfixeduponhermuff。’Andnow，’hesaid，glancingupatheralmostforthefirsttimeashefinishedhisspeech，’andnow，MrsThorne，whatamItodo？’
’Marryher，ofcourse，’saidshe，raisingherhandaloftandbringingitdownheavilyuponiskneeasshegaveherdecisivereply。
’H——sh——h，’heexclaimed，lookingbackindismaytowardstheservants。
’Oh，theyneverhearanythingupthere。They’rethinkingaboutthelastpotofportertheyhad，orthenextthey’retoget。Dearyme，Iamsoglad！Ofcourseyou’llmarryher。’
’Youforgetmyfather。’
’No，Idon’t。Whathasafathertodowithit？You’reoldenoughtopleaseyourselfwithoutaskingyourfather。Besides，Lordblessme，thearchdeaconisn’tthemantobearmalice。He’llstormandthreatenandstopthesuppliesforamonthorso。Thenhe’lldoublethem，andtakeyourwifetohisbosom，andkissher，andblessher，andallthatkindofthing。Weallknowwhatparentalwrathmeansinsuchcasesasthis。’
’Butmysister——’
’Asforyoursister，don’ttalktomeabouther。Idon’tcaretwostrawsaboutyoursister。Youmustexcuseme，MajorGrantly，butLadyHartletopisreallytoobigformypowersofvision。’
’AndEdith——ofcourse，MrsThorne，Ican’tbeblindtothefactthatinmanywayssuchamarriagewouldbeinjurioustoher。Nomanwishestobeconnectedwithaconvictedthief。’
’No，MajorGrantly；butamandoeswishtomarrythegirlthatheloves。
Atleast，Isupposeso。Andwhatmanwaseverabletogiveamoretouchingproofofhisaffectionthanyoucantonow？IfIwereyou，I’dbeatAllingtonbeforetwelveo’clocktomorrow——Iwouldindeed。Whatdoesitmatteraboutthetrumperycheque？Everybodyknowsitwasamistakeifhedidtakeit。Andsurelyyouwouldnotpunishherforthat？’
’No——no；butIdon’tsupposeshe’dthinkitapunishment。’
’Yougoandaskherthen。AndI’lltellyouwhat。Ifshehasn’tahouseofherowntobemarriedfrom，sheshallbemarriedfromChaldicotes。We’llhavesuchabreakfast！AndI’llmakeasmuchofherasifshewerethedaughterofmyoldfriend，thebishophimself——Iwillindeed。’
ThiswasMrsThorne’sadvice。Beforeitwascompleted，MajorGrantlyhadbeencarriedhalfwaytoChaldicotes。Whenhelefthisimpetuousfriendhewastooprudenttomakeanypromise，buthedeclaredthatwhatshehadsaidshouldhavemuchweightwithhim。
’Youwon’tmentionittoanybody，’saidtheMajor。
’Certainlynot，withoutyourleave，’saidMrsThorne。’Don’tyouknowI’mthesoulofhonour？’
CHAPTERXV
UPINLONDON
SomekindandattentivereadermayperhapsrememberthatMissGraceCrawley，inaletterwrittenbyhertoherfriendMissLilyDale，saidawordortwoofacertainJohn。’IfitcanonlybeasJohnwishesit！’
Andthesamereader，iftherebeonesokindandattentive，mayalsorememberthatMissLilyDalehaddeclared，inreply，that’aboutthatothersubjectshewouldrathersaynothing，’——andthensheadded，’Whenonethinksofgoingbeyondfriendship——evenifonetriestodoso——therearesomanybarriers！’Fromwhichwordsthekindandattentivereader，ifsuchareaderbeinsuchmattersintelligentaswellaskindandattentive，mayhavelearnedagreatdealinreferencetoMissLilyDale。
WewillnowpayavisittotheJohninquestion——acertainMrJohnEames，livinginLondon，abachelor，astheintelligentreaderwillcertainlyhavediscovered，andcousintoMissGraceCrawley。MrJohnEamesatthetimeofourstorywasayoungman，somesevenoreightandtwentyyearsofage，livinginLondon，wherehewassupposedbyhisfriendsinthecountrytohavemadehismark，andtobesomethingalittleoutofthecommonway。ButIdonotknowthathewasverymuchoutofthecommonway，exceptinthefactthathehadsomefewthousandpoundslefthimbyanoldnoblemanwithgreataffection，andwhohaddiedsometwoyearssince。Beforethis，JohnEameshadnotbeenaverypoorman，ashefilledthecomfortableofficialpositionoftheprivatesecretarytotheChiefCommissioneroftheIncome—TaxBoard，anddrewasalaryofthreehundredandfiftypoundsayearfromtheresourcesofthecountry；butwhen，inadditiontothissourceofofficialwealth，hebecameknownastheundoubtedpossessorofahundredandtwenty—eightsharesinoneofthemostprosperousjoint—stockbanksinthemetropolis，whichpropertyhadbeenlefttohimfreeoflegacydutybythelamentednoblemanabovenamed，thenMrJohnEamesroseveryhighindeedasayoungmanintheestimationofthosewhoknewhim，andwassupposedtobesomethingagooddealoutofthecommonway。Hismother，wholivedinthecountry，wasobedienttohisslightestword，neverventuringtoimposeuponhimanysignofparentalauthority；andtohissister，MaryEames，wholivedwithhermother，hewasalmostagodonearth。Tosisterswhohavenothingoftheirown——notevensomespecialgodfortheirownindividualworship——generous，affectionate，unmarriedbrothers，withsufficientincomes，aregodsuponearth。
AndevenupinLondonMrJohnEameswassomebody。Hewassoespeciallyathisoffice；although，indeed，itwasrememberedbymanyamanhowrawaladhehadbeenwhenhefirstcamethere，notsoverymanyyearsago；
andhowtheyhadlaughedathimandplayedhimtricks；andhowhehadcustomarilybeenknowntobewithoutashillingforthelastweekbeforepay—day，duringwhichperiodhewouldborrowsixpencehereandashillingtherewithenergy，frommenwhonowfeltthemselvestobehonouredwhenhesmileduponthem。Littlestoriesofhisformerdayswouldoftenbetoldofhimbehindhisback；buttheywerenottoldwithill—nature，becausehewasveryconstantinreferringtothesamemattershimself。Anditwasacknowledgedbyeveryoneattheoffice，thatneitherthefriendshipofthenobleman，northatfactoftheprivatesecretaryship，northeacquisitionofhiswealth，hadmadehimproudtohisoldcompanionsorforgetfulofoldfriendships。Totheyoungmen，ladswhohadlatelybeenappointed，hewasperhapsalittlecold；butthenitwasonlyreasonabletoconceivethatsuchaoneasMrJohnEameswasnowcouldnotbeexpectedtomakeanintimateacquaintancewitheverynewclerkthatmightbebroughtintotheoffice。Sincecompetitiveexaminationshadcomeintovogue，therewasnoknowingwhomightbeintroduced；anditwasunderstoodgenerallythroughtheestablishment——andImayalmostsaybythecivilserviceatlarge，sowidewashisfame——thatMrEameswasveryaversetothewholetheoryofcompetition。The’Deviltakethehindmost’schemehecalledit；andwouldthengoontoexplainthathindmostcandidateswereoftenthebestgentlemen，andthat，inthisway，theDevilgotthepickoftheflock。
Andhewasrespectedthemoreforthisbecauseitwasknownthatonthissubjecthehadfoughtsomehardbattleswiththecommissioner。Thechiefcommissionerwasagreatbelieverincompetition，wrotepapersaboutit，whichhereadaloudtovariousbodiesofthecivilservice——notatalltotheirdelight——whichhegottobeprintedhereandthere，andwhichhesentbypostalloverthekingdom。Morethatoncethischiefcommissionerhadtoldhisprivatesecretarythattheymustpartcompany，unlesstheprivatesecretarycouldseefittoalterhisview，orcould，atleast，keephisviewstohimself。Buttheprivatesecretarywoulddoneither；and，nevertheless，therehewas，stillprivatesecretary。’It’sbecauseJohnnyhasgotmoney，’saidoneoftheyoungclerks，whowasdiscussingthissingularstateofthingswithhisbrethrenattheoffice。’Whenachaphasgotmoney，hemaydowhathelikes。Johnnyhasgotlotsofmoney，youknow。’TheyoungclerkinquestionwasbynomeansonintimatetermswithMrEames，buttherehadgrownupintheofficeawayofcallinghimJohnnybehindhisback，whichhadprobablycomedownfromtheearlydaysofhisscrapesandpoverty。
NowtheentirelifeofMrJohnEameswaspervadedbyagreatsecret；andalthoughhenever，inthosedays，alludedtothesubjectinconversationwithanymanbelongingtotheoffice，yetthesecretwasknownbythemall。Ithadbeenhistoricalforthelastfourorfiveyears，andwasnowregardedasathingofcourse。MrJohnEameswasinlove，andhislovewasnothappy。Hewasinlove，andhadlongbeeninlove，andtheladyofhislovewasnotkindtohim。Thelittlehistoryhadgrowntobeverytouchingandpathetic，havingreceived，nodoubtsomeembellishmentsfromtheimaginationsofthegentlemenoftheIncome—TaxOffice。Itwassaidofhimthathehadbeeninlovefromhisearlyboyhood，thatatsixteenhehadbeenengaged，underthesanctionofthenoblemannowdeceasedandoftheyounglady’sparents，thatcontractsofbetrothalhadbeendrawnup，andthingsdoneveryunusualinprivatefamiliesinthesedays，andthatthentherehadcomeastrangerintotheneighbourhoodjustastheyoungladywasbeginningtoreflectwhethershehadaheartofherownornot，andthatshehadthrownherparents，andthenoblelord，andthecontract，andpoorJohnnyEamestothewinds，andhad——Herethestorytookdifferentdirections，astoldbydifferentmen。Somesaidtheladyhadgoneoffwiththestrangerandthattherehadbeenaclandestinemarriage，whichafterwardsturnedouttobenomarriageatall；others，thatthestrangersuddenlytookhimselfoff，andwasnomoreseenbytheyounglady；othersthatheownedatlasttohavinganotherwife——andsoon。ThestrangerwasverywellknowntobeoneMrCrosbie，belongingtoanotherpublicoffice；andtherewerecircumstancesinhislife，onlyhalfknown，whichgaverisetothesevariousrumours。Buttherewasonethingcertain，onepointastowhichnoclerkintheIncome—TaxOfficehadadoubt，onefactwhichhadconducedmuchtothehighpositionwhichMrJohnEamesnowheldintheestimationofhisbrotherclerks——hehadgiventhisMrCrosbiesuchathrashingthatnomanhadeverreceivedsuchtreatmentbeforeandlivedthroughit。Wonderfulstoriesweretoldaboutthatthrashing，sothatitwasbelieved，evenbytheleastenthusiasticinsuchmatters，thatthepoorvictimhadonlydraggedonacrippledexistencesincetheencounter。’Fornineweeksheneversaidawordorateamouthful，’saidoneyoungclerktoayoungerclerkwhowasjustenteringtheoffice；
’andevennowhecan’tspeakaboveawhisper，andhastotakeallhisfoodinpap。’Itwillbeseen，therefore，thatMrJohnEameshadabouthimmuchoftheheroic。
Thathewasstillinlove，andinlovewiththesamelady，wasknowntoeveryoneintheoffice。Whenitwasdeclaredofhimthatinthewayofamatoryexpressionshehadneverinhislifeopenedhismouthtoanotherwoman，therewerethoseintheofficewhoknewthattobeanexaggeration。MrCradell，forinstance，whoinhisearlyyearshadbeenveryintimatewithJohnEames，andwhostillkeptuptheoldfriendship——although，beingadomesticman，withwifeandsixyoungchildren，andlivingonasmallincome，hedidnotgooutmuchamonghisfriends——couldhavetoldaverydifferentstory；forMrsCradellherselfhad，inthedaysbeforeCradellhadmadegoodhisclaimuponher，beennotunadmiredbyCradell’sfellow—clerk。ButtheconstancyofMrEames’spresentlovewasdoubtedbynonewhoknewhim。Itwasnotthathewentaboutwithhisstockingsungartered，oranyoftheoldacknowledgedsignsofunrequitedaffection。Inhismannerhewasratherjovialthanotherwise，andseemedtoliveahappy，somewhatluxuriouslife，wellcontentedwithhimselfandtheworldaroundhim。Butstillhehadthispassionwithinhisbosom，andIaminclinedtothinkthathewasalittleproudofhisownconstancy。
ItmightbepresumedthatwhenMissDalewrotetoherfriendGraceCrawleyaboutgoingbeyondfriendship，pleadingthatthereweresomany’barriers’，shehadprobablyseenherwayovermostofthem。Butthiswasnotso；nordidJohnEameshimselfatallbelievethathehadgiventhewholethingupasabadjob，becauseitwasthelawofhislifethatthethingnevershouldbeabandonedaslongashopewaspossible。UnlessMissDaleshouldbecomethewifeofsomebodyelse，hewouldalwaysregardhimselfasaffiancedtoher。HehadsodeclaredtoMissDaleherselfandtoMissDale’smother，andtoalltheDalepeoplewhohadeverbeeninterestedinthematter。AndtherewasanoldladylivinginMissDale’sneighbourhood，thesisterofthelordwhohadleftJohnnyEamesthebankshares，whoalwaysfoughthisbattlesforhim，andkeptacloselook—out，fullyresolvedthatJohnnyEamesshouldberewardedatlast。ThisoldladywasconnectedwiththeDalesbyfamilyties，andthereforehadthemeansofcloseobservation。ShewasinconstantcorrespondencewithJohnEames，andneverfailedtoacquainthimwhenanyofthebarrierswere，inherjudgment，givingway。ThenatureofsomeofthebarriersmaypossiblybemadeintelligibletomyreadersbythefollowingletterfromLadyJuliaDeGuesttoheryoungfriend：—
’GUESTWICKCOTTAGE，December，186—