Intheeveningtheplanoffuturecampaignwasarrangedbetweenthem。
Thearchdeaconwouldnotwritetohissonatall。InpassingthroughBarchesterhehadabandonedhisideaofdespatchinganotefromthehotel，feelingthatsuchanoteaswouldberequiredwasnoteasilywritteninahurry。MrsGrantlywouldnowwritetoherson，tellinghimthatcircumstanceshadchanged，thatitwouldbealtogetherunnecessaryforhimtosellhisfurniture，andbegginghimtocomeoverandseehisfatherwithoutaday’sdelay。Shewroteherletterthatnight，andreadtothearchdeaconallthatshehadwritten——withtheexceptionofthepostscript：——’Youmaybequitesurethattherewillbenounpleasantnesswithyourfather。’Thatwasthepostscriptwhichwasnotcommunicatedtothearchdeacon。
OnthethirddayafterthatHenryGrantlydidcomeovertoPlumstead。
Hismotherinherlettertohimhadnotexplainedhowithadcometopassthatthesaleofthefurniturewouldbeunnecessary。HisfatherhadgivenhimtounderstanddistinctlythathisincomewouldbewithdrawnfromhimunlesshewouldexpresshisintentionofgivingupMissCrawley；andithadbeenadmittedamongthemallthatCosbyLodgemustbeabandonedifthisweredone。HecertainlywouldnotgiveupGraceCrawley。Soonerthanthat，hewouldgiveupeverystickinhispossession，andgoanliveinNewZealandifitwerenecessary。NotonlyhadGrace’sconducttohimmadehimthusfirm，butthenaturalbentofhisowndispositionhadtendedthatwayalso。Hisfatherhadattemptedtodictatetohim，andsoonerthansubmittothathewouldsellthecoatoffhisback。Hadhisfatherconfinedhisoppositiontoadvice，andhadMissCrawleybeenlessfirminherviewofherduty，themajormighthavebeenlessfirmalso。Butthingshadsogonethathewasdeterminedtobefixedasgranite。Ifotherswouldnotbemovedfromtheirresolves，neitherwouldhe。Suchbeingthestateofhismind，hecouldnotunderstandwhyhewasthussummonedtoPlumstead。HehadalreadywrittenovertoPauabouthishouse，anditwaswellthatheshould，atanyrate，seehismotherbeforehestarted。Hewaswilling，therefore，togotoPlumstead，buthetooknostepsastothewithdrawalofthoseauctioneer’sbillstowhichthearchdeaconsostronglyobjected。Whenhedroveintotherectoryyard，hisfatherwasstandingtherebeforehim。
’Henry，’hesaid，’Iamverygladtoseeyou。Iamverymuchobligedtoyouforcoming。’ThenHenrygotoutofhiscartandshookhandswithhisfather，andthearchdeaconbegantotalkabouttheweather。’YourmotherhasgoneintoBarchestertoseeyourgrandfather，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Ifyouarenottired，wemightaswelltakeawalk。IwanttogoupasfarasFlurry’scottage。’Themajorofcoursedeclaredthathewasnotatalltired，andthatheshouldbedelightedofallthingstogoupandseeoldFlurry，andthustheystarted。YoungGrantlyhadnotevenbeenintothehousebeforehelefttheyardwithhisfather。Ofcourse，hewasthinkingofthecomingsaleatCosbyLodge，andofhisfuturelifeatPau，andofhisinjuredpositionintheworld。TherewouldbenolongeranyoccasionforhimtobesolicitousastothePlumsteadfoxes。
Ofcoursethesethingswereinhismind；buthecouldnotbegintospeakofthemtillhisfatherdidso。’I’mafraidyourgrandfatherisnotverystrong，’saidthearchdeacon，shakinghishead。’Ifearhewon’tbewithusverylong。’
’Isitsobadasthat？’
’Well，youknow，heisanoldman，Henry；andhewasalwayssomewhatoldforhisage。Hewillbeeighty，ifhelivestwoyearslonger，Ithink。
Buthe’llneverreacheighty；——never。Youmustgoandseehimbeforeyougobackhome；youmustindeed。’Themajor，ofcourse，promisedthathewouldseehisgrandfather，andthearchdeacontoldhissonhownearlytheoldmanhadfalleninthepassagebetweenthecathedralandthedeanery。Inthiswaytheyhadnearlymadetheirwayuptothegamekeeper’scottagewithoutawordofreferencetoanysubjectthattoucheduponthematterofwhicheachofthemwasofcoursethinking。
WhetherthemajorintendedtoremainathomeortoliveatPau，thesubjectofMrHarding’shealthwasanaturaltopicforconversationbetweenhimandhisfather；butwhenhisfatherstoppedsuddenly，andbegantotellhimhowafoxhadbeentrappedonDarvell’sfarm——’andofcourseitwasaPlumsteadfox——therecanbenodoubtthatFlurryisrightaboutthat’；——whenthearchdeaconspokeofthisiniquitywithmuchwarmth，andtoldhissonhowhehadatoncewrittenofftoMrThorneofUllathorne，andhowMrThornehaddeclaredthathedidn’tbelieveawordofit，andhowFlurryhadproducedthepadofthefox，withthemarksofthetrapontheskin——thenthesonbegantofeelthatthegroundwasbecomingverywarm，andthathecouldnotgoonmuchlongerwithoutrushingintodetailsaboutGraceCrawley。’I’venomoredoubtthatitwasoneofourfoxesthanthatIstandhere，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Itdoesn’tmatterwherethefoxwasbred。Itshouldn’thavebeentrapped，’saidthemajor。
’Ofcoursenot，’saidthearchdeacon，indignantly。IwonderwhetherhewouldhavebeensokeenhadaRomanistpriestcomeintohisparishandturnedoneofhisProtestantsintoaPapist？
ThenFlurrycameup，andproducedtheidenticalpadoutofhispocket。
’Idon’tsupposeitwasintended，’saidthemajor，lookingattheinterestingrelicwithscrutinisingeyes。’Isupposeitwascaughtinarabbit—trap，eh，Flurry？’
’Idon’tseewhatrightamanhaswithtrapsatall，whengentlemenisparticularabouttheirfoxes，’saidFlurry。’Ofcoursethey’dcallitrabbits。’
’IneverlikedthatmanonDarvell’sfarm，’saidthearchdeacon。
’NorIeither，’saidFlurry。’Nofarmeroughttobeonthatlandwhodon’thaveahorseofhisown。AndifIwarSquireThorne，Iwouldn’thavenofarmertherewhodidn’tkeepnohorse。Whenafarmerhasahorseofhisown，andfolliesthehounds，thereain’tnorabbit—traps；——never。
Howdoesthatcomeabout，MrHenry？Rabbits！Iknowverywellwhatrabbitsis！’
MrHenryshookhishead，andturnedaway，andthearchdeaconfollowedhim。Therewasanhypocrisyaboutthispretendedcareforthefoxeswhichdispleasedthemajor。Hecouldnot，ofcourse，tellhisfatherthatthefoxeswerenolongeranythingtohim；butyethemustmakeitunderstoodthatsuchwashisconviction。Hismotherhadwrittentohim，sayingthatthesaleofthefurnitureneednottakeplace。Itmightbeallverywellforhismothertosaythat，orforhisfather；butafterwhathadtakenplace，hecouldconsenttoremaininEnglandonnootherunderstandingthanthathisincomeshouldbemadepermanenttohim。Suchpermanencemustnotbeanylongerdependentonhisfather’scaprice。InthesedayshehadcometobesomewhatinlovewithpovertyandPau，andhadbeenfeedingontheluxuryofhisgrievance。There，perhaps，nothingsopleasantasthepreparationforself—sacrifice。TogiveupCosbyLodgeandthefoxes，tomarryapennilesswife，andtogoandliveatPauonsixorsevenhundredayear，seemedjustnowtoMajorGrantlytobeafinething，andhedidnotintendtoabandonthisfinethingwithoutreceivingaveryclearreasonfordoingso。’Ican’tquiteunderstandThorne，’saidthearchdeacon。’Heusedtobesoparticularaboutthesefoxes，andIdon’tsupposethatacountrygentlemanwillchangehisideasbecausehehasgivenuphuntinghimself。’
’MrThorneneverthoughtverymuchofFlurry，’saidHenryGrantly，withhismindintentuponPauandhisgrievance。
’Hemighttakemyword，atanyrate，’saidthearchdeacon。
Itwasaknownfactthatthearchdeacon’ssolicitudeaboutthePlumsteadcoverswaswhollyonbehalfofhissonthemajor。Themajorhimselfknewthisthoroughly，andfeltthathisfather’spresentspecialanxietywasintendedasacorroborationofthetidingsconveyedinhismother’sletter。Everywordsoutteredwasmeanttohavereferencetohisson’sfutureresidenceinthecountry。’Father，’hesaid，turningroundshortly，andstandingbeforethearchdeaconinthepathway，’Ithinkyouarequiterightaboutthecovers。Ifeelsurethateverygentlemanwhopreservesafoxdoesgoodtothecountry。IamsorrythatIshallnothaveacloserinterestinthemattermyself。’
’Whyshouldn’tyouhaveacloserinterestinit？’saidthearchdeacon。
’BecauseIshallbelivingabroad。’
’Yougotyourmother’sletter？’
’Yes，Igotmymother’sletter。’
’Didshenottellyouthatyoucanstaywhereyouare？’
’Yes，shesaidso。But，totellyouthetruth，sir，Idonotliketheriskoflivingbeyondmyassuredincome。’
’ButifIjustifyit？’
’Idonotwishtocomplain，sir，butyouhavemademeunderstandthatyoucan，andthatincertaincircumstances，youwill，atamoment，withdrawwhatyougiveme。Sincethiswassaidtome，IhavefeltmyselftobeunsafeinsuchahouseasCosbyLodge。’
Thearchdeacondidnotknowhowtoexplain。HehadintendedthattherealexplanationshouldbegivenbyMrsGrantly，andhadbeenanxioustoreturntohisoldrelationswithhissonwithoutanyexacttermsonhisownpart。Buthissonwas，ashethought，awkward，andwoulddrivehimtosomespeechthatwasunnecessary。’Youneednotbeunsafethereatall，’hesaid，halfangrily。
’ImustbeunsafeifIamnotsureofmyincome。’
’Yourincomeisnotinanydanger。Butyouhadbetterspeaktoyourmotheraboutit。Formyself，IthinkImaysaythatIhaveneveryetbehavedtoanyofyouwithanyharshness。Asonshould，atanyrate，notbeoffendedbecauseafatherthinksthatheisentitledtosomeconsiderationforwhathedoes。’
’Therearesomepointsonwhichasoncannotgivewayeventohisfather，sir。’
’Youhadbetterspeaktoyourmother，Henry。Shewillexplaintoyouwhathastakenplace。Lookatthatplantation。Youdon’trememberit，buteverytreetherewasplantedsinceyouwereborn。IboughtthatfarmfromoldMrThorne，whenhewaspurchasingStEwold’sDowns，anditwasthefirstbitoflandIeverhadofmyown。’
’ThatisnotinPlumstead，Ithink？’
’No：thisisPlumstead，wherewestand，butthat’sinEiderdown。Theparishesruninandouthere。IneverboughtanyotherlandascheapasIboughtthat。’
’AnddidoldThornemakeagoodpurchaseatStEwold’s？’
’Yes，Ifancyhedid。Itgavehimthewholeoftheparish，whichwasagreatthing。Itisastonishinghowlandhasriseninvaluesincethat，andyetrentsarenotsoverymuchhigher。Theywhobuylandnowcan’thaveabovetwo—and—a—halffortheirmoney。’
’Iwonderpeoplearesofondofland，’saidthemajor。
’Itisacomfortablefeelingtoknowthatyoustandonyourownground。
Landisabouttheonlythingthatcan’tflyaway。Andthen，yousee，landgivessomuchmorethantherent。Itgivespositionandinfluenceandpoliticalpower，tosaynothingaboutthegame。We’llgobacknow。I
daresayyourmotherwillbeathomebythistime。’
Thearchdeaconwasstrivingtoteachagreatlessontohissonwhenhethusspokeofthepleasurewhichamanfeelswhenhestandsuponhisownground。Hewasbiddinghissontounderstandhowgreatwasthepositionofanheirtoalandedproperty，andhowsmallthepositionofamandependingonwhatDrGrantlyhimselfwouldhavecalledascratchincome——anincomemadeupofafewoddsandends，ashareortwointhiscompanyandashareortwointhat，aslightventureinforeignstocks，asmallmortgageandsuch—likeconvenientbutuninfluentialdriblets。A
man，nodoubt，mayliveatPauandenjoylifeafterafashionwhilereadingGalignaniandlookingatthemountains。But——asitseemedtothearchdeacon——whentherewasachoicebetweenthiskindofthing，andfox—coversatPlumstead，andaseatamongthemagistratesofBarsetshire，andanestablishmentfullofhorses，beeves，swine，carriages，andhayricks，amanbroughtupashissonhadbeenbroughtupoughtnottobeverylonginchoosing。Itneverenteredintothearchdeacon’smindthathewastemptinghisson；butHenryGrantlyfeltthathewashavingthegoodthingsoftheworldshowntohim，andthathewasbeingtoldthattheyshouldbehis——foraconsideration。
Themajor，inhispresentmood，lookedatthematterfromhisownpointofview，anddeterminedthattheconsiderationwastoohigh。HewaspledgednottogiveupGraceCrawley，andhewouldnotyieldonthatpoint，thoughhemightbetemptedbyallthefox—coversinBarsetshire。
Atthismomenthedidnotknowhowfarhisfatherwaspreparedtoyield，orhowfaritwasexpectedthatheshouldyieldhimself。Hewastoldthathehadtospeaktohismother。Hewouldspeaktohismother，but，inthemeantime，hecouldnotbringhimselftomakeacomfortableanswertohisfather’seloquentpraiseoflandedproperty。HecouldnotallowhimselftobeenthusiasticonthemattertillheknewwhatwasexpectedofhimifhechosetosubmittobemadeaBritishsquire。AtpresentGalignaniandthemountainshadtheircharmsforhim。Therewas，therefore，butlittleconversationbetweenthefatherandthesonasthewalkedbacktotherectory。
Latethatnightthemajorheardthewholestoryfromhismother。
Gradually，andasthoughunintentionally，MrsGrantlytoldhimallsheknewofthearchdeacon’svisittoFramley。MrsGrantlywasquiteasanxiousaswasherhusbandtokeephersonathome，andthereforesheomittedinherstorythoselittlesneersagainstGracewhichsheherselfhadbeentemptedtomakebythearchdeacon’sfervourinthegirl’sfavour。Themajorsaidaslittleaswaspossiblewhilehewasbeingtoldofhisfather’sadventure，andexpressedneitherangernorsatisfactiontillhehadbeenmadethoroughlytounderstandthatGracehadpledgedherselfnottomarryhimaslongasanysuspicionshouldrestuponherfather’sname。
’Yourfatherisquitesatisfiedwithher，’saidMrsGrantly。’Hethinksthatsheisbehavingverywell。’
’Myfatherhadnorighttoexactsuchapledge。’
’Butshemadeitofherownaccord。ShewasthefirsttospeakaboutMrCrawley’ssupposedguilt。Yourfathernevermentionedit。’
’Hemusthaveledtoit；andIthinkthathehadnorighttodoso。Hehadnorighttogotoheratall。’
’Nowdon’tbefoolish，Henry。’
’Idon’tseethatIamfoolish。’
’Yes，youare。Amanisfoolishifhewon’ttakewhathewantswithoutaskingexactlyhowheistocomebyit。Thatyourfathershouldbeanxiousisthemostnaturalthingintheworld。Youknowhowhighhehasalwaysheldhisownhead，andhowmuchhethinksaboutthecharactersandthepositionofclergymen。Itisnotsurprisingthatheshoulddisliketheideaofsuchamarriage。’
’GraceCrawleywoulddisgracenofamily，’saidthelover。
’That’sallverywellforyoutosay，andI’lltakeyourwordthatitisso；——thatisasfarastheyoungladygoesherself。Andthere’syourfatheralmostasmuchinlovewithherasyouare。Idon’tknowwhatyouwouldhave？’
’Iwouldbeleftalone。’
’Butwhatharmhasbeendoneyou？Fromwhatyouyourselfhavetoldme，IknowthatMissCrawleyhassaidthesamethingtoyouthatshehassaidtoyourfather。Youcan’tbutadmireherforthefeeling。’
’Iadmireherforeverything。’
’Verywell。Wedon’tsayanythingagainstthat。’
’AndIdon’tmeantogiveherup。’
’Verywellagain。LetushopethatMrCrawleywillbeacquitted，andthenallwillberight。Yourfathernevergoesbackonhispromise。Heisalwaysbetterthanhisword。You’llfindthatifMrCrawleyisacquitted，orifheescapesinanyway，yourfatherwillonlybehappyforanexcusetomakemuchoftheyounglady。Youshouldnotbehardonhim，Henry。Don’tyouseethatitishisonegreatdesiretokeepyounearhim。Thesightofthoseodiousbillsnearlybrokehisheart。’
’Thenwhydidhethreatenme？’
’Henry，youareobstinate。’
’Iamnotobstinate，mother。’
’Yes，youare。Youremembernothing，andyouforgetnothing。Youexpecteverythingtobemadesmoothforyou，andwilldonothingtowardsmakingthingssmoothforanybodyelse。Yououghttopromisetogiveupthesale。Iftheworstcametotheworst，yourfatherwouldnotletyousufferinpocketforyieldingtohimsomuch。’
’Iftheworstcomestotheworst，Iwishtotakenothingfrommyfather。’
’Youwon’tputoffthesale，then？’
Thesonpausedamomentbeforeheansweredhismother，thinkingoverallthecircumstancesofhisposition。’IcannotdosoaslongasIamsubjecttomyfather’sthreat，’hesaidatlast。’WhattookplacebetweenmyfatherandMissCrawleycangofornothingwithme。Hehastoldmethathisallowancetomeistobewithdrawn。Lethimtellmethathehasreconsideredthematter。’
’Buthehasnotwithdrawnit。Thelastquarterwaspaidtoyouraccountonlytheotherday。Hedoesnotmeantowithdrawit。’
’Lethimtellmeso；lethimtellmethatmypoweroflivingatCosbyLodgedoesnotdependonmymarriage——thatmyincomewillbecontinuedtomewhetherImarryorno，andI’llarrangematterswiththeauctioneertomorrow。Youcan’tsupposethatIshouldprefertoliveinFrance。’
’Henry，youaretoohardonyourfather。’
’Ithink，mother，hehasbeentoohardonme。’
’Itisyouwhoaretoblamenow。Itellyouplainlythatthatismyopinion。Ifevilcomesofit，itwillbeyourownfault。’
’Ifevilcomesofit，Imustbearit。’
’Asonoughttogiveupsomethingtohisfather；——especiallytoafatherasindulgentasyours。’
Butitwasofnouse。AndMrsGrantlywhenshewenttobedcouldonlylamentinherownmindoverwhat，indiscussingthematterafterwardswithhersister，shecalledthecross—grainednessofmen。’Theyareasalikeeachotherastwopeas，’shesaid，’andthougheachofthemwishedtobegenerous，neitherofthemwouldcondescendtobejust。’Earlyonthefollowingmorningtherewas，nodoubt，muchsaidonthesubjectbetweenthearchdeaconandhiswifebeforetheymettheirsonatbreakfast；butneitheratbreakfastnorafterwardswasthereawordsaidbetweenthefatherandthesonthathadtheslightestreferencetothesubjectindisputebetweenthem。Thearchdeaconmadenomorespeechesinfavourofland，nordidhereverttothefoxes。Hewasveryciviltohisson；——toocivilbyhalf，asMrsGrantlycontinuedtosaytoherself。Andthenthemajordrovehimselfawayinhiscart，goingthroughBarchester，sothathemightseehisgrandfather。Whenhewishedhisfathergood—bye，thearchdeaconshookhandswithhim，andsaidsomethingaboutthechanceofrain。Hadhenotbettertakethebigumbrella？Themajorthankedhimcourteously，andsaidthathedidnotthinkitwouldrain。
Thenhewasgone。’Uponhisownheadbeit，’saidthearchdeaconwhenhisson’sstepwasheardinthepassagetothebackyard。ThenMrsGrantlygotupquietlyandfollowedherson。Shefoundhimsettlinghimselfinhisdog—cart，whiletheservantwhowastoaccompanyhimwasstillatthehorse’shead。Shewentupclosetohim，and，standingbythewheelofthegig，whisperedawordortwointohisear。’Ifyouloveme，Henry，youwillpostponethesale。Doitformysake。’Therecameacrosshisfacealookofgreatpain，butheansweredhernotaword。
Thearchdeaconwaswalkingabouttheroomstrikingonehandopenwiththeotherclosed，clearlyinatumultofanger，whenhiswifereturnedtohim。’IhavedoneallthatIcan，’hesaid——’allthatIcan；more，indeed，thanwasbecomingofme。Uponhisownheadbeit。Uponhisownheadbeit。’
’Whatisityoufear？’sheasked。
’Ifearnothing。ButifhechoosestosellhisthingsatCosbyLodgehemustabidetheconsequences。Theyshallnotbereplacedwithmymoney。’
’Whatwillitmatterifhedoessellthem？’
’Matter！Doyouthinkthereisasinglepersoninthecountywhowillnotknowthathisdoingisasignthathehasquarrelledwithme？’
’Buthehasnotquarrelledwithyou。’
’Icantellyou，then，thatinthatcase，Ishallhavequarrelledwithhim！Ihavenotbeenahardfather，buttherearesomethingswhichamancannotbear。Ofcourseyoutakehispart。’
’Iamtakingnopart。Ionlywantpeacebetweenyou。’
’Peace！——yes；peaceindeed。Iamtoyieldineverything。Iamtobenobody。Lookhere；——assureaseveranauctioneer’shammerisraisedatCosbyLodge，Iwillalterthesettlementoftheproperty。EveryacreshallgotoCharles。Thereismywordforit。’Thepoorwomanhadnothingmoretosayatthatmoment。Shethoughtthatatthepresentconjunctureherhusbandwaslessinthewrongthanherson，butshecouldnottellhimsolestsheshouldstrengthenhiminhiswrath。
HenryGrantlyfoundhisgrandfatherinbed，withPosyseatedonthebedbesidehim。’Myfathertoldmethatyouwerenotquitewell，andI
thoughtIhadbetterlookin，’saidthemajor。
’Thankyou，mydear；——itisverygoodofyou。Thereisnotmuchthematterwithme，butIamnotquitesostrongasIwasonce。’Andtheoldmansmiledasheheldhisgrandson’shand。
’AndhowiscousinPosy？’saidthemajor。
’Posyisquitewell；——isn’tshe，mydarling？’saidtheoldman。
’Grandpadoesn’tgotothecathedralnow，’saidPosy；’soIcomeintotalktohim。Don’tI，grandpa？’
’Andtoplaycat’s—cradle；——onlywehavenothadanycat’s—cradlethismorning，becauseitiscoldforgrandpatositupinbed，’saidPosy。
Whenthemajorhadbeenthereabouttwentyminuteshewaspreparingtotakehisleave——butMrHarding，biddingPosygooutoftheroom，toldhisgrandsonthathehadawordtosaytohim。’Idon’tliketointerfere，Henry，’hesaid，’butIamafraidthingsarenotquitesmoothatPlumstead。’
’Thereisnothingwrongbetweenmeandmymother，’saidthemajor。
’Godforbidthatthereshouldbe；but，mydearboy，don’tlettherebeanythingwrongbetweenyouandyourfather。Heisagoodman，andthetimewillcomewhenyouwillbeproudofhismemory。’
’Iamproudofhimnow。’
’Thenbegentlewithhim——andsubmityourself。Iamanoldmannow——veryfastgoingawayfromallthoseIlovehere。ButIamhappyinleavingmychildrenbecausetheyhaveeverbeengentlewithmeandkind。
IfIampermittedtorememberthemwhitherIamgoing，mythoughtsofthemallwillbepleasant。Shoulditnotbemuchtothemthattheyhavemadebydeath—bedhappy？’