CHAPTERLV
FRAMLEYPARSONAGE
AtthistimeGraceCrawleywasatFramleyParsonage。OldLadyLufton’sstrategyhadbeenquiteintelligible，butsomepeoplesaidthatinpointofetiquetteandjudgmentandmoralconduct，itwasindefensible。Hervicar，MrRobarts，hadbeenselectedtobeoneoftheclergymenwhowastositinecclesiasticaljudgmentuponMrCrawley，andwhilehewassosittingMrCrawley’sdaughterwasstayinginMrRobarts’shouseasvisitorwithhiswife。Itmightbethattherewasnoharminthis。LadyLufton，whentheapparentimproprietywaspointedouttoherbynolessapersonthanArchdeaconGrantly，ridiculedtheidea。’Mydeararchdeacon，’LadyLuftonhadsaid，’weallknowthebishoptobesuchafoolandthebishop’swifetobesuchaknave，thatwecannotallowourselvestobegovernedinthismatterbyordinaryrules。Doyounotthinkthatitisexpedienttoshowhowutterlywedisregardhisjudgmentandhermalice？’ThearchdeaconhadhesitatedmuchbeforehespoketoLadyLufton，whetherheshouldaddresshimselftoherortoMrRobarts——orindeedtoMrsRobarts。ButhehadbecomeawarethatthepropositionastothevisithadoriginatedwithLadyLufton，andhehadthereforedecidedonspeakingtoher。Hehadnotcondescendedtosayawordastohisson，norwouldhesocondescend。NorcouldhegofromLadyLuftontoMrRobarts，havingoncefailedwithherladyship。Indeed，ingivinghimhisdue，wemustacknowledgethathisdisapprobationofLadyLufton’sstrategyaroseratherfromhistrueconvictionastoitsimpropriety，thanfromanyfearlestthisattentionpaidtoMissCrawleyshouldtendtobringabouthermarriagewithhisson。BythistimehehatedtheverynameofCrawley。HehateditthemorebecauseinhatingithehadtoputhimselfforthetimeonthesamesidewithMrsProudie。
Butforallthathewouldnotcondescendtoanyunworthymodeoffighting。HethoughtitwrongthattheyoungladyshouldbeinvitedtoFramleyParsonageatthismoment，andhesaidsotothepersonwhohad，ashethought，intruth，giventheinvitation；buthewouldnotallowhisownpersonalmotivestoinducehimtocarryontheargumentwithLadyLufton。’Thebishopisafool，’hesaid，’andthebishop’swifeisaknave。NeverthelessIwouldnothavehadtheyoungladyovertoFramleyatthismoment。If，however，youthinkitrightandRobartsthinksitright，thereisanendofit。’
’Uponmywordwedo，’saidLadyLufton。
IaminducedtothinkthatMrRobartswasnotquiteconfidentoftheexpediencyofwhathewasdoingbythewayinwhichhementionedtoMrOrielthefactofMissCrawley’spresenceattheparsonageashedrovethatgentlemanhomeinhisgig。TheyhadbeentalkingaboutMrCrawleywhenhesuddenlyturnedhimselfround，sothathecouldlookathiscompanion，andsaid，’MissCrawleyisstayingwithusattheparsonageatthepresentmoment。’
’What！MrCrawley’sdaughter？’saidMrOriel，showingplainlybyhisvoicethatthetidingshadmuchsurprisedhim。
’Yes；MrCrawley’sdaughter。’
’Oh，indeed。Ididnotknowthatyouwereonthosetermswiththefamily。’
’Wehaveknownthemforthelastsevenoreightyears，’saidMark；’andthoughIshouldbegivingafalsenotionifIweretosaythatImyselfhaveknownthemintimately——forCrawleyisamanwhomitisquiteimpossibletoknowintimately——yetthewomankindatFramleyhaveknownthem。MysisterstayedwiththemoveratHogglestockforsometime。’
’What；LadyLufton？’
’Yes；mysisterLucy。Itwasjustbeforehermarriage。Therewasalotoftrouble，andtheCrawleyswereallill，andshewenttonursethem。
Andthentheoldladytookthemup，andaltogethertherecametobeasortoffeelingthattheyweretoberegardedasfriends。Theyarealwaysintrouble，andnowinthisspecialtroublethewomenbetweenthemhavethoughtitbesttohavethegirloveratFramley。OfcourseI
hadakindoffeelingaboutthiscommission；butasIknewthatitwouldmakenodifferencewithmeIdidnotthinkitnecessarytoputmyvetouponthevisit。’MrOrielsaidnothingfurther，butMarkRobartswasawarethatMrOrieldidnotquiteapproveofthevisit。
ThatmorningoldLadyLuftonherselfhadcomeacrosstotheparsonagewiththeexpressviewofbiddingallthepartytocomeacrosstothehalltodine。’YoucantellMrOriel，Fanny，withLucy’scompliments，howdelightedshewillbetoseehim。’OldLadyLuftonalwaysspokeofherdaughter—in—lawasthemistressofthehouse。’Ifyouthinkheisparticular，youknow，wewillsendanoteacross。’MrsRobartssaidthatshesupposedMrOrielwouldnotbeparticular，but，lookingatGrace，madesomefaintexcuse。’Youmustcome，mydear，’saidLadyLufton。
’Lucywishesitparticularly。’MrsRobartsdidnotknowhowtosaythatshewouldnotcome；andsothematterstood——whenMrsRobartswascalledupontoleavetheroomforamoment，andLadyLuftonandGracewereleftalone。
’DearLadyLufton，’saidGrace，gettingupsuddenlyfromherchair；
’willyoudomeafavour——agreatfavour？’Shespokewithanenergywhichquitesurprisedtheoldlady，andcausedheralmosttostartfromherseat。
’Idon’tlikemakingpromises，’saidLadyLufton；’butanythingIcandowithpropriety，Iwill。’
’Youcandothis。Prayletmestayheretoday。Youdon’tunderstandhowIfeelaboutgoingoutwhilepapaisinthisway。Iknowhowkindandhowgoodyouallare；andwhendearMrsRobartsaskedmehere，andmammasaidthatIhadbettercome，Icouldnotrefuse。Butindeed，indeedIhadrathernotgoouttoadinner—party。’
’Itisnotaparty，mydeargirl，’saidLadyLufton，withthekindestvoicewhichsheknewhowtoassume。’Andyoumustrememberthatmydaughter—in—lawregardsyouassoveryoldafriend！Youremember，ofcourse，whenshewasstayingatHogglestock？’
’IndeedIdo。Irememberitwell。’
’Andthereforeyoushouldnotregarditasgoingout。Therewillbenobodytherebutourselvesandthepeoplefromthishouse。’
’Butitwillbegoingout，LadyLufton；andIdohopeyouwillletmestayhere。YoucannotthinkhowIfeelit。OfcourseIcannotgowithoutsomethinglikedressing——and——and——。Inpoorpapa’sstateIfeelthatI
oughtnottodoanythingthatlookslikegaiety。Ioughtnevertoforgetit；——notforamoment。’
TherewasatearinLadyLufton’seyeasshesaid——’Mydear，youshan’tcome。YouandFannyshallstopanddineherebyyourselves。Thegentlemenshallcome。’
’DoletMrsRobartsgo，please，’saidGrace。
’Iwon’tdoanythingofthekind，’saidLadyLufton。Then，whenMrsRobartsreturnedtotheroom，herladyshipexplaineditallintwowords。’Whilstyouhavebeenaway，mydear，Gracehasbeggedoff，andthereforewehavedecidedthatMrOrielandMrRobartsshallcomewithoutyou。’
’Iamsosorry，MrsRobarts，’saidGrace。
’Pooh，pooh，’saidLadyLufton。’FannyandIhaveknowneachotherquitelongenoughnottostandonanycompliments——haven’twe，mydear？
Imustgethomenow，asallthemorninghasgoneby。Fanny，mydear，I
wanttospeaktoyou。’ThensheexpressedheropinionofGraceCrawleyasshewalkedacrosstheparsonagegardenwithMrsRobarts。’Sheisaverynicegirl，andaverygoodgirlIamsure；andsheshowsexcellentfeeling。Whateverhappenswemusttakecareofher。And，Fanny，haveyouobservedhowhandsomesheis？’
’Wethinkherverypretty。’
’Sheismorethanprettywhenshehasalittlefireinhereyes。Sheisdownrighthandsome——orwillbewhenshefillsoutalittle。Itellyouwhat，mydear；she’llmakehavocwithsomebodyyet；youseeifshedoesn’t。Bye—bye。Tellthetwogentlementobeupbysevenpunctually。’
AndthenLadyLuftonwenthome。
GracesocontrivedthatMrOrielcameandwentwithoutseeingher。Therewasaseparatenurserybreakfastattheparsonage，andbyspecialpermissionGracewasallowedtohaveherteaandbread—and——butteronthenextmorningwiththechildren。’IthoughtyoutoldmeMissCrawleywashere，’saidMrOriel，asthetwoclergymenstoodwaitingforthegigthatwastotakethevisitorawaytoBarchester。
’Sosheis，’saidRobarts；’butshelikestohideherself，becauseofherfather’strouble。Youcan’tblameher。’
’No，indeed，’saidMrOriel。
’Poorgirl。Ifyouknewheryouwouldnotonlypityher，butlikeher。’
’Isshe——whatyoucall——？’
’Youmean，isshealady？’
’Ofcoursesheisbybirth，andallthat，’saidMrOriel，apologisingforhisinquiry。
’Idon’tthinkthereisanothergirlinthecountysowelleducated，’
saidMrRobarts。
’Indeed！Ihadnoideaofthat。’
’Andwethinkheragreatbeauty。Asformanners，Ineversawagirlwithaprettierwayofherown。’
’Dearme，’saidMrOriel。’Iwishshehadcomedowntobreakfast。’
ItwillhavebeenperceivedthatoldLadyLuftonhadheardnothingofMajorGrantly’soffence；thatshehadnoknowledgethatGracehadalreadymadehavoc，asshehadcalledit——had，intruth，madeverysadhavoc，atPlumstead。Shedidnot，therefore，thinkmuchaboutitwhenherownsontoldheruponherreturnhomefromtheparsonageonthatafternoonthatMajorGrantlyhadcomeoverfromCosbyLodge，andthathewasgoingtodineandsleepatFramleyCourt。SomeslightideaofthankfulnesscameacrosshermindthatshehadnotbetrayedGraceCrawleyintoameetingwithastranger。’Iaskedhimtocomesomedaybeforewewenttotown，’saidhislordship；’andIamgladhehascometoday，astwoclergymentoone’sselfare，atanyrate，onetoomany。’
SoMajorGrantlydinedandsleptattheCourt。
ButMrsRobartswasinagreatflurrywhenshewastoldofthisbyherhusbandonhisreturnfromthedinner。MrsCrawleyhadfoundanopportunityoftellingthestoryofMajorGrantly’slovetoMrsRobartsbeforeshehadsentherdaughtertoFramley，knowingthatthefamilieswereintimate，andthinkingitrightthatthereshouldbesomeprecaution。
’Iwonderwhetherhewillcomeuphere，’MrsRobartshadsaid。
’Probablynot，’saidthevicar。’Hesaidhewasgoinghomeearly。’
’Ihopehewillnotcome——forGrace’ssake，’saidMrsRobarts。Shehesitatedwhethersheshouldtellherhusband。Shealwaysdidtellhimeverything。Butonthisoccasionshethoughtshehadnorighttodoso，andshekeptthesecret。’Don’tdoanythingtobringhimup，dear。’
’Youneedn’tbeafraid。Hewon’tcome，’saidthevicar。Onthefollowingmorning，assoonasMrOrielwasgone，MrRobartswentout——abouthisparishhewouldprobablyhavecalledit；butinhalf—an—hourhemighthavebeenseenstrollingabouttheCourtstable—yardwithLordLufton。’WhereisGrantly？’askedthevicar。’I
don’tknowwhereheis，’saidhislordship。’Hehasslopedoffsomewhere。’Themajorhadslopedofftotheparsonage，wellknowinginwhatnesthisdovewaslyinghid；andheandthevicarhadpassedeachother。Themajorhadgoneoutthefrontgate，andthevicarhadgoneinatthestableentrance。
ThetwoclergymenhadhardlytakentheirdeparturewhenMajorGrantlyknockedattheparsonagedoor。HehadcomesoearlythatMrsRobartshadtakennoprecautions——evenhadtherebeenanyprecautionswhichshewouldhavethoughtitrighttotake。Gracewasintheactofcomingdownthestairs，nothavingheardtheknockatthedoor，andthusshefoundherloverinthehall。Hehadasked，ofcourse，forMrsRobarts，andthustheytwoenteredthedrawing—roomtogether。Theyhadnothadtimetospeakwhentheservantopenedthedrawing—roomdoortoannouncethevisitor。TherehadbeennowordspokenbetweenMrsRobartsandGraceaboutMajorGrantly，butthemotherhadtoldthedaughterofwhatshehadsaidtoMrsRobarts。
’Grace，’saidthemajor，’IamsogladIfoundyou！’ThenheturnedtoMrsRobartswithhisopenhand。’Youwon’ttakeituncivilofmeifI
saythatmyvisitisnotentirelytoyourself？IthinkImaytakeuponmyselftosaythatIandMissCrawleyareoldfriends。MayInot？’
Gracecouldnotansweraword。’MrsCrawleytoldmethatyouhadknownheratSilverbridge，’saidMrsRobarts，driventosaysomething，butfeelingthatshewasblundering。
’IcameovertoFramleyyesterdaybecauseIheardthatshewashere。AmIwrongtocomeupheretoseeher？’
’Ithinkthatshemustanswerthatforherself，MajorGrantly。’
’AmIwrong，Grace？’Gracethoughtthathewasthefinestgentlemanandthenoblestloverthathadevershownhisdevotiontoawoman，andwasstirredbyamightresolvethatifitevershouldbeinherpowertorewardhimafteranyfashion，shewouldpourouttherewardwithaveryfullhandindeed。Butwhatwasshetosayonthepresentmoment？’AmI
wrong，Grace？’hesaid，repeatinghisquestionwithsomuchemphasis，thatshewaspositivelydriventoanswerit。
’Idonotthinkyouarewrongatall。HowcanIsayyouarewrongwhenyouaresogood？IfIcouldbeyourservantIwouldserveyou。ButIcanbenothingtoyou，becauseofpapa’sdisgrace。DearMrsRobarts，I
cannotstay。Youmustanswerhimforme。’Andhavingthusmadeherspeechsheescapedfromtheroom。
ItmaysufficetosayfurthernowthatthemajordidnotseeGraceagainduringhisvisittoFramley。
CHAPTERLVI
THEARCHDEACONGOESTOFRAMLEY
Bysomeoftheseunseentelegraphicwireswhichcarrynewsaboutthecountryandmakenochargefortheconveyance，ArchdeaconGrantlyheardthathissonthemajorwasatFramley。Nowinthatitselftherewouldhavebeennothingsingular。TherehadbeenforyearsmuchintimacybetweentheLuftonfamilyandtheGrantlyfamily——somuchthatanalliancebetweenthetwohouseshadoncebeenplanned，theeldershavingconsidereditexpedientthattheyounglordshouldmarrythatGriseldawhohadsincemountedhigherintheworldeventhantheeldershadthenprojectedforher。Therehadcomenosuchalliance；buttheintimacyhadnotceased，andtherewasnothinginitselfsurprisinginthefactthatMajorGrantlyshouldbestayingatFramleyCourt。Butthearchdeacon，whenheheardthenews，bethoughthimatonceofGraceCrawley。CoulditbepossiblethathisoldfriendLadyLufton——LadyLuftonwhomhehadknownandtrustedallhislife，whomhehadeverregardedasapillaroftheChurchinBarsetshire——shouldbenowuntruetohiminamattersocloselyaffectinghisinterests？Menwhentheyareworriedbyfearsandteasedbyadversecircumstancesbecomesuspiciousofthoseonwhomsuspicionshouldneverrest。Itwashardlypossible，thearchdeaconthought，thatLadyLuftonshouldtreathimsounworthily——butthecircumstanceswerestrongagainsthisfriend。LadyLuftonhadinducedMissCrawleytogotoFramley，muchagainsthisadvice，atatimewhensuchavisitseemedtohimtobeveryimproper；anditnowappearedthathissonwastobethereatthesametime——afactofwhichLadyLuftonhadmadenomentiontohimwhatever。WhyhadnotLadyLuftontoldhimthatHenryGrantlywascomingtoFramleyCourt？Thereader，whoseinterestinthematterwillbelesskeenthanwasthearchdeacon’s，willknowverywellwhyLadyLuftonhadsaidnothingaboutthemajor’svisit。
ThereaderwillrememberthatLadyLufton，whenshesawthearchdeacon，wasasignorantastotheintendedvisitaswasthearchdeaconhimself。
Butthearchdeaconwasuneasy，troubled，andsuspicious；——andhesuspectedhisoldfriendunworthily。
Hespoketohiswifeaboutitwithinaveryfewhoursofthearrivalofthetidingsbythoseinvisiblewires。HehadalreadytoldherthatMissCrawleywastogotoFramleyparsonage，andthathethoughtthatMrsRobartswaswrongtoreceiveheratsuchatime。’Itisonlyintendedforgood—nature，’MrsGrantlyhadsaid。’Itismisplacedgood—natureatthepresentmoment，’thearchdeaconhadreplied。MrsGrantlyhadnotthoughtitworthherwhiletoundertakeatthemomentanystrongdefenceoftheFramleypeople。SheknewwellhowodiouswasthenameofCrawleyinherhusband’sears，andshefeltthatthelessthatwassaidatthepresentabouttheCrawleysthebetterforthepeaceoftherectoryatPlumstead。Shehadthereforeallowedtheexpressionofhisdisapprovaltopassunchallenged。Butnowhecameuponherwithamorebittergrievanceandshewasobligedtoarguethematterwithhim。
’Whatdoyouthink？’saidhe：’HenryisatFramley。’
’Hecanhardlybestayingthere，’saidMrsGrantly，’becauseIknowthatheissoverybusyathome。’Thebusinessathomeofwhichthemajor’smotherwasspeakingwashisprojectedmovingfromCosbyLodge，asubjectwhichwasalsoveryodioustothearchdeacon。HedidnotwishhissontomovefromCosbyLodge。Hecouldnotenduretheideathathissonshouldbeknownthroughoutthecountytobegivinguparesidencebecausehecouldnotaffordtokeepit。ThearchdeaconcouldhaveaffordedtokeepuptwoCosbyLodgesforhisson，andwouldhavebeenwellpleasedtodoso，ifonlyhissonwouldnotmisbehaveagainsthimsoshamefully！Hecouldnotbearthathissonshouldbepunishedopenly，beforetheeyesofallBarsetshire。Indeedhedidnotwishthathissonshouldbepunishedatall。Hesimplydesiredthathissonshouldrecognisehisfather’spowertoinflictpunishment。ItwouldbehenbanetoArchdeaconGrantlytohaveapoorson——asonlivingatPau——amongFrenchmen！——becausehecouldnotaffordtoliveinEngland。Whyhadthearchdeaconbeencarefulofhismoney，addinghousetohouseandfieldtofield？Hehimselfwascontented——sohetoldhimself——todieashehadlivedinacountryparsonage，workingwiththecollarroundhisneckuptothedayofhisdeath，ifGodwouldallowhimtodoso。Hewasambitiousofnograndeurforhimself。Sohewouldtellhimself——beingpartlyobliviousofcertainepisodesinhisownlife。Allhiswealthhadbeengottogetherforhischildren。Hedesiredthathissonsshouldbefittingbrothersfortheiraugustsister。Andnowthesonwhowasnearesttohim，whomhewasbentuponmakingasquireinhisowncounty，wantedtomarrythedaughterofamanwhohadstolentwentypounds，andwhenobjectionwasmadetosodiscreditableaconnexion，repliedbypackingupallhisthingsandsayingthathewouldgoandlive——atPau！
Thearchdeaconthereforedidnotliketohearofhissonbeingverybusyathome。
’Idon’tknowwhetherheisbusyornot，’saidthearchdeacon，’butI
tellyouheisstayingatFramley。’
’Fromwhomhaveyouheardit？’
’Whatmatterdoesthatmakeifitisso？IhearditfromFlurry。’
’Flurrymayhavebeenmistaken，’saidMrsGrantly。
’Itisnotatalllikely。Thosepeoplealwaysknowaboutsuchthings。
HehearditfromtheFramleypeople。Idon’tdoubtbutit’strue，andI
thinkthatit’sagreatshame。’
’AgreatshamethatHenryshouldbeatFramley！Hehasbeentheretwoorthreetimeseveryyearsincehehaslivedinthecounty。’
’Itisagreatshamethatheshouldbehadovertherejustatthetimewhenthatgirlistherealso。Itisimpossibletobelievethatsuchathingisanaccident。’
’But，archdeacon，youdonotmeantosaythatyouthinkthatLadyLuftonhasarrangedit？’
’Idon’tknowwhoarrangedit。Somebodyhasarrangedit。IfitisRobarts，thatisalmostworse。Onecouldforgiveawomaninsuchamatterbetterthanonecouldaman。’
’Psha！’MrsGrantly’stemperwasneverbitter，butatthismomentitwasnotsweetenedbyherhusband’sveryuncivilreferencetohersex。
’Thewholeideaisnonsense，andyoushouldgetitoutofyourhead。’
’AmItogetitoutofmyheadthatHenrywantstomakethisgirlhiswife，andthatthetwoareatthismomentatFramleytogether？’Inthisthearchdeaconwaswrongastohisfacts。MajorGrantlyhadleftFramleyonthepreviousday，havingstayedthereonlyonenight。’Itiscomingtothatthatonecantrustnoone——noone——literallynoone。’MrsGrantlyperfectlyunderstoodthatthearchdeacon，intheagonyofthemoment，intendedtoexcludeevenherselffromhisconfidencebythat’noone’；buttothisshewasindifferent，understandingaccuratelywhenhiswordsshouldbeacceptedasexpressinghisthoughts，andwhentheyshouldbesupposedtoexpressonlyhisanger。
’TheprobabilityisthatnooneatLuftonknewanythingaboutHenry’spartialityforMissCrawley，’saidMrsGrantly。
’ItellyouIthinktheyarebothatFramleytogether。’
’AndItellyouthatiftheyare，whichIdoubt，theyaretheresimplybyaccident。Besides，whatdoesitmatter？Iftheychoosetomarryeachother，youandIcannotpreventthem。Theydon’twantanyassistancefromLadyLufton，oranybodyelse。Theyhavesimplygottomakeuptheirownminds，andthennoonecanhinderthem。’
’And，therefore，youwouldwishtoseethembroughttogether？’
’Isaynothingaboutit，archdeacon；butIdosaythatwemusttakethesethingsastheycome。Whatcanwedo？HenrymaygoandstaywithLadyLuftonifhepleases。YouandIcannotpreventhim。’
Afterthisthearchdeaconwalkedaway，andwouldnotarguethematteranyfurtherwithhiswifeatthemoment。Heknewverywellthathecouldnotgetthebetterofher，andwasaptatsuchmomentstothinkthatshetookanunfairadvantageofhimbykeepinghertemper。ButhecouldnotgetoutofhisheadtheideathatperhapsonthisverydaythingswerebeingarrangedbetweenhissonandGraceCrawleyatFramley；andheresolvedthathehimselfwouldgooverandseewhatmightbedone。Hewould，atanyrate，tellallhistroubletoLadyLufton，andbeghisoldfriendtoassisthim。HecouldnotthinkthatsuchaoneashehadalwaysknownLadyLuftontobewouldapproveofamarriagebetweenHenryGrantlyandGraceCrawley。Atanyrate，hewouldlearnthetruth。HehadoncebeentoldthatGraceCrawleyhadherselfrefusedtomarryhisson，feelingthatshewoulddowrongtoinflictsogreataninjuryuponanygentleman。Hehadnotbelievedinsogreatavirtue。Hecouldnotbelieveitnow——now，whenheheardthatMissCrawleyandhissonwerestayingtogetherinthesameparish。Somebodymustbedoinghimaninjury。Itcouldhardlybechance。ButhispresenceatFramleymightevenyethaveagoodeffect，andhewouldatleastlearnthetruth。SohehadhimselfdriventoBarchester，andfromBarchesterhetookpost—horsestoFramley。
Ashecameneartothevillage，hegrewtobesomewhatashamedofhimself，or，atleast，nervousastothemodeinwhichhewouldproceed。
Thedriver，turningroundtohim，hadsuggestedthathesupposedhewastodriveto’MyLady’s’。ThisinjusticetoLordLufton，towhomthehousebelonged，andwithwhomhismotherlivedasaguest，wasverycommoninthecounty；foroldLadyLuftonhadlivedatFramleyCourtthroughherson’slongminority，andhadkeptthehousetheretillhismarriage；andevensincehismarriageshehadbeenrecognisedasitspresidinggenius。ItcertainlywasnotthefaultofoldLadyLufton，asshealwaysspokeofeverythingasbelongingeithertohersonordaughter—in—law。ThearchdeaconhadbeenindoubtwhetherhewouldgototheCourtortheparsonage。Couldhehavedoneexactlyashewished，hewouldhaveleftthechaiseandwalkedtotheparsonage，soastoreachitwithoutthenoiseandfussincidentaltoapostillion’sarrival。Butthatwasimpossible。HecouldnotdropintoFramleyasthoughhehadcomefromtheclouds，and，therefore，hetoldthemantodoashehadsuggested。’Tomylady’s？’saidthepostillion。Thearchdeaconassented，andtheman，withloudcracksofhiswhip，andwithaspasmodicgallopalongtheshortavenue，tookthearchdeaconuptothedoorofLordLufton’shouse。HeaskedforLordLuftonfirst，puttingonhispleasantestsmile，sothattheservantshouldnotsuspectthepurpose，ofwhichhewassomewhatashamed。WasLordLuftonathome？LordLuftonwasnotathome。LordLuftonhadgoneuptoLondonthatmorning，intendingtoreturnthedayaftertomorrow；butbothmyladieswereathome。Sothearchdeaconwasshownintotheroomwherebothmyladiesweresitting——andwiththemhefoundMrsRobarts。AnyonewhohadbecomeacquaintedwiththehabitsoftheFramleyladieswouldhaveknownthatthismightveryprobablybethecase。ThearchdeaconhimselfwasaswellawareasanyoneofthemodesoflifeatFramley。Thelord’swifewastheparson’ssister，andtheparson’swifehadfromherinfancybeenthepettedfriendoftheoldlady。Ofcoursetheyalllivedverymuchtogether。OfcourseMrsRobartswasasmuchathomeinthedrawing—roomofFramleyCourtasshewasinherowndrawing—roomattheparsonage。