Nevertheless，thearchdeaconthoughthimselftobehardlyusedwhenhefoundMrsRobartswasatthehouse。
’Mydeararchdeacon，whoeverexpectedtoseeyou？’saidoldLadyLufton。Thenthetwoyoungerwomengreetedhim。Andtheyallsmiledonhimpleasantly，andseemedoverjoyedtoseehim。Hewas，intruth，agreatfavouriteatFramley，andeachofthethreewasgladtowelcomehim。TheybelievedinthearchdeaconatFramley，andfeltforhimthatsortoflovewhichladiesinthecountrydofeelfortheirelderlymalefriends。Therewasnotoneofthethreewhowouldnothavetakenmuchtroubletogetanythingforthearchdeaconwhichtheyhadthoughtthearchdeaconwouldlike。EvenoldLadyLuftonrememberedwhatwashisfavouritesoup，andalwaystookcarethatheshouldhaveitwhenhedinedattheCourt。YoungLadyLuftonwouldbringhisteatohimashesatinhischair。Hewaspettedinthehouse，wasallowedtopokethefireifhepleased，andcalledtheservantsbytheirnamesasthoughhewereathome。Hewascompelled，therefore，tosmileandtoseempleased；
anditwasnottillafterhehadeatenhislunch，andhaddeclaredthathemustreturnhometodinner，thatthedowagergavehimanopportunityofhavingtheprivateconversationwhichhedesired。
’CanIhaveafewminutes’talkwithyou？’hesaidtoher，whisperingintoherearastheyleftthedrawing—roomtogether。Sosheledthewayintoherownsitting—room，tellinghim，assheaskedhimtobeseated，thatshesupposedthatsomethingspecialmusthavebroughthimovertoFramley。’Ishouldhaveaskedyoutocomeuphere，evenifyouhadnotspoken。’
’Thenperhapsyouknowwhathasbroughtmeover？’saidthearchdeacon。
’Notintheleast，’saidLadyLufton。’Ihavenotanidea。ButIdidnotflattermyselfthatyouwouldcomesofaronamorningcalltoseeusthreeladies。IhopeyoudidnotwanttoseeLudovic，becausehewillnotbebacktilltomorrow。’
’Iwantedtoseeyou，LadyLufton。’
’Thatislucky，ashereIam。Youmaybeprettysuretofindmehereanydayintheyear。’
Afterthistherewasalittlepause。Thearchdeaconhardlyknewhowtobeginhisstory。InthefirstplacehewasindoubtwhetherLadyLuftonhadeverheardofthepreposterousmatchwhichhissonhadproposedtohimselftomake。InhisangeratPlumsteadhehadfeltsurethatsheknewallaboutit，andthatshewasassistinghisson。Butthisbeliefhaddwindledashisangerhaddwindled；andasthechaisehadenteredtheparishofFramleyhehadtoldhimselfthatitwasquiteimpossiblethatsheshouldknowanythingaboutit。Hermannerhadcertainlybeenaltogetherinherfavoursincehehadbeeninherhouse。Therehadbeennothingoftheconsciousnessofguiltinherdemeanour。But，nevertheless，therewasthecoincidence！HowhaditcometopassthatGraceCrawleyandhissonshouldbeatFramleytogether？Itmight，indeed，bejustpossiblethatFlurrymighthavebeenwrong，andthathissonhadnotbeenthereatall。
’IsupposeMissCrawleyisattheparsonage？’hesaidatlast。
’Oh，yes；sheisstillthere，andwillremainthereIshouldthinkforthenexttendays。’
’Oh；Ididnotknow，’saidthearchdeaconverycoldly。
ItseemedtoLadyLufton，whowasasinnocentasanunbornbabeinthematteroftheprojectedmarriage，thatheroldfriendwasinamindtopersecutetheCrawleys。HehadonaformeroccasiontakenuponhimselftoadvisethatGraceCrawleyshouldnotbeentertainedatFramley，andnowitseemedthathehadcomeallthewayfromPlumsteadtosaysomethingfurtherinthesamestrain。LadyLufton，ifhadanythingfurthertosayofthatkind，wouldlistentohimasamatterofcourse。
Shewouldlistentohimandreplytohimwithouttemper。Butshedidnotapproveofit。Shetoldherselfsilentlythatshedidnotapproveofpersecutionorofinterference。Shethereforedrewherselfup，andpursedhermouth，andputonsomethingofthatlookofseveritywhichshecouldassumeveryvisibly，ifitsopleasedher。
’Yes；sheisstillthere，andIthinkhervisitwilldoheragreatdealofgood，’saidLadyLufton。
’Whenwetalkofdoinggoodtopeople，’saidthearchdeacon，’weoftenmaketerriblemistakes。Itsooftenhappensthatwedon’tknowwhenwearedoinggoodandwhenwearedoingharm。’
’Thatistrue，ofcourse，DrGrantly，andmustbesonecessarily，asourwisdomherebelowissoverylimited。ButIshouldthink——asfarasI
cansee，thatis，——thatthekindnesswhichmyfriendMrsRobartsisshowingtothisyoungladymustbebeneficial。Youknow，archdeacon，I
explainedtoyoubeforethatIcouldnotquiteagreewithyouinwhatyousaidastoleavingthesepeoplealonetillafterthetrial。I
thoughtthathelpwasnecessarytothematonce。’
Thearchdeaconsigheddeeply。HeoughttohavebeensomewhatrenovatedinspiritbythetoneinwhichLadyLuftonspoketohim，asitconveyedtohimalmostanabsoluteconvictionthathisfirstsuspicionwasincorrect。Butanycomfortwhichmighthavecometohimfromthissourcewasmarredbythefeelingthathemustannouncehisowndisgrace。Atanyrate，hemustdoso，unlesshewerecontentedtogobacktoPlumsteadwithouthavinglearnedanythingbyhisjourney。Hechangedthetoneofhisvoice，however，andaskedaquestion——asitmightbealtogetheronadifferentsubject。’Iheardyesterday，’hesaid，’thatHenrywasoverhere。’
’Hewashereyesterday。Hecametheeveningbefore，anddinedandslepthere，andwenthomeyesterdaymorning。’
’WasMissCrawleywithyouthatevening？’
’MissCrawley？No；shewouldnotcome。Shethinksitbestnottogooutwhileherfatherisinhispresentunfortunateposition；andsheisright。’
’Sheisquiterightinthat，’saidthearchdeacon；andthenhepausedagain。Hethoughtthatitwouldbebestforhimtomakeacleanbreastofit，andtotrustLadyLufton’ssympathy。’DidHenrygouptotheparsonage？’heasked。
ButstillLadyLuftondidnotsuspectthetruth。’Ithinkhedid，’shereplied，withanairofsurprise。’IthinkIheardthathewentuptheretocallonMrsRobartsafterbreakfast。’
’No，LadyLufton，hedidnotgouptheretocallonMrsRobarts。HewentuptherebecauseheismakingafoolofhimselfaboutthatMissCrawley。
Thatisthetruth。Nowyouunderstanditall。IhopethatMrsRobartsdoesnotknowit。IdohopeforherownsakethatMrsRobartsdoesnotknowit。’
ThearchdeaconcertainlyhadnolongeranydoubtastoLadyLufton’sinnocencewhenhelookedatherfaceassheheardthesetidings。ShehadpredictedthatGraceCrawleywould’makehavoc’，andcouldnot，therefore，bealtogethersurprisedattheideathatsomegentlemanshouldhavefalleninlovewithher；butshehadneversuspectedthatthehavocmightbemadesoearlyinherdays，oronsogreataquarry。
’Youdon’tmeantotellmethatHenryGrantlyisinlovewithGraceCrawley？’shereplied。
’Imeantosaythathesaysheis。’
’Dear，dear，dear！I’msure，archdeacon，thatyouwillbelievemewhenIsaythatIknewnothingaboutit。’
’Iamquitesureofthat，’saidthearchdeacondolefully。
’OrIcertainlyshouldnothavebeengladtoseehimhere。Butthehouse，youknow，isnotmine，DrGrantly。IcouldhavedonenothingifI
hadknownofit。Butonlytothink——；well，tobesure。Shehaslostnotime，atanyrate。’
Nowthiswasnotatallthelightinwhichthearchdeaconwishedthatthemattershouldberegarded。HehadbeendesirousthatLadyLuftonshouldbehorror—strickenbythetidings，butitseemedtohimthatsheregardedtheiniquityasagoodjoke。Whatdiditmatterhowyoungorhowoldthegirlmightbe？Shecameofpoorpeople——ofpeoplewhohadnofriends——ofdisgracedpeople；andLadyLuftonoughttofeelthatsuchamarriagewouldbeaterriblecrime。’Ineedhardlytellyou，LadyLufton，’saidthearchdeacon，’thatIshallsetmyfaceagainstitasfarasitisinmypowertodoso。’
’IftheybothberesolvedIsupposeyoucanhardlypreventit。’
’OfcourseIcannotpreventit。OfcourseIcannotpreventit。Ifhewillbreakmyheartandhismother’s——andhissister’s——ofcourseI
cannotpreventit。Ifhewillruinhimselfhemusthavehisownway。’
’Ruinhimself，DrGrantly！’
’Theywillhaveenoughtoliveupon——somewhereinSpainorFrance。’Thescornexpressedinthearchdeacon’svoiceashespokeofPauasbeingsomewhereinSpainorFrance’shouldhavebeenheardtobeunderstood。
’Nodoubttheywillhaveenoughtoliveupon。’
’Doyoumeantosaythatitwillmakeadifferenceastoyourownproperty，DrGrantly？’
’Certainlyitwill，LadyLufton。ItoldHenrywhenIfirstheardofthething——beforehehaddefinitelymadeanyoffertothegirl——thatI
shouldwithdrawfromhimaltogethertheallowancethatInowmakehim，ifhemarriedher。AndItoldhimalsothatifhepersistedinhisfollyIshouldthinkitmydutytoaltermywill。’
’Iamsorryforthat，DrGrantly。’
’Sorry！AndamInotsorry？Sorrowisnosufficientword。Iambroken—hearted。LadyLufton，itiskillingme。Itisindeed。Ilovehim；
Ilovehim；——Ilovehimasyouhavelovedyourson。Butwhatistheuse？
Whatcanhebetomewhenheshallhavemarriedthedaughterofsuchamanasthat？’
LadyLuftonsatforawhilesilent，thinkingofacertainepisodeinherownlife。Therehadbeenatimewhenhersonwasdesirousofmakingamarriagewhichshehadthoughtwouldbreakherheart。Shehadforatimemovedheavenandearth——asfarassheknewhowtomovethem——topreventthemarriage。Butatlastshehadyielded——notfromlackofpower，forthecircumstanceshadbeensuchthatatthemomentofyieldingshehadstillthepowerinherhandofstayingthemarriage——butshehadyieldedbecauseshehadperceivedthathersonwasinearnest。Shehadyielded，andhadkissedthedust；butfromthemomentinwhichherlipshadsotouchedtheground，theyhadtakengreatjoyinthedaughterinwhomhersonhadbroughtintothehouse。Sincethatshehadlearnedtothinkthatyoungpeoplemightperhapsberight，andthatoldpeoplemightperhapsbewrong。Thistroubleofherfriendthearchdeacon’swasverylikeherowntrouble。’Andheisengagedtohernow？’shesaid，whenthosethoughtshadpassedthroughhermind。
’Yes；——thatis，no。Iamnotsure。Idonotknowhowtomakemyselfsure。’
’IamsureMajorGrantlywilltellyouallthetruthasitexists。’
’Yes；he’lltellmethetruth——asfarasheknowsit。Idonotseethatthereismuchanxietytosparemeinthatmatter。HeisdesirousratherofmakingmeunderstandthatIhavenopowerofsavinghimfromhisownfolly。OfcourseIhavenopowerofsavinghim。’
’Butisheengagedtoher？’
’Hesaysthatshehasrefusedhim。Butofcoursethatmeansnothing。’
Againthearchdeacon’spositionwasverylikeLadyLufton’sposition，asithadexistedbeforeherson’smarriage。Inthatcasealsotheyounglady，whowasnowLadyLufton’sowndaughteranddearestfriend，hadrefusedtheloverwhoproposedtoher，althoughthemarriagewassomuchtoheradvantage——lovinghimtoo，thewhile，withherwholeheart，asitwasnaturaltosupposethatGraceCrawleymightsoloveherlover。Themoreshethoughtofthesimilarityofthestories，thestrongerwerehersympathiesonthesideofpoorGrace。Nevertheless，shewouldcomfortheroldfriendifsheknewhow；andofcourseshecouldnotbutadmittoherselfthatthematchwasonewhichmustbeacauseofrealsorrowtohim。’Idon’tknowwhyherrefusalshouldmeannothing，’saidLadyLufton。
’Ofcourseagirlrefusesatfirst——agirl，Imean，insuchcircumstancesashers。Shecan’tbutfeelthatmoreisofferedtoherthansheoughttotake，andthatsheisboundtogothroughtheceremonyofdeclining。Butmyangerisnotwithher，LadyLufton。’
’Idonotseehowitcanbe。’
’No；itisnotwithher。IfshebecomeshiswifeItrustthatImayneverseeher。’
’Oh，DrGrantly！’
’Ido；Ido。Howcanitbeotherwisewithme？ButIshallhavenoquarrelwithher。WithhimImustquarrel。’
’Idonotseewhy，’saidLadyLufton。
’Youdonot？Doeshenotsetmeatdefiance？’
’Athisagesurelyasonhasarighttomarryashepleases。’
’Ifhetookheroutofthestreets，thenitwouldbethesame？’saidthearchdeaconwithbitteranger。
’No；——forsuchaonewouldherselfbebad。’
’Orifshewerethedaughterofahucksteroutofthecity？’
’Noagain；——orinthatcaseherwantofeducationwouldprobablyunfitherforyoursociety。’
’Herfather’sdisgrace，then，shouldbeamatterofindifferencetome，LadyLufton？’
’Ididnotsayso。Inthefirstplace，herfatherisnotdisgraced——notasyet；andwedonotknowwhetherhemayeverbedisgraced。YouwillhardlybedisposedtosaythatpersecutionfromthepalacedisgracesaclergymaninBarsetshire。’
’Allthesame，Ibelievethatthemanwasguilty，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Waitandsee，myfriend，beforeyoucondemnhimaltogether。But，bethatasitmay，Iacknowledgethatthemarriageisonewhichmustnaturallybedistastefultoyou。’
’Oh，LadyLufton！Ifyouonlyknew！Ifyouonlyknew！’
’Idoknow；andIfeelforyou。ButIthinkthatyoursonhasarighttoexpectthatyoushouldnotshowthesamerepugnancetosuchamarriageasthisasyouwouldhavehadarighttoshowhadhesuggestedtohimselfawifeasthoseatwhichyouhadjustnowhinted。Ofcourseyoucanadvisehim，andmakehimunderstandyourfeelings；butIcannotthinkyouwillbejustifiedinquarrellingwithhim，orinchangingyourviewstowardshimwithregardsmoney，seeingthatMissCrawleyisaneducatedlady，whohasdonenothingtoforfeityourrespect。’Aheavycloudcameuponthearchdeacons’sbrowasheheardthesewords，buthedidnotmakeanyimmediateanswer。’Ofcourse，myfriend，’continuedLadyLufton，’Ishouldnothaveventuredtosaysomuchtoyou，hadyounotcometome，asitwere，formyopinion。’
’IcameherebecauseIthoughtHenrywashere，’saidthearchdeacon。
’IfIhavesaidtoomuch，Ibegyourpardon。’
’No；youhavenotsaidtoomuch。Itisnotthat。YouandIaresucholdfriendsthateithermaysayalmostanythingtotheother。’
’Yes；——justso。AndthereforeIhaveventuredtospeakmymind，’saidLadyLufton。
’Ofcourse；——andIamobligedtoyou。But，LadyLufton，youdonotunderstandyethowthishitsme。EverythinginlifethatIhavedone，I
havedoneformychildren。Iamwealthy，butIhavenotusedmywealthformyself，becauseIhavedesiredthattheyshouldbeabletoholdtheirheadshighintheworld。Allmyambitionhasbeenforthem，andallthepleasurewhichIhaveanticipatedformyselfinmyoldageisthatwhichIhavehopedtoreceivefromtheircredit。AsforHenry，hemighthavehadanythinghewantedfrommeinthewayofmoney。Heexpressedawish，afewmonthssince，togointoParliament，andI
promisedtohelphimasfaraseverIcouldgo。Ihavekeptupthegamealtogetherforhim。He，theyoungersonofaworkingparishparson，hashadeverythingthatcouldbegiventotheeldestsonofacountrygentleman——morethanisgiventotheeldestsonofmanyapeer。Ihavehopedthathewouldmarryagain，butIhavenevercaredthatheshouldmarryformoney。Ihavebeenwillingtodoanythingforhimmyself。But，LadyLufton，afatherdoesfeelthatheshouldhavesomereturnforallthis。NoonecanimaginethatHenryeversupposedthatabridefromthatwretchedplaceatHogglestockcouldbewelcomedamongus。Heknewthathewouldbreakourhearts，andhedidnotcareforit。ThatiswhatI
feel。Ofcoursehehasthepowertodoashelikes；——andofcourseI
havethepowertodoasIlikealsowithwhatismyown。’
LadyLuftonwasaverygoodwoman，devotedtoherduties，affectionateandjusttothoseabouther，trulyreligious，andcharitablefromhernature；butIdoubtwhetherthethoroughworldlinessofthearchdeacon’sappealstruckherasitwillstrikethereader。Peoplearesomuchmoreworldlyinpracticethantheyareintheory，somuchkeeneraftertheirowngratificationindetailthantheyareintheabstract，thatthenarrativeofmanyanadventurewouldshockus，thoughthesameadventurewouldnotshockusintheaction。Onegirltellsanotherhowshehaschangedhermindinlove；andthefriendsympathiseswiththefriend，andperhapsapplauds。Hadthestorybeentoldinprint，thefriendwhohadlistenedwithequanimitywouldhavereadofsuchvacillationwithindignation。Shewhovacillatedherselfwouldhavehatedherownperformancewhenbroughtbeforeherjudgmentasamatterinwhichshehadnopersonalinterest。Veryfinethingsarewritteneverydayabouthonestyandtruth，andmenreadthemwithasortofexternalconvictionthataman，ifhebeanythingofamanatall，isofcoursehonestandtrue。Butwhentheinternalconvictionsarebroughtoutbetweentwoorthreewhoarepersonallyinterestedtogether——betweentwoorthreewhofeelthattheirlittlegatheringis，sotosay，’tiled’——thoseinternalconvictionsdifferverymuchfromtheexternalconvictions。Thisman，inhisconfidences，assertsbroadlythathedoesnotmeantobethrownover，andthatmanhasaprojectforthrowingoversomebodyelse；andtheintentionofeachisthatscruplesarenottostandinthewayofhissuccess。The’Ruatcoelum，fiatjustitia’wassaid，nodoubt，fromanoutsidebalconytoacrowd，andthespeakerknewthathewastalkingbuncombe。The’Rem，sipossisrecte，sinonquocunquemodo’waswhisperedintotheearinaclubsmoking—room，andthewhispererintendedthathiswordsshouldprevail。
LadyLuftonhadoftenheardherfriendthearchdeaconpreach，andsheknewwellthehightonewhichhecouldtakeasthenecessityoftrustingourhopesforthefutureforallourtruehappiness；andyetshesympathisedwithhimwhenhetoldherthathewasbroken—heartedbecausehissonwouldtakeastepwhichmightpossiblyinterferewithhisworldlyprosperity。Hadthearchdeaconbeenpreachingaboutmatrimony，hewouldhaverecommendedyoungmen，intakingwivestothemselves，especiallytolookforyoungwomenwhofearedtheLord。Butintalkingabouthisownson’swife，nowordastohereligibilityornon—
eligibilityinthisrespectescapedhislips。Hadhetalkedonthesubjecttillnightfallnosuchwordwouldhavebeenspoken。Hadanyfriendofhisown，manorwoman，indiscussingsuchamatterwithhimandaskinghisadviceuponit，alludedtothefearoftheLord，theallusionwouldhavebeendistastefultohimandwouldhavesmackedtohispalateofhypocrisy。LadyLufton，whounderstoodaswellasanywomanwhatitistobe’tiled’withafriend，tookallthisingoodpart。Thearchdeaconhadspokenoutofhisheartwhatwasinhisheart。
Oneofhischildrenhadmarriedamarquis。Anothermightprobablybecomeabishop——perhapsanarchbishop。Thethirdmightbeacountysquire——highamongthecountysquires。Buthecouldonlysobecomebywalkingwarily；——andnowhewasbentonmarryingthepennilessdaughterofanimpoverishedhalf—madcountrycurate，whowasabouttobetriedforstealingtwentypounds！LadyLufton，inspiteofallherarguments，couldnotrefusehersympathytoheroldfriend。
’Afterall，fromwhatyousay，Isupposetheyarenotengaged。’
’Idonotknow，’saidthearchdeacon。’Icannottell！’
’Andwhatdoyouwishmetodo？’
’Oh——nothing。Icameover，asIsaidbefore，becauseIthoughthewashere。Ithinkitright，beforehehasabsolutelycommittedhimself，totakeeverymeansinmypowertomakehimunderstandthatIshallwithdrawfromhimallpecuniaryassistance——nowandforthefuture。’
’Myfriend，thatthreatseemstometobesoterrible。’
’ItistheonlypowerIhavelefttome。’
’Butyou，whoaresoaffectionatebynature，wouldneveradheretoit。’
’Iwilltry。Iwilltrymybesttobefirm。Iwillatonceputeverythingbeyondmycontrolaftermydeath。’Thearchdeacon，asheutteredtheseterriblewords——wordswhichwereawfultoLadyLufton’sears——resolvedthathewouldendeavourtonursehisownwrath；but，atthesametime，almosthatedhimselfforhisownpusillanimity，becausehefearedthathiswrathwoulddieawaybeforeheshouldhaveavailedhimselfofitsheat。
’Iwoulddonothingrashofthatkind，’saidLadyLufton。’Yourobjectistopreventthemarriage——nottopunishhimforitwhenoncehehasmadeit。’
’Heisnottohavehisownwayineverything，LadyLufton。’
’Butyoushouldfirsttrytopreventit。’
’WhatcanIdotopreventit？’
LadyLuftonpausedacoupleofminutesbeforeshereplied。Shehadaschemeinherhead，butitseemedtohertosavourofcruelty。Andyetatpresentitwasherchiefdutytoassistheroldfriend，ifanyassistancecouldbegiven。Therecouldhardlybeadoubtthatsuchamarriageasthis，ofwhichtheywerespeaking，wasinitselfanevil。Inhercase，thecaseofherson，therehadbeennoquestionofatrial，ofmoneystolen，ofaughtthatwasintruthdisgraceful。’IthinkifIwereyou，DrGrantly，’shesaid，’thatIwouldseetheyoungladywhileIwashere。’
’Seehermyself？’saidthearchdeacon。TheideaofseeingGraceCrawleyhimselfhad，uptothismoment，neverenteredhishead。
’IthinkIwoulddoso。’
’IthinkIwill，’saidthearchdeacon，afterapause。Thenhegotupfromhischair。’IfIamtodoit，Ihadbetterdoitatonce。’
’Begentlewithher，myfriend。’Thearchdeaconpausedagain。HecertainlyhadentertainedtheideaofencounteringMissCrawleywithseverityratherthangentleness。LadyLuftonrosefromherseat，andcominguptohim，tookoneofhishandsbetweenherowntwo。’Begentletoher，’shesaid。’Youhaveownedthatshehasdonenothingwrong。’Thearchdeaconbowedhisheadintokenofassentandlefttheroom。
PoorGraceCrawley。
CHAPTERLVII
ADOUBLEPLEDGE
Thearchdeacon，ashewalkedacrossfromtheCourttotheparsonage，wasverythoughtfulandhisstepswereveryslow。TheideaofseeingMissCrawleyherselfhadbeensuggestedtohimsuddenly，andhehadtodeterminehowhecouldbearhimselftowardsher，andwhathewouldsaytoher。LadyLuftonhadbeseechedhimtobegentlewithher。Wasthemissiononeinwhichgentlenesswouldbepossible？Mustitnotbehisobjecttomakethisyoungladyunderstandthatshecouldnotberightindesiringtocomeintohisfamilyandshareinallhisgoodthingswhenshehadnogoodthingsofherown——nothingbutevilthingstobringwithher？Andhowcouldthisbeproperlyexplainedtotheyoungladyingentleterms？Musthenotberoundwithher，andgivehertounderstandinplainwords——theplainestwhichhecoulduse——thatshewouldnotgethisgoodthings，thoughshewouldmostcertainlyimposetheburdenofallherevilthingsonthemanwhomshewasproposingtoherselfasahusband。Herememberedverywellashewent，thathehadbeentoldthatMissCrawleyhadherselfrefusedtheoffer，feelingherselftobeunfitforthehonourtenderedtoher；buthesuspectedthesincerityofsucharefusal。CalculatinginhisownmindtheunreasonablygreatadvantageswhichwouldbeconferredonsuchayoungladyasMissCrawleybyamarriagewithhisson，hedeclaredtohimselfthatanygirlmustbeverywickedindeedwhoshouldexpect，orevenaccept，somuchmorethanwasherdue；——butneverthelesshecouldnotbringhimselftobelievethatanygirl，whensotempted，would，insincerity，declinetocommitthisgreatwickedness。IfhewastodoanygoodbyseeingMissCrawley，mustitnotconsistinaproperexplanationtoheroftheselfishness，abomination，andaltogetherdamnableblacknessofsuchwickednessasthisonthepartofayoungwomaninhercircumstances？’Heavenandearth！’hemustsay，’hereareyou，withoutapennyinyourpocket，withhardlydecentraimentonyourback，withathiefforyourfather，andyouthinkthatyouaretocomeandshareallthewealththattheGrantlyshaveamassed，thatyouaretohaveahusbandwithbroadacres，abighouse，andgamepreserves，andbecomeoneofafamilywhosenamehasneverbeentouchedbyasingleaccusation——no，notasuspicion？
No；——injusticesuchasthatshallneverbedonebetwixtyouandme。Youmaywringmyheart，andyoumayruinmyson；butthebroadacresandthebighouse，andthegamepreserves，andtherestofit，shallneverbeyourrewardfordoingdo。’Howwasallthattobetoldeffectivelytoayoungwomaningentlewords？Andthenhowwasamaninthearchdeacon’spositiontobedesirousofgentlewords——gentlewordswhichwouldnotbeefficient——whenheknewwellinhisheartofheartsthathehadnothingbutthreatsonwhichtodepend。Hehadnomorepowerofdisinheritinghisownsonforsuchanoffenceasthatcontemplatedthanhehadofblowingouthisownbrains，andheknewthatitwasso。Hewasamanincapableofsuchpersistencyofwrathagainstonewhomheloved。Hewasneithercruelenoughnorstrongenoughtodosuchathing。Hecouldonlythreatentodoit，andmakewhatbestusehemighthaveofthreats，whilstthreatsmightbeofavail。Inspiteofallthathehadsaidtohiswife，toLadyLufton，andtohimself，heknewverywellthatifhissondidsininthiswayhe，thefather，wouldforgivethesinoftheson。
IngoingacrossfromthefrontgateoftheCourttotheparsonagetherewasaplacewherethreeroadsmet，andonthisspottherestoodafinger—post。Roundthisfinger—posttherewasnowpastedaplacard，whichatoncearrestedthearchdeacon’seye：——’CosbyLodge——Saleoffurniture——Growingcropstobesoldonthegrounds。Threehunters。A