’AndhowamItobecomehiswifeunlessIlovehimwellenoughmyself？
MrsArabin，Ihavemadeupmymindaboutit。Ishallneverbecomeanyman’swife。MammaandIareallinalltogether，andweshallremaintogether。’Andassoonasthesewordswereoutofhermouth，shehatedherselfforhavingspokenthem。Therewasamaudlin，missish，namby—pambysentimentalityaboutthemwhichdisgustedher。Shespeciallydesiredtobestraightforward，resoluteofpurpose，honest—spoken，andfreefromalltouchofaffectation。AndyetshehadexcusedherselffrommarryingJohnEamesafterthefashionofasickschoolgirl。’Itisnotgoodtalkingaboutitanymore，’shesaid，gettingupfromherchairquickly。
’Youarenotangrywithme；——oratanyrateyouwillforgiveme？’
’I’mquitesureyouhavemeanttobeverygood，andIamnotabitangry。’
’Andyouwillseehimbeforeyougo？’
’Oh，yes；thatisifhelikestocometoday，orearlytomorrow。Igohometomorrow。Icannotrefusehim，becauseheissuchanoldfriend——almostlikeabrother。Butitisofnouse，MrsArabin。’ThenMrsArabinkissedherandlefther，tellingherthatMrEameswouldcometoherthatafternoonathalf—pastfive。Lilypromisedthatshewouldbeathometoreceivehim。
’Won’tyouridewithusforthelasttime？’saidEmilyDunstablewhenLilygavenoticethatshewouldnotwantthehorseonthatafternoon。
’No；nottoday。’
’You’llneverhaveanotheropportunityofridingwithEmilyDunstable，’
saidthebrideelect；’atleastIhopenot。’
’EvenunderthosecircumstancesImustrefuse，thoughIwouldgiveaguineatobewithyou。JohnEamesiscomingheretosaygood—bye。’
’Oh；thenindeedyoumustnotcomewithus。Lily，whatwillyousaytohim？’
’Nothing。’
’Oh，Lily，thinkofit。’
’Ihavethoughtofit。Ihavethoughtofnothingelse。Iamtiredofthinkingofit。Itisnogoodtothinkofanythingsomuch。Whatdoesitmatter？’
’Itisverygoodtohavesomeonetolovebetterthanalltheworldbesides。’
’Ihavesomeone，’saidLily，thinkingofhermother，butnotcaringtodescendtothemawkishweaknessoftalkingabouther。
’Yes；butsomeonewhowillalwaysbewithyou，todoeverythingforyou；
tobeyourveryown。’
’Itisallverywellforyou，’saidLily，’andIthinkthatBernardistheluckiestfellowintheworld；butitwillnotdoforme。IknowinwhatcollegeI’lltakemydegree，andIwishthey’dletmewritethelettersaftermynameasthemendo。’
’Whatletters，Lily？’
’OM，forOldMaid。Idon’tseewhyitshouldn’tbeasgoodasBAforBachelorofArts。Itwouldmeanagreatdealmore。’
CHAPTERLXXVII
THESHATTEREDTREE
WhenMrsArabinsawJohnnyinthemiddleoftheday，shecouldhardlygivehimmuchencouragement。Andyetshefeltbynomeanssurethathemightnotsucceedevenyet。Lilyhadbeenverypositiveinheranswers，andyettherehadbeensomethingeitherinherwordsorinthetoneofhervoice，whichhadmadeMrsArabinfeelthatevenLilywasnotquitesureofherself。Therewasstillroomforrelenting。Nothing，however，hadbeensaidwhichcouldjustifyherinbiddingJohnEamessimplyto’goandwin’。’Ithinkheislightofheart，’Lilyhadsaid。Thosewerethewordswhich，ofallthathadbeenspoken，mostimpressedthemselvesonMrsArabin’smemory。Shewouldnotrepeatthemtoherfriend，butshewouldgraftuponthemsuchadviceasshehadtogivehim。
Andthisshedid，tellinghimthatshethoughtperhapsLilydoubtedhisactualearnestness。’Iwouldmarryherthismoment，’saidJohnny。Butthatwasnotenough，asMrsArabinknew，toprovehisearnestness。Manymen，fickleasweathercocks，arereadytomarryatthemoment——arereadytomarryatthemoment，becausetheyarefickle，andthinksolittleaboutit。’Butshehears，perhaps，ofyourlikingotherpeople，’saidMrsArabin。’Idon’tcareastrawforanyotherperson，’saidJohnny。’I
wonderwhetherifIwastoshutmyselfupinacageforsixmonths，itwoulddoanygood？’’Ifshehadthekeepingofthecage，perhapsitmight，’saidMrsArabin。Shehadnothingmoretosayonthatsubject，buttotellhimthatMissDalewouldexpecthimthatafternoonathalf—pastfive。’Itoldherthatyouwouldcometowishhergood—bye，andshepromisedtoseeyou。’
’Iwishshe’dsayshewouldn’tseeme。Thentherewouldbesomechance。’
BetweenhimandMrsArabin，thepartingwasveryaffectionate。Shetoldhimhowthankfulshewasforthekindnessincomingtoher，andhowgratefulshewouldeverbe——andthedeanalso——forhisattentiontoher。
’Remember，MrEames，thatyouwillalwaysbemostwelcomeattheDeaneryofBarchester。AndIdohopethatbeforelongyoumaybetherewithyourwife。’Andsotheyparted。
Heleftheratabouttwo，andwenttoMrToogood’sofficeinBedfordRow。Hefoundhisuncle，andthetwowentouttolunchtogetherinHolborn。BetweenthemtherewasnowordsaidaboutLilyDale，andJohnwasgladtohavesomeothersubjectinhismindforhalfanhour。
ToogoodwasfullofhistriumphaboutMrCrawleyandofhissuccessesinBarsetshire。HegaveJohnalongaccountofhisvisittoPlumstead，andexpressedhisopinionthatifallclergymenwerelikethearchdeacontherewouldnotbemuchroomforDissenters。’I’veseenagoodmanyparsonsinmytime，’saidToogood；’butIdon’tthinkIeversawsuchaoneashim。Youknowheisaclergymansomehow，andheneverletsyouforgetit；butthat’saboutall。Mostof’emarenevercontentedwithoutchokingyouwiththeirwhitecravatsallthetimeyou’rewith’em。AsforCrawleyhimself，’MrToogoodcontinued，’he’snotlikeanybodythateverwasborn，saintorsinner，parsonorlayman。Ineverheardofsuchamaninallmyexperience。ThoughheknewwherehegotthechequeaswellIknowitnow，hewouldn’tsayso，becausethedeanhadsaiditwasn’tso。Somebodyoughttowriteabookaboutit——indeedtheyought。’
ThenhetoldthewholestoryofDanStringer，andhowhehadfoundDanout，lookingatthetopeofDan’shatthroughthelittleapertureinthewalloftheinnparlour。’WhenIsawthetwitchinhishand，John，I
knewhehadhandledthechequehimself。Idon’tmeantosaythatI’msharperthananotherman，andIdon’tthinkso；butIdomeantosaythatwhenyouareinanydifficultyofthatsort，yououghttogotoalawyer。It’shisbusiness，andamandoeswhatishisbusinesswithpatienceandperseverance。It’sapity，though，thatthescoundrelshouldgetoff。’ThenEamesgavehisuncleanaccountofhisItaliantrip，toandfro，andwascongratulatedalsouponhissuccess。John’sgreattriumphlayinthefactthathehadbeenonlytwonightsinbed，andthathewouldnothavesofarcondescendedonthoseoccasionsbutforthefeminineweaknessofhisfellow—traveller。’Weshan’tforgetitallinahurry——shallwe，John？’saidMrToogood，inapleasantvoice，astheypartedatthedooroftheluncheon—houseinHolborn。Toogoodwasreturningtohisoffice，andJohnEameswastopreparehimselfforhislastattempt。
Hewentbacktohislodgings，intendingatfirsttochangehisdresstomakehimselfsmarterfortheworkbeforehim——butafterstandingforamomentortwoleaningonthechestofdrawersinhisbedroom，hegaveupthisidea。’Afterallthat’scomeandgone，’hesaidtohimself，’ifI
cannotwinherasIamnow，Icannotwinheratall。’Andthenhesworetohimselfasolemnoath，resolvingthathewouldrepeatthepurportofittoLilyherself——thatthisshouldbethelastattempt。’What’stheuseofit？Everybodyridiculesme。AndIamridiculous。Iamanass。
It’sallverywellwantingtobetheprimeminister；butifyoucan’tbeprimeminister，youmustdowithoutbeingprimeminister。’Thenheattemptedtosingtheoldsong——’ShallI，sighingindespair，diebecauseawoman’sfair？Ifshebenotfairtome，whatcareIhowfairshebe？’Buthedidcare，andhetoldhimselfthatthesongdidhimnogood。AsitwasnottimeforhimasyettogotoLily，hethrewhimselfonthesofa，andstrovetoreadabook。Thenallthewearynightsofhisjourneyprevailedoverhim，andhefellasleep。
Whenhewokeitwantedquartertosix。Hesprangup，andrushingout，jumpedintoacab。’BerkeleySquare——ashardasyoucango，’hesaid。
’Number——。’HethoughtofRosalind，andhercounselstoloversastothekeepingoftime，andreflectedthatinsuchanemergencyasthis，hemightreallyhaveruinedhimselfbythatunfortunateslumber。WhenhegottoMrsThorne’sdoorheknockedhurriedly，andbustleduptothedrawing—roomasthougheverythingdependedonhissavingaminute。’I’mafraidI’meversomuchbehindmytime，’hesaid。
’Itdoesnotmatterintheleast，’saidLily。’AsMrsArabinsaidthatperhapsyoumightcall，Iwouldnotbeoutoftheway。IsupposethatSirRafflewaskeepingyouandthatyouwouldn’tcome。’
’SirRafflewasnotkeepingme。Ifellasleep。That’sthetruthofit。’
’Iamsosorrythatyoushouldhavebeendisturbed！’
’Donotlaughatme，Lily——today。Ihadbeentravellingagooddeal，andIsupposeIwastired。’
’Iwon’tlaughatyou，’shesaid，andhereyesbecamefulloftears——shedidnotknowwhy。Buttheretheywere，andshewasashamedtoputupherhandkerchief，andshecouldnotbringherselftoturnawayherface，andshehadnoresourcebutthatheshouldseethem。
’Lily！’hesaid。
’Whatapaladinyouhavebeen，John，rushingallaboutEuropeonyourfriend’sbehalf！’
’Don’ttalkaboutthat。’
’Andsuchasuccessfulpaladintoo！WhyamInottotalkaboutit？Iamgoinghometomorrow，andImeantotalkaboutnothingelseforaweek。I
amsovery，very，gladthatyouhavesavedyourcousin。’Thenshedidputupherhandkerchief，makingbelievethathertearshadbeenduetoMrCrawley。ButJohnEamesknewbetterthanthat。
’Lily，’hesaid，’I’vecomeforthelasttime。ItsoundsasthoughI
meanttothreatenyou；butyouwon’ttakeitinthatway。IthinkyouwillknowwhatImean。Ihavecomeforthelasttime——toaskyoutobemywife。’Shegotuptogreethimwhenheentered，andtheywerebothstillstanding。Shedidnotanswerhimatonce，butturningawayfromhimwalkedtowardsthewindow。’YouknewwhyIwascomingtoday，Lily？’
’MrsArabintoldme。Icouldnotbeawaywhenyouwerecoming，butperhapsitwouldhavebeenbetter。’
’Itisso？Mustitbeso？Mustyousaythattome，Lily？Thinkofitforamoment，dear。’
’Ihavethoughtaboutit。’
’Onewordfromyou，yesorno，spokenistobeeverythingtomeforalways。Lily，cannotyousayyes？’Shedidnotanswerhim，butwalkedfurtherawayfromhimtoanotherwindow。’Trytosayyes。Lookroundatmewithonelookthatmayonlyhalfmeanit；thatmaytellmethatitshallnotpositivelybenoforever。’Ithinkthatshealmosttriedtoturnherfacetohim；butbethatasitmay，shekepthereyessteadilyfixeduponthewindow—pane。’Lily，’hesaid，’itisnotthatyouarehard—hearted——perhapsnotaltogetherthatyoudonotlikeme。Ithinkthatyoubelievethingsagainstmethatarenottrue。’Asshesaidthisshemovedherfootangrilyuponthecarpet。ShehadalmostforgottenM
D，butnowhehadremindedherofthenote。Sheassuredherselfthatshehadneverbelievedanythingagainsthimexceptonevidencethatwasincontrovertible。Butshewasnotgoingtospeaktohimonsuchamatterasthat！Itwouldnotbecomehertoaccusehim。’MrsArabintellsmethatyoudoubtwhetherIamearnest，’hesaid。
Uponhearingthissheflashedrounduponhimalmostangrily。’Ineversaidthat。’
’Ifyouwillaskmeforanytokenofearnestness，Iwillgiveittoyou。’
’Iwantnotoken。’
’Thebestsignofearnestnessamancangivegenerallyinsuchamatter，istoshowhowreadyheistobemarried。’
’Ineversaidanythingaboutearnestness。’
’AttheriskofmakingyouangryIwillgoon，Lily。Ofcoursewhenyoutellmethatyouwillhavenothingtosaytome，Itrytoamusemyself’——’Yes；bywritinglove—letterstoMD，’Lilysaidtoherself——’Whatisapoorfellowtodo？ItellyoufairlythatwhenI
leaveyouIsweartomyselfthatImakelovetothefirstgirlIcanseewhowilllistentome——totwenty，iftwentywillletme。IfeelIhavefailed，anditissoIpunishmyselfformyfailure。’Therewassomethinginthiswhichsoftenedherbrow，thoughshedidnotintendthatitshouldbeso；andsheturnedawayagain，thathemightnotseethatherbrowwassoftened。’But，Lily，thehopeevercomesbackagain，andthenneithertheonenorthetwentyareofavail——eventopunishme。
WhenIlookforwardandseewhatitmightbeifyouwerewithme，howgreenitalllooksandhowlovely，inspiteofallthevowsIhavemade，Icannothelpcomingbackagain。’Shewasnowagainnearthewindow，andhehadnotfollowedher。Assheneitherturnedtowardshimnoransweredhim，hemovedfromthetablenearwhichhewasstandingontotherugbeforethefire，andleanedwithbothhiselbowsonthemantelpiece。Hecouldstillwatchherinthemirrorabovethefireplace，andcouldseethatshewasstillseemingtogazeoutuponthestreet。Andhadhenotmovedher？Ithinkhehadsofarmovedhernow，thatshehadceasedtothinkofthewomanwhohadwrittentoher——thatshehadceasedtorejecthiminherheartonthescoreofsuchlevitiesasthat！IftherewereMDs，likesunkenrocks，inhiscourse，whosefaultwasit？Hewasreadyenoughtosteerhisbarkintothetranquilbluewatersifonlyshewouldaidhim。Ithinkthatallhissinsonthisscorewereatthismomentforgivenhim。Hehadtoldhernowwhattohimwouldbegreenandbeautiful，andshedidnotfindherselfabletodisbelievehim。ShehadbanishedMDoutofhermind，butindoingsosheadmittedotherreminiscencesintoit。Andthen——wassheinamomenttobetalkedoutoftheresolutionofyears；andwasshetogiveupherself，notbecausesheloved，butbecausethemanwhotalkedtohertalkedsowellthathedeservedareward？Wasshenowtobeaslight，asfoolish，aseasy，asinthoseformerdaysfromwhichshehadlearnedherwisdom？Apictureofgreenlovelythingscouldbedelicioustohereyesastohis；butevenforsuchapictureasthatthepricemightbetoodear！Ofalllivingmen——ofallmenlivingintheirpresentlives——shelovedbestthismanwhowasnowwaitingforsomewordofanswertohiswords，andshedidlovehimdearly；shewouldhavetendedhimifsick，havesuppliedhimifinwant；havemournedforhimifdead，withthebittergriefoftrueaffection；——butshecouldnotsaytoherselfthatheshouldbeherlordandmaster，theheadofherhouse，theownerofherself，therulerofherlife。Theshipwrecktowhichshehadoncecome，andthefierceregretswhichhadthencearisen，hadforcedhertothinktoomuchofthesethings。’Lily，’hesaid，stillfacingtowardsthemirror，’willyounotcometomeandspeaktome？’Sheturnedround，andstoodamomentlookingathim，andthen，havingagainresolvedthatitcouldnotbeashewished，shedrewneartohim。’CertainlyIwillspeaktoyou，John。HereIam。’Andshecameclosetohim。
Hetookbothherhands，andlookedintohereyes。’Lily，willyoubemine？’
’No；dear；itcannotbeso。’
’Whynot，Lily？’
’Becauseofthatotherman。’
’Andisthattobeabarforever？’
’Yes；forever。’
’Doyoustilllovehim？’
’No；no，no！’
’Thenwhyshouldthisbeso？’
’Icannottell，dear。Itisso。Ifyoutakeayoungtreeandsplitit，itstilllives，perhaps。Butitisn’tatree。Itisonlyafragment。’
’Thenbemyfragment。’
’SoIwill，ifIcanserveyoutogivestandinggroundtosuchafragmentinsomecornerofyourgarden。ButIwillnothavemyselfplantedoutinthemiddle，forpeopletolookat。Whatthereisleftwoulddiesoon。’Hestillheldherhands，andshedidnotattempttodrawthemaway。’John，’shesaid，’nexttomamma，Iloveyoubetterthanalltheworld。IndeedIdo。Ican’tbeyourwife，butyouneedneverbeafraidthatIshallbemoretoanotherthanIamtoyou。’
’Thatwillnotserveme，’hesaid，graspingbothherhandstillhealmosthurtthem，butnotknowingthathedidso。’Thatisnogood。’
’ItisallthegoodthatIcandoyou。IndeedIcandoyou——candonooneanygood。Thetreesthatthestormshavesplinteredareneverofuse。’
’Andisthistobetheendofit，Lily？’
’Notofourlovingfriendship。’
’Friendship！Ihatetheword。Ihearsomeone’sstep，andIhadbetterleaveyou。Good—bye。’
’Good—bye，John。Bekinderthanthattomeasyouaregoing。’Heturnedbackforamoment，tookherhand，andheldittightagainsthisheart，andthenhelefther。InthehallhemetMrsThorne，but，asshesaidafterwards，hehadbeentoomuchknockedabouttobeabletothrowawordtoadog。
ToMrsThorneLilysaidhardlyawordaboutJohnEames，andwhenhercousinBernardquestionedherabouthimshewasdumb。Andinthesedaysshecouldassumeamanner，andexpressherselfwithhereyesaswellaswithhervoice，afterafashion，whichwasapttosilenceunwelcomequestions，eventhoughtheywereintimatewithheraswashercousinBernard。Shehaddescribedherfeelingsmoreplainlytoherloverthanshehadeverdonetoanyone——eventohermother；andhavingdonesoshemeanttobesilentonthatsubjectforevermore。Butofhersettledpurpose，shedidsaysomewordtoEmilyDunstablethatnight。’Idofeel，’shesaid，’thatIhavegotthethingsettledatlast。’
’Andhaveyousettledit，asyoucallit，inoppositiontothewishesofallyourfriends？’
’Thatistrue；andyetIhavesettleditrightly，andIwouldnotforworldshaveitunsettledagain。Therearemattersonwhichfriendsshouldnothavewishes，oratanyrateshouldnotexpressthem。’
’Isthatmeanttobeseveretome？’
’No；nottoyou。Iwasthinkingaboutmamma，andBell，andmyuncle，andBernard，whoallseemtothinkthatIamtobelookeduponasaregularcastawaybecauseIamnotlikelytohaveahusbandofmyown。Ofcourseyou，inyourposition，mustthinkagirlacastawaywhoisn’tgoingtobemarried？’
’Ithinkthatagirlwhoisgoingtobemarriedhasthebestofit。’
’AndIthinkagirlwhoisn’tgoingtobemarriedhasthebestofit；——that’sall。ButIfeelthatthethingisdonenow，andIamcontented。Forthelastsixoreightmonthstherehascomeup，Iknownothow，astateofdoubtwhichasmademesowretchedthatIhavedoneliterallynothing。Ihaven’tbeenabletofinisholdMrsHeard’stippet，literallybecausepeoplewouldtalktomeaboutthatdearestofalldearfellows，JohnEames。AndyetallalongIhaveknownhowitwouldbe——aswellasIdonow。’
’Icannotunderstandyou，Lily；Ican’tindeed。’
’Icanunderstandmyself。Ilovehimsowell——withthatintimate，close，familiaraffection——thatIcouldwashhisclothesforhimtomorrow，outofpurepersonalregard，andthinkitnoshame。Hecouldnotaskmetodoasinglethingforhim——exceptonething——thatIwouldrefuse。AndI’llgofurther。IwouldsoonermarryhimthananyothermanIeversaw，or，asIbelieve，thatIevershallsee。AndyetIamgladthatitissettled。’
OnthenextdayLilyDalewentdowntotheSmallHouseofAllington，andsoshepassesoutofsight。Icanonlyaskthereadertobelievethatshewasinearnest，andexpressmyopinion，inthislastword，thatI
shalleverwriterespectingher，thatshewillliveanddieasLilyDale。
CHAPTERLXXVIII
THEARABINSRETURNTOBARCHESTER
InthesedaysMrHardingwaskeepinghisbedatthedeanery，andmostofthosewhosawhimdeclaredthathewouldneveragainleaveit。Thearchdeaconhadbeenslowtobelieveso，becausehehadstillfoundhisfather—in—lawabletotalktohim；notindeedwithenergy——butthenMrHardinghadneverbeenenergeticonordinarymatters——butwiththesamesoftcordialinterestinthingswhichhadeverbeencustomarywithhim。
HehadlatterlybeenmuchinterestedaboutMrCrawley，andwouldmakeboththearchdeaconandMrsGrantlytellhimallthattheyhadheard，andwhattheythoughtofthecase。Thisofcoursehadbeenbeforetheall—importantnewshadbeenreceivedfromMrsArabin。MrHardingwasveryanxious。’Firstly，’hesaid，’forthewelfareofthepoorman，ofwhomIcannotbringmyselftothinkill；andthenforthehonouroftheclothinBarchester。’’Weareasliabletohaveblacksheephereasanywhere，’thearchdeaconhadreplied。’But，mydear，Idonotthinkthesheepisblack；andweneverhavehadblacksheepinBarchester。’
’Haven’twe，though？’saidthearchdeacon，thinking，however，ofsheepwhowereblackofadifferentkindofblacknessfromthiswhichwasnowattributedtoMrCrawley——ofablacknesswhichwasnotabsoluteblacknesstoMrHarding’smildereyes。Thearchdeacon，whenheheardhisfather—in—lawtalkafterthisfashion，expressedhisopinionthathemightliveforyears。Hewasjustthemantolingeron，livinginbed——asindeedhehadlingeredallhislifeoutofbed。Butthedoctorwhoattendedhimthoughtotherwise，asdidalsoMrsGrantly，andasdidMrsBaxter，andasalsodidPosy。’Grandpawon’tgetupanymore，willhe？’PosysaidtoMrsBaxter。’Ihopehewill，mydear；andthatverysoon。’’Idon’tthinkhewill，’saidPosy，’becausehesaidhewouldneverseethebigfiddleagain。’’Thatcomesofbeingalittlemelancholylike，mydear，’saidMrsBaxter。
MrsGrantlyatthistimewentintoBarchesteralmosteveryday，andthearchdeacon，whowasveryofteninthecity，neverwenttherewithoutpassinghalf—an—hourwiththeoldman。Thesetwoclergymen，essentiallydifferentintheircharactersandineverydetailofconduct，hadbeensomuchthrowntogetherbycircumstancesthatthelifeofeachalmostbecamepartofthelifeoftheother。AlthoughthefactofMrHarding’sresidenceatthedeaneryhadoflateyearsthrownhimoftenerintothesocietyofthedeanthanthatofhisotherson—in—law，yethisintimacywiththearchdeaconhadbeensomuchearlier，andhismemoriesofthearchdeaconweresomuchclearer，thathedependedalmostmoreupontherectorofPlumstead，whowasabsent，thanhediduponthedean，whomhecustomarilysaweveryday。Itwasnotsowiththedaughters。HisNelly，asheusedtocallher，hadeverbeenhisfavourite，andthecircumstancesoftheirjointliveshadeverbeensuch，thattheyhadneverbeenfurtherseparatedthanfromonestreetofBarchestertoanother——andthatonlyforaveryshortperiodofthemarriedlifeofMrsArabin’sfirsthusband。Forallthatwassoftandtendertherefore——whichwithMrHardingwasallintheworldthatwascharmingtohim——helookedtohisyoungestdaughter；butforauthorityandguidanceandwisdom，andforinformationastowhatwasgoingonintheworld，hehadstillturnedtohisson—in—lawthearchdeacon——ashehaddoneforalmostfortyyears。Forsolonghadthearchdeaconbeenpotentasaclergymaninthediocese，andthroughoutthewholedurationofsuchpotencyhiswordhadbeenlawtoMrHardinginmostoftheaffairsoflife——alawgenerallytobeobeyed，andifsometimesbroken，stillalaw。Andnow，whenallwassonearlyover，hewouldbecomeunhappyifthearchdeacon’svisitswerefarbetween。DrGrantly，whenhefoundthatthiswasso，wouldnotallowthattheyshouldbefarbetween。
’Heputsmesomuchinmindofmyfather，’thearchdeaconsaidtohiswifeoneday。
’Heisnotsooldasyourfatherwaswhenhedied，bymanyyears，’saidMrsGrantly，’andIthinkoneseesthatdifference。’
’Yes；andthereforeIsaythathemaystillliveforyears。Myfather，whenhetooktohisbedatlast，wasmanifestlynearhisdeath。Thewonderwithhimwasthathecontinuedtolivesolong。DoyounotrememberhowtheLondondoctorwasputoutbecausehisprophecieswerenotfulfilled？’
’Irememberitwell——asifitwereyesterday。’
’Andinthatwaythereisagreatdifference。Myfather，whowasphysicallyamuchstrongerman，didnotsuccumbsoeasily。Butthelikenessisintheircharacters。Thereisthesamemildsweetness，becomingmilderandsweeterastheyincreasedinage——asweetnessthatnevercouldbelievemuchevil，butthatcouldbelieveless，andstillless，astheweaknessofagecameuponthem。NoamountofevidencewouldinduceyourfathertothinkthatMrCrawleystolethatmoney。’ThiswassaidofcoursebeforethetelegramhadcomefromVenice。
’Asfarasthatgoes，Iagreewithhim，’saidMrsGrantly，whohadherownreasonsforchoosingtobelieveMrCrawleytobeinnocent。’Ifyourson，mydear，istomarrytheman’sdaughter，itwillbeaswellthatyoushouldatleastbeabletosaythatyoudonotbelievethatmantobeathief。’
’Thatisneitherherenorthere，’saidthearchdeacon。’Ajurymustdecideit。’
’NojuryinBarsetshireshalldecideitforme，’saidMrsGrantly。
’I’msickofMrCrawley，andI’msorryIspokeofhim，’saidthearchdeacon。’ButlookatMrsProudie。You’llagreethatshewasnotthemostcharmingwomanintheworld。’
’Shecertainlywasnot，’saidMrsGrantly，whowasanxioustoencourageherhusband，ifshecoulddosowithoutadmittinganythingwhichmightinjureherselfafterwards。
’Andshewasatonetimeviolentlyinsolenttoyourfather。Andeventhebishopthoughttotrampleonhim。Doyourememberthebishop’spreachingagainstyourfather’schanting？IfIeverforgetit！’Andthearchdeaconslappedhisclosedfistagainsthisopenhand。
’Don’t，dear，don’t。Whatisthegoodofbeingviolentnow？’
’Paltrylittlefool！ItwillbelongenoughbeforesuchachauntasthatisheardinandEnglishcathedralagain。’ThenMrsGrantlygotupandkissedherhusband，buthe，somewhatnegligentofthekiss，wentonwithhisspeech。’Butyourfatherremembersnothingofit，andiftherewasasinglehumanbeingwhoshedatearinBarchesterforthatwoman，I
believeitwasyourfather。Anditwasthesamewithmine。Itcametothatatlast，thatIcouldnotbeartospeaktohimofanyshortcomingsastooneofhisownclergymen。Imightaswellhaveprickedhimwithapenknife。Andyettheysaymenbecomeheartlessandunfeelingastheygrowold。’
’Somedo，Isuppose。’