’Butwhynot，dearGrace？’saidMrsDale。
’Becausethepeoplesaythatpapaisathief！’Havingsaidthis，Gracewalkedslowlyoutoftheroom，andneitherMrsDalenorLilyattemptedtofollowher。
’She’sasgoodasgold，’saidLily，whenthedoorwasclosed。
’Andhe；——whatofhim？’
’Ithinkheisgoodtoo；butshehastoldmenothingyetofwhathehassaidtoher。Hemustbegood，orhewouldnothavecomedownhereafterher。ButIdon’twonderathiscoming，becausesheissobeautiful！Onceortwiceaswewerewalkingbacktoday，IthoughtherfacewasthemostlovelythatIhadeverseen。Anddidyouseeherjustnow，asshespokeofherfather？’
’Oh，yes；——Isawher。’
’Thinkwhatshewillbeintwoorthreeyears’time，whenhebecomesawoman。ShetalksFrench，andItalian，andHebrewforanythingthatI
know；andsheisperfectlybeautiful。Ineversawamorelovelyfigure；——andshehasspiritenoughforagoddess。Idon’tthinkthatMajorGrantlyissuchafoolafterall。’
’Inevertookhimforafool。’
’Ihavenodoubtallhisownpeopledo；——ortheywill，whentheyhearofit。But，mamma，shewillgrowtobebigenoughtowalkatopalltheLadyHartletopsinEngland。Itwillallcomerightatlast。’
’Youthinkitwill？’
’Oh，yes。Whyshoulditnot？Ifheisworthhaving，itwill；——andI
thinkheisworthhaving。Hemustwaittillthishorridtrialisover。
ItiscleartomethatGracethinksherfatherwillbeconvicted。’
’Buthecannothavetakenthemoney。’
’Ithinkhetookit，andIthinkitwasn’this。ButIdon’tthinkhestoleit。Idon’tknowwhetheryoucanunderstandthedifference。’
’Iamafraidajurywon’tunderstandit。’
’Ajuryofmenwillnot。Iwishtheycouldputyouandmeonit，mamma。
Iwouldtakemybestbootsandeatthemdowntotheheels，forGrace’ssake，andforMajorGrantly’s。Whatagood—lookingmanheis！’
’Yes，heis。’
’Andsolikeagentleman！I’lltellyouwhat，mamma；wewon’tsayanythingtoherabouthimforthepresent。Herheartwillbesofullshewillbedriventotalk，andwecancomfortherbetterinthatway。’ThemotheranddaughteragreedtoactuponthesetacticsandnothingmorewassaidtoGraceaboutherloveronthatevening。
MajorGrantlywalkedfromMrsDale’shousetotheinnandorderedhisgig，anddrovehimselfoutofAllington，almostwithoutrememberingwherehewasorwhitherhewasgoing。Hewasthinkingsolelyofwhathadjustoccurred，andofwhat，onhispart，shouldfollowastheresultofthatmeeting。Halfatleastofthenobledeedsdoneinthisworldareduetoemulation，ratherthantothenativenobilityoftheactors。A
youngmanleadsaforlornhopebecauseanotheryoungmanhasofferedtodoso。Jonesinthehunting—fieldridesatanimpracticablefencebecauseheistoldSmithtookitthreeyearsago。AndWalkerputshisnamedownfortenguineasatacharitabledinnerwhenhehearsThompson’sreadoutforfive。Andinthiscasethegenerosityandself—denialshownbyGracewarmedandcherishedsimilarvirtueswithinherlover’sbreast。SomefewweeksagoMajorGrantlyhadbeenindoubtastowhathisdutyrequiredofhiminreferencetoGraceCrawley；buthehadnodoubtwhatsoevernow。Inthefervourofhisadmirationhewouldhavegonestraighttothearchdeacon，haditbeenpossible，andhavetoldhimwhathehaddoneandwhatheintendedtodo。Nothingnowshouldstophim；——noconsideration，thatis，eitherasregardedmoneyorposition。Hehadpledgedhimselfsolemnly，andhewasverygladthathehadpledgedhimself。HewouldwritetoGraceandexplaintoherthathetrustedaltogetherinherfather’shonourandinnocence，butthatnoconsiderationastothatoughttoinfluenceeitherhimorherinanyway。If，independentlyofherfather，shecouldbringherselftocometohimandbehiswife，shewasboundtodosonow，letthepositionofherfatherbewhatitmight。Andthus，ashedrovehisgigbacktowardsGuestwick，hecomposedaveryprettylettertotheladyofhislove。
Andashewent，atthecornerofthelanewhichledfromthemainroaduptoGuestwickcottage，heagaincameuponJohnEames，whowasalsoreturningtoGuestwick。TherehadbeenafewwordsspokenbetweenLadyJuliaandJohnnyrespectingMajorGrantlyafterthegirlshadleftthecottage，andJohnnyhadbeenpersuadedthatthestrangevisitortoAllingtoncouldhavenoconnexionwithhisarch—enemy。’AndwhyhashegonetoAllington，’Johndemanded，somewhatsternly，ofhishostess。
’Well；ifyouaskme，Ithinkhehasgonetheretoseeyourcousin，GraceCrawley。’
’HetoldmethatheknewGrace，’saidJohn，lookingasthoughhewereconsciousofhisowningenuityinputtingtwoandtwotogetherverycleverly。
’YourcousinGraceisaveryprettygirl，’saidLadyJulia。
’It’salongtimesinceI’veseenher，’saidJohnny。
’Why，yousawherjustthislastminute，’saidLadyJulia。
’Ididn’tlookather，’saidJohnny。Therefore，whenheagainmetMajorGrantly，havingcontinuedtoputtwoandtwotogetherwithgreatingenuity，hefeltquitesurethatthemanhadnothingtodowiththearch—enemy，andhedeterminedtobegracious。’DidyoufindthemathomeatAllington，’hesaid，raisinghishat。
’Howdoyoudoagain？’saidthemajor。’Yes，IfoundyourfriendMrsDaleathome。’
’Butnotherdaughter，ormycousin？Theywereupthere；——whereI’vecomefrom。But，perhaps，theyhadgotbackbeforeyouleft。’
’Isawthemboth。TheyfoundmeontheroadwithMrDale。’
’What——thesquire？Thenyouhaveseeneverybody。’
’EverybodyIwishedtoseeatAllington。’
’Butyouwouldn’tstayatthe\"RedLion\"？’
’Well，no。IrememberedthatIwantedtogetbacktoLondon；andasI
hadseenmyfriends，IthoughtImightaswellhurryaway。’
’YouknewMrsDalebefore，then？’
’No，Ididn’t。Ineversawherinmylifebefore。ButIknewtheoldsquirewhenIwasaboy。However，Ishouldhavesaidfriend。Iwenttoseeonefriend，andIsawher。’
JohnEamesperceivedthathiscompanionputastrongemphasisontheword’her’，asthoughheweredeterminedtodeclareboldlythathehadgonetoAllingtonsolelytoseeGraceCrawley。HehadnottheslightestobjectiontorecognisinginMajorGrantlyasuitorforhiscousin’shand。HecouldonlyreflectwhatanunusuallyfortunategirlGracemustbeifsuchathingcouldbetrue。OfthosepoorCrawleyshehadonlyheardfromtimetotimethattheirmisfortuneswereasnumerousasthesandsonthesea—shore，andasunsusceptibleofanyfixedandpermanentarrangement。But，asregardedGrace，therewouldbeaverypermanentarrangement。TidingshadreachedhimthatGracewasagreatscholar，buthehadneverheardmuchofherbeauty。ItmustprobablybethecasethatMajorGrantlywasfondofGreek。Therewas，heremindedhimself，noaccountingfortastes；butasnothingcouldbemorerespectablethansuchanalliance，hethoughtthatitwouldbecomehimtobeciviltothemajor。
’Ihopeyoufoundherquitewell。Ihadbarelytimetospeaktohermyself。’
’Yes，shewasverywell。Thisisasadthingaboutherfather。’
’Verysad，’saidJohnny。Perhapsthemajorhadheardabouttheaccusationforthefirsttimetoday，andwasgoingtofindanescapeonthatplea。Ifsuchwasthecase，itwouldnotbesowelltobeparticularlycivil。
’IbelieveMrCrawleyisacousinofyours？’saidthemajor。
’Hiswifeismymother’sfirst—cousin。Theremothersweresisters。’
’Sheisanexcellentwoman。’
’Ibelieveso。Idon’tknowmuchaboutthemmyself——thatis，personally。OfcourseIhaveheardofthischargethathasbeenmadeagainsthim。Itseemstometobeagreatshame。’
’Well，Ican’texactlysaythatitisashame。Idonotknowthattherehasbeenanythingdonewithafeelingofpersecutionorofcruelty。Itisagreatmystery，andwemusthaveitclearedupifwecan。’
’Idon’tsupposehecanhavebeenguilty，’saidJohn。
’Certainlynotintheordinarysenseoftheword。Iheardalltheevidenceagainsthim。’
’Oh，youdid？’
’Yes，’saidthemajor。’IliveneartheminBarsetshire，andIamoneofhisbailsmen。’
’Thenyouareanoldfriend，Isuppose？’
’Notexactlythat；butcircumstancesmademeverymuchinterestedaboutthem。Ifancythatthechequewasleftinhishousebyaccident，andthatitgotintohishandshedidn’tknowhow，andthatwhenheusedithethoughtitwashis。’
’That’squeer，’saidJohnny。
’Heisveryodd，youknow。’
’Butit’sakindofodditythattheydon’tlikeatassizes。’
’Thegreatcrueltyis，’saidthemajor，’thatwhatevermaybetheresult，thepunishmentwillfallsoheavilyuponhiswifeanddaughters。
Ithinkthewholecountyoughttocomeforwardandtakethembythehand。Well，good—bye。I’lldriveon，asI’malittleinahurry。’
’Good—bye，’saidJohnny。’I’mverygladtohavehadthepleasureofmeetingyou。’’He’sagoodsortoffellowafterall，’hesaidtohimselfwhenthegighadpassedon。’Hewouldn’thavetalkedinthatwayifhemeanttohangback。’
CHAPTERXXXII
MRTOOGOOD
MrCrawleyhaddeclaredtoMrRobarts，thathewouldsummonnolegalaidtohisassistanceatthecomingtrial。Thereadermay，perhaps，remembertheimpetuositywithwhichherejectedtheadviceonthissubjectwhichwasconveyedtohimbyMrRobartswithalltheauthorityofArchdeaconGrantly’sname。’Tellthearchdeacon，’hehadsaid，’thatIwillhavenoneofhisadvice。’AndthenMrRobartshadlefthim，fullyconvincedthatanyfurtherinterferenceonhispartcouldbeofnoavail。
Nevertheless，thewordswhichhadthenbeenspokenwerenotwithouteffect。ThiscomingtrialwaseverpresenttoMrCrawley’smind，andthough，whendriventodiscussthesubject，hewouldspeakofitwithhighspirit，ashehaddonebothtothebishopandtoMrRobarts，yetinhislonghoursofprivacy，orwhenalonewithhiswife，hisspiritwasanythingbuthigh。’Itwillkillme，’hewouldsaytoher。’Ishallgetsalvationthus。Deathwillrelieveme，andIshallneverbecalledupontostandbeforethosecrueleagereyes。’Thenshewouldtrytosaywordsofcomfort，sometimessoothinghim，asthoughhewereachild，andatothersbiddinghimtobeaman，andrememberthatasamanheshouldhavesufficientendurancetobeartheeyesofanycrowdthatmightbetheretolookathim。
’IthinkIwillgouptoLondon，’hesaidtoheroneevening，verysoonafterthedayofMrRobarts’svisit。
’GouptoLondon，Josiah！’MrCrawleyhadnotbeenuptoLondononcesincetheyhadbeensettledatHogglestock，andthissuddenresolutiononhispartfrightenedhiswife。’GouptoLondon，dearest！Andwhy？’
’Iwilltellyouwhy。TheyallsaythatIshouldspeaktosomemanofthelawwhomImaytrustaboutthiscomingtrial。Itrustnooneintheseparts。Not，markyou，thatIsaythattheyareuntrustworthy。GodforbidthatIshouldsospeakorevensothinkofmenwhomIknownot。
Butthematterhasbecomecommoninmen’smouthsatBarchesterandatSilverbridge，thatIcannotenduretogoamongthemandtotalkofit。I
willgouptoLondon，andIwillseeyourcousin，MrJohnToogood，ofGray’sInn。’NowinthisschemetherewasanamountofeverydayprudencewhichstartledMrsCrawleyalmostasmuchasdidtheprospectofthedifficultiestobeovercomeifthejourneyweretobemade。Herhusbandinthefirstplace，hadneveronceseenMrJohnToogood；andindaysverylongback，whenheandsheweremakingtheirfirstgallantstruggle——forinthosedaysithadbeengallant——downintheirCornishcuracy，hehadreprobatedcertainToogoodcivilities——professionalcivilities——whichhadbeenproffered，perhaps，withtooplainanintimationthatonthescoreofrelationshiptheprofessionalworkshouldbedonewithoutpayment。TheMrToogoodofthosedays，whohadbeenMrsCrawley’suncle，andthefatherofMrsEamesandgrandfatherorourfriendJohnnyEames，hadbeenmuchangeredbysomecorrespondencewhichhadgrownupbetweenhimandMrCrawley，andfromthatdaytherehadbeenacessationofallintercoursebetweenthefamilies。SincethosedaysthatToogoodhadbeengatheredtotheancientToogoodsofold，andthesonreignedonthefamilythroneinRaymondBuildings。ThepresentToogoodwasthereforefirstcousintoMrsCrawley。Buttherehadbeennointimacybetweenthem。MrsCrawleyhadnotseenhercousinsincehermarriage——asindeedshehadseennoneofherrelations，havingbeenestrangedfromthembythesingularbearingofherhusband。Sheknewthathercousinstoodhighinhisprofession，thefirmofToogoodandCrump——CrumpandToogooditshouldhavebeenproperlybeencalledinthesedays——havingalwayshelditsheaduphighabovealldirtywork；
andshefeltthatherhusbandcouldlookforadvicefromnobettersource。Buthowwouldsuchaoneashemanagetotellhisstorytoastranger？Nay，howwouldhefindhiswayaloneintothelawyer’sroom，totellhisstoryatall——sostrangewashetotheworld？Andthentheexpense！’Ifyoudonotwishmetoapplytoyourcousin，sayso，andthereshallbeanendofit，’saidMrCrawleyinanangrytone。
’OfcourseIwouldwishit。Ibelievehimtobeanexcellentman，andagoodlawyer。’
’ThenwhyshouldInotgotohischambers？InformapauperisImustgotohim，andmusttellhimso。Icannotpayhimforthelabourofhiscounsel，norforsuchminutesofhistimeasIshalluse。’
’Oh，Josiah，youneednotspeakofthat。’
’ButImustspeakofit。CanIgotoaprofessionalman；whokeepsasitwerehisshopopenforthosewhomaythinkfittocome，andpurchaseofhim，andtakeofhisgoods，andafterwards，whenthegoodshavebeenused，tellhimthatIhavenotthepriceinmyhand？Iwillnotdothat，Mary。YouthinkthatIammad，thatIknownotwhatIdo。Yes——Iseeitinyoureyes；andyouaresometimespartlyright。ButIamnotsomadbutthatIknowwhatishonest。IwilltellyourcousinthatIamsorestraitened，andbroughtdownintotheverydustbymisfortune。AndI
willbeseechhim，forwhatofancientfeelingoffamilyhemaybeartoyou，tolistentomeforawhile。AndIwillbeveryshort，and，ifneedbe，willbidehistimepatiently，andperhapshemaysayawordtomethatmaybeofuse。’
TherewascertainlyverymuchinthistoprovokeMrsCrawley。Itwasnotonlythatsheknewwellthathercousinwouldgiveampleandimmediateattention，andlendhimselfthoroughlytothematterwithoutanyideaofpayment——butthatshecouldnotquitebelievethatherhusband’shumilitywastruehumility。Shestrovetobelieveit，butsheknewthatshefailed。Afterallitwasonlyafeelingonherpart。Therewasnoargumentwithinherselfaboutit。Anunpleasanttastecameacrossthepalateofhermind，assuchasavourwillsometimes，fromsomeunexpectedsource，comeacrossthepalateofthemouth。Well；shecouldonlygulpatit，andswallowitanexcuseit。Amongthesaladthatcomesfromyourgardenabitterleafwillnowandthenmakeitswayintoyoursalad—bowl。Alas，thereweresomanybitterleavesevermakingtheirwayintoherbowl！’WhatImeanis，Josiah，thatnolongexplanationwillbeneeded。IthinkfromwhatIrememberofhim，thathewoulddoforusanythingthathecoulddo。’
’ThenIwillgototheman，andwillhumblemyselfbeforehim。Eventhat，hardasitistome，maybeadutythatIowe。’MrCrawleyashesaidthiswasrememberingthefactthathewasaclergymanoftheChurchofEngland，andthathehadarankofhisowninthecountry，which，didheeverdosuchathingasgooutfordinnerincompany，wouldestablishforhimacertainrightofprecedence；whereasthisattorney，ofwhomhewasspeaking，was，sotosay，nobodyintheeyesoftheworld。
’Thereneedbenohumbling，Josiah，otherthanthatwhichisduefromamantomaninallcircumstances。Butnevermind；wewillnottalkaboutthat。Ifitseemsgoodtoyou，gotoMrToogood。Ithinkthatitisgood。MayIwritetohimandsaythatyouwillgo？’
’Iwillwritetohimmyself。’
Thenthewifepausedbeforesheaskedthenextquestion——pausedforsomeminuteortwo，andthanaskeditwithanxiousdoubt——’AndmayIgowithyou，Josiah？’
’Whyshouldtwogowhenonecandothework？’heansweredsharply。’Havewemoneysomuchtocommand？’
’Indeed，no。’
’Youshouldgoanddoitall，foryouarewiserinthesethingsthanI
am，wereitnotthatImaynotdaretoshow——thatIsubmitmyselftomywife。’
’Nay，mydear！’
’Butitisay，mydear。Itisso。Thisisathingsuchasmendo；notsuchaswomendo，unlesstheybeforlornandunaidedofmen。IknowthatIamweakwhereyouarestrong；thatIamcrazedwhereyouareclear—witted。’
’Imeantnotthat，Josiah。ItwasofyourhealththatIthought。’
’NeverthelessitisasIsay；but，forallthat，itmaynotbethatyoushoulddomywork。Therearethosewatchingmewhowouldsay，\"Lo！Heconfesseshimselfincapable。\"Andthensomeonewouldwhispersomethingofamadhouse。Mary，Ifearthatworsethanaprison。’
’MayGodinHismercyforbidsuchcruelty！’
’ButImustlooktoit，mydear。Doyouthinkthatthatwoman，whositsatBarchesterinhighplaces，disgracingherselfandthatpunyecclesiasticallordwhoisherhusband——doyouthinkthatshewouldnotimmuremeifshecould？Sheisashe—wolf——onlylessreasonablethanthedumbbruteasshesharpensherteethinmalicecomingfromanger，andnotinmalicecomingfromhungerasdotheouterwolvesoftheforest。Itellyou，Mary，thatifshehadacolourablegroundforheraction，shewouldsweartomorrowthatIammad。’
’YoushallgoalonetoLondon。’
’Yes，Iwillgoalone。TheyshallnotsaythatIcannotyetdomyownworkasamanshoulddo。Istoodupbeforehim，thepunymanwhoiscalledabishop，andbeforeherwhomakesherselfgreatbyhislittleness，andIscornedthembothtotheirfaces。ThoughtheshoeswhichIhadonwerebroken，asImyselfcouldnotbutseewhenIstood，yetIwasgreaterthantheywerewithalltheirpurpleandfinelinen。’
’But，Josiah，mycousinwillnotbeharshtoyou。’
’Well——andifhebenot？’
’Ill—usageyoucanbear；andviolentill—usage，suchasthatwhichMrsProudieallowedherselftoexhibit，youcanrepaywithinterest；butkindnessseemstobetooheavyaburdenforyou。’
’Iwillstruggle。Iwillendeavour。Iwillspeakbutlittle，and，ifpossible，Iwilllistenmuch。Now，mydear，Iwillwritetothisman，andyoushallgivemetheaddressthatisproperforhim。’Thenhewrotetheletter，notacceptingawordinthewayofdictationfromhiswife，but’cravinggreatkindnessofashortinterview，forwhichheventuredtobecomeasolicitor，urgedtheretobyhiswife’sassurancethatonewithwhomhewasconnectedbyfamilytieswoulddoasmuchasthisforthepossiblepreservationofthehonourofthefamily。’InanswertothisMrToogoodwrotebackasfollows：——’DearMrCrawley，IwillbeatmyofficeallThursdaymorningnextfromtentotwo，andwilltakecarethatyoushan’tbekeptwaitingformeabovetenminutes。Youparsonsneverlikewaiting。Buthadn’tyoubettercomeandbreakfastwithmeandMariaatnine？Thenwe’dhaveatalkaswewalkedtotheoffice。Yoursalways，THOMASTOOGOOD。’Andtheletterwasdatedfromtheattorney’sprivatehouseinTavistockSquare。
’Iamsurehemeanstobekind，’saidMrsCrawley。
’Doubtlesshemeanstobekind。Butkindnessisrough；——Iwillnotsayunmannerly，asthewordwouldbeharsh。IhaveneverevenseentheladywhomhecallsMaria。’
’Sheishiswife！’
’SoIwouldventuretosuppose；butsheisunknowntome。Iwillwriteagain，andthankhim，andsaythatIwillbewithhimattentothemoment。’
Therewerestillmanythingstobesettledbeforethejourneycouldbemade。MrCrawley，inhisfirstplan，proposedthatheshouldgoupbynightmailtrain，travellinginthethirdclass，havingwalkedovertoSilverbridgetomeetit；thatheshouldthenwalkaboutLondonfrom5amto10am，andafterwardscomedownbyanafternoontraintowhichathirdclasswasalsoattached。Butatlasthiswifepersuadedhimthatsuchataskasthat，performedinthemiddleofwinter，wouldbeenoughtokillanyman，andthat，ifattempted，itwouldcertainlykillhim；andheconsentedatlasttosleepthenightintown——beingspeciallymovedtheretobydiscoveringthathecould，inconformitywiththisscheme，getinandoutofthetrainatastationconsiderablynearertohimthanSilverbridge，andthathecouldgetareturn—ticketatathird—classfare。Thewholejourney，hefound，couldbedoneforapound，allowinghimsevenshillingsforhisnight’sexpensesinLondon；andoutoftheresourcesofthefamilytherewereproducedtwosovereigns，sothatintheeventofaccidenthewouldnotutterlybeacastawayfromwantoffunds。
Sohestartedonhisjourneyafteranearlydinner，almosthopefulthroughthenewexcitementofajourneytoLondon，andhiswifewalkedwithhimnearlyasfarasthestation。’Donotrejectmycousin’skindness，’werethelastwordsshespoke。
’Forhisprofessionalkindness，ifhewillextendittome，Iwillbemostthankful，’hereplied。Shedidnotdaretosaymore；norhadshedaredtowriteprivatelytohercousin，askingforanyspecialhelp，lestbydoingsosheshouldseemtoimpugnthesufficiencyandstabilityofherhusband’sjudgment。Hegotuptotownlateatnight，andhavingmadeinquiryofoneoftheporters，hehiredabedforhimselfintheneighbourhoodoftherailwaystation。Herehehadacupofteaandamorselofbread—and—butter，andinthemorninghebreakfastedagainonthesamefare。’NoIhavenoluggage，’hehadsaidtothegirlatthepublic—house，whohadaskedhimastohistravellinggear。’Ifluggagebeneededasacertificateofrespectability，Iwillpassonelsewhere，’
saidhe。Thegirlstared，andassuredhimthatshedidnotdoubthisrespectability。’IamaclergymanoftheChurchofEngland，’hehadsaid，’butmycircumstancespreventmefromseekingamoreexpensivelodging。’Theydidtheirbesttomakehimcomfortable，and，Ithink，almostdisappointedhiminnotheapingfurthermisfortunesonhishead。
HewasinRaymond’sBuildingsathalf—pastnine，andforhalfanhourwalkedupanddowntheumbrageouspavement——itusedtobeumbrageous，butperhapsthetreeshavegonenow——beforethedoorsofthevariouschambers。HecouldheartheclockstrikefromGray’sInn；andthemomentthatithadstruckhewasturningin，butwasencounteredinthepassagebyMrToogood，whowasequallypunctualwithhimself。StrangestoriesaboutMrCrawleyhadreachedMrToogood’shousehold，andthatMaria，thementionofwhoseChristiannamehadbeensooffensivetotheclergyman，hadbeggedherhusbandnottobeamomentlate。PoorMrToogood，whoonordinarydaysdidperhapstakeafewminutes’grace，wasthushurriedawayalmostwithhisbreakfastinhisthroat，and，aswehaveseen，justsavedhimself。’Perhaps，sir，youareMrCrawley？’hesaid，inagood—humoured，cheeryvoice。Hewasagood—humoured，cheery—lookingman，aboutfiftyyearsofage，withgrizzledhairandsunburntface，andlargewhiskers。Nobodywouldhavetakenhimtobeapartnerinanyofthosegreathousesofwhichwehavereadinhistory——theQuirk，GammonandSnapsoftheprofession，ortheDodsonandFoggs，whoareimmortal。
’Thatismyname，sir，’saidMrCrawley，takingoffhishatandbowinglow，’andIamherebyappointmenttomeetMrToogood，thesolicitor，whosenameIseeaffixeduponthedoor—post。’
’IamMrToogood，thesolicitor，andIhopetoseeyouquitewell，MrCrawley。’Thentheattorneyshookhandswiththeclergymanandprecededhimupstairstothefrontroomonthefirstfloor。’Hereweare，MrCrawley，andpraytakeachair。Iwishyoucouldhavemadeitconvenienttocomeandseeusathome。Weareratherlong，asmywifesays——longinfamily，shemeans，andthereforearenotverywelloffforsparebeds——’
’Oh，sir。’