’Oh，dear；oh，dear；oh，dear，’saidthebishop。
’Whydoyoufretyourselfinthatway？’
’Becauseyouwillgetmeintotrouble。Itellyoutheonlythingtobedoneistoissueacommissionwiththeruraldeanattheheadofit。’
’Thenissueacommission。’
’Andtheywilltakethreemonths。’
’Whyshouldtheytakethreemonths？Whyshouldtheytakemorethanthreedays——orthreehours？Itisallplainsailing。’
’Moreshameforthemwhomakeitso。’
’Butitisso。IfIweretotakelegalproceedingsagainsthim，itwouldcost——ohdear——morethanathousandpounds，Ishouldsay。’
’Ifitcoststwo，youmustdoit，’MrsProudie’sangerwasstillveryhot，orshewouldnothavespokenofanunremunerativeoutlayofmoneyinsuchlanguageasthat。
Inthismannershedidnotcometounderstand，beforethearrivalofMrChadwick，thatherhusbandcouldtakenolegalstepstowardssilencingMrCrawleyuntilacommissionofclergymenhadbeenappointedtoinquireintothematter，andthatthecommissionshouldbeheadedbytheruraldeanwithinthelimitsofwhoseruraldeanerytheparishofHogglestockwassituated，orbysomebeneficedparochialclergymanofreputeintheneighbourhood。NowtheruraldeanwasDrTempestofSilverbridge——whohadheldthatpositionbeforethecomingofDrProudietothediocese；
andtherehadgrownupinthebosomofMrsProudieastrongfeelingthatunduemercyhadbeenshowntoMrCrawleybythemagistratesofSilverbridge，ofwhomDrTempesthadbeenone。’Thesemagistrateshadtakenbailforhisappearanceattheassizes，insteadofcommittinghimtoprisonatonce——astheywereboundtodo，whensuchanoffenceasthathadbeencommittedbyaclergyman。But，no；——eventhoughtherewasaclergymenamongthem，theyhadthoughtnothingofthesoulsofthepoorpeople！’Insuchlanguage，MrsProudiehadspokenoftheaffairatSilverbridge，andhavingoncecommittedherselftosuchanopinion，ofcourseshethoughtthatDrTempestwouldgothroughfireandwaterandwouldomitnostretchofwhatlittlejudicialpowermightbecommittedtohishands——withtheviewofopposinghisbishop，andmaintainingtheculpritinisposition。’Insuchacaseasthis，cannotyounameanactingruraldeanyourself？DrTempest，youknow，isveryold。’’No，mydear；no；Icannot。’’YoucanaskMrChadwick，atanyrate，andthenyoucouldnameMrThumble。’’ButMrThumbledoesn’tevenholdalivinginthediocese。Oh，dear；oh，dear；oh，dear！’AndsothematterrestedtillMrChadwickcame。
MrsProudiehadnodoubtintendedtohaveMrChadwickalltoherself——atanyratesoastoencounterhiminthefirstinstance。Buthavingbeenatlengthconvincedthattheinquirybytheruraldeanwasreallynecessaryasapreliminary，andhavingalsosleptuponthequestionofexpenditure，shegavedirectionthatthelawyershouldbeshownintothebishop’sstudy，andshetookcaretobeabsentatthemomentofhisarrival。OfcourseshedidnotintendthatMrChadwickshouldleavethepalacewithouthavingheardwhatshehadtosay，butshethoughtthatitwouldbewellthatheshouldbemadetoconceivethatthoughthesummonshadbeenwrittenbyher，ithadreallybeenintendedonthepartofthebishop。’MrChadwickwillbewithyouateleven，bishop，’shesaid，asshegotupfromthebreakfast—table，atwhichshelefthislordshipwithtwoofhisdaughtersandwithamarriedson—in—law，aclergymanwhowasstayinginthehouse。’Verywell，mydear，’saidthebishop，withasmile——forhewasanxiousnottobetrayanyvexationathiswife’sinterferencebeforehisdaughtersortheRevMrTickler。Butheunderstooditall。MrChadwickhadbeensentforwithreferencetoMrCrawley，andhewasdriven——absolutelydriven，toproposetohislawyerthatthiscommissionofinquiryshouldbeissued。
PunctuallyatelevenMrChadwickcame，wearingaverylongfaceasheenteredthepalacedoor——forhefeltthathewouldinallprobabilitybenowcompelledtoquarrelwithMrsProudie。Muchhecouldbear，buttherewasalimittohisendurance。Shehadneverabsolutelysentforhimbefore，thoughshehadofteninterferedwithhim。’Ishallhavetotellherabitofmymind，’hesaid，ashesteppedacrosstheClose，habitedinhisbestsuitofblack，withmostexactwhitecravat，andyetlookingnotquitelikeaclergyman——withsometouchoftheundertakerinhisgait。Whenhefoundthathewasshownintothebishop’sroom，andthatthebishopwasthere——thebishoponly——hismindwasrelieved。Itwouldhavebeenbetterthatthebishopshouldhavewrittenhimself，orthatthechaplainshouldhavewritteninhislordship’sname；that，however，wasatrifle。
Butthebishopdidnotknowwhattosaytohim。Ifheintendedtodirectaninquirytobemadebytheruraldean，itwouldbebynomeansbecomingthatheshouldconsultMrChadwickastodoingso。Itmightbewell，orifnotwellatanyratenotimproper，thatheshouldmakeapplicationtoDrTempestthroughMrChadwick；butinthatcasehemustgivetheorderatonce，andhestillwishedtoavoiditifitwerepossible。Sincehehadbeeninthediocesenocasesograveasthishadbeenpusheduponhim。Theinterventionoftheruraldeaninanordinarywayhehadused——hadbeenmadetouse——morethanonce，byhiswife。A
vicarhadbeenabsentalittletoolongfromoneparish，andtherehadbeenrumoursaboutbrandy—and—waterinanother。OncehehadbeenverynearlyindeepwaterbecauseMrsProudiehadtakenitindudgeonthatacertainyoungrector，whohadbeenleftawidower，hadaprettygovernessforhischildren；andtherehadbeenthatcase，sadlynotoriousinthedioceseatthetime，ofourexcellentfriendMrRobartsofFramley，whenthebailiffswereinthehousebecausehecouldn’tpayhisdebts——orrather，thedebtsofhisfriendforwhomhehadsignedbills。Butinallthesecasessomegoodfortunehadintervened，andhehadbeensavedfromtheterriblenecessityofanyulteriorprocess。Butnow——nowhewasbeingdrivenbeyondhimself，andalltonopurpose。IfMrsProudiewouldonlywaitthreemonthsthecivillawwoulddoitallforhim。ButherewasMrChadwickintheroom，andheknewthatitwouldbeuselessforhimtoattempttotalktoMrChadwichaboutothermatters，andsodismisshim。ThewifeofhisbosomwouldbedownuponthembeforeChadwickcouldbeoutoftheroom。
’H—m—ha。Howd’yedo，MrChadwick——won’tyousitdown？’MrChadwickthankedhislordship，andsatdown。’It’sverycold，isn’tit，MrChadwick？’
’Ahardfrost，mylord，butabeautifulday。’
’Won’tyoucomenearthefire？’ThebishopknewthatMrsProudiewasontheroad，andhadaneyetotheproperstrategicalpositionofhisforces。MrsProudiewouldcertainlytakeupherpositioninacertainchairfromwhencethelightenabledhertorakeherhusbandthoroughly。
Whatadvantageshemighthavefromthishecouldnotprevent；——buthecouldsoplaceMrChadwick，thatthelawyershouldbemorethanwithinreachofhiseyethanthatofhiswife。Sothebishoppointedtoanarm—chairoppositetohimselfandnearthefire，andMrChadwickseatedhimselfaccordingly。
’ThisisaverysadaffairaboutMrCrawley，’saidthebishop。
’Verysaidindeed，’saidthelawyer。’Ineverpitiedamansomuchinmylife，mylord。’
Thiswasnotexactlythelinewhichthebishopwasdesirousoftaking。
’Ofcourseheistobepitied；——ofcourseheis。ButfromallIhear，MrChadwick，Iamafraid——Iamafraidwemustnotacquithim。’
’Astothat，mylord，hehastostandhistrial，ofcourse。’
’But，yousee，MrChadwick，regardinghimasabeneficedclergyman——withacureofsouls——thequestioniswhetherIshouldbejustifiedinleavinghimwhereheistillhistrialshallcomeon。’
’Ofcourseyourlordshipknowsbestaboutthat，but——’
’Iknowthereisadifficulty。Iknowthat。ButIaminclinedtothinkthatintheinterestsoftheparishIamboundtoissueacommissionofinquiry。’
’Ibelieveryourlordshiphasattemptedtosilencehim，andthathehasrefusedtocomply。’
’Ithoughtitbetterforeverybody’ssake——especiallyforhisown，thatheshouldforawhileberelievedfromhisduties；butheisanobstinateman，averyobstinateman。Imadetheattemptwithallconsiderationforhisfeelings。’
’Heishardputtoit，mylord。Iknowthemanandhispride。Thedeanhasspokenofhimtomemorethanonce，andnobodyknowshimsowellasthedean。IfImightventuretoofferanopinion——’
’Goodmorning，MrChadwick，’saidMrsProudie，comingintotheroomandtakingheraccustomedseat。’Nothankyou，no；Iwillstayawayfromthefire，ifyouplease。Hislordshiphasspokentoyounodoubtaboutthisunfortunatewretchedman。’
’Wearespeakingofhimnow，mydear。’
’Somethingmustofcoursebedonetoputastoptothecryingdisgraceofhavingsuchamanpreachingfromapulpitinthisdiocese。WhenI
thinkofthesoulsofthepeopleinthatpoorvillage，myhairliterallystandsonend。Andthenheisdisobedient！’
’Thatistheworstofit，’saidthebishop。’Itwouldhavebeensomuchbetterforhimselfifhewouldhaveallowedmetoprovidequietlyfortheservicestillthetrialbeover。’
’Icouldhavetoldyouthat，mylord，thathewouldnotdothat，fromwhatIknewofhim，’saidMrChadwick。
’Buthemustdoit，’saidMrsProudie。’Hemustbemadetodoit。’
’Hislordshipwillfinditdifficult，’saidMrChadwick。
’Icanissueacommission，youknow，totheruraldean，’saidthebishopmildly。
’Yes，youcandothat。AndDrTempestintwomonths’timewillhavenamedhisassessors——’
’DrTempestmustnotnamethem；thebishopmustnamethem，’saidMrsProudie。
’Itiscustomarytoleavethattotheruraldean，’saidMrChadwick。
’Thebishopnodoubtcanobjecttoanyonenamed。’
’Andcanspeciallyselectanyclergymanhepleasesfromthearchdeaconry，’saidthebishop。’Ihaveknownitdone。’
’Theruraldeaninsuchacasehasprobablybeenanoldman，andnotactive，’saidthelawyer。
’AndDrTempestisaveryoldman，’saidMrsProudie，’andinsuchamatternotatalltrustworthy。Hewasoneofthemagistrateswhotookbail。’
’Hislordshipcouldhardlysethimaside，’saidthelawyer。’AtanyrateIwouldnotrecommendhimtotry。Ithinkyoumightsuggestacommissionoffive，andproposetwoofthenumberyourself。IdonotthinkthatinsuchacaseDrTempestwouldraiseanyquestion。’
Atlastitwassettledinthisway。MrChadwickwastopreparealettertoDrTempest，forthebishop’ssignature，inwhichthedoctorshouldberequested，astheruraldeantowhomMrCrawleywassubject，toholdacommissionoffivetoinquireintoMrCrawley’sconduct。TheletterwastoexplaintoDrTempestthatthebishop，movedbyhissolicitudeforthesoulsofthepeopleofHogglestock，hadendeavoured，’inafriendlyway，’toinduceMrCrawleytodesistfromhisministrations；butthathavingfailedthroughMrCrawley’sobstinacy，hehadnoalternativebuttoproceedinthisway。’Youhadbettersaythathislordship，asbishopofthediocese，cantakenoheedofthecomingtrial，’saidMrsProudie。
’Ithinkhislordshiphadbettersaynothingatallaboutthetrial，’
saidMrChadwick。’Ithinkitwillbebest，’saidthebishop。
’Butiftheyreportagainsthim，’saidMrChadwick，’youcanonlythenproceedintheecclesiasticalcourt——atyourownexpense。’
’He’llhardlybesoobstinateasthat，’saidthebishop。
’I’mafraidyoudon’tknowhim，mylord，’saidthelawyer。Thebishop，thinkingofthescenewhichhadtakenplaceinthatveryroomonlyyesterday，feltthathedidknowMrCrawley，andfeltalsothatthehopewhichhehadjustexpressedwasoneinwhichhehimselfputnotrust。
Butsomethingmightturnup；anditwasdevoutlytobehopedthatDrTempestwouldtakealongtimeoverhisinquiry。Theassizesmightcomeonassoonasitwasterminated，orveryshortlyafterwards；andtheneverythingmightbewell。’Youwon’tfindDrTempestveryreadyatit，’
saidMrChadwick。Thebishopinhisheartwascomfortedbythewords。
’Buthemustbemadetobereadytodohisduty，’saidMrsProudie，imperiously。MrChadwickshruggedhisshoulders，thengotup，spokehisfarewelllittlespeeches，andleftthepalace。
CHAPTERXXXV
LILYDALEWRITESTWOWORDSINHERBOOK
JohnEamessawnothingmoreofLilyDaletillhepackeduphisportmanteau，lefthismother’shouse，andwenttostayforafewdayswithhisoldfriendLadyJulia；andthisdidnothappentillhehadbeenaboveaweekatGuestwick。MrsDalerepeatedlysaidthatitwasoddthatJohnnyEamesdidnotcometoseethem；andGrace，speakingofhimtoLily，askedwhyhedidnotcome。Lily，inherfunnyway，declaredthathewouldcomesoonenough。Butevenwhileshewasjokingtherewassomethingofhalf—expressedconsciousnessinherwords——asthoughshefeltittobefoolishtospeakofhiscomingasshemightofthatofanyotheryoungman，beforepeoplewhoknewherwholestory。’He’llcomequickenough。Heknows，andIknow，thathiscomingwilldonogood。OfcourseIshallbegladtoseehim。Whyshouldn’tIbegladtoseehim？
I’veknownhimandlikedhimallmylife。Ilikedhimwhentheredidnotseemtobemuchabouthimtolike，andnowthatheisclever，andagreeable，andgood—looking——whichheneverwasasalad——whyshouldn’tIgoonlikinghim？He’smorelikeabrothertomethananybodyelseI’vegot。James，’——Jameswasherbrother—in—law，DrCrofts——’thinksofnothingbuthispatientsandhisbabies，andmycousinBernardismuchtoograndapersonformetotakethelibertyoflovinghim。IshallbeverygladtoseeJohnnyEames。’FromallwhichMrsDalewasledtobelievethatJohnny’scasewasstillhopeless。Andhowshoulditnotbehopeless？HadnotLilyconfessedwithinthelastweekortwothatshestilllovedAdolphusCrosbie？
MrsEamesalso，andMary，weresurprisedthatJohndidnotgoovertoAllington。’Youhaven’tseenMrsDaleyet，orthesquire？’
’IshallseethemwhenIamatthecottage。’
’Yes；——nodoubt。Butitseemsstrangethatyoushouldbeheresolongwithoutgoingtothem。’
’There’stimeenough，’saidhe。’IshallhavenothingelsetodowhenI’matthecottage。’Then，whenMaryhadspokentohimagaininprivate，expressingahopethattherewas’nothingwrong’，hehadbeenveryangrywithhissister。’Whatdoyoumeanbywrong？Whatrubbishyougirlstalk！Andyouneverhaveanydelicacyoffeelingtomakeyousilent。’
’Oh，John，don’tsaysuchhardthingsasthatofme！’
’ButIdosaythem。You’llmakemeswearamongyousomedaythatIwillneverseeLilyDaleagain。Asitis，IwishIneverhadseenher——simplebecauseIamsodunnedaboutit。’InallofwhichIthinkthatJohnnywasmanifestlywrong。WhenthehumourwasonhimhewasfondenoughoftalkingaboutLilyDale。Hadhenottaughthertodoso，IdoubtwhetherhissisterwouldeverhavementionedLily’snametohim。’Ididnotmeantodunyou，John，’saidMary，meekly。
ButatlasthewenttoLadyJulia’s，andwasnosoonertherethanhewasreadytostartforAllington。WhenLadyJuliaspoketohimaboutLily，hedidnotventuretosnubher。Indeed，ofallhisfriends，LadyJuliawastheonewhomonthissubjectheallowedhimselfthemostunrestrictedconfidence。Hecameoveroneday，justbeforedinner，anddeclaredhisintentionofwalkingovertoAllingtonimmediatelyafterbreakfastonthefollowingmorning。’It’sthelasttime，LadyJulia，’hesaid。
’Soyousay，Johnny。’
’AndsoImeanit！What’sthegoodofamanflitteringawayhislife？
What’sthegoodofwishingforwhatyoucan’tget？’
’JacobwasnotinsuchahurrywhenhewishedforRachel。’
’Thatwasallverywellforanoldpatriarchwhohadsevenoreighthundredyearstolive。’
’MydearJohn，youforgetyourBible。Jacobdidnotlivehalfaslongasthat。’
’Helivedlongenough，andslowlyenough，tobeabletowaitfourteenyears；——andthenhehadsomethingtocomforthiminthemeantime。Andafterall，LadyJulia，it’smorethansevenyearssinceIfirstthoughtLilywastheprettiestgirlIeversaw。’
’Howoldareyounow？’’Twenty—seven——andshe’stwenty—four。’
’You’vetimeenoughyet，ifyou’llonlybepatient。’
’I’llbepatientfortomorrow，LadyJulia，butneveragain。NotthatI
meantoquarrelwithher。I’mnotsuchafoolastoquarrelwithagirlbecauseshecan’tlikeme。Iknowhowitallis。Ifthatscoundrelhadnotcomeacrossmypathjustwhenhedid——inthatverynickoftime，allmighthavebeenrightbetwixtherandme。Icouldn’thaveofferedtomarryherbefore，whenIhadn’tasmuchincomeaswouldhavefoundherbread—and—butter。Andthen，justasbettertimescametome，hesteppedin！IwonderwhetheritwillbeexpectedofmethatIshouldforgivehim？’
’Asfarasthatgoes，youhavenorighttobeangrywithhim。’
’ButIam——allthesame。’
’AndsowasI——butnotforsteppingin，asyoucallit。’
’YouandIaredifferent，LadyJulia。Iwasangrywithhimforsteppingin；butIcouldn’tshowit。Thenhesteppedout，andIdidmanagetoshowit。AndnowIshouldn’twonderifhedoesn’tstepinagain。Afterall，whyshouldhehavesuchapower？Itwassimplythenickoftimewhichgaveittohim。’ThatJohnEamesshouldbeabletofindsomeconsolationinthisconsiderationisdevoutlytobehopedbyusall。
TherewasnothingsaidaboutLilyDalethenextmorningatbreakfast。
LadyJuliaobservedthatJohnwasdressedalittlemoreneatlythanusual；——thoughthechangewasnotsuchastohavecalledforherspecialobservation，hadshenotknownthebusinessonwhichhewasintent。
’YouhavenothingtosendtotheDales？’hesaid，ashegotupfromthetable。
’Nothingbutmylove，Johnny。’
’Noworstedembroiderywork——orapotofspecialjamforthesquire？’
’No，sir，nothing；thoughIshouldliketomakeyoucarryapairofpanniers，ifIcould。’
’Theywouldbecomemewell，’saidJohnny，’forIamgoingonanass’serrand。’Then，withoutwaitingforthewordofaffectionwhichwasontheoldwoman’slips，hegothimselfoutoftheroom，andstartedonhisjourney。
Thewalkwasonlythreemilesandtheweatherwasdryandfrosty，andhehadcometotheturnleadinguptothechurchandthesquire’shousealmostbeforeherememberedthathewasnearAllington。Herehepausedforamomenttothink。Ifhecontinuedhiswaydownbythe’RedLion’
andthroughAllingtonStreet，hemustknockatMrsDale’sdoor，andaskforadmissionbymeansoftheservant——aswouldbedonebyanyordinaryvisitor。Buthecouldmakehiswayontothelawnbygoingupbeyondthewallofthechurchyardandthroughthesquire’sgarden。Heknewthepathwell——verywell；andhethoughtthathemighttakesomuchlibertyasthat，bothwiththesquireandwithMrsDale，althoughhisvisitstoAllingtonwerenotsofrequentnowastheyusedtobeinthedaysofhisboyhood。Hedidnotwishtobeadmittedbytheservant，andthereforehewentthroughthegardens。Luckilyhedidnotseethesquire，whowouldhavedetainedhim，andheescapedfromHopkins，theoldgardener，withlittlemorethanaword。’I’mgoingdowntoseetheladies，Hopkins；I
supposeIshallfindthem？’Andthen，whileHopkinswasarranginghisspadesothathemightleanuponitforalittlechat，Johnnywasgoneandhadmadehiswayintotheothergarden。HehadthoughtitpossiblethathemightmeetLilyoutamongthewalksbyherselfandsuchameetingasthiswouldhavesuitedhimbetterthananyother。Andashecrossedthelittlebridgewhichseparatedthegardenshethoughtofmorethanonesuchmeeting——ofoneespecialoccasiononwhichhehadfirstventuredtotellherinplainwordsthathelovedher。ButbeforethatdayCrosbiehadcomethere，andatthemomentinwhichhewasspeakingofhislovesheregardedCrosbieasanangeloflightupontheearth。
Whathopecouldtherehavebeenforhimthen？Whatusewasthereintellingsuchataleofloveatthattime？Whenhetoldit，heknewCrosbiehadbeenbeforehim。HeknewthatCrosbiewasatthatmomenttheangeloflight。Butashehadneverbeforebeenabletospeakofhislove，sowashethenunablenottospeakofit。Hehadspoken，andofcoursehadbeensimplyrebuked。SincethatdayCrosbiehadceasedtobeanangeloflight，andhe，JohnEames，hadspokenoften。Buthehadspokeninvain，andnowhewouldspeakonceagain。
HewentthroughthegardenandoverthelawnbelongingtotheSmallHouseandsawnoone。Heforgot，Ithink，thatladiesdonotcomeouttopickroseswhenthegroundisfrozen，andthatcroquetisnotofteninprogresswiththehour—frostonthegrass。Sohewalkeduptothelittleterracebeforethedrawing—room，andlookinginsawMrsDale，andLily，andGraceattheirmorningwork。Lilywasdrawing，andMrsDalewaswriting，andGracehadherneedleinherhand。Asithappened，nooneatfirstperceivedhim，andhehadtimetofeelthatafterallhewouldhavemanageditbetterifhehadbeenannouncedintheusualway。As，however，itwasnownecessarythatheshouldannouncehimself，heknockedatthewindow，andtheyallimmediatelylookedupandsawhim。
’It’smycousinJohn，’saidGrace。’Oh，Johnny，howareyouatlast？’
saidMrsDale。ButitwasLilywho，withoutspeaking，openedthewindowforhim，whowasthefirsttogivehimherhand，andwholedhimthroughintotheroom。
’It’sagreatshamemycominginthisway，’saidJohn，’andlettingallthecoldairinuponyou。’
’Weshallsurviveit，’saidMrsDale。’Isupposeyouhavejustcomedownfrommybrother—in—law？’
’No；Ihavenotseenthesquireasyet。IwilldosobeforeIgoback，ofcourse。Butitseemedsuchacommonplacesortofthingtogoroundbythevillage。’
’Weareverygladtoseeyou，bywhateverwayyoucame；——arewenot，mamma？’saidLily。
’I’mnotsosureofthat。Wewereonlysayingyesterdaythatasyouhadbeeninthecountryafortnightwithoutcomingtous，wedidnotthinkwewouldbeathomewhenyoudidcome。’
’ButIhavecaughtyou，yousee，’saidJohnny。
Andsotheywenton，chattingofoldtimesandofmutualfriendsverycomfortablyforfullanhour。AndtherewassomeseriousconversationaboutGrace’sfatherandhisaffairs，andJohndeclaredhisopinionthatMrCrawleyshouldgotohisuncle，ThomasToogood，notatallknowingthatatthattimeMrCrawleyhimselfhadcometothesameopinion。AndJohngavethemanelaboratedescriptionofSirRaffleBuffle，standingupwithhisbacktothefirewithhishatonhishead，andspeakingwithaloudharshvoice，toshowthemthewayinwhichhedeclaredthatthatgentlemanreceivedhisinferiors；andthenbowingandscrapingandrubbinghishandstogetherandsimperingwithwould—besoftness——declaredthatafterthatfashionSirRafflereceivedhissuperiors。Andtheywereverymerry——sothatnoonewouldhavethoughtthatJohnnywasadespondentlover，nowbentonthrowingthediceforhislaststake；orthatLilywasawarethatshewasinthepresenceofonelover，andthatshewasliketofallonthegroundbetweentwostools——havingtwolovers，neitherofwhomcouldserveherturn。
’Howcanyouconsenttoservehimifhe’ssuchamanasthat？’saidLily，speakingofSirRaffle。
’Idonotservehim。IservetheQueen——orratherthepublic。Idon’ttakehiswages，andhedoesnotplayhistrickswithme。Heknowsthathecan’t。Hehastriedit，andfailed。AndheonlykeepswhereIambecauseI’vehadsomemoneyleftme。Hethinksitfinetohaveaprivatesecretarywithafortune。Iknowthathetellspeopleallmannerofliesaboutit，makingitouttobefivetimesasmuchasitis。DearoldHuffleSnuffle。Heissuchanass；andyethe’shadwitenoughtogettothetopofthetree，andtokeephimselfthere。Hebegantheworldwithoutapenny。Nowhehasgotahandletohisname，andhe’llliveincloverallhislife。It’sveryodd，isn’tit，MrsDale？’
’Isupposehedoeshiswork？’
’Whenmengetsohighasthat，there’snoknowingwhethertheyworkorwhethertheydon’t。Thereisn’tmuchleftforthemtodo，asfarasI
cansee。Theyhavetolookbeautiful，andfrightentheyoungones。’
’AnddoesSirRafflelookbeautiful？’Lilyasked。
’Afterafashionhedoes。Thereissomethingimposingaboutsuchamantillyou’reusedtoit，andcanseethroughit。Ofcourseit’sallpadding。Therearemenwhowork，nodoubt。Butamongthebigwigs，andbishopsandcabinetministers，Ifancythatthelookingbeautifulisthechiefpartofit。Dearme，youdon’tmeantosayit’sluncheontime？’