’DoyouthinkthatIwouldtellyouafalsehoodaboutit？WhatImeantwasthatitisakindofthingthatonedoesn’tliketalkingabout，merelybecausestoriesarebandiedabout。Peoplearesofondofsayingthatthismanisengagedtothatwoman，andofmakinguptales；anditseemssofoolishtocontradictsuchthings。’
’Butyouknowthatyouusedtobeveryfondofher。’
Hehadtakenuphishatwhenhehadrisenfromthesofa，andwasstillstandingwithitreadyinhishand。Hewasevennowhalf—mindedtoescape；andthenameofLilyDaleinMissDemoline’smouthwassodistastefultohimthathewouldhavedoneso——hewouldhavegoneinsheerdisgust，hadshenotstoodinhisway，sothathecouldnotescapewithoutmovingher，orgoingroundbehindthesofa。Shedidnotstirtomakewayforhim，anditmaybethatsheunderstoodthathewasherprisoner，inspiteofherlatecommandtohimtogo。Itmaybe，also，thatsheunderstoodhisvexationandthecauseofit，andthatshesawtheexpediencyofleavingLilyDalealoneforthepresent。Atanyrate，shepressedhimnomoreuponthematter。’Arewetobefriendsagain？’
shesaid。
’Ihopeso，’saidJohnny。
’Thereismyhand，then。’SoJohnnytookherhandandpressedit，andhelditforalittlewhile——justlongenoughtoseemtogiveameaningtotheaction。’Youwillgettounderstandmesomeday，’shesaid，’andwilllearnthatIdonotliketobereckonedamongtheeverybodiesbythoseforwhomIreally——really——reallyhavearegard。WhenIamangry，Iamangry。’
’Youwereveryangryjustnow，whenyoushowedmethewaytothedoor。’
’AndImeantittoo——fortheminute。Onlythink——supposingyouhadgone！Weshouldneverhaveseeneachotheragain；——never，never！Whatachangeonewordmaymake！’
’Onewordoftendoesmakeachange。’
’Doesitnot？Justalittle\"yes\"or\"no\"。A\"no\"issaidwhena\"yes\"
ismeant，andthentherecomesnosecondchance，andwhatachangethatmaybefrombrighthopestodesolation！Or，worseagain，a\"yes\"issaidwhena\"no\"shouldbesaid——whenthespeakerknowsthatitshouldbe\"no\"。Whatadifferencethat\"no\"makes！Whenonethinksofit，onewondersthatawomanshouldeversayanythingbut\"no\"。’
’Theyneverdidsayanythingelsetome，’saidJohnny。
’Idon’tbelieveit。Idaresaythetruthis，youneveraskedanybody。’
’Didanybodyeveraskyou？’
’Whatwouldyougivetoknow？ButIwilltellyoufrankly；——yes。Andonce——onceIthoughtthatmyanswerwouldnothavebeena\"no\"。’
’Butyouchangedyourmind？’
’WhenthemomentcameIcouldnotbringmyselftosaythewordthatshouldrobmeofmylibertyforever。Ihadsaid\"no\"tohimoftenenoughbefore——poorfellow；andonthisoccasion，hetoldmethathehadaskedmeforthelasttime。\"Ishallnotgivemyselfanotherchance，\"hesaid，\"forIshallbeonboardshipwithinaweek。\"Imerelybadehimgood—bye。ItwastheonlyanswerIgavehim。Heunderstoodme，andsincethatdayhisfoothasnotpressedhisnativesoil。’
’Andwasitallbecauseyouaresofondofyourliberty？’saidJohnny。
’Perhaps——Ididnot——lovehim，’saidMissDemolines，thoughtfully。Shewasnowagainseatedinherchair，andJohnEameshadgonebacktohiscornerofthesofa。’IfIhadreallylovedhim，Isupposeitwouldhavebeenotherwise。Hewasagallantfellow，andhadtwothousandayearofhisown，inIndiastockandothersecurities。’
’Dearme！Andhehasnotmarriedyet？’
’HewrotemeawordtosaythathewouldnevermarrytillIwasmarried——butthatonthedaythatheshouldhearofmywedding，hewouldgotothefirstsinglewomannearhimandpropose。Itwasadrollthingtosay；wasitnot？’
’Thesinglewomanoughttofeelherselfflattered。’
’Hewouldfindplentytoaccepthim。Besidesbeingsowelloffhewasaveryhandsomefellow，andisconnectedwithpeopleoftitle。Hehadeverythingtorecommendhim。’
’Andyetyourefusedhim？’
’Yes。YouthinkIwasfoolish；——doyounot？’
’Idon’tthinkyouwerefoolishifyoudidn’tcareforhim。’
’Itwasmydestiny，Isuppose；IdaresayIwaswrong。Othergirlsmarrywithoutviolentlove，anddoverywellafterwards。LookatMariaClutterbuck。’
ThenameofMariaClutterbuckhadbecomeodioustoJohnEames。AslongasMissDemolineswouldcontinuetotalkaboutherselfhecouldlistenwithsomeamountofgratification。ConversationonthatsubjectwasthenaturalprogressoftheBayswaterromance。AndifMadalinawouldonlycallherfriendbyherpresentname，hehadnostrongobjectiontoanoccasionalmentionofthelady；butthecombinednamesofMariaClutterbuckhadcometobeabsolutelydistastefultohim。HedidnotbelieveintheMariaClutterbuckfriendship——eitherinitspastorpresentexistence，asdescribedbyMadalina。Indeed，hedidnotputstrongfaithinanythingthatMadalinasaidtohim。Inthehandsomegentlemanwithtwothousandayear，hedidnotbelieveatall。ButthehandsomegentlemanhadonlybeenmentionedonceinthecourseofhisacquaintancewithMissDemolines，whereasMariaClutterbuckhadcomeupsooften！’UponmywordImustwishyougood—bye，’hesaid。’Itisgoingforeleveno’clock，andIhavetostarttomorrowatseven。’
’Whatdifferencedoesthatmake？’
’Afellowwantstogetalittlesleep，youknow。’
’Go，then；——goandgetyoursleep。Whatasleepy—headgenerationitis。’Johnnylongedtoaskwhetherthelastgenerationwaslesssleepy—headed，andwhetherthegentlemanwithtwothousandayearsatuptalkingallnightbeforehepressedhisfootforthelasttimeonhisnativesoil；buthedidnotdare。Ashesaidtohimselfafterwards，’ItwouldnotdotobringtheBayswaterromancetoosuddenlytotermination！’’Butbeforeyougo，’shecontinued，’Imustsaythewordtoyouaboutthatpicture。DidyouspeaktoMrDalrymple？’
’Ididnot。IhavebeensobusywithdifferentthingsthatIhavenotseenhim。’
’Andnowyouaregoing？’
’Well——totellthetruth，IthinkIshallseehimtonight，inspiteofmybeingsosleepy—headed。IwrotehimalinethatIwouldlookinandsmokeacigarwithhimifhechancedtobeathome！’
’Andthatiswhyyouwanttogo。Agentlemancannotlivewithouthiscigarnow。’
’ItisespeciallyatyourbiddingthatIamgoingtoseehim。’
’Gothen——andmakeyourfriendunderstandthatifhecontinuesthispictureofhis，hewillbringhimselftogreattrouble，andwillprobablyruinthewomanforwhomheprofesses，Ipresume，tofeelsomethinglikefriendship。YoumaytellhimthatMrsVanSieverhasalreadyheardofit。’
’Whotoldher？’demandedJohnny。
’Nevermind。Youneednotlookatmelikethat。ItwasnotI。Doyousupposethatsecretscanbekeptwhensomanypeopleknowthem？EveryservantinMaria’shouseknowsallaboutit。’
’Asforthat，Idon’tsupposeMrsBroughtonmakesanygreatsecretofit。’
’DoyouthinkshehastoldMrsBroughton？Iamsureshehasnot。ImaysaythatIknowshehasnot。MariaClutterbuckisinfatuated。Thereisnootherexcusetobemadeforher。’
’Good—bye，’saidJohnny，hurriedly。
’Andyouarereallygoing？’
’Well——yes。Isupposeso。’
’Gothen。Ihavenothingmoretosaytoyou。’
’IshallcomeandcalldirectlyIreturn，’saidJohnny。
’Youmaydoasyoupleaseaboutthat，sir。’
’Doyoumeanthatyouwon’tbegladtoseemeagain？’
’Iamnotgoingtoflatteryou，MrEames。Mammawillbewellbythattime，Ihope，andIdonotmindtellingyouthatyouareafavouritewithher。’Johnnythoughtthatthiswasparticularlykind，ashehadseensoverylittleoftheoldlady。’Ifyouchoosetocalluponher，’
saidMadalina，’ofcourseshewillbegladtoseeyou。’
’ButIwasspeakingofyourself，youknow？’andJohnnypermittedhimselfforamomenttolooktenderlyather。
’ThenfrommyselfprayunderstandthatIwillsaynothingtoflatteryourself—love。’
’IthoughtyouwouldbekinderjustwhenIwasgoingaway。’
’IthinkIhavebeenquitekindenough。Asyouobservedyourselfjustnow，itisnearlyeleveno’clock，andImustaskyoutogoaway。Bonvoyage，andahappyreturntoyou。’
’AndyouwillbegladtoseemewhenIamback？Tellthatyouwillbegladtoseeme。’
’Iwilltellyounothingofthekind。MrEames，ifyoudo，Iwillbeveryangrywithyou。’Andthenhewent。
OnhiswaybacktohisownlodgingshedidcallonConwayDalrymple，andinspiteofhisneedforearlyrising，satsmokingwiththeartistforanhour。’Ifyoudon’ttakecare，youngman，’saidhisfriend，’youwillfindyourselfinascrapewithyourMadalina。’
’Whatsortofscrape？’
’AsyouwalkawayfromPorchesterTerracesomefineday，youwillhavetocongratulateyourselfonhavingmadeasuccessfuloverturetowardsmatrimony。’
’Youdon’tthinkIamsuchafoolasthatcomesto？’
’Othermenaswiseasyouhavedonethesamesoughtofthing。MissDemolinesisveryclever，andIdaresayyoufinditamusing。’
’Itisn’tsomuchthatshe’sclever，andIcanhardlysaythatitisamusing。Onegetsawfullytiredofit，youknow。Butafellowmusthavesomethingtodo，andthatisasgoodasanythingelse。’
’Isupposeyouhavenotheardthatoneyoungmanlevantedlastyeartosavehimselffromabreachofpromisecase？’
’IwonderwhetherhehadanymoneyinIndiansecurities？’
’Whatmakesyouaskthat？’
’Nothinginparticular。’
’Whateverlittlehechosetosave，andIthinkthatIheardthathewenttoCanada。HisnamewasShorter；andtheysaythat，ontheeveofhisgoing，Madalinasenthimwordthatshehadnoobjectiontothecolonies，andthat，underthepressingemergencyofhisexpatriation，shewaswillingtobecomeMrsShorterwithmoreexpeditionthanusuallyattendsfashionableweddings。Shorter，however，escaped，andhasneverbeenseenbackagain。’
Eamesdeclaredthathedidnotbelieveawordofit。Nevertheless，ashewalkedhomehecametotheconclusionthatifMrShortermusthavebeenthehandsomegentlemanwithIndiansecurities，towhom’no’hadbeensaidoncetoooften。
WhilesittingwithConwayDalrymple，hehadforgottentosayawordaboutJaelandSisera。
CHAPTERXLVII
DRTEMPESTATTHEPALACE。
IntimationhadbeensentfromthepalacetoDrTempestofSilverbridgeofthebishop’sintentionthatacommissionshouldbeheldbyhim，asruraldean，withotherneighbouringclergymen，asassessorswithhim，thatinquirymightbemadeonthepartoftheChurchintothequestionofMrCrawley’sguilt。ItmustbeunderstoodthatbythistimetheopinionhadbecomeverygeneralthatMrCrawleyhadbeenguilty——thathehadfoundthechequeinhishouse，andthathehad，afterholdingitformanymonths，succumbedtotemptation，andappliedittohisownpurposes。Butvariousexcusesweremadeforhimbythosewhosobelieved。Inthefirstplaceitwasfeltbyallwhoreallyknewanythingoftheman’scharacter，thattheveryfactofhiscommittingsuchacrimeprovedhimtobehardlyresponsibleforhisactions。Hemusthaveknown，hadnotalljudgmentinsuchmattersbeentakenfromhim，thatthechequewouldcertainlybetracedbacktohishands。Noattempthadbeenmadeinthedisposingofittodisposeofitinsuchawaythatthetraceshouldbeobliterated。Hehadsimplygivenittoaneighbourwithadirectiontohaveitcashed，andhadwrittenhisownnameonthebackofit。Andtherefore，thoughtherecouldbenodoubtastothetheftinthemindofthosewhosupposedthathehadfoundthechequeinhisownhouse，yettheguiltofthetheftseemedtobealmostannihilatedbythefollyofthethief。Andthenhispoverty，andhisstruggles，andthesufferingsofhiswife，wereremembered；andstoriesweretoldfrommouthtomouthofhisindustryinhisprofession，ofhisgreatzealamongthebrickmakersofHoggleEnd，ofactsofcharitydonebyhimwhichstartledthepeopleofthedistrictintoadmiration：——howhehadworkedwithhisownhandsforthesickpoortowhomhecouldnotgivereliefinmoney，turningawoman’smangleforacoupleofhours，andcarryingaboy’sloadalongthelanes。DrTempestandothersdeclaredthathehadderogatedfromthedignityofhispositionasanEnglishparishclergymanbysuchacts；but，nevertheless，thestoriesofthesedeedsactedstronglyonthemindsofbothmenandwomen，creatinganadmirationforMrCrawleywhichwasmuchstrongerthanthecondemnationofhisguilt。
EvenMrsWalkerandherdaughter，andtheMissPrettymans，hadsofargivenwaythattheyhadceasedtoasseveratetheirbeliefinMrCrawley’sinnocence。Theycontentedthemselveswithsimplyexpressingahopethathewouldbeacquittedbyajury，andthatwhenheshouldbesoacquittedthethingmightbeallowedtorest。Ifhehadsinned，nodoubthehadrepented。Andthentherewereseriousdebateswhetherhemightnothavestolenthemoneywithoutmuchsin，beingmadorhalf—mad——touchedwithmadnesswhenhetookit；andwhetherhemightnot，inspiteofsuchtemporarytouchofmadness，bewellfittedforhisparishduties。Sorrowhadafflictedhimgrievously；butthatsorrow，thoughithadincapacitatedhimforthemanagementofhisownaffairs，hadnotrenderedhimunfitfortheministrationofhisparish。Suchweretheargumentsnowusedinhisfavourbythewomenaroundhim；andthemenwerenotkeentocontradictthem。Thewishthatheshouldbeacquittedandallowedtoremaininhisparsonagewasverygeneral。
Whenthereforeitbecameknownthatthebishophaddecidedtoputonfootanotherinvestigation，withtheviewofbringingMrCrawley’sconductunderecclesiasticalcondemnation，almosteverybodyaccusedthebishopofpersecution。TheworldofthediocesedeclaredthatMrsProudiewasatwork，andthatthebishophimselfwasnobetterthanapuppet。Itwasinvainthatcertainclearheadedmenamongtheclergy，ofwhomDrTempesthimselfwasone，pointedoutthatthebishopafterallmightperhapsberight；——thatifMrCrawleywereguilty，andifheshouldbefoundtohavebeensobyajury，itmightbeabsolutelynecessarythatanecclesiasticalcourtshouldtakesomecognizanceofthecrimebeyondthatoftakenbythecivillaw。’Thejury，’saidDrTempest，discussingthecasewithMrRobartsandotherclericalneighbours——’thejurymayprobablyfindhimguiltyandrecommendtohimmercy。Thejudgewillhaveheardhischaracter，andwillhavebeenmadeacquaintedwiththemannerofhislife，andwilldealaslightlywiththecaseasthelawwillallowhim。ForaughtIknowhemaybeimprisonedforamonth。Iwishitmightbefornomorethanaday——oranhour。Butwhenhecomesoutfromhismonth’simprisonment——howthen？
Surelyitshouldbeacaseforecclesiasticalinquiry，whetheraclergymanwhohascommittedatheftshouldbeallowedtogointohispulpitdirectlyhecomesoutofprison？’ButtheanswertothiswasthatMrCrawleyhadalwaysbeenagoodclergyman，wasagoodclergymanatthismoment，andwouldbeagoodclergymanwhenhedidcomeoutofprison。
ButDrTempest，thoughhehadarguedinthisway，wasbynomeanseagerforthecommencementofthecommissionoverwhichhewastobecalledupontopreside。Inspiteofsuchargumentsastheabove，whichcamefromtheman’sheadwhenhisheadwasbroughttobearonthematter，therewasathoroughdesirewithinhishearttoopposethebishop。HehadnostrongsympathywithMrCrawley，ashadothers。HewouldhavehadMrCrawleysilencedwithoutregret，presumingMrCrawleytobeguilty。
Buthehadamuchstrongerfeelingwithregardtothebishop。Hadtherebeenanyquestionofsilencingthebishop——couldithavebeenpossibletotakestepsinthatdirection——hewouldhavebeenveryactive。Itmaythereforebeunderstoodthatinspiteofhisdefenceofthebishop’spresentproceedingsastothecommission，hewasanxiousthatthebishopshouldfail，andanxioustoputimpedimentsinthebishop’sway，shoulditappeartohimthathecoulddosowithjustice。DrTempestwaswellknownamonghisparishionerstobehardandunsympathetic，somesaidunfeelingalso，andcruel；butitwasadmittedbythosewhodislikedhimthemostthathewasbothpracticalandjust，andthathecaredforthewelfareofmany，thoughhewasrarelytouchedbythemiseryofone。SuchwasthemanwhowasrectorofSilverbridgeandruraldeaninthedistrict，andwhowasnowcalleduponbythebishoptoassisthiminmakingfurtherinquiryastothiswretchedchequefortwentypounds。
OnceatthisperiodArchdeaconGrantlyandDrTempestmeteachotheranddiscussedthequestionofMrCrawley’sguilt。Boththesemenwereinimicaltothepresentbishopofthediocese，andbothhadperhapsrespectedtheoldbishopbeyondallothermen。Buttheyweredifferentinthis，thatthearchdeaconhatedDrProudieasapartisan——whereasDrTempestopposedthebishoponcertainprincipleswhichheendeavouredtomakeclear，atanyratetohimself。’Wrong！’saidthearchdeacon，speakingofthebishop’sintentionofissuingacommission——’ofcoursehe’swrong。Howcouldanythingrightcomefromhimorfromher？Ishouldbesorrytohavetodohisbidding。’
’IthinkyouarealittleharduponBishopProudie，’saidDrTempest。
’Onecannotbeharduponhim，’saidthearchdeacon。’Heissoscandalouslyweak，andsheissoradicallyvicious，thattheycannotbutbewrongtogether。Theveryfactthatsuchamanshouldbeabishopamongusistometerriblystrongevidenceofevildayscoming。’
’YouaremoreimpulsivethanIam，’saidDrTempest。’InthiscaseIamsorryforthepoorman，who，Iamsure，honestinthemain。ButI
believethatinsuchacaseyourfatherwouldhavedonejustwhatthepresentbishopisdoing；——thathecouldhavedonenothingelse；andasI
thinkthatDrProudieisrightIshalldoallthatIcantoassisthiminthecommission。’
Thebishop’ssecretaryhadwrittentoDrTempest，tellinghimofthebishop’spurpose；andnow，inoneofthelastdaysinMarch，thebishophimselfwrotetoDrTempest，askinghimtocomeovertothepalace。Theletterwaswordedmostcourteously，andexpressedveryfeelinglythegreatregretwhichthewriterfeltatbeingobligedtotaketheseproceedingsagainstaclergymaninhisdiocese。BishopProudieknewhowtowritesuchaletter。Bythewritingofsuchletters，andbythemakingofspeechesinthesamestrain，hehadbecomeBishopofBarchester。Now，inthisletter，hebeggedDrTempesttocomeovertohim，sayinghowdelightedMrsProudiewouldbetoseehimatthepalace。
Thenhewentontoexplainthegreatdifficultywhichhefelt，andgreatsorrowalso，indealingwiththismatterofMrCrawley。Helooked，therefore，confidentlyforDrTempest’sassistance。ThinkingtodothebestforMrCrawley，andanxioustoenableMrCrawleytoremaininquietretirementtillthetrialshouldbeover，hehadsentaclergymanovertoHogglestock，whowouldhaverelievedMrCrawleyfromtheburdenofthechurch—services；——butMrCrawleywouldhavenoneofthisrelief。MrCrawleyhadbeenobstinateandoverbearing，andhadpersistedinclaiminghisrighttohisownpulpit。Thereforewasthebishopobligedtointerferelegally，andthereforewasheunderthenecessityofaskingDrTempesttoassisthim。WouldDrTempestcomeoverontheMonday，andstaytillWednesday？
Theletterwasaverygoodletter，andDrTempestwasobligedtodoashewasasked。Hesofarmodifiedthebishop’spropositionthathereducedthesojournatthepalacebyonenight。HewrotetosaythathewouldhavethepleasureofdiningwiththebishopandMrsProudieontheMonday，butwouldreturnhomeontheTuesday，assoonasthebusinessinhandwouldpermithim。’Ishallgetonverywellwithhim，’hesaidtohiswife，beforehestarted；’butIamafraidofthewoman。Ifsheinterferestherewillbearow。’’Then，mydear，’saidhiswife，’therewillbearow，forIamtoldthatshealwaysinterferes。’Onreachingthepalacehalf—an—hourbeforedinner—time，DrTempestfoundthatotherguestswereexpected，andondescendingtothegreatyellowdrawing—room，whichwasusedonlyonstateoccasions，heencounteredMrsProudie，andtwoofherdaughtersarrayedinfullpanoplyoffemalearmour。Shereceivedhimwithhersweetestsmiles，andiftherehadbeenanyformerenmitybetweenSilverbridgeandthepalace，itwasnowallforgotten。SheregrettedgreatlythatMrsTempesthadnotaccompaniedthedoctor；——forMrsTempestalsohadbeeninvited。ButMrsTempestwasnotquiteaswellasshemighthavebeen，thedoctorhadsaid，andveryrarelysleptawayfromhome。Andthenthebishopcameinandgreetedhisguestwithhispleasantestgoodhumour。ItwasquiteasorrowtohimthatSilverbridgewassodistant，andthathesawsolittleofDrTempest；buthehopedthatthatmightbesomewhatmendednow，andthatleisuremightbefoundforsocialdelights；——toallwhichDrTempestsaidbutlittle，bowingtothebishopateachseparateexpressionofhislordship’skindness。
Thereweregueststherethateveningwhodidnotoftensitatthebishop’stable。ThearchdeaconandMrsGrantlyhadbeensummonedfromPlumstead，andhadobeyedthesummons。Greataswastheenmitybetweenthebishopandthearchdeacon，ithadneverquitetakentheformofopenpalpablehostility。Each，therefore，askedtheothertodinnerperhapsonceeveryyear；andeachwenttotheother，perhaps，onceintwoyears。
AndDrThornefromChaldicoteswastherebutwithouthiswife，whointhesedayswasupinLondon。MrsProudiealwaysexpressedawarmfriendshipforMrsThorne，andonthisoccasionloudlyregrettedherabsence。’Youmusttellher，DrThorne，howexceedinglymuchwemissher。’DrThorne，whowasaccustomedtohearhiswifespeakofherdearfriendMrsProudiewithalmostunmeasuredridicule，promisedthathewoulddoso。’WearesorrytheLufton’scouldn’tcometous，’saidMrsProudie——notalludingtothedowager，ofwhomitwaswellknownthatnoearthlyinducementwouldhavesufficedtomakeherputherfootwithinMrsProudie’sroom——’butoneofthechildrenisill，andshecouldn’tleavehim。’ButtheGreshamsweretherefromBoxallHill，andtheThornesfromUllathorne，and，withtheexceptionofasinglechaplain，whopretendedtocarve，DrTempestandthearchdeaconweretheonlyclericalguestsatthetable。FromallwhichDrTempleknewthatthebishopwasanxioustotreathimwithspecialconsiderationonthepresentoccasion。