’Youcan’thaveabettermanthanMrMason，upthestreetthere。’
’WinthropproposedBorleysatBarchester。’
’No，no，no。BorleysandBonstockarecapitalpeopletopushafellowthroughonachargeofhorse—stealing，ortosqueezeamanforalittlemoney；buttheyarenotthepeopleforMrCrawleyinsuchacaseasthis。Masonisthebetterman；andthenMasonandIknoweachother。’InsayingwhichMrWalkerwinked。
TherewasthenadiscussionbetweenthemwhetherMrRobartsshouldgoatoncetoMrMason；butitwasdecidedatlastthatheshouldseeMrCrawleyandalsowritetothedeanbeforehisdidso。Thedeanmightwishtoemployhisownlawyer，andifsothedoubleexpenseshouldbeavoided。’Alwaysremember，MrRobarts，thatwhenyougointoanattorney’sofficedoor，youwillhavetopayforit，firstorlast。Inhere，yousee，thedingyoldmahogany，bareasitis，makesyousafe。Orelseit’sthesalt—cellar，whichwillnotallowitselftobepollutedbysix—and—eightpennyconsiderations。Butthereistheotherkindoftaxtobepaid。YoumustgoupandseeMrsWalker，oryouwon’tgetherhelpinthematter。’
MrWalkerreturnedtohiswork，eithertosomeprivatedenwithinhishouse，ortohisoffice，andMrRobartswastakenupstairstothedrawing—room。TherehefoundMrsWalkerandherdaughter，andMissAnnePrettyman，whohadjustlookedin，fullofthestoryofMrCrawley’swalktoBarchester。MrThumblehadseenoneofDrTempest’scurates，andhadtoldthewholestory——he，MrThumble，havingheardMrsProudie’sversionofwhathadoccurred，andhaving，ofcourse，drawnhisowndeductionsfromherpremises。AnditseemedthatMrCrawleyhadbeenwatchedashepassedthroughthecloseoutofBarchester。Aminorcanonhadseenhim，andhaddeclaredthathewasgoingattherateofahunt，swinginghisarmsonhighandspeakingveryloud，though——astheminorcanonsaidwithregret——thewordswerehardlyaudible。Buttherehadbeennodoubtastotheman。MrCrawley’soldhat，andshortrustycloak，anddirtyboots，hadbeendulyobservedandchronicledbytheminorcanon；andMrThumblehadbeenenabledtoputtogetheranotaltogetherfalsepictureofwhathadoccurred。AssoonasthegreetingsbetweenMrRobartsandtheladieshadbeenmade，MissAnnePrettymanbrokeoutagain，justwhereshehadleftoffwhenMrRobartscamein。
’TheysaythatMrsProudiedeclaredthatshewillhavehimsenttoBotanyBay！’
’LuckilyMrsProudiewon’thavemuchtodointhematter，’saidMissWalker，whorangedherself，astochurchmatters，intheranksaltogetheropposedtothosecommandedbyMrsProudie。
’Shewillhavenothingtodowithit，mydear，’saidMrsWalker；’andI
daresayMrsProudiewasnotfoolishenoughtosayanythingofthekind。’
’Mamma，shewouldbefoolishenoughtosayanything。WouldshenotMrRobarts？’
’Youforget，MissWalker，thatMrsProudieisinauthorityoverme。’
’Sosheis，forthematterofthat，’saidtheyounglady；’butIknowverywellwhatyouallthinkofher，andsayofhertoo，atFramley。
Yourfriend，LadyLufton，lovesherdearly。IwishIcouldhavebeenbehindacurtaininthepalace，tohearwhatMrCrawleysaidtoher。’
’MrSmiliedeclares，’saidMissPrettyman，’thatthebishophasbeenilleversince。MrSmiliewentovertohismother’satBarchesterforChristmas，andtookpartofthecathedralduty，andwehadMrSpooneroverherinhisplace。SoMrSmilieofcourseheardallaboutit。Onlyfancy，poorMrCrawleywalkingallthewayfromHogglestocktoBarchesterandback；——andIamtoldhehardlyhadashoetohisfoot！Isitnotashame，MrRobarts？’
’Idon’tthinkitwasquiteasbadasyousay，MissPrettyman；but，uponthewhole，Idothinkitisashame。Butwhatcanwedo？’
’IsupposetherearetithesatHogglestock？Whyaretheynotgivenuptothechurch，astheyoughttobe？’
’Mydear，MissPrettyman，thatisaverylongsubject，andIamafraiditcannotbesettledintimetorelieveourpoorfriendfromhisdistress。’ThenMrRobartsescapedfromtheladiesinMrWalker’shouse，who，asitseemedtohim，weretouchingupondangerousground，andwentbacktotheyardoftheGeorgeInnforhisgig——theGeorgeandVultureitwasproperlycalled，andwasthehouseinwhichthemagistrateshadsatwhentheycommittedMrCrawleyfortrial。
’Footediteveryinchoftheway，blowedifhedidn’t，’theostlerwassayingtoagentleman’sgroom，whomMrRobartsrecognisedtobetheservantofhisfriendMajorGrantly；andMrRobartsknewthattheyalsoweretalkingaboutMrCrawley。EverybodyinthecountywastalkingaboutMrCrawley。Athome，atFramley，therewasnoothersubjectofdiscourse。LadyLufton，thedowager，wasfullofit，beingfirmlyconvincedthatMrCrawleywasinnocent，becausethebishopwassupposedtoregardhimasguilty。TherehadbeenafamilyconclaveheldatFramleyCourtoverthatbaskedofprovisionswhichhadbeensentfortheChristmascheeroftheHogglestockparsonage，eachofthethreeladies，thetwoLadyLuftonsandMrsRobarts，havingspecialviewsoftheirown。
HowtheporkhadbeensubstitutedforthebeefbyoldLadyLufton，youngLadyLuftonthinkingthatafterallthebeefmightbedangerous，andhowasmallturkeyhadbeenrashlysuggestedbyMrsRobarts，andhowcertainsmallarticleshadbeeninsertedinthebottomofthebasketwhichMrsCrawleyhadnevershowntoherhusband，neednotherebetoldatlength。
ButMrRobarts，asheheardthetwogroomstalkingaboutMrCrawley，beganthatMrCrawleyhadachievedatleastcelebrity。
ThegroomtouchedhishatasMrRobartswalkedup。’Hasthemajorreturnedhomeyet？’MrRobartsasked。ThegroomsaidthathismasterwasstillatPlumstead，andthathewastogoovertofetchthemajorandMissEdithinadayortwo。ThenMrRobartsgotintohisgig，andashedroveoutoftheyardheheardthewordsofthemenastheyreturnedtothesamesubject。’Footeditalltheway，’saidone。’Andyethe’sagen’leman，too，’saidtheother。MrRobartsthoughtofthisashedroveon，intendingtocallatHogglestockonthatverydayonhiswayhome。
ItwasundoubtedlythefactthatMrCrawleywasrecognisedtobeagentlemanbyallwhoknewhim，highorlow，richorpoor，bythosewhothoughtwellofhimandbythosewhothoughtill。Thesegrooms，whohadbeentellingeachotherthatthisparson，whowastobetriedasathief，hadbeenconstrainedtowalkfromHogglestocktoBarchesterandback，becausehecouldnotaffordtotravelanyotherway，andthathisbootswerecrackedandhisclothesragged，hadstillknownhimtobeagentleman！Nobodydoubtedit；noteventheywhothoughthehadstolenthemoney。MrRobartshimselfwascertainofit，andtoldhimselfthatheknewitbytheevidenceswhichhisowneducationmadecleartohim。
Buthowwasitthatthegroomsknewit？FormypartIthinkthattherearenobetterjudgesofthearticlethanthegrooms。
Thinkingofallwhichhehadheard，MrRobartsfoundhimselfatMrCrawley’sgateatHogglestock。
CHAPTERXXI
MRROBARTSONHISEMBASSY
MrRobartswasnotaltogethereasyinhismindasheapproachedMrCrawley’shouse。Hewasawarethatthetaskbeforehimwasaverydifficultone，andhehadnotconfidenceinhimself——thathewasexactlythemanfittedfortheperformanceofsuchatask。HewasalittleafraidofMrCrawley，acknowledgingtacitlytohimselfthatthemanhadapowerofascendancywithwhichhewouldhardlybeabletocopesuccessfully。InolddayshehadoncebeenrebukedbyMrCrawley，andhadbeencowedbytherebuke；andthoughtherewasnotouchofrancourinhisheartonthisaccount，noslightestremainingvenom——butratherincreasedrespectandfriendship——stillhewasunabletoovercomehisremembranceofthesceneinwhichtheperpetualcurateofHogglestockhadundoubtedlythemasteryofhim。So，whentwodogshavefoughtandonehasconquered，theconquereddogwillalwaysshowanunconscioussubmissiontotheconqueror。
Hehailedaboyontheroadashedrewneartothehouse，knowingthathewouldfindnooneattheparsonagetoholdhishorseforhim，andwasthusablewithoutdelaytowalkthroughthegardenandknockatthedoor。’Papawasnotathome，’Janesaid。’Papawasattheschool。Butpapacouldcertainlybesummoned。’SheherselfwouldrunacrosstotheschoolifMrRobartswouldcomein。SoMrRobartsentered，andfoundMrsCrawleyinthesitting—room。MrCrawleywouldbeindirectly，shesaid。
Andthen，hurryingontothesubjectwithconfusedhaste，inorderthatawordortwomightbespokenbeforeherhusbandcameback，sheexpressedherthanksandhisforthegoodthingswhichhadbeensenttothematChristmas—tide。
’It’soldLadyLufton’sdoings，’saidMrRobarts，tryingtolaughthematterover。
’IknewthatitcamefromFramley，MrRobarts，andIknowhowgoodyouallarethere。IhavenotwrittentothankLadyLufton。Ithoughtitbetternottowrite。Yoursisterwillunderstandwhy，ifnooneelsedoes。Butyouwilltellthemfromme，Iamsure，thatitwas，astheyintended，acomforttous。Yoursisterknowstoomuchofusformetosupposethatourgreatpovertycanbeasecretfromher。And，asfarasIamconcerned，Idonotmuchcarewhoknowsit。’
’Thereisnodisgraceinnotbeingrich，’saidMrRobarts。
’No；andthefeelingofdisgracewhichdoesattachitselftobeingsopoorasweareisdeadenedbytheactualsufferingwhichsuchpovertybringswithit。Atleastithasbecomesowithme。IamnotashamedtosaythatIamverygratefulforwhatyouallhavedoneforusatFramley。Butyoumustnotsayanythingtohimaboutit。’
’OfcourseIwillnot，MrsCrawley。’
’Hisspiritishigherthanmine，Ithink，andhesuffersmorefromthenaturaldisinclinationwhichweallhavefromreceivingalms。Areyougoingtospeaktohimabouttheaffair——thecheque，MrRobarts？’
’Iamgoingtoaskhimtoputhiscaseintosomelawyer’shands。’
’Oh！Iwishhewould！’
’Andwillhenot？’
’Itisverykindofyou，yourcomingtoaskhim，but——’
’Hashesostronganobjection？’
’Hewilltellyouthathehasnomoneytopayalawyer。’
’But，surely，ifhewereconvincedthatitwasabsolutelynecessaryforthevindicationofhisinnocence，hewouldsubmittochargehimselfwithanexpensesonecessary，notonlyforhimself，butforhisfamily？’
’Hewillsayitoughtnottobenecessary。Youknow，MrRobarts，thatinsomerespectsheisnotlikeothermen。YouwillnotletwhatIsayofhimsetyouagainsthim？’
’Indeed，no。’
’Itismostkindofyoutomaketheattempt。Hewillbeheredirectly，andwhenhecomesIwillleaveyoutogether。’
Whileshewasyetspeakinghisstepwasheardalongthegravel—path，andhehurriedintotheroomwithquicksteps。’Icraveyourpardon，MrRobarts，’hesaid，’thatIshouldkeepyouwaiting。’nowMrRobartshadnotbeentheretenminutes，andanysuchaskingofpardonwashardlynecessary。And，eveninhisownhouse，MrCrawleyaffectedamockhumility，asthough，eitherthroughhisowndebasement，orbecauseofthesuperiorstationoftheotherclergyman，hewerenotentitledtoputhimselfonanequalfootingwithhisvisitor。HewouldnothaveshakenhandswithMrRobarts——intendingtoindicatethathedidnotpresumetodosowhilethepresentaccusationwashangingoverhim——hadnottheactionbeenforceduponhim。Andthentherewassomethingofaprotestinhismanner，asthoughremonstratingagainstathingthatwasunbecomingtohim。MrRobarts，withoutanalysingit，understooditall，andknewthatbehindthehumilitytherewasacrushingpride——apridewhich，inallprobability，wouldriseupandcrushhimbeforehecouldgethimselfoutoftheroomagain。Itwas，perhaps，afterall，aquestionwhetherthemanwasnotservedrightlybytheextremitiestowhichhewasreduced。Therewassomethingradicallywrongwithinhim，whichhadputhimintoantagonismwithalltheworld，andwhichproducedthesenever—dyinggrievances。ThereweremanyclergymeninthecountrywithincomesassmallasthatwhichhadfallentothelotofMrCrawley，buttheymanagedtogetonwithoutdisplayingtheirsoresasMrCrawleydisplayedhis。TheydidnotweartheiroldrustycloakswithallthatostentatiousbitternessofpovertywhichseemedtobelongtothatgarmentwhendisplayedonMrCrawley’sshoulders。Such，foramoment，wereMrRobarts’thoughts，andhealmostrepentedhimselfofhispresentmission。ButthenhethoughtofMrsCrawley，andrememberingthathersufferingswereatanyrateundeserved，determinedthathewouldpersevere。
MrsCrawleydisappearedalmostassoonasherhusbandappeared，andMrRobartsfoundhimselfstandinginfrontofhisfriend，whoremainedfixedtothespot，withhishandsfoldedovereachotherandhisneckbentslightlyforward，intokenalsoofhumility。’Iregret，’hesaid，’thatyourhorseshouldbeleftthere，exposedtotheinclemencyoftheweather；but——’
’Thehorsewon’tminditabit，’saidMrRobarts。’Aparson’shorseislikeabutcher’s，andknowshemustn’tbeparticularaboutwaitinginthecold。’
’Ineverhavehadonemyself，’saidMrCrawley。NowMrRobartshadhadmorehorsesthanonebeforenow，andhadbeenthoughtbysometohaveincurredgreaterexpensethanwasbefittinginhisstablecomforts。Thesubject，therefore，wasasoreone，andhewasworriedalittle。’Ijustwantedtosayafewwordstoyou，Crawley，’hesaid，’andifIamnotoccupyingtoomuchofyourtime——’
’Mytimeisaltogetheratyourdisposal。Willyoubeseated？’
ThenMrRobartssatdown，and，swinginghishatbetweenhislegs，bethoughthimselfhowheshouldbeginhiswork。’WehadthearchdeaconoveratFramleytheotherday，’hesaid。’Ofcourseyouknowthearchdeacon？’
’IneverhadtheadvantageofanyacquaintancewithDrGrantly。OfcourseIknowhimwellbyname，andalsopersonally——thatis，bysight。’
’Andbycharacter？’
’Nay；Icanhardlysomuchasthat。ButIamawarethathisnamestandshighwithmanyofhisorder。’
’Exactly；thatiswhatImean。Youknowthathisjudgmentisthoughtmoreofinclericalmattersthanthatofanyotherclergymaninthecounty。’
’Byacertainparty，MrRobarts。’
’Well，yes。Theydon’tthinkmuchofhim，Isuppose，inthepalace。Butthatwon’tlowerhiminyourestimation。’
’IbynomeansderogatefromDrGrantly’shighpositioninhisownarchdeaconry——towhich，asyouareaware，Iamnotattached——nortocriticisehisconductinanyrespect。Itwouldthereforebeunbecominginmetodoso。ButIcannotacceptitasapointinaclergyman’sfavour，thatheshouldbeopposedtohisbishop。’
NowthiswastoomuchforMrRobarts。AfterallthathehadheardofthevisitpaidbyMrCrawleytothepalace——ofthevenomdisplayedbyMrsProudieonthatoccasion，andoftheabsolutewantofsubordinationtoepiscopalauthoritywhichMrCrawleyhimselfwassupposedtohaveshown——MrRobartsdidfeelithardthathisfriendthearchdeaconshouldbesnubbedinthiswaybecausehewasdeficientinreverenceforhisbishop！’Ithought，Crawley，’hesaid，’thatyouyourselfwereinclinedtodisputeorderscomingtoyoufromthepalace。Thatworldatleastsaysasmuchconcerningyou。’
’WhattheworldsaysofmeIhavelearnedtodisregardverymuch，MrRobarts。ButIhopethatIshallneverdisobeytheauthorityoftheChurchwhenproperlyandlegallyexercised。’
’Ihopewithallmyheartyouneverwill；notIeither。Andthearchdeacon，whoknows，tothebreadthofahair，whatabishopoughttodoandwhatheoughtnot，andwhathemaydoandwhathemaynot，will，Ishouldsay，bethelastmaninEnglandtosininthatway。’
’Veryprobably。Iamfarfromcontradictingyouthere。Prayunderstand，MrRobarts，thatIbringnoaccusationagainstthearchdeacon。WhyshouldI？’
’Ididn’tmeantodiscusshimatall。’
’NordidI，MrRobarts。’
’Ionlymentionedhisname，because，asIsaid，hewasoverwithustheotherdayatFramley，andwewerealltalkingaboutyouraffair。’
’Myaffair！’saidMrCrawley。Andthencameafrownuponhisbrow，andagleamoffireintohiseyes，whicheffectuallybanishedthatlookofhumilitywhichhehadassumed。’AndmayIaskwhythearchdeaconwasdiscussing——myaffair？’
’Simplyfromthekindnesswhichhebearstoyou。’
’Iamgratefulforthearchdeacon’skindness，asamanisboundtobeforanykindness，whetherdisplayedwiselyorunwisely。Butitseemstomethatmyaffair，asyoucallit，MrRobarts，isofthatnaturethattheywhowishwelltomewillbetterfurthertheirwishesbysilencethanbyanydiscussion。’
’ThenIcannotagreewithyou。’MrCrawleyshruggedhisshoulders，openedhishandsalittleandthenclosedthem，andbowedhishead。HecouldnothavedeclaredmoreclearlybyanywordsthathedifferedaltogetherfromMrRobarts，andthatasthesubjectwasonesopeculiarlyhisownhehadarighttoexpectthathisopinionshouldbeallowedtoprevailagainstthatofanyotherperson。’Ifyoucometothat，youknow，howisanybody’stonguetobestopped？’
’Thatvaintonguescannotbestopped，Iamwellaware。Idonotexpectthatpeople’stonguesshouldbestopped。Iamnotsayingwhatmenwilldo，butwhatgoodwishesshoulddictate。’
’Well，perhapsyou’llhearmeoutforaminute。’MrCrawleyagainbowedhishead。’Whetherwewerewiseorunwise，wewerediscussingthisaffair。’
’WhetherIstoleMrSoames’smoney？’
’No；nobodysupposedforamomentyouhadstolenit。’
’Icannothowtheycansupposeanythingelse，knowing，astheydo，thatthemagistrateshavecommittedmeforthetheft。ThistookplaceatFramley，yousay，andprobablyinLordLufton’spresence。’
’Exactly。’
’AndLordLuftonwaschairmanatthesittingofthemagistratesatwhichIwascommitted。Howcanitbethatheshouldthinkotherwise？’
’Iamsurethathehasnotanideathatyouwereguilty。NoryethasDrThorne，whowasalsooneofthemagistrates。Idon’tsupposeoneofthemthenthoughtso。’
’Thentheiraction，tosaytheleastofit，wasverystrange。’
’Itwasallbecauseyouhadnobodytomanageitforyou。Ithoroughlybelievethatifyouhadplacedthematterinthehandsofagoodlawyer，youwouldneverhaveheardawordmoreaboutit。ThatseemstobetheopinionofeverybodyIspeaktoonthesubject。’
’Theninthiscountryamanistobepunishedornot，accordingtoabilitytofeealawyer！’
’Iamnottalkingaboutpunishment。’
’Andpresuminganinnocentmantohavetheabilityandnotthewilltodoso，heistobepunished，toberuinedrootandbranch，selfandfamily，characterandpocket，simplybecause，knowinghisowninnocence，hedoesnotchoosetodependonthemercenaryskillofamanwhosetradeheabhorsfortheestablishmentofthatwhichshouldbeclearassunatnoonday！YousayIaminnocent，andyetyoutellmeIamtobecondemnedasaguiltyman，havemygowntakenfromme，betornfrommywifeandchildren，bedisgracedbeforetheeyesofallmen，andmadeabywordandathinghorribletobementioned，becauseIwillnotfeeanattorneytofeeanothermantocomeandlieonmybehalf，tobrowbeatwitnesses，tomakefalseappeals，andperhapsshedfalsetearsindefendingme。Youhavecometomeaskingmetodothis，ifIunderstandyou，tellingmethatthearchdeaconwouldsoadviseme。’
’Thatismyobject。’MrCrawley，ashehadspoken，hadinhisvehemence，risenfromhisseat，andMrRobartswasalsostanding。
’Thentellthearchdeacon，’saidMrCrawley，’thatIwillhavenoneofhisadvice。Iwillhavenoonetherepaidbymetoobstructthecourseofjusticeortohoodwinkajury。Ihavebeeninthecourtsoflaw，andknowwhatistheworkforwhichthesegentlemenarehired。Iwillhavenoneofit，andIwillthankyoutotellthearchdeaconso，withmyrespectfulacknowledgementsofhisconsiderationandcondescension。I
saynothingastomyowninnocence，ormyownguilt。ButIdosaythatifIamdraggedbeforethattribunal，aninnocentman，andamfalselydeclaredtobeguilty，becauseIlackmoneytobribealawyertospeakforme，thenthelawsofthiscountrydeservebutlittleofthatreverencewhichweareaccustomedtopaythem。AndifIbeguilty——’
’Nobodysupposesyoutobeguilty。’
’AndifIbeguilty，’continuedMrCrawley，altogetherignoringtheinterruption，exceptbytherepetitionofhiswords，andaslightraisingofhisvoice，’Iwillnotaddtomyguiltbyhiringanyonetoproveafalsehoodortodisproveatruth。’
’I’msorrythatyoushouldsayso，MrCrawley。’
’IspeakaccordingtowhatlightIhave，MrRobarts；andifIhavebeenover—warmwithyou——andIamconsciousthatIhavebeenatfaultinthatdirection——ImustprayyoutorememberthatIamsomewhathardlytried。
Mysorrowsandtroublesaresogreatthattheyriseagainstmeanddisturbme，anddrivemeon——whitherIwouldnotbedriven。’
’But，myfriend，isnotthatjustthereasonwhyyoushouldtrustinthismattertosomeonewhocanbemorecalmthanyourself？’
’Icannottrusttoanyone——inamatterofconscience。Todoasyouwouldhavemeistomewrong。ShallIdowrongbecauseIamunhappy？’
’Youshouldceasetothinkitwrongwhensoadvisedbypersonsyoucantrust。’
’Icantrustnoonewithmyownconscience；——noteventhearchdeacon，greatasheis。’
’Thearchdeaconhasmeantonlywellbyyou。’
’Iwillpresumeso。Iwillbelieveso。Idothinkso。TellthearchdeaconfrommethatIhumblythankhim；——thatinamatterofchurchquestion，Imightprobablysubmitmyjudgmenttohis；eventhoughhemighthavenoauthorityoverme，knowingasIdothatinsuchmattershisexperiencehasbeengreat。Tellhimalso，thatthoughIwouldfainthatthisunfortunateaffairmightburdenthetongueofnoneofmyneighbours——atleasttillIshallhavestoodbeforethejudgetoreceivetheverdictofthejury，and，ifneedful，hislordship’ssentence——stillIamconvincedthatinwhathehasspoken，asalsoinwhathehasdone，hehasnotyieldedtotheidlenessofgossip，buthasexercisedhisjudgmentwithintendedkindness。’
’Hehascertainlyintendedtodoyouaservice；andasforitsnotbeingtalkedabout，thatisoutofthequestion。’
’Andforyourself，MrRobarts，whomIhaveeverregardedasafriendsincecircumstancesbroughtmeintoyourneighbourhood——foryou，whosesisterIlovetenderlyinmemoryofpastkindness，thoughnowsheisremovedsofarabovemysphere，astomakeitunfitIshouldcallhermyfriend——’
’Shedoesnotthinksoatall。’
’Foryourself，asIwassaying，praybelievemethatthoughfromtheroughnessofmymanner，beingnowunusedtosocialintercourse，Iseemtobeungraciousandforbidding，Iamgratefulandmindful，andthatinthetabletsofmyheartIhavewrittenyoudownasoneinwhomIcouldtrust——wereitgiventometotrustinmenandwomen。’Thenheturnedroundwithhisfacetothewallandhisbacktohisvisitor，andsoremainedtillMrRobartshadlefthim。’Atanyrate，Iwishyouwellthroughyourtrouble，’saidRobarts；andashespokehefoundthathisownwordswerenearlychokedbyasobthatwasrisinginthisthroat。
Hewentawaywithoutanotherword，andgotouttohisgigwithoutseeingMrsCrawley。Duringoneperiodoftheinterviewhehadbeenveryangrywiththeman——soangryastomakehimalmostdeclaretohimselfthathewouldtakenomoretroubleonhisbehalf。ThenhehadbeenbroughttoacknowledgethatMrWalkerwasright，andthatCrawleywascertainlymad。Hewassomad，sofarremovedfromthedominionofsoundsense，thatnojurycouldsaythathewasguiltyandthatheoughttobepunishedforhisguilt。And，ashesoresolved，hecouldnotbutaskhimselfthequestion，whetherthechargeoftheparishoughttobeleftinthehandsofsuchaman？But，atlast，justbeforehewent，thesefeelingsandtheseconvictionsgavewaytopity，andherememberedsimplythetroubleswhichseemedtohavebeenheapedontheheadofthispoorvictimtomisfortune。Ashedrovehomeheresolvedthattherewasnothingleftforhimtodo，buttowritetothedean。Itwasknownbyallwhoknewthemboth，thatthedeanandMrCrawleyhadlivedtogetherontheclosestintimacyatcollege，andthatthefriendshiphadbeenmaintainedthroughlife；——though，fromthepeculiarityofMrCrawley’scharacter，thetwohadnotbeenmuchtogetheroflateyears。Seeinghowthingsweregoingnow，andhearinghowpitifulwastheplightinwhichMrCrawleywasplaced，thedeanwould，nodoubt，feelittobehisdutytohastenhisreturntoEngland。HewasbelievedtobeatthismomentinJerusalem，anditwouldbelongbeforealettercouldreachhim；buttherestillwantedthreemonthstotheassizes，andhisreturnmightbeprobablyeffectedbeforetheendofFebruary。