UptothecomingofMrThumblehewoulddoeverythingintheparishthatcouldbedonebyaclergymanwithaclearspiritandafreeheart。MrThumbleshouldnotfindthatspiritualweedshadgrownrankintheparishbecauseofhismisfortunes。
MrsProudiehaddiedontheTuesday——thathavingbeenthedayofMrThumble’svisittoHogglestock——andMrRobartshadgoneovertoSilverbridge，inanswertoDrTempest’sinvitation，ontheThursday。Hehadnot，therefore，thecommandofmuchtime，itbeingtheexpressobjecttopreventtheappearanceofMrThumbleatHogglestockonthenextSunday。HehadgonetoSilverbridgebyrailway，andhad，therefore，beenobligedtopostponehisvisittoMrCrawleytillthenextday；butearlyontheFridaymorningherodeovertoHogglestock。Thathedidnotarrivetherewithabroken—kneedhorse，thereadermaybequitesure。Inallmattersofthatsort，MrRobartswaseverabovereproach。Herodeagoodhorse，anddroveaneatgig，andwasalwayswell—dressed。OnthisaccountMrCrawley，thoughhereallylikedMrRobarts，andwasthankfultohimformanykindnesses，couldneverbearhispresencewithperfectequanimity。Robartswasnoscholar，wasnotagreatpreacher，hadobtainednocelebrityasachurchman——had，infact，donenothingtomeritgreatreward；andyeteverythinghadbeengiventohimwithanabundanthand。WithinthelasttwelvemonthhiswifehadinheritedMrCrawleydidnotcaretoknowhowmanythousandpounds。AndyetMrRobartshadwonallthathepossessedbybeingaclergyman。WasitpossiblethatMrCrawleyshouldregardsuchamanwithequanimity？
Robartsrodeoverwithagroombehindhim——reallytakingthegroombecauseheknewthatMrCrawleywouldhavenoonetoholdhishorseforhim——andthegroomwasthesourceofgreatoffence。HecomeuponMrCrawleystandingattheschooldoor，andstoppingatonce，jumpedoffhisnag。Therewassomethinginthewayinwhichhesprangoutofthesaddleandthrewthereinstotheman，whichwasnotclericaltoMrCrawley’seyes。Nomancouldbesoquickinthematterofahorsewhospentasmanyhourswiththepoorandwiththechildrenasshouldbespentbyaparishclergyman。ItmightbeprobablethatMrRobartshadneverstolentwentypounds——mightneverbeaccusedofsodisgracefulacrime——but，nevertheless，MrCrawleyhadhisownideas，andmadehisowncomparisons。
’Crawley’saidRobarts，’Iamsogladtofindyouathome。’
’Iamgenerallytobefoundintheparish，’saidtheperpetualcurateofHogglestock。
’Iknowyouare，’saidRobarts，whoknewthemanwell，andcarednothingforhisfriend’speculiaritieswhenhefelthisownwitherstobeunwrung。’ButyoumighthavebeendownatHoggleEndwiththebrickmakers，andthen，Iwouldhavehadtogoafteryou。’
’Ishouldhavegrieved——’beganCrawley；butRobartsinterruptedhimatonce。
’Letusgoforawalk，andI’llleavethemanwiththehorses。I’vesomethingspecialtosaytoyou，andIcansayitbetteroutherethaninthehouse。Graceisquitewell，andsendsherlove。Sheisgrowingtolooksobeautiful！’
’IhopeshemaygrowingracewithGod，’saidMrCrawley。
’SheisasgoodagirlaseverIknew。By—the—bye，youhadHenryGrantlyoverheretheotherday？’
’MajorGrantly，whomIcannotnamewithoutexpressingmyesteemforhim，diddousthehonourofcallinguponusnotverylongsince。Ifitbewithreferencetohimthatyouhavetakenthistrouble——’
’No，no；notatall。I’llallowhimandtheladiestofightoutthatbattle。I’venottheleastdoubtintheworldhowthatwillgo。WhenI’mtoldthatshemadeacompleteconquestofthearchdeacon，therecannotbeanydoubtaboutthat。’
’Aconquestofthearchdeacon！’
ButMrRobartsdidnotwishtohavetoexplainanythingfurtheraboutthearchdeacon。’Wereyounotterriblyshocked，Crawley，’heasked，’whenyouheardofthedeathofMrsProudie？’
’Itwassuddenandveryawful，’saidMrCrawley。’Suchdeathsarealwaysshocking。Notmoreso，perhaps，asregardsthewifeofabishop。，thanwithanyotherwoman。’
’Onlywehappentoknowher。’
’Nodoubtthefiniteandmeagrenatureofourfeelingsdoespreventusfromextendingoursympathiestothosewhomwehavenotseenintheflesh。Itshouldnotbeso，andwouldnotwithonewhohadnurturedhisheartwiththepropercare。Andwearepronetopermitanevilworsethanthattocankerourregardsandtofosterandtomaroursolicitudes。Thosewhoareinhighstationstrikeusmorebytheirjoysandsorrowsthandothepoorandlowly。Weresomeyoungduke’swife，weddedbuttheotherday，todie，allEnglandwouldputonashowofmourning——nay，wouldfeelsometruegleamofpity；butnobodycaresforthewidowedbrickmakerseatedwithhisstarvinginfantonhiscoldhearth。’
’Ofcoursewehearmoreofthebigpeople，’saidRobarts。
’Ay；andthinkmoreofthem。Butdonotsuppose，sir，thatIcomplainofthismanorthatwomanbecausehissympathies，orhers，runsoutofthatcoursewhichmyreasontellsmetheyshouldhold。Themanwithwhomitwouldnotbesowouldsimplybeagodamongmen。ItisinhisperfectionasamanthatwerecognisethedivinityofChrist。ItisintheimperfectionofmenthatwerecogniseournecessityforaChrist。
Yes，sir，thedeathofthepoorladyatBarchesterwasverysudden。I
hopethatmylordbearswithbecomingfortitudetheheavymisfortune。
Theysaythathewasamanmuchbeholdentohiswife——pronetoleanuponherinhisgoingsoutandcomingsin。Forsuchamansuchalossismoredreadfulthanforanother。’
’Theysaysheledhimaterriblelife，youknow。’
’Iamnotprone，sir，tobelievemuchofwhatIhearaboutthedomesticitiesofothermen，knowinghowlittleanyothermancanknowofmyown。AndIhave，methinks，observedapronenessintheworldtoridiculethatdependenceonawomanwhicheverymarriedmanshouldacknowledgeinregardtothewifeofhisbosom，ifhecanttrustheraswellasloveher。WhenIhearjocoseproverbsspokenastomensuchasthatinthishousethegreymareisthebetterhorse，orthatinthathousethewifewearsthatgarmentwhichissupposedtodenotevirilecommand，knowingthatthejokeiseasy，andthatmeeknessinamanismoretrulynoblethanthehabitofsternauthority，Idonotallowthemtogofarwithmeininfluencingmyjudgment。’
SospokeMrCrawley，whoneverpermittedtheslightestinterferencewithhisownwordinhisownfamily，andwhohadhimselfbeenawitnessofoneofthosescenesbetweenthebishopandhiswifeinwhichthepoorbishophadbeensocruellymisused。ButtoMrCrawleythethingwhichhehimselfhadseenundersuchcircumstanceswasassacredasthoughithadcometohimunderthesealofconfession。InspeakingofthebishopandMrsProudie——nay，asfaraswaspossibleinthinkingofthem——hewasboundtospeakandtothinkasthoughhehadnotwitnessedthatsceneinthepalacestudy。
’Idon’tsupposethatthereismuchdoubtastoherrealcharacter，’
saidRobarts。’ButyouandIneednotdiscussthat。’
’Bynomeans。Suchdiscussionwouldbebothuselessandunseemly。’
’AndjustatpresentthereissomethingelsethatIspeciallywanttosaytoyou。Indeed，IwenttoSilverbridgeonthesamesubjectyesterday，andhavecomehereexpresslytohavealittleconversationwithyou。’
’Ifitbeaboutaffairsofmine，MrRobarts，Iamindeedtroubledinspiritthatsogreatlabourshouldhavefallenuponyou。’
’Nevermindmylabour。Indeedyoursayingthatisanuisancetome，becauseIhopedthatbythistimeyouwouldhaveunderstoodthatI
regardyouasafriend，andthatIthinknothinganytroublethatIdoforafriend。Youpositionjustnowissopeculiarthatitrequiresagreatdealofcare。’
’Nocarecanbeofanyavailtome。’
’ThereIdisagreewithyou。Youmustexcuseme，butIdo；andsodoesDrTempest。Wethinkthatyouhavebeenalittletoomuchinahurrysincehecommunicatedtoyoutheresultofourfirstmeeting。’
’Ashow，sir？’
’Itis，perhaps，hardlyworthwhileforustogointothewholequestion；butthatman，Thumble，mustnotcomehereonnextSunday。’
’Icannotsay，MrRobarts，thattheReverendMrThumblehasrecommendedhimselftomestronglyeitherbyhisoutwardsymbolsofmanhoodorbysuchmanifestationofinwardmentalgiftsasIhavesucceededinobtaining。Butmyknowledgeofhimhasbeensoslight，andhasbeenacquiredinamannersolikelytobiasmeprejudiciallyagainsthim，thatIaminclinedtothinkmyopinionshouldgofornothing。Itis，however，thefactthatthebishophasnominatedhimtodothisduty；andthat，asIhavemyselfsimplynotifiedmydecisiontoberelievedfromthecareoftheparish，onaccountofcertainunfitnessofmyown，Iamthelastmanwhoshouldinterferewiththebishopinthechoiceofmytemporarysuccessor。
’Itwasherchoice，nothis。’
’Excuseme，MrRobarts，butIcannotallowthatassertiontopassunquestioned。ImustsaythatIhaveadequatecauseforbelievingthathecameherebyhislordship’sauthority。’
’Nodoubthedid。Willyoujustlistentomeforamoment？Eversincethisunfortunateaffairofthechequebecameknown，MrsProudiehasbeenanxioustogetyououtoftheparish。Shewasaviolentwoman，andchosetotakethismatterupviolently。Prayhearmeoutbeforeyouinterruptme。Therewouldhavebeennocommissionatallbutforher。’
’Thecommissionisrightandproperandjust，’saidMrCrawley，whocouldnotkeephimselfsilent。
’Verywell。Letitbeso。ButMrThumble’scomingoverhereisnotproperorright；andyoumaybesurethebishopdoesnotwishit。’
’Lethimsendanyotherclergymanwhomhemaythinkmorefitting，’saidMrCrawley。
’Butwedonotwanthimtosendanybody。’
’Somebodymustbesent，MrRobarts。’
’No，notso。LetmegooverandseeThumbleandSnapper——Snapper，youknow，isthedomesticchaplain；andallthatyouneeddoistogoonwithyourservicesonSunday。Ifnecessary，Iwillseethebishop。I
thinkyoumaybesurethatIcanmanageit。Ifnot，Iwillcomebacktoyou。’MrRobartspausedforananswer，butitseemedforawhilethatallMrCrawley’simpatientdesiretospeakwasover。Hewalkedonsilentlyalongthelanebyhisvisitor’sside，andwhen，aftersomefiveorsixminutes，Robartsstoodstillintheroad，MrCrawleyeventhensaidnothing。’Itcannotbebutthatyoushouldbeanxioustokeeptheincomeoftheparishforyourwifeandchildren，’saidMarkRobarts。
’Ofcourse，Iamanxiousformywifeandchildren，’Crawleyanswered。
’ThenletmedoasIsay。Whyshouldyouthrowawayachance，evenifitbeabadone？Butherethechanceisallinyourfavour。LetmemanageitforyouatBarchester。’
’OfcourseIamanxiousformywifeandchildren，’saidCrawley，repeatinghiswords；’howanxious，Ifancynomancanconceivewhohasnotbeenhearenoughtoabsolutewanttoknowhowterribleisitsapproachwhenitthreatensthosewhoareweakandwhoareverydear！
But，MrRobarts，youspokejustnowofthechanceofthething——thechanceofyourarrangingonmybehalfthatIshouldforawhilelongerbeleftintheenjoymentofthefreeholdofmyparish。Itseemethtomethatthereshouldbenochanceonsuchasubject；thatintheadjustmentofsomomentousamatterthereshouldbeaconsiderationofrightandwrong，andnoconsiderationofaughtbeside。Ihavebeengrowingtofeel，forsomeweekspast，thatcircumstances——whetherthroughmyfaultornotisanoutsidequestionastowhichIwillnotfurtherdelayyoubyofferingevenanopinion——thatunfortunatecircumstanceshavemademeunfittoremainhereasguardianofthesoulsofthepeopleofthisparish。ThentherecametometheletterfromDrTempest——forwhichIamgreatlybeholdentohim——strengtheningmealtogetherinthisview。WhatcouldIdothen，MrRobarts？CouldIallowmyselftothinkofmywifeandmychildrenwhensuchaquestionasthatwasbeforemeforself—
discussion？’
’Iwould——certainly，’saidRobarts。
’Nosir！Excusethebluntnessofmycontradiction，butIfeelassuredthatinsuchemergencyyouwouldlooksolelytoduty——asbyGod’shelpI
willendeavourtodo。MrRobarts，therearemanyofuswhoinmanythingsaremuchworsethanwebelieveourselvestobe。Butinothermatters，andperhapsoflargermoment，wecanrisetoideasofdutyastheneedforsuchideascomestous。Isaynotthisatallaspraisingmyself。IspeakofmenasIbelievethattheywillbefoundtobe；——ofyourself，ofmyself，andofotherswhostrivetolivewithcleanhandsandaclearconscience。IdonotforamomentthinkthatyouwouldretainyourbeneficeatFramleyiftherehadcomeuponyou，aftermuchthought，anassuredconvictionthatyoucouldnotretainitwithoutgrievousinjurytothesoulsofothersandgrievoussintoyourown。
Wifeandchildren，dearastheyaretoyouandtome——asdeartomeastoyou——fadefromthesightwhenthetimecomesforjudgmentonsuchamatterasthat！’Theywerestandingquitestillnow，facingeachother，andCrawley，ashespokewithalowvoice，lookedstraightintohisfriend’seyes，andkepthishandfirmlyfixedonhisfriend’sarm。
’Icannotinterferefurther，’saidRobarts。
’No——youcannotinterferefurther。’Robarts，whenhetoldthestoryoftheinterviewtohiswifethatevening，declaredthathehadneverheardavoicesoplaintivelytouchingaswasthevoiceofMrCrawleywhenheutteredthoselastwords。
Theyturnedbacktotheservantandthehousealmostwithoutaword，andRobartsmountedwithoutofferingtoseeMrsCrawley。NordidMrCrawleyaskhimtodoso。ItwasbetternowthatRobartsshouldgo。’MayGodsendyouthroughallyourtroubles，’saidMrRobarts。
’MrRobarts，Ithankyouwarmlyforyourfriendship，’saidMrCrawley。
Andthentheyparted。InabouthalfanhourMrCrawleyreturnedtothehouse。’NowforPindar，Jane，’hesaid，seatinghimselfathisolddesk。
CHAPTERLXIX
MRCRAWLEY’SLASTAPPEARANCEINHISOWNPULPIT
NowordormessagefromMrCrawleyreachedBarchesterthroughouttheweek，andontheSundaymorningMrThumblewasunderapositiveengagementtogoouttoHogglestock，andtoperformtheservicesofthechurch。DrTempesthadbeenquiterightinsayingthatMrThumblewouldbeawedbythedeathofhispatroness。Suchwasaltogetherthecase，andhewasveryanxioustoescapefromthetaskhehadundertakenatherinstance，ifitwerepossible。Inthefirstplace，hehadneverbeenafavouritewiththebishophimself，andhadnow，therefore，nothingtoexpectinthediocese。ThecrustsandbitsofloavesandthemorselsofbrokenfisheswhichhadcomehiswayhadallcomefromthebountyofMrsProudie。Andthen，asregardedthisspecialHogglestockjob，howwashetogetpaidforit？Whence，indeed，washetoseekrepaymentfortheactualmoneywhichhewouldbeoutofpocketinfindinghiswaytoHogglestockandbackagain？Buthecouldnotgettospeaktothebishop，norcouldheinduceanyonewhohadaccesstohislordshiptotouchuponthesubject。MrSnapperavoidedhimasmuchaspossible；andMrSnapper，whenhewascaughtandinterrogated，declaredthatheregardedthematterassettled。Nothingcouldbeinworsetaste，MrSnapperthought，thantoundo，immediatelyafterthepoorlady’sdeath，workinthediocesewhichhadbeenarrangedanddonebyher。MrSnapperexpressedhisopinionthatMrThumblewasboundtogotoHogglestock；and，whenMrThumbledeclaredpetulantlythehewouldnotstirastepoutofBarchester，MrSnapperprotestedthatMrThumblewouldhavetoanswerforitinthisworldandinthenextiftherewasnoservicesatHogglestockonthatSunday。OntheSaturdayeveningMrThumblemadeadesperateattempttoseethebishop，butwastoldbyMrsDraperthatthebishophadpositivelydeclinedtoseehim。Thebishophimselfprobablyfeltunwillingtointerferewithhiswife’sdoingssosoonafterherdeath！SoMrThumble，withaheavyheart，wentacrosstothe’DragonofWantly’，andorderedagig，resolvingthatthebillshouldbesenttothepalace。Hewasnotgoingtotrusthimselfagainonthebishop’scob！
UptoSaturdayeveningMrCrawleydidtheworkoftheparish，andontheSaturdayeveninghemadeanaddresstohisparishionersfromhispulpit。
Hehadgivennoticeamongthebrickmakersandlabourersthathewishedtosayafewwordstothemintheschoolroom；butthefarmersalsoheardofthisandcamewiththeirwivesanddaughters，andallthebrickmakerscameandmostofthelabourerswerethere，sothattherewasnoroomforthemintheschoolhouse。Thecongregationwasmuchlargerthanwascustomaryeveninthechurch。’Theywillcome，’hesaidtohiswife，’toheararuinedmandeclarehisownruin，buttheywillnotcometohearthewordofGod。’Whenitwasfoundthatthepersonsassembledweretoomanyfortheschool—room，themeetingwasadjournedtothechurch，andMrCrawleywasforcedtogetintohispulpit。Hesaidashortprayer，andthenhebeganhisstory。
Hisstoryashetolditthenshallnotberepeatednow，asthesamestoryhasbeentoldtoooftenalreadyinthesepages。Surelyitwasasingularstoryforaparishclergymantotellhimselfinsosolemnamanner。Thathehadappliedthechequetohisownpurposes，andwasunabletoaccountforitspossessionofit，wascertain。Hedidnotknowwhenorhowhehadgotit。SpeakingtothemtheninGod’shousehetoldthemthat。Hewastobetriedbyajury，andallhecoulddowastotellthejurythesame。Hewouldnotexpectthejurytobelievehim。Thejurywould，ofcourse，believeonlythatwhichwasprovedtothem。ButhedidexpecthisoldfriendsatHogglestock，whohadknownhimsolong，totakehiswordastrue。Thattherewasnosufficientexcuseforhisconduct，eveninhisownsight，this，hisvoluntaryresignationofhisparish，was，hesaid，sufficientevidence。Thenheexplainedtothem，asclearlyashewasable，whatthebishophaddone，whatthecommissionhaddone，andwhathehaddonehimself。ThathespokenowordofMrsProudietothataudienceneedhardlybementionedhere。’Andnow，dearestfriends，Ileaveyou，’hesaid，withthatweightysolemnitywhichwassopeculiartotheman，andwhichhewasabletomakesingularlyimpressiveevenonsuchacongregationasthatofHogglestock，’andItrustthattheheavyburdenbutpleasingburdenofthechargewhichIhavehadoveryoumayfallintohandsbetterfittedthanminehavebeenforsuchwork。Ihavealwaysknownmyownunfitness，byreasonoftheworldlycareswithwhichIhavebeenladen。Povertymakesthespiritpoor，andthehandsweak，andtheheartsore——andtoooftenmakestheconsciencedull。Maythelatterneverbethecasewithanyofyou。’Thenheutteredanothershortprayer，and，steppingdownfromthepulpit，walkedoutofthechurch，withhisweepingwifehangingonhisarm，andhisdaughterfollowingthem，almostdissolvedintears。
Heneveragainenteredthatchurchasthepastorofthecongregation。
TherewasanoldlamemanfromHoggleEndleaningonhissticknearthedoorasMrCrawleywentout，andwithhimwashisoldlamewife。’He’llpullthroughyet，’saidtheoldmantohiswife；’you’llseeelse。He’llpullthroughbecausehe’ssodogged。It’sdoggedasdoesit。’
OnthatnightthepositionofthemembersofMrCrawley’shouseholdseemedtohavechanged。Therewassomethingalmostofelationinhismodeofspeaking，andhesaidsoftlovingwords，strivingtocomforthiswife。She，ontheotherhand，couldsaynothingtocomforthim。Shehadbeenaversetothestephewastaking，buthadbeenunabletopressherobjectioninoppositiontohisgreatargumentastoduty。SincehehadspokentoherinthatstrainwhichhehadusedwithRobarts，shealsohadfeltthatshemustbesilent。Butshecouldnotevenfeigntofeelthepridewhichcomesfromtheperformanceofaduty。’Whatwillhedowhenhecomesout？’shesaidtoherdaughter。Thecomingoutspokenofherwasthecomingoutofprison。Itwasnaturalenoughthatsheshouldfeelnoelation。
ThebreakfastonSundaymorningwastoher，perhaps，thesaddestsceneofherlife。Theysatdown，thethreetogether，attheusualhour——nineo’clock——butthemorninghadnotbeenpassedaswascustomaryonSundays。IthadbeenMrCrawley’spracticetogointotheschoolfromeighttonine；butonthisSundayhefelt，ashetoldhiswife，thathispresencewouldbeanintrusionthere。ButherequestedJanetogoandperformherusualtask。’IfMrThumbleshouldcome，’hesaidtoher，’besubmissivetohiminallthings。’Thenhestoodathisdoor，watchingtoseeatwhathourMrThumblewouldreachtheschool。ButMrThumbledidnotattendtheschoolonthatmorning。’AndyethewasveryexpresstomeinhisdesirethatIwouldnotmeddlewiththeduties，’saidMrCrawleytohiswifeashestoodatthedoor——’unnecessarilyurgent，asI
maysayIthoughtatthetime。’IfMrsCrawleycouldhavespokenoutherthoughtsaboutMrThumbleatthatmoment，herwordswould，Ithinkhavesurprisedherhusband。
Atbreakfasttherewashardlyawordspoken。MrCrawleytookhiscrustandateitmournfully——almostostentatiously。Janetriedandfailed，andtriedtohideherfailure，failinginthatalso。MrsCrawleymadenoattempt。Shesatbehindherteapot，withherhandsclaspedandhereyesfixed。Itwasasthoughsomelastdayhadcomeuponher——this，thefirstSundayofherhusband’sdegradation。
’Mary，’hesaidtoher，’whydoyounoteat？’
’Icannot，’shereplied，speakingnotinawhisper，butinwordswhichwouldhardlygetthemselvesarticulated。’Icannot。Donotaskme。’
’Forthehonourofthelord，youwillwantthestrengthwhichbreadcangiveyou，’hesaid，intimatingtoherthathewishedhertoattendtheservice。
’Donotaskmetobethere，Josiah。Icannot。Itistoomuchforme。’
’Nay，Iwillnotpressit，’hesaid。’Icangoalone。’Heutterednowordexpressiveofawishthathisdaughtershouldattendthechurch；
butwhenthemomentcame，Janeaccompaniedhim。’WhatshallIdo，mamma？’shesaid，’ifIfindthatIcannotbearit？’’Trytobearit，’
themothersaid。’Tryforhissake。YouarestrongerthanIam。’
Thetinkleofthechurchbellwasheardattheusualtime，andMrCrawley，hatinhand，stoodreadytogoforth。HehadheardnothingofMrThumble，buthadmadeuphismindthatMrThumblewouldnottroublehim。Hehadtakentheprecautiontorequesthischurchwardentobeearlyatthechurch，sothatMrThumblemightencounternodifficulty。Thechurchwasveryneartothehouse，andanyvehiclearrivingmighthavebeenheardhadMrCrawleywatchedclosely。ButnoonehadcaredtowatchMrThumble’sarrivalatthechurch。HedidnotdoubtthatMrThumblewouldbeatthechurch。Withreferencetotheschool，hehadhadsomedoubt。
Butjustashewasabouttostartheheardtheclatterofagig。UpcameMrThumbletothedooroftheparsonage，andhavingcomedownfromhisgigwasabouttoenterthehouseasthoughitwerehisown。MrCrawleygreetedhiminthepathway，raisinghishatfromhishead，andexpressingawishthatMrThumblemightnotfeelhimselffatiguedwithhisdrive。’Iwillnotaskyouintomypoorhouse，’hesaid，standinginthemiddleofthepathway；’forthatmywifeisill。’
’Nothingcatching，Ihope？’saidMrThumble。
’Hermaladyisofthespiritratherthanoftheflesh，’saidMrCrawley。
’Shallwegotothechurch？’
’Certainly——byallmeans。Howaboutthesurplice？’
’Youwillfind，Itrust，thatthechurchwardenhaseverythinginreadiness。Ihavenotifiedhimexpresslyyourcoming，withthepurportthatitmaybeso。’
’You’lltakepartintheservice，Isuppose？’saidMrThumble。
’Nopart——nopartwhatever，’saidMrCrawley，standingstillforamomentashespoke，andshowingplainlybythetoneofhisvoicehowdismayedhewas，howindignanthehadbeenmade，bysoindecentaproposition。Washegivinguphispulpittoastrangerforanyreasonlesscogentthanonewhichmadeitabsolutelyimperativeofhimtobesilentinthatchurchwhichhadsolongbeenhisown？
’Justasyouplease，’saidMrThumble。’Onlyit’sratherhardlinestohavetodoitallmyselfaftercomingallthewayfromBarchesterthismorning。’TothisMrCrawleycondescendedtomakenoreplywhatever。
Intheporchofthechurch，whichwastheonlyentrance，MrCrawleyintroducedMrThumbletothechurchwarden，simplybyawaveofthehand，andthenpassedonwithhisdaughtertoaseatwhichopenedupontheaisle。Janewasgoingontothatwhichshehadhithertoalwaysoccupiedwithhermotherinthelittlechancel；butMrCrawleywouldnotallowthis。NeithertohimnortoanyofhisfamilywasthereattachedanylongertheprivilegeofusingthechancelofthechurchofHogglestock。