’Idon’tknowwhatyoucallslow，MrCrawley。IwaseversomuchovertwohourscomingherefromBarchester。Hestumbledalmostateverystep。’
’Didhefallwhileyouwereonhim？’askedthemajor。
’Indeedhedid，sir。Youneversawsuchathing，MajorGrantly。Lookhere。’ThenMrThumble，turninground，showedthattherearportionofhisclotheshadnotescapedwithoutinjury。
’Itwaswellthathewasnotgoingfast，oryouwouldhavecomeontoyourhead，’saidGrantly。
’Itwasamercy，’saidThumble。’But，sir，asitwas，Icametothegroundwithmuchviolence。ItwasonSpigglewickHill，wheretheroadiscoveredwithloosestones。Isee，sir，youhaveagigandhorsehere，withaservant。Perhaps，asthecircumstancesaresoverypeculiar——’
ThenMrThumblestopped，andlookedupintothemajor’sfacewithimploringeyes。Butthemajorhadnotendernessforsuchsufferings。
’I’msorrytosaythatIamgoingquitetheotherway，’hesaid。’IamreturningtoSilverbridge。’
MrThumblehesitated，andthenmadearenewedrequest。’IfyouwouldnotmindtakingmetoSilverbridge，Icouldgethomefromthencebyrailway；andperhapsyouwouldallowyourservanttotakethehorsetoBarchester。’
MajorGrantlywasforamomentdumbfounded。’Therequestismostunreasonable，sir。’saidMrCrawley。
’ThatisasMajorGrantlypleasestolookatit，’saidMrThumble。
’Iamsorrytosaythatitisquiteoutofmypower，’saidthemajor。
’Youcansurelywalk，leadingthebeast，ifyoufeartomounthim，’saidMrCrawley。
’IshalldoasIpleaseaboutthat，’saidMrThumble。’And，MrCrawley，ifyouwillhavethekindnesstoleavethingsintheparishjustastheyare——justastheyare，Iwillbeobligedtoyou。Itisthebishop’swishthatyoushouldtouchnothing。’MrThumblewasbythistimeonthestep，andMrCrawleyinstantlyslammedthedoor。’ThegentlemanisaclergymanfromBarchester，’saidMrCrawley，modestlyfoldinghishandsuponhisbreast，’whomthebishophassentoverheretotakeuponhimselftemporarilytheservicesofthechurch，anditappears，thedutiesalsooftheparish。Irefrainfromanimadvertinguponhislordship’schoice。’
’AndyouareleavingHogglestock？’
’WhenIhavefoundashelterformywifeandchildrenIshalldoso；
nay，peradventure，Imustdosobeforeanysuchsheltercanbefound。I
shallproceedinthatmatterasIambid。Iamonewhocanregardmyselfasnolongerpossessingtheprivilegeoffreeactioninanything。ButwhileIhavearoomatyourservice，permitmetoaskyoutoenterit。’
ThenMrCrawleymotionedhiminwithhishand，andMajorGrantlyfoundhimselfinthepresenceofMrsCrawleyandheryoungerdaughter。
Helookedatthembothforamoment，andcouldtracemuchofthelinesofthatfacewhichhelovedsowell。Butthetroublesoflifehadalmostrobbedtheelderladyofherbeauty；andwiththeyounger，theawkwardthinnessofthelastyearsoffemininechildhoodhadnotyetgivenplacetothefulfilmentoffemininegrace。Butthelikenessineachwasquiteenoughtomakehimfeelthatheoughttobeathomeinthatroom。Hethoughtthathecouldlovethewomanashismother，andthegirlashissister。Hefounditverydifficulttobeginanyconversationintheirpresence，andyetitseemedtobehisdutytobegin。MrCrawleyhadmarshalledhimintotheroom，andhavingdoneso，stoodasidenearthedoor。MrsCrawleyhadreceivedhimverygraciously，andhavingdoneso，seemedtobeashamedofherownhospitality。PoorJanehadshrunkbackintoadistantcorner，neartheopenstandingdeskatwhichshewasaccustomedtoreadGreektoherfather，and，ofcourse，couldnotbeexpectedtospeak。IfMajorGrantlycouldhavefoundhimselfalonewithanyoneofthethree——nay，ifhecouldhavebeentherewithanytwo，hecouldhaveopenedhisbudgetatonce；but，beforeallthefamily，hefeltthedifficultyofhissituation。’MrsCrawley，’saidhe，’Ihavebeenmostanxioustomakeyouracquaintance，andItrustyouwillexcusethelibertyIhavetakenincalling。’
’Ifeelgratefultoyou，asIamsuredoesalsomyhusband。’Somuchshesaid，andthenfeltangrywithherselfforsayingsomuch。Wasshenotexpressingthestronghopethathemightstandfastbyherchild，wherebythewholeCrawleyfamilywouldgainsomuch——andtheGrantlyfamilylosemuch，inthesameproportion？
’Sir，’saidMrCrawley，’Ioweyouthanks，stillunexpressed，inthatyoucameforwardtogetherwithMrRobartsofFramley，tosatisfythenotunnaturalrequisitionofthemagistratesbeforewhomIwascalledupontoappearintheearlywinter。Iknownotwhyanyoneshouldhaveventuredintosuchjeopardyonmyaccount。’
’Therewasnojeopardy，MrCrawley。Anyoneinthecountywouldhavedoneit。’
’Iknownotthat；norcanIseethattherewasnojeopardy。ItrustthatImayassureyouthatthereisnodanger；——none，Imean，toyou。
Thedangertomyselfandthosebelongingtome，is，alas，veryurgent。
Thefactsofmypositionarepressingcloseuponme。MethinksIsuffermorefromthevisitofthegentlemanwhohasjustdepartedfrommethananythingthathasyethappenedtome。Andyetheisright；——heisaltogetherright。’
’No，papa；heisnot，’saidJane，fromherstandinggroundneartheuprightdesk。
’Mydear，’saidherfather，’youshouldbesilentonsuchasubject。Itisamatterhardtobeunderstoodinallitsbearings——evenbythosewhoaremostconversantwiththem。ButasthisweneednottroubleMajorGrantly。’
Afterthattherewassilenceamongthem，andforawhileitseemedasthoughtherecouldbenoapproachtothesubjectonwhichGrantlyhadcomehithertoexpresshimself。MrsCrawley，inherdespair，saidsomethingabouttheweather；andthemajor，tryingtodrawnearthespecialsubject，becameboldenoughtoremark’thathehadthepleasureofseeingMissCrawleyatFramley。’’MrsRobartshasbeenverykind，’
saidMrsCrawley，’verykindindeed。Youcanunderstand，MajorGrantly，thatthismustbeaverysadhouseforayoungperson。’’Idon’tthinkitisatallsad，’saidJane，stillstandinginthecornerbytheuprightdesk。
ThenMajorGrantlyrosefromhisseatandwalkedacrosstothegirlandshookherhand。’Youaresolikeyoursister，’saidhe。’Yoursisterisagreatfriendofmine。Shehasoftenspokentomeofyou。Ihopeweshallbefriendssomeday。’ButJanecouldmakenoanswertothis，thoughshehadbeenabletovindicatethegeneralcharacterofthehousewhileshewasleftinthecornerbyherself。’Iwonderwhetheryouwouldbeangrywithme，’continuedthemajor，’ifItoldyouIwantedtospeakawordtoyourfatherandmotheralone？’TothisJanemadenoreply，butwasoutoftheroomalmostbeforethewordshadreachedtheearsofherfatherandmother。Thoughshewasonlysixteen，andhadasyetreadnothingbutLatinandGreek——unlesswearetocountthetwelvebooksofEuclidandWood’sAlgebra，andsundrysmallerexercisesofthesamedescription——sheunderstood，aswellasanyonepresent，thereasonwhyherabsencewasrequired。
Assheclosedthedoorthemajorpausedforamoment，expecting，orperhapshoping，thatthefatherorthemotherwouldsayaword。Butneitherofthemhadawordtosay。Theysatsilent，andasthoughconscience—stricken。Herewasarichman，ofwhomtheyhadheardthathemightprobablywishtowedtheirdaughter。Itwasmanifestenoughtobothofthemthatnomancouldmarryintotheirfamilywithoutsubjectinghimselftoaheavyportionofthatreproachanddisgracewhichwasattachedtothem。Buthowwasitpossiblethattheyshouldnotcaremorefortheirdaughter——fortheirownfleshandblood，thanfortheincidentalwelfareofthisrichman？Asregardedthemanhimselftheyhadheardeverythingthatwasgood。Suchamarriagewasliketheopeningofaparadisetotheirchild。’Nilconsciresibi，’saidthefathertohimself，ashebuckledonhisarmourforthefight。
Whenhehadwaitedforamomentortwo，hebegan。’MrsCrawley，’hesaid，addressinghimselftothemother，’IdonotquiteknowhowfaryoumaybeawarethatI——thatIhaveforsometimebeen——beenacquaintedwithyoureldestdaughter。’
’Ihaveheardfromherthatsheisacquaintedwithyou，’saidMrsCrawley，almostpantingwithanxiety。
’Imayaswellmakeacleanbreastofitatonce，’saidthemajor，smiling，’andsayoutrightthatIhavecomeheretorequestyourpermissionandherfather’stoaskhertobemywife。’Thenhewassilent，andforafewmomentsneitherMrnorMrsCrawleyrepliedtohim。
Shelookedatherhusband，andhegazedatthefire，andthesmilediedawayfromthemajor’sface，ashewatchedthesolemnityofthemboth。
TherewassomethingalmostforbiddinginthepeculiargravityofMrCrawley’scountenancewhen，asatpresent，somethingoperatedwithinhimtocausehimtoexpressdissentfromanypropositionthatwasmadetohim。’Idonotknowhowfarthismaybealtogethernewtoyou，MrsCrawley，’saidthemajor，waitingforareply。
’Itisnotnewtome，’saidMrsCrawley。
’MayIhope，then，thatyouwillnotdisapprove？’
’Sir，’saidMrCrawley，’IamsoplacedbytheuntowardcircumstancesofmylifethatIcanhardlyclaimtoexerciseovermyowndaughterthatauthoritywhichshouldbelongtoaparent。’
’Mydear，donotsaythat，’saidMrsCrawley。
’ButIdosayit。WithinthreeweeksofthistimeImaybeaprisoner，subjecttothecriminallawsofmycountry。AtthismomentIamwithoutpowerofearningbreadformyself，orformywife，orformychildren。
MajorGrantly，youhaveevennowseenthedepartureofthegentlemanwhohasbeensentheretotakemyplaceinthisparish。Iam，asitwere，anoutlawhere，andentitledneithertoobediencenorrespectfromthosewhounderothercircumstanceswouldbeboundtogiveboth。’
’MajorGrantly，’saidthepoorwoman，’nohusbandorfatherinthecountyismorecloselyobeyedormorethoroughlyrespectedandloved。’
’Iamsureofit，’saidthemajor。
’Allthis，however，mattersnothing，’saidMrCrawley，’andallspeechonsuchhomelymatterswouldamounttoanimpertinencebeforeyou，sir，wereitnotthatyouhavehintedatthepurposeofconnectingyourselfatsomefuturetimewiththisunfortunatefamily。’
’Imeanttobeplain—spoken，MrCrawley。’
’Ididnotmeantoinsinuate，sir，thattherewasaughtofreticenceinyourwords，socontrivedthatyoumightfallbackonthevaguenessofyourexpressionforprotection，shouldyouhereafterseefittochangeyourpurpose。Ishouldhavewrongedyoumuchbysuchasuggestion。I
ratherwasmindedtomakeknowntoyouthatI——or，Ishouldrathersay，we，’andMrCrawleypointedtohiswife——’shallnotacceptyourplainnessofspeechasbetokeningaughtbeyondaconceivedideainfurtheranceofwhichyouhavethoughtitexpedienttomakecertaininquiries。’
’Idon’tquitefollowyou，’saidthemajor。’ButwhatIwantyoutodoistogivemeyourconsenttovisityourdaughter；andIwantMrsCrawleytowritetoGraceandtellherthatit’sallright。’MrsCrawleywasquitesurethatitwasallright，andwasreadytositdownandwritetheletterthatmoment，ifherhusbandwouldpermithertodoso。
’IamsorrythatIhavenotbeenexplicit，’saidMrCrawley，’butIwillendeavourtomakemyselfmoreplainlyintelligible。Mydaughter，sir，issocircumstancedinreferencetoherfather，thatI，asherfatherandagentleman，cannotencourageanymantomakeatendertoherofhishand。’
’ButIhavemadeupmymindaboutallthat。’
’AndI，sir，havemadeupmine。IdarenottellmygirlthatIthinkshewilldowelltoplaceherhandinyours。Alady，whenshedoesthat，shouldfeelatleastthatherhandisclean。’
’ItisthecleanestandthesweetestandfairesthandinBarsetshire，’
saidthemajor。MrsCrawleycouldnotrestrainherself，butrunninguptohim，tookhishandinhersandkissedit。
’Thereisunfortunatelyastain，whichisvicarial，’beganMrCrawley，sustaininguptothatpointhisvoicewithRomanfortitude——withafortitudewhichwouldhavebeenRomanhaditnotatthatmomentbrokendownunderthepressureofhumanfeeling。Hecouldkeepitupnolonger，butcontinuedhisspeechwithbrokensobs，andwithavoicealtogetherchangedinitstone——rapidnow，whereasithadbeforebeenslow——natural，whereasithadhithertobeenaffected——human，whereasithadhithertobeenRoman。’MajorGrantly，’hesaid。’Iamsorebeset；butwhatcanIsaytoyou？Mydarlingisaspureasthelightofday——onlythatsheissoiledwithmyimpurity。SheisfittogracethehouseofthebestgentlemaninEngland，hadInotmadeherunfit。’
’Sheshallgracemine，’saidthemajor。’ByGodsheshall！——tomorrow，ifshe’llhaveme。’MrsCrawley，whowasstandingbesidehim，againraisedhishandandkissedit。
’Itmaynotbeso。AsIbeganbysaying——orratherstrovetosay，forI
havebeenovertakenbyweakness，andcannotspeakmymind——Icannotclaimauthorityovermychildaswouldanotherman。HowcanIexerciseauthorityfrombetweenaprison’sbars？’
’Shewouldobeyyourslightestwish，’saidMrsCrawley。
’Icouldexpressnowish，’saidhe。’ButIknowmygirl，andIamsurethatshewillnotconsenttotakeinfamywithherintothehouseofthemanwholovesher。’
’Therewillbenoinfamy，’saidthemajor。’Infamy！ItellyouthatI
shallbeproudoftheconnexion。’
’You，sir，aregenerousinyourprosperity。Wewillstrivetobeatleastjustinouradversity。Mywifeandchildrenaretobepitied——becauseofthehusbandandfather。’
’No！’saidMrsCrawley。’Iwillnothearthatsaid，withoutdenyingit。’
’Buttheymusttaketheirlotasithasbeengiventothem，’continuedhe。’Suchapositioninlifeasthatwhichyouhaveproposedtobestowuponmychildwouldbetoher，asregardshumanaffairs，greatelevation。AndfromwhatIhaveheard——ImaybepermittedtoaddalsofromwhatInowknowfrompersonalexperience——suchamarriagewouldbeladenwithfairpromiseandfuturehappiness。Butifyouaskmymind，I
thinkthatmychildisnotfreetomakeit。You，sir，havemanyrelatives，whoarenotinlove，asyouare，allofwhomwouldbeaffectedbythestainofmydisgrace。Nooneshouldgotoyourhouseasyoursecondwifewhocannotfeelthatshewillserveyourchild。Mydaughterwouldfeelthatshewasbringinginjuryuponthebabe。Icannotbidherdothis——andIwillnot。NordoIbelievethatshewoulddosoifIbidher。’Thenheturnedhischairround，andsatwithhisfacetothewall，wipingawaythetearswithatatteredhandkerchief。
MrsCrawleyledthemajortothefurtherwindow，andtherestoodlookingupintohisface。Itneedhardlybesaidthattheyalsowerecrying。
Whoseeyescouldhavebeendryaftersuchascene——uponhearingsuchwords？’Youhadbettergo，’saidMrsCrawley。’Iknowhimsowell。Youhadbettergo。’
’MrsCrawley，’hesaidwhisperingtoher，’ifIeverdeserther，mayallthatIlovedesertme！Butwillyouhelpme？’
’Youwouldwantnohelp，wereitnotforthistrouble。’
’Butyouwillhelpme？’
Thenshepausedforamoment，’Icandonothing，’shesaid，’butwhathebidsme。’
’Youwilltrustme，atanyrate，’saidthemajor。
’Idotrustyou，’shereplied。ThenhewentwithoutsayingawordfurthertoMrCrawley。Assoonashewasgone，thewifewentovertoherhusband，andputherarmgentlyroundhisneckashewassitting。Forawhilethehusbandtooknonoticeofhiswife’scaress，butsatmotionless，withhisfaceturnedtothewall。Thenshespoketohimawordortwo，tellinghimthattheirvisitorwasgone。’Mychild！’hesaid。’Mypoorchild！，mydarling！Shehasfoundgraceinthisman’ssight；butevenofthathasherfatherrobbedher！TheLordhasvisiteduponthechildrenthesinsofthefather，andwilldosotothethirdandfourthgeneration。’
CHAPTERLXIV
TRAGEDYATHOOKCOURT
ConwayDalrymplehadhurriedoutoftheroominMrsBroughton’shouseinwhichhehadbeenpaintingJaelandSisera，thinkingthatitwouldbebettertomeetanangryandperhapstipsyhusbandonthestairs，thanitwouldbeeithertowaitforhimtillheshouldmakehiswayintohiswife’sroom，ortohideawayfromhimwiththeviewofescapingaltogetherfromsodisagreeableanencounter。Hehadnofearoftheman。
Hedidnotthinkthattherewouldbeanyviolence——nor，asregardedhimself，didhemuchcareiftherewastobeviolence。Buthefeltthathewasbound，asfarasitmightbepossible，toscreenthepoorwomanfromtheilleffectsofherhusband’stemperandcondition。Hewas，therefore，preparedtostopBroughtononthestairs，andtousesomeforceinarrestinghimonhisway，shouldhefindthemantobereallyintoxicated。Buthehadnotdescendedaboveastairortwobeforehewasawarethatthemanbelowhim，whosestephadbeenheard，wasnotintoxicated，andthathewasnotDobbsBroughton。ItwasMrMusselboro。
’Itisyou，isit？’saidConway。’IthoughtitwasBroughton。’thenhelookedintotheman’sfaceandsawthathewasashypale。Allthatappearanceoflow—bredjauntinesswhichusedtobelongtohimseemedtohavebeenwashedoutofhim。Hishairhadforgottentocurl，hisgloveshadbeenthrownaside，andevenhistrinketswereoutofsight。’Whathashappened，’saidConway。’Whatisthematter？Somethingiswrong。’
ThenitoccurredtohimthatMusselborohadbeensenttothehousetotellthewifeofthehusband’sruin。
’TheservanttoldmethatIshouldfindyouupstairs，’saidMusselboro。
’Yes；Ihaveapaintinghere。ForsometimepastIhavebeendoingapictureofMissVanSiever。MrsVanSieverhasbeenheretoday。’ConwaythoughtthatthisinformationwouldproducesomestrongeffectonClara’sproposedhusband；buthedidnotseemtoregardthematterofthepicturenorthementionofMissVanSiever’sname。
’Sheknowsnothingofit？’saidhe。’Shedoesn’tknowyet？’
’Knowwhat？’saidConway。’Sheknowsthatherhusbandhaslostmoney。’
’Dobbshas——destroyedhimself。’
’What！’
’BlewhisbrainsoutthismorningjustinsidetheentranceatHookCourt。Thehorrorofdrinkwasonhim，andhestoodjustinthepathwayandshothimself。Bangleswasstandingatthetopoftheirvaultsandsawhimdoit。Idon’tthinkBangleswilleverbeamanagain。Ohlord！
Ishallnevergetoveritmyself。ThebodywastherewhenIwentin。’
ThenMusselborosankbackagainstthewallofthestaircase，andstaredatDalrympleasthoughhestillsawbeforehimtheterriblesightofwhichhehadjustspoken。
Dalrympleseatedhimselfonthestairsandstrovetobringhismindtobearonthetalewhichhehadjustheard。Whatwashetodo，andhowwasthatpoorwomanupstairstobeinformed？’Youcamehereintendingtotellher，’hesaidinawhisper。HefearedeverymomentthatMrsBroughtonwouldappearonthestairs，andlearnfromawordortwowhathadhappenedwithoutanyhinttoprepareherforthecatastrophe。
’Ithoughtyouwouldbehere。Iknewyouweredoingthepicture。Heknewit。He’dalettertosayso——oneofthoseanonymousones。’
’Butthatdidn’tinfluencehim？’
’Idon’tthinkitwasthat，’saidMusselboro。’Hemeanttohavehaditoutwithher；butitwasn’tthatasbroughtthisabout。Perhapsyoudidn’tknowthathewascleanruined？’
’Shehadtoldme。’
’Thensheknewit？’
’Oh，yes；sheknewthat。MrsVanSieverhadtoldher。Poorcreature！
Howarewetobreakthistoher？’
’Youandsheareverythick，’saidMusselboro。’Isupposeyou’lldoitbest。’Bythistimetheywereinthedrawing—room，andthedoorwasclosed。Dalrymplehadputhishandontheotherman’sarm，andhadledhimdownstairs，outofreachofhearingfromtheroomabove。’You’lltellher——won’tyou？’saidMusselboro。ThenDalrympletriedtothinkwhatlovingfemalefriendtherewaswhowouldbreakthenewstotheunfortunatewoman。HeknewoftheVanSievers，andheknewoftheDemolines，andhealmostknewthattherewasnootherwomanwithinreachwhomhewasentitledtoregardascloselyconnectedwithMrsBroughton。
HewaswellawarethattheanonymousletterofwhichMusselborohadjustspokenhadcomefromMissDemolines，andhecouldnotgothereforsympathyandassistance。NorcouldheapplytoMrsVanSieverafterwithhadpassedthismorning。ToClaraVanSieverhewouldhaveapplied，butthatitwasimpossibleheshouldreachClaraexceptthroughhermother。
’IsupposeIhadbettergotoher，’hesaid，afterawhile。Andthenhewent，leavingMusselborointhedrawing—room。’I’msobadwithit，’saidMusselboro，’thatIreallydon’tknowhowIshallevergoupthatcourtagain。’
ConwayDalrymplemadehiswayupthestairswithveryslowsteps，andashedidsohecouldnotbutthinkseriouslyofthenatureofhisfriendshipwiththiswoman，andcouldnotbutcondemnhimselfheartilyforthefollyandiniquityofhisownconduct。Scoresoftimeshehadprofessedhislovetoherwithhalf—expressedwords，intendedtomeannothing，ashesaidtohimselfwhenhetriedtoexcusehimself，butenoughtoturnherhead，eveniftheydidnotreachherheart。Now，thiswomanwasawidow，anditcametobehisdutytotellherthatshewasso。Whatifsheshouldclaimfromhimnowthelovewhichhehadsooftenprofferedtoher！Itwasnotthathefearedthatshewouldclaimanythingfromhimatthismoment——neithernow，nortomorrow，northenextday——buttheagonyofthepresentmeetingwouldproduceothersinwhichtherewouldbesometendernessmixedwiththeagony；andsofromonemeetingtoanotherthethingwouldprogress。Butinthisdangerbeforehim，itwasnotofhimselfthathewasthinking，butofher。Howcouldheassistheratsuchatimewithoutdoinghermoreinjurythanbenefit？And，ifhedidnotassisther，whowoulddoso？Heknewhertobeheartless；butevenheartlesspeoplehaveheartswhichcanbetouchedandalmostbrokenbycertainsorrows。Herheartwouldnotbebrokenbyherhusband’sdeath，butitwouldbecomeverysoreifshewereutterlyneglected。Hewasnowatthedoor，withhishandonthelock，andwaswonderingwhysheshouldremainsolongwithinwithoutmakingherselfheard。Thenheopenedit，andfoundherseatedinalounge—chair，withherbacktothedoor，andhecouldseethatshehadavolumeofanovelinherhand。Heunderstooditall。Shewaspretendingtobeindifferenttoherhusband’sreturn。Hewalkeduptoher，thinkingthatshewouldrecognisehisstep；butshemadenosignofturningtowardshim。Hesawthemotionofherhairoverthebackofthechairassheaffectedtomakeherselfluxuriouslycomfortable。Shewasstrivingtoletherhusbandseethatshecarednothingforhim，orforhiscondition，orforhisjealousy，ifhewerejealous——orevenofhisruin。’MrsBroughton，’