Hewasfreenow。Eveninhismisery——forhewasverymiserable——hecouldnotrefrainfromtellinghimselfthat。Nooncecouldnowpressuncalled—forintohisstudy，contradicthiminthepresenceofthosebeforewhomhewasboundtobeauthoritative，androbhimofallhisdignity。Therewasnooneelseofwhomhewasafraid。Shehadatleastkepthimoutofthehandsofothertyrants。Hewasnowhisownmaster，andtherewasthefeeling——Imaynotcallitofrelief，forasyettherewasmoreofpaininitthanofsatisfaction——afeelingasthoughhehadescapedfromanoldtroubleataterriblecostofwhichhecouldnotasyetcalculatetheamount。Heknewthathemightnowgiveupallideaofwritingtothearchbishop。
Shehadinsomeways，andatcertainperiodsofhislife，beenverygoodtohim。Shehadkepthismoneyforhimandmadethingsgostraight，whentheyhadbeenpoor。Hisinterestshadalwaysbeenherinterests。Withoutherhewouldneverhavebeenabishop。So，atleast，hetoldhimselfnow，andsotoldhimselfprobablywithtruth。Shehadbeenverycarefulofhischildren。Shehadneverbeenidle。Shehadneverbeenfondofpleasure。Shehadneglectednoacknowledgedduty。Hedidnotdoubtthatshewasnowonherwaytoheaven。Hetookhishandsfromhishead，andclaspingthemtogether，saidalittleprayer。Itmaybedoubtedwhetherhequiteknewforwhathewaspraying。Theideaofgivinguphersoul，nowthatshewasdead，wouldhavescandalisedhim。Hecertainlywasnotprayingforhisownsoul。IthinkthathewasprayingthatGodmightsavehimfrombeinggladthathiswifewasdead。
Butshewasdead——and，asitwere，inamoment！Hehadnotstirredoutofthatroomsinceshehadbeentherewithhim。Thentherehadbeenangrywordsbetweenthem——perhapsmoredeterminedenmityonhispartthaneverhadexisted；andtheyhadpartedforthelasttimewithbitteranimosity。Buthetoldhimselfthathehadcertainlybeenrightinwhathehaddonethen。Hethoughthehadbeenrightthen。AndsohismindwentbacktotheCrawleyandThumblequestion，andhetriedtoalleviatethemiserywhichthelastinterviewwithhiswifenowcreatedbyassuringhimselfthatheatleastbeenjustifiedinwhathehaddone。
Butyethisthoughtswereverytendertoher。Nothingreopensthespringsoflovesofullyasabsence，andnoabsencesothoroughlyasthatwhichmustneedsbeendless。Wewantthatwhichwehavenot；andespeciallythatwhichwenevercanhave。Shehadtoldhimintheverylastmomentsofherpresencewithhimthathewaswishingsheweredead，andhehadmadenoreply。Atthemomenthehadfelt，withsavageanger，thatsuchwashiswish。Herwordshadnowcometopass，andhewasawidower——andheassuredhimselfthathewouldgiveallthathepossessedintheworldtobringherbackagain。
Yes，hewasawidower，andhemightdoashepleased。Thetyrantwasgone，andhewasfree。Thetyrantwasgone，andthetyrannyhaddoubtlessbeenveryoppressive。Whohadsufferedashehaddone？Butinthusbeingleftwithouthistyranthewaswretchedlydesolate。Mightitnotbethatthetyrannyhadbeengoodforhim？——thattheLordhadknownbestwhatwifewasfitforhim？Thenhethoughtofastorywhichhehadread——andhadwellmarkedashewasreading——ofsomemanwhohadbeenterriblyafflictedbyhiswife，whosewifehadstarvedhimandbeatenhimandreviledhim；andyetthismanhadbeenabletothankGodforhavingmortifiedhimintheflesh。Mightitnotbethatthemortificationwhichhehimselfhaddoubtlesssufferedinhisfleshhadbeenintendedforhiswelfare，andhadbeenverygoodforhim？Butifthiswereso，itmightbethatthemortificationwasnowremovedbecausetheLordknewthathisservanthadbeensufficientlymortified。Hehadnotbeenstarvedorbeaten，butthemortificationhadbeencertainlysevere。Thentherecamethesewords——intohismind，notintohismouth——’TheLordsentthethorn，andtheLordhastakenitaway。BlessedbetheLord。’Afterthathewasveryangrywithhimself，andtriedtopraythathemightbeforgiven。Whilehewassostrivingtherecamealowknockatthedoor，andMrsDraperagainenteredtheroom。
’DrFilgrave，mylord，wasnotathome，’saidMrsDraper；’buthewillbesentthemomentwhenhearrives。’
’Verywell，MrsDraper。’
’But，mylord，willyounotcomeouttodinner？Alittlesoup，oramorselofsomethingtoeat，andaglassofwine，willenableyourlordshiptobearitbetter。’HeallowedMrsDrapertopersuadehim，andfollowedherintothedining—room。’Donotgo，MrsDraper，’hesaid；’I
wouldratherthatyoushouldstaywithme。’SoMrsDraperstayedwithhim，andadministeredtohiswants。Hewasdesirousofbeingseenbyasfeweyesaspossibleinthesefirstmomentsofhisfreedom。
HesawDrFilgravetwice，bothbeforeandafterthedoctorhadbeenupstairs。Therewasnodoubt，DrFilgravesaid，thatitwasasMrsDraperhadsurmised。Thepoorladywassuffering，andhadforyearsbeensuffering，fromheart—complaint。Toherhusbandshehadneversaidawordonthesubject。ToMrsDraperawordhadbeensaidnowandagain——awordwhensomemomentoffearwouldcome，whensomesharpstrokeofagonywouldtellofdanger。ButMrsDraperhadkeptthesecretofhermistress，andnoneofthefamilyhadknownthattherewasaughttobefeared。DrFilgrave，indeed，didtellthebishopthathehaddreadedallalongexactlythatwhichhadhappened。HehadsaidthesametoMrRerechild，thesurgeon，whentheytwohadhadaconsultationatthepalaceontheoccasionofasomewhatalarmingbirthofagrandchild。ButhemixedupthisinformationwithsomuchmedicalLatin，andwassopompousoverit，andthebishopwassoanxioustoberidofhim，thathiswordsdidnothavemucheffect。Whatdiditallmatter？Thethornwasgone，andthewifewasdead，andthewidowermustbalancehisgainandthelossasbesthemight。
Hesleptwellbutwhenhewokeinthemorningthedrearinessofhislonelinesswasverystrongonhim。Hemustdosomething，andmustseesomebody，buthefeltthathedidnotknowhowtobearhimselfinhisnewposition。Hemustsendofcourseforhischaplain，andtellhischaplaintoopenalllettersandtoanswerthemforaweek。Thenherememberedhowmanyofhislettersindaysofyorehadbeenopenedandansweredbythehelpmate，whohadjustgonefromhim。SinceDrTempest’svisithehadinsistedthatthepalaceletter—bagshouldalwaysbebroughtinthefirstinstancetohim——andthishadbeendone，greatlytotheannoyanceofhiswife。Inorderthatitmightbedonethebishophadbeenupeverymorninganhourbeforetheusualtime；andeverybodyinthehouseholdhadknownwhyitwasso。Hethoughtofthisnowasthebagwasbroughttohimonthefirstmorningofhisfreedom。Hecouldhaveitwherehepleasednow——eitherinhisbedroomorleftforhimuntouchedonthebreakfast—tabletillheshouldgotoit。’BlessedbethenameoftheLord，’hesaidashethoughtofallthis；buthedidnotstoptoanalysewhathewassaying。Onthismorninghewouldnotenjoyhisliberty，butdesiredthattheletter—bagmightbetakentoMrSnapper，thechaplain。
ThenewsofMrsProudie’sdeathhadspreadalloverBarchesterontheeveningofitsoccurrence，andhadbeenreceivedwiththatfeelingofdistantawewhichisalwaysaccompaniedbysomedegreeofpleasurablesensation。TherewasnooneinBarchestertolamentamother，orasister，orafriendwhowasreallyloved。Therewerethose，doubtless，whoregrettedthewoman’sdeath——andevensomewhoregretteditwithoutanyfeelingofpersonaldamagedonetothemselves。TherehadcometobearoundMrsProudieapartywhothoughtasshethoughtonchurchmatters，andsuchpeoplehadlosttheirhead，andtherebytheirstrength。Andshehadbeenstaunchtoherownparty，preferringbadteafromalow—churchgrocer，togoodteafromagrocerwhowenttotheritualisticchurchortonochurchatall。Anditisduetohertosaythatshedidnotforgetthosewhoweretruetoher——lookingafterthemmindfullywherelookingaftermightbeprofitable，andfightingtheirbattleswherefightingmightbemoreserviceable。IdonotthinkthattheappetiteforbreakfastofanymanorwomaninBarchesterwasdisturbedbythenewsofMrsProudie’sdeath，butthereweresomewhofeltthatatroublehadfallenonthem。
TidingsofthecatastrophereachedHiram’sHospitalontheeveningofitsoccurrence——Hiram’sHospital，wheredweltMrandMrsQuiverfulwithalltheirchildren。NowMrsQuiverfulowedadebtofgratitudetoMrsProudie，havingbeenplacedinherpresentcomfortablehomebythatlady’spatronage。MrsQuiverfulperhapsunderstoodthecharacterofthedeceasedwoman，andexpressedheropinionrespectingit，asgraphicallydidanyoneinBarchester。TherewasthenaturalsurprisefeltattheWarden’sLodgeintheHospitalwhenthetidingswerefirstreceivedthere，andtheQuiverfulfamilywasatfirsttoofullofdismay，regrets，andsurmisestobeabletogivethemselvesimpartiallytocriticism。Butonthefollowingmorning，conversationatthebreakfast—tablenaturallyreferringtothegreatlosswhichthebishophadsustained，MrsQuiverfulthuspronouncedheropinionofherfriend’scharacter：’You’llfindthathe’llfeelit，Q。，’shesaidtoherhusband，inanswertosomesarcasticremarkmadebyhimastotheremovalofthethorn。’He’llfeelit，thoughshewasalmosttoomanyforhimwhileshewasalive。’
’Idaresayhe’llfeelitatfirst，’saidQuiverful；’butIthinkhe’llbemorecomfortablethanhehasbeen。’
’Ofcoursehe’llfeelit，andgoonfeelingittillhedies，ifhe’sthemanItakehimtobe。You’renottothinkthattherehasbeennolovebecausethereusedtobesomewords，thathe’llfindhimselfthehappierhecandomorethingsashepleases。Shewasagreathelptohim，andhemusthaveknownthatshewas，inspiteofthesharpnessofhertongue。
Nodoubthertonguewassharp。Nodoubtshewasupsetting。Andshecouldmakeherselfafooltooinherstrugglestohaveeverythingherownway。
But，Q。，therewereworsewomenthanMrsProudie。Shewasneveroneofyouridleones，andI’mquitesurethatnomanorwomaneverheardhersayawordagainstherhusbandbehindhisback。’
’Allthesame，shegavehimaterriblybadlifeofit，ifallistruethatwehear。’
’Therearemenwhomusthavewhatyoucallaterriblybadlifeofit，whateverwayitgoeswiththem。Thebishopisweak，andhewantssomebodyneartohimtobestrong。Shewasstrong——perhapstoostrong；
buthehadhisadvantageofit。AfterallIdon’tknowthathislifehasbeensoterriblybad。Idaresayhe’shadeverythingverycomfortableabouthim。Andamanoughttobegratefulforthat，thoughveryfewmeneverare。’
MrQuiverful’spredecessorattheHospital，oldMrHarding，whosehalcyondaysinBarchesterhadbeenpassedbeforethecomingoftheProudies，wasinbedplayingcat’s—cradlewithPosyseatedonthecounterpane，whentidingsofMrsProudie’sdeathwerebroughttohimbyMrsBaxter。’Oh，sir，’saidMrsBaxter，seatingherselfonachairbythebed—side。MrHardinglikedMrsBaxtertositdown，becausehewasalmostsureonsuchoccasionstohavetheadvantageofaprolongedconversation。
’Whatisit，MrsBaxter？’
’Oh，sir！’
’Isanythingthematter？’Andtheoldmanattemptedtoraisehimselfinhisbed。
’Youmustn’tfrightengrandpa，’saidPosy。
’No，mydear；andthereisn’tnothingtofrightenhim。Thereisn’tindeed，MrHarding。They’reallwellatPlumstead，andwhenIheardfromthemissusatVenice，everythingwasgoingonwell。’
’Butwhatisit，MrsBaxter？’
’Godforgiveallhersins——MrsProudieain’tnomore。’Nowtherehadbeenaterriblefeudbetweenthepalaceandthedeaneryforyears，incarryingonwhichthepersonsoftheopposedhouseholdswerewonttoexpressthemselveswitheageranimosity。MrsBaxterandMrsDraperneverdaredspeaktoeachother。Thetwocoachmeneachlongedforanopportunitytotaketheotherbeforethemagistrateforsomebreachofthelawoftheroadindriving。Thefootmenabusedeachother，andthegroomsoccasionallyfought。Themastersandmistressescontentedthemselveswithsimplehatred。ThereforeitwasnotsurprisingthatMrsBaxterinspeakingofthedeathofMrsProudie，shouldrememberfirsthersins。
’MrsProudiedead！’saidtheoldman。
’Indeed，sheis，MrHarding，’saidMrsBaxter，puttingbothherhandstogetherpiously。’We’rejustasgrass，ain’twe，sir！Andustandclayandflowersofthefield？’WhetherMrsProudiehadmostpartakenoftheclayeynatureoroftheflowerynature，MrsBaxterdidnotstoptoconsider。
’MrsProudiedead！’withasolemnitythatwasallherown。’Thenshewon’tscoldthepoorbishopanymore。’
’No，mydear；shewon’tscoldanybodyanymore；anditwillbeablessingforsome，Imustsay。Everybodyisalwayssoconsiderateinthishouse，MissPosy，thatwenoneofusknownothingaboutwhatthatis。’
’Dead！’saidMrHardingagain。’Ithink，ifyouplease，MrsBaxter，youshallleavemeforlittletime，andtakeMissPosywithyou。’HehadbeeninthecityofBarchestersomefiftyyears，andherewasonewhomighthavebeenhisdaughter，whohadcometherescarcelytenyearssince，andwhohadnowgonebeforehim！HehadneverlovedMrsProudie。
PerhapshehadcomeasneartodislikingMrsProudieashehadevercometodislikinganyperson。MrsProudiehadwoundedhimineverypartthatwasmostsensitive。Itwouldbelongtotell，norneeditbetoldnow，howshehadridiculedhiscathedralwork，howshehadmadenothingofhim，howshehaddespisedhim，alwaysmanifestinghercontemptplainly。
Hehadbeenevendriventorebukeher，andithadperhapsbeentheonlypersonalrebukewhichhehadeverutteredinBarchester。Butnowshewasgone；andhethoughtofhersimplyasanactivepiouswoman，whohadbeentakenawayfromherwordbeforehertime。Andforthebishop，noideaeverenteredMrHarding’smindastotheremovalofathorn。Themanhadlosthislife’scompanionatthattimeoflifewhensuchacompanionismostneeded；andMrHardinggrievedforhimwithsincerity。
ThenewswentouttoPlumsteadEpiscopibythepostman，andhappenedtoreachthearchdeaconashewastalkingtohisrectoratthelittlegateleadingintothechurchyard。’MrsProudieisdead！’healmostshouted，asthepostmannotifiedthefacttohim。’Impossible！’
’Itbesoforzartain，yerreverence，’saidthepostman，whowasproudofhisnews。
’Heavens！’ejaculatedthearchdeacon，andthenhurriedintohiswife。
’Mydear，’hesaid——andashespokehecouldhardlydeliverhimselfofthewords，soeagerwashetospeakthem——’whodoyouthinkisdead？
Graciousheavens！MrsProudieisdead！’MrsGrantlydroppedfromherhandtheteaspoonfulofteathatwasjustgoingintothepot，andrepeatedherhusband’slastwords。’MrsProudiedead？’Therewasapause，duringwhichtheylookedintoeachother’sfaces。’Mydear，I
don’tbelieveit，’saidMrsGrantly。
Butshedidbelieveitveryshortly。TherewerenoprayersatPlumsteadrectorythatmorning。Thearchdeaconimmediatelywentoutintothevillage，andsoonobtainedsufficientevidenceofthetruthofthatwhichthepostmanhadtoldhim。Thenherushedbacktohiswife。’It’strue，’hesaid。’It’squitetrue。She’sdead。There’snodoubtaboutthat。She’sdead。Itwaslastnightaboutseven。Thatwaswhentheyfoundher，atleast，andshemayhavediedaboutanhourbefore。
Filgravesaysnotmorethananhour。’
’Andhowdidshedie？’
’Heart—complaint。Shewasstandingup，takingholdofthebedstead，andsotheyfoundher。’Thentherewasapause，duringwhichthearchdeaconsatdowntohisbreakfast。’Iwonderhowhefeltwhenheheardit？’
’Ofcoursehewasterriblyshocked。’
’I’venodoubthewasshocked。Anymanwouldbeshocked。Butwhenyoucometothinkofit，whatarelief！’
’Howcanyouspeakofitinthatway？’saidMrsGrantly。
’HowamItospeakofitinanyotherway？’saidthearchdeacon。’OfcourseIshouldn’tgoandsayitoutinthestreet。’
’Idon’tthinkyououghttosayitanywhere，’saidMrsGrantly。’Thepoormannodoubtfeelsabouthiswifeinthesamewaythatanybodyelsewould。’
’Andofanyotherpoormanhasgotsuchawifeasshewas，youmaybequitesurethathewouldbegladtogetridofher。Idon’tsaythathewishedhertodie，orthathewouldhavedoneanythingtocontriveherdeath——’
’Gracious，archdeacon；doprayholdyourtongue。’
’Butitstandstoreasonthathergoingwillbeagreatrelieftohim。
Whathasshedoneforhim？Shehasmadehimcontemptibletoeverybodyinthediocesebyherinterference，andhislifehasbeenaburdentohimthroughherviolence。’
’IsthatthewayyoucarryoutyourproverbDemortuis？’askedMrsGrantly。
’TheproverbofDemortuisisfoundedonhumbug。Humbugoutofdoorsisnecessary。ItwouldnotdoforyouandmetogointotheHighStreetjustnowandsaywhatwethinkaboutMrsProudie；butIdon’tsupposethatkindofthingneedtobekeptupinhere——souncomfortablethatI
cannotbelievethatanyonewillregrether。Dearme！Onlytothinkthatshehasgone！Youmayaswellgivememytea。’
IdonotthinkthatMrsGrantly’sopiniondifferedmuchfromthatexpressedbyherhusband，orthatshewas，intruth，theleastoffendedbythearchdeacon’splainspeech。ButitmustberememberedthattherewasprobablynohouseinthedioceseinwhichMrsProudiehadbeensothoroughlyhatedasshehadbeenatthePlumsteadrectory。Therehadbeenhatredinthedeanery；butthehatredatthedeaneryhadbeenmildincomparisonwiththehatredatPlumstead。Thearchdeaconwasasoundfriend；buthewasalsoasoundenemy。FromtheveryarrivaloftheProudiesatBarchester，MrsProudiehadthrowndownhergauntlettohim，andhehadnotbeenslowinpickingitup。Thewarhadbeeninternecine，andeachhadgiventheotherterriblewounds。Ithadbeenunderstoodthatthereshouldbenoquarter，andtherehadbeennone。Hisenemywasnowdead，andthearchdeaconcouldnotbringhimselftoadoptbeforehiswifethenamby—pambyeverydaydecencyofspeakingwellofoneofwhomhehadeverthoughtill，orexpressingregretwhennoregretcouldbefelt。
’Mayallhersinsbeforgivenher，’saidMrsGrantly。’Amen，’saidthearchdeacon。TherewassomethinginthetoneofhisAmenwhichthoroughlyimpliedthatitwasutteredonlyontheunderstandingthatherdeparturefromtheexistingworldwastoberegardedasanunmitigatedgood，andthatsheshould，atanyrate，nevercomebackagaintoBarchester。
WhenLadyLuftonheardthetidings，shewasnotsoboldinspeakingofitaswasherfriendthearchdeacon。’MrsProudiedead！，’shesaidtoherdaughter—in—law。Thiswassomehoursafterthenewshadreachedthehouse，andwhenthefactofthepoorlady’sdeathhadbeenfullyrecognised。’Whatwillhedowithouther？’
’Thesameasothermendo，’saidtheyoungLadyLufton。
’But，mydear，heisnotthesameasothermen。Heisnotatalllikeothermen。Nodoubtshewasavirago，awomanwhocouldnotcontrolhertemperforamoment！Nodoubtshehadledhimaterriblelife！Ihaveoftenpitiedhimwithallmyheart。But，nevertheless，shewasusefultohim。Isupposeshewasusefultohim。IcanhardlybelievethatMrsProudieisdead。Hadhegone，itwouldhaveseemedsomuchmorenatural。
Poorwoman。Idaresayshehadhergoodpoints。’ThereaderwillbepleasedtorememberthattheLuftonshadeverbeenstrongpartisansonthesideoftheGrantlys。
ThenewsmadeitswayeventoHogglestockonthesameday。MrsCrawley，whensheheardit，wentoutafterherhusband，whowasintheschool。
’Dead！’hesaidinanswertoherwhisper。’Doyoutellmethatthewomanisdead？’ThenMrsCrawleyexplainedthatthetidingswerecredible。
’MayGodforgiveherallhersins，’saidMrsCrawley。’Shewasaviolentwoman，certainly，andIthinkthatshemisunderstoodherduties；butI
donotsaythatshewasabadwoman。Iaminclinedtothinkthatshewasearnestinherendeavourstodogood。’ItneveroccurredtoMrCrawleythatheandhisaffair，had，intruth，beenthecauseofherdeath。
Itwasthusthatshewasspokenofforafewdays；andthemenandwomenceasedtospeakmuchofher，andbegantotalkofthebishopinstead。A
monthhadnotpassedbeforeitwassurmisedthatamansolongaccustomedtothecomfortsofmarriedlifewouldmarryagain；andeventhenoneladyconnectedwithlow—churchclergymeninandaroundthecitywasnamedasaprobablesuccessortothegreatladywhowasgone。
FormyselfIaminclinedtothinkthatthebishopwillforthefuturebecontenttoleanuponhischaplain。
Themonumentthatwasputuptoourfriend’smemoryinoneoftheaislesofthechoirofthecathedralwassupposedtobedesignedandexecutedingoodtaste。Therewasabrokencolumn，andonthecolumnsimplythewords’Mybelovedwife！’Thentherewasaslabbythecolumn，bearingMrsProudie’sname，withthedateofherlifeanddeath。Beneaththiswasthecommoninscription：—
’Requiescatinpace。’
CHAPTERLXVIII
THEOBSTINACYOFMRCRAWLEY
DrTempest，whenheheardthenews，sentimmediatelytoMrRobarts，begginghimtocomeovertoSilverbridge。ButthismessagewasnotoccasionedsolelybythedeathofMrsProudie。DrTempesthadalsoheardthatMrCrawleyhadsubmittedhimselftothebishop，thatinstantadvantage——and，asDrTempestthought，——unfairadvantage——hadbeentakenofMrCrawley’ssubmission，andthattheperniciousMrThumblehadbeenatoncesentovertoHogglestock。HadthesepalacedoingswithreferencetoMrCrawleybeenunaccompaniedbythecatastrophewhichhadhappened，thedoctor，muchashemighthaveregrettedthem，wouldprobablyhavefeltthattherewasnothingtobedone。HecouldnotinsuchcasehavepreventedMrThumble’sjourneytoHogglestockonthenextSunday，andcertainlyhecouldnothavesoftenedtheheartofthepresidinggeniusatthepalace。Butthingswereverydifferentnow。Thepresidinggeniuswasgone。Everybodyatthepalacewouldbeforawhileweakandvacillating。Thumblewouldbethenthoroughlycowed；anditmightatanyratebepossibletomakesomemovementinMrCrawley’sfavour。DrTempest，therefore，sentforMrRobarts。
’I’mgivingyouagreatdealoftrouble，Robarts，’saidthedoctor；’butthenyouaresomuchyoungerthanIam，andI’veanideathatyouwoulddomoreforthispoormanthananyoneelseinthediocese。’MrRobartsofcoursedeclaredthathedidnotbegrudgehistrouble，andthathewoulddoanythinginhispowerforthepoorman。’Ithinkthatyoushouldseehimagain，andthatyoushouldthenseeThumblealso。Idon’tknowwhetheryoucancondescendtobeciviltoThumble。Icouldnot。’
’Iamnotquitesurethatincivilitywouldnotbemoreefficacious。’
’Verylikely。Therearemenwhoaredeafasadderstocourtesy，butwhoarecompelledtoobedienceatoncebyill—usage。VerylikelyThumbleisoneofthem；butofthatyouwillbethebestjudgeyourself。IwouldseeCrawleyfirst，andgethisconsent。’
’That’sthedifficulty。’
’ThenIshouldgowithouthisconsent，andIwouldseeThumbleandthebishop’schaplainSnapper。Ithinkyoumightmanagejustatthismoment，whentheywillallbeabashedandperplexedbythiswoman’sdeath，toarrangethatsimplynothingshallbedone。ThegreatthingwillbethatCrawleyshouldgoonwiththedutytilltheassizes。IfitshouldhappenthathegoesintoBarchesterandisacquitted，andcomesbackagain，thewholethingwillbeover，andtherewillbenofurtherinterferenceintheparish。IfIwereyou，IthinkIwouldtryit。’MrRobartssaidthathewouldtryit。’IdaresayMrCrawleywillbealittlestiff—neckedwithyou。’
’Hewillbeverystiff—neckedwithme，’saidMrRobarts。
’ButIcanhardlythinkthathewillthrowawaytheonlymeanshehasofsupportinghiswifeandchildren，whenhefindsthattherecanbenooccasionforhisdoingso。Idonotsupposethatanypersonwisheshimtothrowuphisworknowthatthepoorwomanhasgone。’
MrCrawleyhadbeenalmostingoodspiritssincethelastvisitwhichMrThumblehadmadehim。Itseemedasthoughthelossofeverythingintheworldwasinsomewaysatisfactorytohim。Hehadnowgivenuphislivingbyhisowndoing，andhadafterafashionacknowledgedhisguiltbythisact。Hehadproclaimedtoallaroundhimthathedidnotthinkhimselftobeanylongerfittoperformthesacredfunctionsofhisoffice。Hespokeofhistrialasthoughaverdictagainsthimmustbetheresult。Heknewthatingoingintoprisonhewouldleavehiswifeandchildrendependentonthecharityoftheirfriends——oncharitywhichtheymustcondescendtoaccept，thoughhecouldnotcondescendtoaskit。Andyethewasabletocarryhimselfnowwithagreatershowoffortitudethanhadbeenwithinhispowerwhentheextentofhiscalamitywasmoredoubtful。Imustnotaskthereadertosupposethathewascheerful。Tohavebeencheerfulundersuchcircumstanceswouldhavebeeninhuman。Buthecarriedhisheadonhigh，andwalkedfirmly，andgavehisorderswithaclearvoice。Hiswife，whowasnecessarilymoredespondentthanever，wonderedathim——butwonderedinsilence。Itcertainlyseemedasthoughtheveryextremityofill—fortunewasgoodforhim。Andhewasverydiligentwithhisschool，passingthegreaterpartofthemorningwithhischildren。MrThumblehadtoldhimthathewouldcomeonSunday，andthathewouldthentakechargeoftheparish。