Whentheyreturnedtothedeanery，MrHardingwasfluttered，weary，andunwell。WhenhisdaughterlefthimforafewminuteshetoldMrsBaxterinconfidenceofthestoryofhisaccident，andhisgreatgriefthathisdaughtershouldhaveseenit。’Lawsamercy，sir，itwasablessingshewaswithyou，’saidMrsBaxter；’itwas，indeed，MrHarding。’ThenMrHardinghadbeenangry，andspokealmostcrosslytoMrsBaxter；but，beforeshelefttheroom，hefoundanopportunityofbeggingherpardon——notinasetspeechtothateffect，butbyalittlewordofgentlekindness，whichshehadunderstoodperfectly。’Papa，’saidMrsGrantlytohimassoonasshehasucceededingettingbothPosyandMrsBaxteroutoftheroom——againstthedoingofwhich，MrHardinghadmanoeuvredwithallhislittleimpotentskill——’Papa，youmustpromisethatyouwillnotgotothecathedralagainalone，tillEleanorcomeshome。’Whenheheardthesentencehelookedatherwithblankmiseryinhiseyes。Hemadenotattemptatremonstrance。Hebeggedfornorespite。
Thewordhadgoneforth，andheknewthatitmustbeobeyed。Thoughhewouldhavehiddenthesignsofhisweaknesshadhebeenable，hewouldnotcondescendtopleadthathewasstrong。’Ifyouthinkitwrong，mydear，Iwillnotgoalone，’hesaid。’Papa，Ido；indeedIdo。Dearpapa，IwouldnothurtyoubysayingitifIdidnotknowthatIamright。’Hewassittingwithhishanduponthetable，and，asshespoketohim，sheputherhanduponhis，caressingit。’Mydear，’hesaid，’youarealwaysright。’
Shelefthimagainforawhile，havingsomebusinessoutinthecity，andhewasaloneinhisroomforanhour。Whatwastherelefttohimnowintheworld？Oldashewas，andinsomethingsalmostchildish，nevertheless，hethoughtofthiskeenly，andsomehalf—realisedremembranceofthe’leanandslipperedpantaloon’flittedacrosshismind，causinghimapang。Whatwastherelefttohimnowintheworld？
Posyandcat’s—cradle！Then，inthemidstofhisregrets，ashesatwithhisbackbentinhisoldeasy—chair，withonearmovertheshoulderofthechair，andtheotherhangingloosebyhisside，onasuddentherecameacrosshisfaceasmileassweetaseverybrightenedthefaceofmanorwoman。Hehadbeenabletotellhimselfthathehadnogroundforcomplaint——greatgroundratherforrejoicingandgratitude。Hadnottheworldandallinitbeengoodtohim；hadhenotchildrenwholovedhim，whohaddonehimhonour，whohadbeentohimalwaysacrownofglory，neveramarkforreproach；hadnothislinesfallentohiminverypleasantplaces；wasitnothishappyfatetogoandleaveitallamidstthegoodwordsandkindlovingcaresofdevotedfriends？Whoselatterdayshadeverbeenmoreblessedthanhis？Andforthefuture——？Itwasashethoughtofthisthatthesmilecameacrosshisface——asthoughitwerealreadythefaceofanangel。Andthenhemutteredtohimselfawordortwo。’Lord，nowlettestThouThyservantdepartinpeace。Lord，nowlettestThouThyservantdepartinpeace。’
WhenMrsGrantlyreturnedshefoundhiminjocundspirits。Andyetsheperceivedthathewassoweakthatwhenhelefthischairhecouldbarelygetacrosstheroomwithoutassistance。MrsBaxter，indeed，hadnotsenttohertoosoon，anditwaswellthattheprohibitionhadcomeintimetopreventsometerribleaccident。’Papa，’shesaid，’IthinkyouhadbettergowithmetoPlumstead。Thecarriageishere，andIcantakeyouhomesocomfortably。’ButhewouldnotallowhimselftobetakenonthisoccasiontoPlumstead。Hesmiledandthankedher，andputhishandintohers，andrepeatedhispromisethathewouldnotleavethehouseonanyoccasionwithoutassistance，anddeclaredhimselfspeciallythankfultoherforcomingtohimonthatspecialmorning；——buthewouldnotbetakentoPlumstead。’Whensummercomes，’hesaid，’then，ifyouwillhavemeforafewdays！’
Hemeantnodeceit，andyethehadtoldhimselfwithinthelasthourthatheshouldneverseeanothersummer。Hecouldnottellevenhisdaughterthataftersuchalifeasthis，aftermorethanfiftyyearsspentintheministrationofhisdarlingcathedral，itspeciallybehovedhimtodie——ashehadlived——atBarchester。Hecouldnotsaythistohiseldestdaughter；buthadhisEleanorbeenathome，hecouldhavesaidittoher。HethoughthemightyetlivetoseehisEleanoronceagain。Ifthiscouldbegiventohimhewouldaskfornothingmore。
Ontheafternoonofthenextday，MrsBaxterwroteanotherletter，inwhichshetoldMrsGrantlythatherfatherhaddeclared，athisusualhourofrisingthatmorning，thathewasnotgoingtothecathedral，hewould，hethought，lieinbedalittlelonger。Andthenhehadbeeninbedthewholeday。’Andperhaps，honouredmadam，lookingatallthings，it’sbestasheshould，’saidMrsBaxter。
CHAPTERL
LADYLUFTON’SPROPOSITION
ItwasnowknownthroughoutBarchesterthatacommissionwastobeheldbythebishop’sorders，atwhichinquirywouldbemade——thatis，ecclesiasticalinquiry——astotheguiltimputedtoMrCrawleyinthematterofMrSoames’scheque。Sundryrumourshadgoneabroadastoquarrelswhichhadtakenplaceonthesubjectamongcertainclergymenhighinoffice；buttheseweresimplyrumours，andnothingwasintruthknown。TherewasnomorediscreetclergymaninthediocesethanDrTempest，andnotawordhadescapedfromhimastothestormynatureofthatmeetinginthebishop’spalace，atwhichhehadattendedwiththebishop——andatwhichMrsProudiehadattendedalso。WhenitissaidthatthefactofthiscomingcommissionwasknowntoallBarsetshire，allusionisofcoursemadetothatportionoftheinhabitantsofBarsetshiretowhichclericalmattersweredear；——andassuchmatterswerespeciallydeartotheinhabitantsoftheparishofFramley，thecommissionwasdiscussedveryeagerlyinthatparish，andwasspeciallydiscussedbytheDowagerLadyLufton。
AndtherewasadoubleinterestattachedtothecommissionintheparishofFramleybythefactthatMrRobarts，thevicar，hadbeeninvitedbyDrTempesttobeoneoftheclergymenwhoweretoassistinmakingtheinquiry。’IalsotoproposetoaskMrOrielofGreshamburytojoinus，’
saidDrTempest。’Thebishopwishestoappointtheothertwo，andhasalreadynamedMrThumbleandMrQuiverful，whoarebothresidentsinthecity。Perhapshislordshipmayberightinthinkingitbetterthatthemattershouldnotbeleftaltogetherinthehandsofclergymenwhoholdlivingsinthediocese。YouarenodoubtawarethatneitherMrThumblenorMrQuiverfuldoholdanybenefice。’MrRobartsfelt——aseverybodyelsedidfeelwhoknewanythingofthematter——thatBishopProudiewassingularlyignorantofhisknowledgeofmen，andthatheshowedhisignoranceonthisspecialoccasion。’Ifheintendedtonametwosuchmenheshouldatanyratehavenamedthree，’saidDrThorne。’MrThumbleandMrQuiverfulwillsimplybeoutvotedonthefirstday，andafterthatwillgiveintheiradhesiontothemajority。’’MrThumbleindeed！’LadyLuftonhadsaid，withmuchscorninhervoice。Toherthinking，itwasabsurdinthehighestdegreethatsuchmenasDrTempestandherMrRobartsshouldbeaskedtomeetMrThumbleandMrQuiverfulonamatterofecclesiasticalbusiness。Outvoted！Ofcoursewheywouldbeoutvoted。
Ofcoursetheywouldbesoparalysedbyfearatfindingthemselvesinthepresenceofrealgentlemen，thattheywouldhardlybeabletovoteatall。OldLadyLuftondidnotinfactutterwordssoharshasthese；
butthoughtsasharshpassedthroughhermind。ThereaderthereforewillunderstandthatmuchinterestwasfeltinthesubjectatFramleyCourt，whereLadyLuftonlivedwithhersonanddaughter—in—law。
’Theytellme，’saidLadyLufton，’thatboththearchdeaconandDrTempestthinkitisrightthatacommissionshouldbeheld。Ifso，I
havenodoubtthatitisright。’
’Marksaysthatthebishopcouldhardlydoanythingelse，’rejoinedMrsRobarts。
’Idaresaynot，mydear。Isupposethebishopthatsomebodyhasnearhimtotellhimwhathemaydoandwhathemaynotdo。Itwouldbeterribletothinkof，ifitwerenotso。Butyet，whenIhearthathehasnamedsuchmenasMrThumbleandMrQuiverful，Icannotbutfeelthatthewholedioceseisdisgraced。’
’Oh，LadyLufton，thatissuchastrongword，’saidMrsRobarts。
’Itmaybestrong，butitisnotthelesstrue，’saidLadyLufton。
AndfromtalkingonthesubjectoftheCrawleys，LadyLuftonsoonadvanced，firsttoadesireforsomeaction，andthantoacting。’I
think，mydear，IwillgooverandseeMrsCrawley，’saidLadyLufton，theeldertoLadyLuftontheyounger。LadyLuftontheyoungerhadnothingtourgeagainstthis；butshedidnotoffertoaccompanytheelderLady。IattemptedtoexplainintheearlierpartofthisstorythattherestillexistedacertainunderstandingbetweenMrsCrawleyandLordLufton’swife，andthatkindnesseshadoccasionallypassedfromFramleyCourttoHogglestockParsonage；butonthisoccasion，LadyLufton——theLucyRobartsthathadoncepassedcertaindaysofherlifewiththeCrawleysatHogglestock——didnotchoosetoaccompanyhermother—in—law；andthereforeMrsRobartswasinvitedtodoso。’Ithinkitmaycomforthertoknowthatshehasoursympathy，’theelderwomansaidtotheyoungerastheymadetheirjourneytogether。
Whenthecarriagestoppedbeforethelittlewicker—gate，fromwhenapathledthrougharaggedgardenfromtheroadtoMrCrawley’shouse，LadyLuftonhardlyknewhowtoproceed。Theservantcametothedoorofthecarriage，andaskedforherorders。’H——m——m，ha，yes；IthinkI’llsendinmycard；——andsaythatIhopeMrsCrawleywillbeabletoseeme。Won’tthatbebest；eh，Fanny？’Fanny，otherwiseMrsRobarts，saidthatshethoughtthatwouldbebest；andthecardandmessagewerecarriedin。
ItwashappilythecasethatMrCrawleywasnotathome。MrCrawleywasawayatHoggleEnd，readingtothebrickmakers，orturningthemanglesoftheirwives，orteachingthemtheology，orpolitics，orhistory，afterhisfashion。Inthesedayshespent，perhaps，thehappiesthoursofhislifedownatHoggleEnd。Isaythathisabsencewasahappychance，because，hadhebeenathome，hewouldcertainlyhavesaidsomething，ordonesomething，tooffendLadyLufton。Hewouldeitherhaverefusedtoseeher，orwhenseeingherhewouldhavebadeherholdherpeaceandnotinterferewithmatterswhichdidnotconcernher，or——moreprobablestill——hewouldhavesatstillandsullen，andhavespokennotatall。ButhewasawayandMrsCrawleysentoutwordbytheservantthatshewouldbemostproudtoseeherladyship，ifherladyshipwouldbepleasedtoalight。Herladyshipdidalight，andwalkedintotheparsonage，followedbyMrsRobarts。
Gracewaswithhermother。IndeedJanehadbeentherealsowhenthemessagewasbroughtin，butshefledintothebackregions，overcomebyshameastoherfrock。Grace，Ithink，wouldhavefledtoo，hadshenotbeenboundinhonourtosupporthermother。LadyLufton，assheentered，wasverygracious，strugglingwithallthepowerofherwomanhoodsotocarryherselfthatthereshouldbenooutwardlyvisiblesignofherrankorherwealth——butnotaltogethersucceeding。MrsRobarts，onherfirstentrance，saidonlyawordortwoofgreetingtoMrsCrawley，andkissedGrace，whomshehadknownintimatelyinearlyyears。’LadyLufton，’saidMrsCrawley，’Iamafraidthisisaverypoorplaceforyoutocometo；
butyouhaveknownthatofold，andthereforeIneedhardlyapologise。’
’SometimesIlikepoorplacesbest，’saidLadyLufton。Thentherewasapause，afterwhichLadyLuftonaddressedherselftoGrace，seekingsomesubjectforimmediateconversation。’YouhavebeendowninAllington，mydear，haveyounot？’Grace，inawhisper，saidthatshehad。’StayingwiththeDales，Ibelieve？IknowtheDaleswellbyname，andIhavealwaysheardthattheyarecharmingpeople。’
’Ilikethemverymuch，’saidGrace。Andthentherewasanotherpause。
’Ihopeyourhusbandisprettywell，MrsCrawley？’saidLadyLufton。
’Heisprettywell——notquitestrong。Idaresayyouknow，LadyLufton，thathehasthingstovexhim？’MrsCrawleyfeltthatitwastheneedofthemomentthattheonlypossiblesubjectofconversationinthathouseshouldbeintroduced；andthereforeshebroughtitinatonce，notlovingthesubject，butbeingstronglyconsciousofthenecessity。LadyLuftonmeanttobegood—natured，andthereforeMrsCrawleywoulddoallinherpowertomakeLadyLufton’smissioneasytoher。
’Indeedyes，’saidherladyship；’wedoknowthat。’
’WefeelsomuchforyouandMrCrawley，’saidMrsRobarts；’andaresosurethatyoursufferingsareunmerited。’ThiswasnotdiscreetonthepartofMrsRobarts，asshewasthewifeofoneoftheclergymenwhohadbeenselectedtoformthecommissionofinquiry；andsoLadyLuftontoldheronthewayhome。
’Youareverykind，’saidMrsCrawley。’WemustonlybearitwithsuchfortitudeasGodwillgiveus。WearetoldthatHetempersthewindtotheshornlamb。’
’AndsoHedoesmydear，’saidherladyshipverysolemnly。’SoHedoes。
Surelyyouhavefeltthatitisso？’
’Istrugglenottocomplain，’saidMrsCrawley。
’Iknowthatyoustrugglebravely。Ihearofyou，andIadmireyouforit，andIloveyou。’Itwasstilltheoldladywhowasspeakingandnowshehadatlastbeenrousedoutofherdifficultyastowords，andhadrisenfromherchair，andwasstandingbeforeMrsCrawley。’Itisbecauseyoudonotcomplain，becauseyouaresogreatandsogood，becauseyourcharacterissohigh，andyourspiritsofirm，thatIcouldnotresistthetemptationofcomingtoyou。MrsCrawley，ifyouwillletmebeyourfriend，Ishallbeproudofyourfriendship。’
’Yourladyshipistoogood，’saidMrsCrawley。
’Donottalktomeafterthatfashion，’saidLadyLufton。’IfyoudoI
shallbedisappointed，andfeelmyselfthrownback。YouknowwhatI
mean。’Shepausedforananswer；butMrsCrawleyhadnoanswertomake。
Shesimplyshookherhead，notknowingwhyshedidso。Butwemayknow。
WecanunderstandthatshehadfeltthatthefriendshipofferedtoherbyLadyLuftonwasanimpossibility。Shehaddecidedwithinherownbreastthatitwasso，thoughshedidnotknowthatshehadcometosuchdecision。’Iwishyoutotakemeatmyword，MrsCrawley，’continuedLadyLufton。’Whatcanwedoforyou？Weknowthatyouaredistressed。’
’Yes——wearedistressed。’
’Andweknowhowcruelcircumstanceshavebeentoyou。Willyounotforgivemeforbeingplain？’
’Ihavenothingtoforgive，’saidMrsCrawley。
’LadyLuftonmeans，’saidMrsRobarts，’thatinaskingyoutotalkopenlyofyouraffairs，shewishesyoutorememberthat——IthinkyouknowwhatImean，’saidMrsRobarts，knowingverywellherselfwhatshedidmean，butnotknowingatallhowtoexpressherself。
’LadyLuftonisverykind，’saidMrsCrawley，’andsoareyou，MrsRobarts。Iknowhowgoodyoubothare，andforhowmuchitbehovesmetobegrateful。’Thesewordswereverycold，andthevoiceinwhichtheywerespokenwereverycold。TheymadeLadyLuftonfeelthatitwasbeyondherpowertoproceedwiththeworkofhermissioninitsintendedspirit。Itiseversomucheasiertoprofferkindnessgraciouslythantoreceiveitwithgrace。LadyLuftonhadintendedtosay，’Letusbewomentogether；——womenboundbyhumanity，andnotseparatedbyrank，andletusopenourheartsfreely。Letusseehowwemaybeofcomforttoeachother。’Andcouldshehavesucceededinthis，shewouldhavespreadoutherlittleplansofsuccourwithsolovingahandthatshewouldhaveconqueredthewomanbeforeher。Butthesufferingspiritcannotdescendfromitsdignityofreticence。Ithasanobilityofitsown，madesacredbymanytears，bytheflowingofstreamsofbloodfromunseenwounds，whichcannotdescendfromitsdaistoreceivepityandkindness。A
consciousnessofundeservedwoeproducesagrandeurofitsown，withwhichthehigh—souledsuffererwillnoteasilypart。Basketsfullofeggs，poundsofeleemosynarybutter，quartersofgivenpork，evensecond—handclothingfromthewardrobeofsomerichersister——evenmoney，unsophisticatedmoney，shecouldaccept。Shehadlearnedhowthatitwasherportionofherallottedmiserytotakesuchthings——forthesakeofherchildrenandherhusband——andtobethankfulforthem。Shedidtakethemandwasthankful；andinthetakingshesubmittedherselftotherodofcruelcircumstances；butshecouldnotevenyetbringherselftoacceptspokenpityfromastranger，andtokissthespeaker。
’Canwenotdosomethingtohelpyou？’saidMrsRobarts。ShewouldnothavespokenbutsheperceivedthatLadyLuftonhadcompletedherappeal，andthatMrsCrawleydidnotseempreparedtoanswerit。
’Youhavedonesomuchtohelpus，’saidMrsCrawley。’Thethingsyouhavesentushavebeenveryserviceable。’
’Butwemeansomethingmorethanthat，’saidLadyLufton。
’Idonotknowwhatthereismore，’saidMrsCrawley。’Abittoeatandsomethingtowear；——thatseemstobeallthatwehavetocarefornow。’
’Butwewereafraidthatthiscomingtrialmustcauseyoumuchanxiety。’
’Ofcourseitcausesanxiety；——butwhatcanwedo？Itmustbeso。Itcannotbeputofforavoided。Wehavemadeupourmindstoitnow，andalmostwishthatitwouldcomequicker。Ifitwereonceover，Ithinkthathewouldbebetterwhatevertheresultmightbe。’
Thentherewasanotherlullintheconversation，andLadyLuftonbegantobeafraidthathervisitwouldbeafailure。ShethoughtthatperhapsshemightgetonbetterifGracewerenotintheroom，andsheturnedoverinhermindvariousschemesforsendingheraway。AndperhapshertaskwouldbeeasierifMrsRobartsalsocouldbebanishedforatime。
’Fanny，mydear，’shesaidatlast，boldly，’IknowyouhavealittleplantoarrangewithMissCrawley。Perhapsyouwillbemorelikelytobesuccessfulifyoucantakeaturnwithheralone。’Therewasnotmuchsubtletyinherladyship’sscheme；butitansweredtheproposedpurpose，andthetwoelderladiesweresoonleftfacetoface，sothatLadyLuftonhadafairpretextformakinganotherattempt。’DearMrsCrawley，’shesaid，’Idosolongtosayawordtoyou，butIfearthatImaybethoughttointerfere。’
’Oh，no，LadyLufton；Ihavenofeelingofthatkind。’
’IhaveaskedyourdaughterandMrsRobartstogooutbecauseIcanspeaktoyoumoreeasilyalone。IwishIcouldteachyoutotrustme。’
’Idotrustyou。’
’Asafriend，Imean；——asarealfriend。Ifitshouldbethecase，MrsCrawley，thatajuryshouldgiveaverdictagainstyourhusband——whatwillyoudothen？PerhapsIshouldnotsupposethatitispossible。’
’Ofcourseweknowthatitispossible，’saidMrsCrawley。Hervoicewasstern，andtherewasinitatonealmostofoffence。Asshespokeshedidnotlookathervisitor，butsatwithherfaceavertedandherarmsakimboonthetable。
’Yes；——itispossible，’saidLadyLufton。’Isupposethereisnotoneinthecountywhodoesnottrulywishitmaynotbeso。Butitisrighttobepreparedforallalternatives。Insuchcasehaveyouthoughtwhatyouwilldo？’
’Idonotknowwhattheywoulddotohim，’saidshe。
’Isupposethatforsometimehewouldbe——’
’Putinprison，’saidMrsCrawley，speakingveryquickly，bringingoutthewordswithasharpeagernessthatwasquiteunusualtoher。’Theywillsendhimtogaol。Isitnotso，LadyLufton？’
’Isupposeitwouldbeso；notforlongIshouldhope；butIpresumethatsuchwouldbethesentenceforsomeshortperiod。’
’AndImightnotgowithhim？’
’No，thatwouldbeimpossible。’
’Andthehouse，andtheliving；wouldtheylethimhavethemagainwhenhecameout？’
’Ah；thatIcannotsay。Thatwilldependmuch，probably，inwhattheseclergymenwillreport。Ihopehewillnotputhimselfinoppositiontothem。’
’Idonotknow。Icannotsay。Itisprobablethathemaydoso。Itisnoteasyforamansoinjuredashehasbeen，andoneatthesametimesogreatinintelligence，tosubmithimselfgentlytosuchinquiries。
Whenillisbeingdonetohimselforothersheisverypronetoopposeit。’
’Butthesegentlementonotwishtodohimill，MrsCrawley。’
’Icannotsay。Idonotknow。WhenIthinkofitIseethatthereisnothingbutruinoneveryside。Whatistheuseoftalkingofit？Donotbeangry，LadyLufton，ifIsaythatitisofnouse。’
’ButIdesiretobeofuse——ofrealuse。Ifitshouldbethecase，MrsCrawley，thatyourhusbandshouldbe——detainedatBarchester——’
’Youmeanimprisoned，LadyLufton。’
’Yes，Imeanimprisoned。Ifitshouldbeso，thendoyoubringyourselfandyourchildren——allofthem——overtoFramley，andIwillfindahomeforyouwhileheislosttoyou。’
’Oh，LadyLufton，Icouldnotdothat。’
’Yes，youcan。Youhavenotheardmeyet。Itwouldnotbeacomforttoyouinsuchahomeasthattositattablewithpeoplewhoarepartlystrangerstoyou。Butthereisacottagenearlyadjoiningtothehouse，whichyoushallhavealltoyourself。Thebailifflivedinitonce，andothershavelivedinitwhobelongtotheplace；butitisemptynowanditshallbemadecomfortable。’ThetearswerenowrunningdownMrsCrawley’sface，sothatshecouldnotansweraword。’Ofcourseitismyson’sproperty，andnotmine，buthehascommissionedmetosaythatitismostheartilyatyourservice。Hebegsthatinsuchacaseyouwilloccupyit。AndIbegthesame。AndyouroldfriendLucyhasdesiredmealsotoaskyouinhername。’
’LadyLufton，Icouldnotdothat，’saidMrsCrawleythroughhertears。
’Youmustthinkbetterofit，mydear。Idonotscrupletoadviseyou，becauseIamolderthanyou，andhaveexperienceoftheworld。’This，I
think，takenintheordinarysenseofthewords，wasaboastonthepartofLadyLufton，forwhichbutlittletruepretenceexisted。LadyLufton’sexperienceoftheworldatlargewasnotperhapsextensive。
Neverthelesssheknewwhatonewomenmightoffertoanother，andwhatonewomanmightreceivefromanother。’Youwouldbebetteroverwithme，mydear，thanyoucouldbeelsewhere。YouwillnotmisunderstandmeifI
saythat，undersuchcircumstances，itwoulddoyourhusbandgoodthatyouandyourchildrenshouldbeunderourprotectionduringhisperiodoftemporaryseclusion。Westandwellinthecounty。PerhapsIoughtnottosayso，butIdonotknowhowotherwisetoexplainmyself；andwhenitisknown，bythebishopandothers，thatyouhavecometousduringthatsadtime，itwillbeunderstoodthatwethinkwellofMrCrawley，inspiteofanythingajurymaysayofhim。Doyouseethat，mydear？
Andwedothinkwellofhim。Ihaveknownofyourhusbandformanyyears，thoughIhavenotpersonallyhadthepleasureofmuchacquaintancewithhim。HewasoveratFramleyonceatmyrequest，andI
hadgreatoccasiontorespecthim。Idorespecthim；andIshallfeelgratefultohimifhewillallowyoutoputyourselfandyourchildrenundermywing，asbeinganoldwoman，shouldthismisfortunefalluponhim。Wehopethatitwillnotfalluponhim；butitisalwayswelltobeprovidedfortheworst。’
InthiswayLadyLuftonatlastmadeherspeechandopenedouttheproposalwithwhichshehadcomeladentoHogglestock。WhileshewasspeakingMrsCrawley’sshoulderwasstillturnedtoher；butthespeakercouldseethatthequicktearswerepouringthemselvesdownthecheeksofthewomanwhomsheaddressed。Therewasadownrighthonestyofthorough—goingwell—wishingcharityaboutthepropositionwhichovercameMrsCrawleyaltogether。ShedidnotfeelforamomentthatitwouldbepossibleforhertogotoFramleyinsuchcircumstancesasthosewhichhadbeensuggested。Asshethoughtofitallatthepresentmoment，itseemedtoherthatheronlyappropriatehomeduringtheterribleperiodwhichwascominguponher，wouldbeunderthewallsoftheprisoninwhichherhusbandwouldbeincarcerated。Butshefullyappreciatedthekindnesswhichhadsuggestedameasure，which，ifcarriedintoexecution，wouldmaketheoutsideworldfeelthatherhusbandwasrespectedinthecounty，despitethedegradationtowhichhewassubjected。Shefeltallthis，butherheartwastoofulltospeak。
’Saythatitshallbeso，mydear，’continuedLadyLufton。’Justgivemeonenodofassent，andthecottageshallbereadyforyoushoulditsochancethatyoushouldrequireit。’
ButMrsCrawleydidnotgivethenodofassent。Withherfacestillaverted，whilethetearswerestillrunningdownhercheeks，shemutteredbutawordortwo。’Icouldnotdothat，LadyLufton；Icouldnotdothat。’
’Youknowatanyratewhatmywishesare，andasyoubecomecalmeryouwillthinkofit。Thereisquitetimeenough，andIamspeakingofanalternativewhichmayneverhappen。MydearfriendMrsRobarts，whoisnowwithyourdaughter，wishesMissCrawleytogoovertoFramleyParsonagewhilethisinquiryamongtheclergymenisgoingon。Theyallsayitisthemostridiculousthingintheworld——thisinquiry。Butthebishopyouknowissosilly！WeallthinkthatifMissCrawleywouldgoforaweekorsotoFramleyParsonage，thatitwillshowhowhappyweallaretoreceiveher。ItshouldbewhileMrRobartsisemployedinhispartofthework。Whatdoyousay，MrsCrawley？WeatFramleyareallclearlyoftheopinionthatitwillbebestthatitshouldbeknownthatthepeopleinthecountyupholdyourhusband。MissCrawleywouldbeback，youknow，beforethetrialcomeson。Ihopeyouwilllethercome，MrsCrawley？’