’Yes；theheartlessandunfeelingdo。Asthebodilystrengthfailsandthepowerofcontrolbecomeslessened，thenaturalaptitudeofthemanpronouncesitselfmoreclearly。Itakeitthatthatisit。HadMrsProudielivedtobeandhundredandfifty，shewouldhavespokenspitefulliesonherdeathbed。’ThenMrsGrantlytoldherselfthatherhusband，shouldhelivetobehundredandfifty，wouldstillbeexpressinghishorrorofMrsProudie——evenonhisdeathbed。
AssoonastheletterfromMrsArabinhadreachedPlumstead，thearchdeaconandhiswifearrangedthattheywouldbothgotogethertothedeanery。Therewerethedoubletidingstobetold——thoseofMrCrawley’sassuredinnocence，andthosealsoofMrsArabin’sinstantreturn。AndastheywenttogethervariousideaswerepassingthroughtheirmindsinreferencetothemarriageoftheirsonwithGraceCrawley。Theywerebothnowreconciledtoit。MrsGrantlyhadlongceasedtofeelanyoppositiontoit，eventhoughshehadnotseenGrace；andthearchdeaconwaspreparedtogiveway。Hadhenotpromisedthatinacertaincasehewouldgiveway，andhadnotthatcasecometopass？Hehadnowishtogobackfromhisword。Buthehadadifficultyinthis——thathelikedtomakealltheaffairsofhislifematterforenjoyment，almostfortriumph；buthowwashetobetriumphantoverthismarriage，orhowevenwashetoenjoyit，seeingthathehadopposeditsobitterly？Thoseposters，thoughtheywerenowpulleddown，hadbeenuponabarnendsandwallspatent——alas，toopatent——toalltheworldofBarsetshire！
’WhatwillMrCrawleydonow，doyousuppose？’saidMrsGrantly。
’Whatwillhedo？’
’Yes；musthegoonatHogglestock？’
’Whatelse？’saidthearchdeacon。
’Itisapitysomethingcouldnotbedoneforhimafterallhehasundergone。Howonearthcanhebeexpectedtolivetherewithawifeandfamily，andnoprivatemeans？’Tothisthearchdeaconmadenoanswer。
MrsGrantlyhadspokenalmostimmediatelyupontheirquittingPlumstead，andthesilencewascontinuedtillthecarriagehadenteredthesuburbsofthecity。ThenMrsGrantlyspokeagain，askingaquestion，withsomeinternaltrepidationwhich，however，shemanagedtohidefromherhusband。’Whenpoorpapadoesgo，whatshallyoudoaboutStEwold’s？’
Now，StEwold’swasaruralparishlyingabouttwomilesoutofBarchester，thelivingofwhichwasinthegiftofthearchdeacon，andtowhichthearchdeaconhadpresentedtohisfather—in—law，undercertaincircumstances，whichneednotberepeatedinthislastchronicleofBarsetshire。Havetheynotbeenwritteninotherchronicles？’Whenpoorpapadoesgo，whatwillyoudoaboutStEwold’s？’saidMrsGrantly，tremblinginwardly。Awordtoomuchmight，asshewellknew，settlethequestionagainstMrCrawleyforever。Butwereshetopostponethewordtilltoolate，thequestionwouldbesettledasfatally。
’Ihaven’tthoughtaboutit，’hesaidsharply。’Idon’tlikethinkingofsuchthingswhiletheincumbentisstillliving。’Oh，archdeacon，archdeacon！Unlessthatotherchroniclebeafalsechronicle，howhastthouforgottenthyselfandthypastlife！’Particularlynot，whenthatincumbentisyourfather，’saidthearchdeacon。MrsGrantlysaidnothingmoreaboutStEwold’s。ShewouldhavesaidasmuchasshehadintendedtosayifshehadsucceededinmakingthearchdeaconunderstandthatStEwold’swouldbeaverynicerefugeforMrCrawleyafterallthemiserieswhichhehadenduredatHogglestock。
TheylearnedastheyenteredthedeanerythatMrsBaxterhadalreadyheardofMrsArabin’sreturn。’Ohyes，ma’am。MrHardinggotaletterhisself，andIgotanother——separate；bothfromVenice，ma’am。Butwhenmastercomenobodyseemstoknow。’MrsBaxterknewthatthedeanhadgonetoJerusalem，andwasinclinedtothinkthatfromsuchdistantbournestherewasnotreturntoanytraveller。TheEastisalwaysfurtherthantheWestintheestimationoftheMrsBaxtersoftheworld。
HadthedeangonetoCanada，shewouldhavethoughtthathemightcomebacktomorrow。ButstilltherewasthenewstobetoldofMrCrawley，andtherewasalsojoytobeexpressedatthesuddencomingbackofthemuch—wished—formistressofthedeanery。
’It’ssogoodofyoutocomebothtogether，’saidMrHarding。
’Wethoughtthatweshouldbetoomanyforyou，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Toomany！Ohdearno。Iliketohavepeoplebyme；andasforvoicesandnoise，andallthat，themorethebetter。ButIamweak。I’mweakinmylegs。Idon’tthinkIshalleverstandagain。’
’Yes，youwill，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Wehavebroughtgoodnews，’saidMrsGrantly。
’ItisnotgoodnewsthatNellywillbehomethisweek？Youcan’tunderstandwhatajoyitistome。Iusedtothinksometimes，atnight，thatIshouldneverseeheragain。ThatshewouldcomebackintimewasallIhavewishedfor。’Hewaslyingonhisback，andashespokehepressedhiswitheredhandstogetherabovethebed—clothes。TheycouldnotbeginimmediatelytotellhimofMrCrawley，butassoonashismindhadturneditselfawayfromthethoughtsofhisabsentdaughter，MrsGrantlyagainrevertedtothenews。’
’WehavecometotellyouaboutMrCrawley，papa。’
’Whatabouthim？’
’Heisquiteinnocent。’
’Iknewit，mydear。Ialwayssaidso。DidInotalwayssayso，archdeacon？’
’Indeedyoudid。I’llgiveyouthatcredit。’
’Andisitallfoundout？’askedMrHarding。
’Asfarasheisconcerned，everythingisfoundout，’saidMrsGrantly。
’Eleanorgavehimthechequeherself。’
’Nellygaveittohim？’
’Yes，papa。Thedeanmeanthertogivehimfiftypounds。Butitseemsshegottobesoftofheartandmadeitseventy。Shehadthechequebyher，andputitintotheenvelopewiththenotes。’
’SomeofStringer’speopleseemtohavestolenthechequefromMrSoames，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Ohdear，Ihopenot。’
’Somebodymusthavestolenit，papa。’
’Ihadhopednot，Susan，’saidMrHarding。BoththearchdeaconandMrsGrantlyknewthatitwasuselesstoarguewithhimonsuchapoint，andsotheyletthatgo。
ThentheycametodiscussMrCrawley’spresentposition，andMrHardingventuredtoaskaquestionortwoastoGrace’schanceofmarriage。Hedidnotofteninterfereinthefamilyarrangementsofhisson—in—lawandneverdidsowhenthosefamilyarrangementswereconcernedwithhighmatters。HehadhardlyopenedhismouthinreferencetothemarriageofthataugustladywhowasnowtheMarchionessofHartletop。AndoftheLadyAnne，thewifeoftheRevCharlesGrantly，whowasalwaysprodigiouslyciviltohim，speakingtohimveryloud，asthoughheweredeafbecausehewasold，andbringingcheappresentsfromLondonofwhichhedidnottakemuchheed——ofherherarelysaidaword，orofherchildren，toeitherofhisdaughters。Butnowhisgrandson，HenryGrantly，wasgoingtomarryagirlofwhomhefeltthathemightspeakwithoutimpropriety。’Isupposeitwillbeamatch；won’tit，mydears？’
’Notadoubtaboutit，’saidMrsGrantly。MrHardinglookedathisson—in—law，buthisson—in—lawsaidnothing。Thearchdeacondidnotevenfrown——butonlymovedalittleuneasilyinhischair。
’Dear，dear！Whatacomfortitmustbe，’saidtheoldman。
’Ihavenotseenyet，’saidMrsGrantly；’butthearchdeacondeclaresthatsheisallthegracesrolledintoone。’
’Ineversaidanythinghalfsoabsurd，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Butheisreallyinlovewithher，papa，’saidMrsGrantly。’Heconfessedtomethathegaveherakiss，andheonlysawheronceforfiveminutes。’
’Ishouldliketogiveherakiss，’saidMrHarding。
’Soyoushall，papa，andI’llbringherhereonpurpose。Assoonaseverthethingissettled，wemeantoaskhertoPlumstead。’
’Doyou，though？Hownice！HowhappyHenrywillbe。’
’Andifshecomes——andofcourseshewill——I’lllosenotimeinbringingherovertoyou。Nellymustseeher，ofcourse。’
AstheywereleavingtheroomMrHardingcalledthearchdeaconback，andtakinghimbythehand，spokeonewordtohiminawhisper。’Idon’tliketointerfere，’hesaid；’butmightnotMrCrawleyhaveStEwold’s？’
Thearchdeacontookuptheoldman’shandandkissedit。Thenhefollowedhiswifeoutoftheroom，withoutmakinganyanswertoMrHarding’squestion。
ThreedaysafterthisMrsArabinreachedthedeanery，andthejoyatherreturnwasverygreat。’Mydear，Ihavebeensickforyou，’saidMrHarding。
’Oh，papa，Ioughtnottohavegone。’
’Nay，mydear；donotsaythat。Woulditmakemyhappythatyoushouldbeaprisonerhereforever？ItwasonlywhenIseemedtogetsoweakthatIthoughtaboutit。Ifeltthatitmustbenearwhentheybademenottogotothecathedralanymore。’
’IfIhadbeenhere，Icouldhavegonewithyou，papa。’
’Itisbetterasitis。IknownowthatIwasnotfitforit。Whenyoursistercametome，Ineverthoughtofremonstrating。IknewthenthatI
hadseenitforthelasttime。’
’Weneednotsaythatyet，papa。’
’Ididthinkthatwhenyoucamehomewemightcrawltheretogethersomewarmmorning。Ididthinkofthatforatime。Butitwillneverbeso，dear。IshallneverseeanythingnowthatIdonotseefromhere——andthatnotforlong。Donotcry，Nelly。Ihavenothingtoregret，nothingtomakemeunhappy。Iknowhowpoorandweakhasbeenmylife；butI
knowhowrichandstrongisthatotherlife。Donotcry，Nelly——nottillIamgone；andthennotbeyondmeasure。Whyshouldanyoneweepforthosewhogoawayfullofyears——andfullofhope？’
Onthedaybutonefollowingthedeanreachedhishome。Thefinalarrangementsofhistour，aswellasthoseofhiswife，hadbeenmadetodependonMrCrawley’strial；forhealsohadbeenhurriedbackbyJohnEames’svisittoFlorence。’Ishouldhavecomebackatonce，’hesaidtohiswife，’whentheywrotetoaskmewhetherCrawleyhadtakenthechequefromme，hadanybodytoldmethathewasinactualtrouble；butI
hadnoideathattheywerecharginghimwiththetheft。’
’AsfarasIcanlearn，theyneverreallysuspectedhimuntilafteryouranswerhadcome。Theyhadbeenquitesurethatyouranswerwouldbeintheaffirmative。’
’Whathemusthaveendureditisimpossibletoconceive。Ishallgoouttohimtomorrow。’
’Wouldhenotcometous？’saidMrsArabin。
’Idoubtit。Iwillaskhim，ofcourse。Iwillaskthemallhere。ThisaboutHenryandthegirlmaymakeadifference。Hehasresignedtheliving，andsomeofthepalacepeoplearedoingtheduty。’
’Buthecanhaveitagain？’
’Oh，yes；hecanhaveitagain。Forthematterofthat，Ineedsimplytogivehimbackhisletter。Onlyheissoodd——sounlikeotherpeople！
Andhehastriedtolivethere，andhasfailed；andisnowindebt。I
wonderwhetherGrantlywillgivehimStEwold’s？’
’Iwishhewould。Butyoumustaskhim。Ishouldnotdare。’
Astothematterofthecheque，thedeanacknowledgedtohiswifeatlastthathehadsomerecollectionofherhavingtoldhimthatshehadmadethesumofmoneyuptoseventypounds。’Idon’tfeelcertainofitnow；butIthinkyoumusthavedoneso。’’IamquitesureIcouldhavedoneitwithouttellingyou，’shereplied。’Atanyrateyousaidnothingofthecheque，’pleadedthedean。’Idon’tsupposeIdid，’saidMrsArabin。’Ithoughtthatchequeswerelikeanyothermoney；butIshallknowbetterforthefuture。’
OnthefollowingmorningthedeanrodeovertoHogglestock，andashedrewneartothehouseofhisoldfriend，hisspiritsflagged——fortotellthetruth，hedreadedthemeeting。SincethedayonwhichhehadbroughtMrCrawleyfromacuracyinCornwallintothedioceseofBarchester，hisfriendhadbeenatroubletohimratherthanajoy。Thetroublehadbeenatroubleofspiritaltogether——notallofpocket。HewouldwillinglyhavepickedtheCrawleysoutfromthepecuniarymudintowhichtheywereforeverfalling，timeaftertime，haditbeenpossible。
For，thoughthedeanwashardlytobecalledarichman，hislineshadfallentohimnotonlyinpleasantplaces，butineasycircumstances——andMrCrawley’sembarrassments，thoughoverwhelmingtohim，werenotsogreatastohavebeenheavytothedean。Butinstrivingtodothishehadalwaysfailed，hadalwayssuffered，andhadgenerallybeenrebuked。CrawleywouldattempttoarguewithhimastotheimproperallotmentofChurchendowments——declaringthathedidnotdosowithanyreferencetohisowncircumstances，butsimplybecausethesubjectwasonenaturallyinterestingtoclergymen。Andthishewoulddo，ashewaswavingoffwithhishandoffersofimmediateassistancewhichwereindispensable。ThentherehadbeenscenesbetweenthedeanandMrsCrawley——terriblypainful——andwhichhadtakenplaceindirectdisobediencetothehusband’spositiveinjunctions。’Sir，’hehadoncesaidtothedean，’Irequestthatnothingmaypassfromyourhandstothehandsofmywife。’’Tush，tush，’thedeanhadanswered。’Iwillhavenotushingorpshawingonsuchamatter。Aman’swifeishisveryown，thebreathofhisnostril，thebloodofhisheart，theribfromhisbody。Itisformetorulemywife，andItellyouthatIwillnothaveit。’AfterthatthegiftshadcomefromthehandofMrsArabin；andthenagain，afterthat，inthediresthourofhisneed，Crawleyhadhimselfcomeandtakenmoneyfromthedean’shands！TheinterviewhadbeensopainfulthatArabinwouldhardlyhavebeenabletocountthemoneyortoknowofwhatithadconsisted，hadhetakenthenotesandchequeoutoftheenvelopeinwhichhiswifehadputthem。Sincethatdaythetwohadnotmeteachother，andsincethatdaythesenewtroubleshadcome。
Arabinasyetknewbutlittleofthemannerinwhichtheyhadbeenborne，exceptthatCrawleyhadfelthimselfcompelledtoresignthelivingofHogglestock。HeknewnothingofMrsProudie’spersecution，exceptwhathegatheredfromthefactoftheclericalcommissionofwhichhehadbeeninformed；buthecouldimaginethatMrsProudiewouldnotlieeasyinherbedwhileaclergymanwasdoingdutyalmostunderhernose，whowasguiltyofthedoubleoffenceofbeingaccusedoftheft，andofhavingbeenputintohislivingbythedean。Thedean，therefore，asherodeon，picturedtohimselfhisoldfriendinaterriblecondition。Anditmightbethatevennowthatconditionwouldhardlyhavebeenimproved。Hewasnolongersuspectedofbeingathief；
buthecouldhavenomoneyinhispocket；anditmightwellbethathissufferingswouldhavemadehimalmostmad。
Thedeanalsogotdownandlefthishorseatafarmyard，asGrantlyhaddonewithhiscarriage；andwalkedonfirsttotheschool。Hehadvoicesinside，butcouldnotdistinguishfromthemwhetherMrCrawleywasthereornot。Slowlyheopenedthedoor，andlookingroundsawthatJaneCrawleywasintheascendant。Janedidnotknowhimatonce，buttoldhimwhenhehadintroducedhimselfthatherfatherhadgonedowntoHoggleEnd。Hehadstartedtwohoursago，butitwasimpossibletosaywhenhemightbeback。’Hesometimesstaysalldaylongwiththebrickmakers，’saidJane。Hermotherwasathome，andshewouldtakethedeanintothehouse。Asshesaidthisshetoldhimthatherfatherwassometimesbetterandsometimesworse。’Buthehasneverbeensovery，verybad，sinceHenryGrantlyandmamma’scousincameandtoldusaboutthecheque。’ThosewordsHenryGrantlymadethedeanunderstandthattheremightyetbearayofsunshineamongtheCrawleys。
’Thereispapa，’saidJane，astheygottothegate。ThentheywaitedforafewminutestillMrCrawleycameup，veryhot，wipingthesweatfromhisforehead。
’Crawley，’saidthedean，’IcannottellyouhowgladIamtoseeyou，andhowrejoicedIamthatthisaccusationhasfallenfromyou。’
’Verilythenewscameintime，Arabin，’saidtheother，’butitwasanarrowpinch——anarrowpinch。Willyouenter，andseemywife？’
CHAPTERLXXIX
MRCRAWLEYSPEAKSOFHISCOAT
AtthistimeGracehadreturnedfromFramley。Aslongastheterribletragedyoftheforthcomingtrialwasdraggingitselfonshehadbeencontenttostayaway，athermother’sbidding。IthasnotbeenpossibleinthesepagestotellofalltheadvicethathadbeengiventotheladiesoftheCrawleyfamilyintheirgreatdifficulty，andofalltheassistancethathadbeenoffered。TheelderLadyLuftonandtheyounger，andMrsRobartshadcontinuallybeeninconsultationonthesubject；MrsGrantly’sopinionhadbeenaskedandgiven；andeventheMissPrettymansandMrsWalkerhadfoundmeansofexpressingthemselves。ThecommunicationstoMrsCrawleyhadbeenveryfrequent——thoughtheyhadnotofcoursebeenallowedtoreachtheearsofMrCrawley。WhatwastobedonewhenthelivingshouldbegoneandMrCrawleyshouldbeinprison？Somesaidthathemightbethereforsixweeks，andsomefortwoyears。OldLadyLuftonmadeanxiousinquiriesaboutJudgeMedlicote，beforewhomitwassaidthatthetrialwouldbetaken。JudgeMedlicotewasaDissenter，andoldLadyLuftonwasindespair。Whenshewasassuredbysomeliberally—disposedfriendthatthiswouldcertainlymakenodifference，sheshookherheadwoefully。’Idon’tknowwhywearetohaveDissenteresatall，’shesaid，’totrypeoplewhobelongtotheEstablishedChurch。’WhensheheardthatJudgeMedlicotewouldcertainlybethejudge，shemadeuphermindthattwoyearswouldbetheleastofit。Shewouldnothaveminded，shesaid，ifhehadbeenaRomanCatholic。Andwhetherthepunishmentmightbeforsixweeksorfortwoyears，whatshouldbedonewiththefamily？Whereshouldtheybehoused？
Howshouldtheybefed？Whatshouldbedonewiththepoormanwhenhecameoutofprison？Itwasacaseinwhichthegenerous，soft—heartedoldLadyLuftonwasalmostbesideherself。’AsforGrace，’saidyoungLadyLufton，’itwillbeagreatdealbetterthatweshouldkeepheramongstus。OfcourseshewillbecomeMrsGrantly，anditwillbenicerforherthatitshouldbeso。’Inthosedaysthepostershadbeenseen，andtheflittingtoPauhadbeentalkedof，andtheFramleyopinionwasthatGracehadbetterremainatFramleytillsheshouldbecarriedofftoPau。Therewereschemes，too，aboutJane，butwhatwastobedoneforthewife？AndwhatwastobedoneforMrCrawley？ThencamethenewsfromMrsArabin，andallinterestinJudgeMedlicotewasatanend。
Butevennow，afterthisgreatescape，whatwastobedone？AstoGrace，shehadfelttheabsolutenecessityofbeingobedienttoherfriends——withtheconsentofcourseofhermother——duringthegreattribulationofherfamily。Thingsweresobadthatshehadnotthehearttomakethemworsebygivinganyunnecessarytroubleastoherself。
Havingresolved——andhavingmadehermothersounderstand——thatononepointshewouldguideherselfbyherownfeelings，shewascontentedtogohitherandthitherasshewastold，andtodoasshewasbid。HerhopewasthatMissPrettymanwouldallowhertogobacktoherteaching，butithadcometobeunderstoodamongthemallthatnothingwastobesaidonthatsubjecttillthetrialshouldbeover。Tillthattimeshewouldbepassive。Butthen，asIhavesaid，hadcomethenewsfromMrsArabin，andGrace，withalltheothers，understoodthattherewouldbenotrial。Whenthiswasknownandacknowledged，shedeclaredherpurposeofgoingbacktoHogglestock。Shewouldgobackatonce。WhenaskedbothbyLadyLuftonandMrsRobartswhyshewasinsogreatahaste，shemerelysaidthatitmustbeso。Shewas，asitwere，absolvedfromherpassiveobediencetoFramleyauthoritiesbythediminutionofthefamilymisfortunes。
MrsRobartsunderstoodthefeelingbywhichGracewashurriedaway。’Doyouknowwhysheissoobstinate？’LadyLuftonasked。
’IthinkIdo，’saidMrsRobarts。
’Andwhatisit？’
’ShouldMajorGrantlyrenewhisoffertohersheisunderapledgetoaccepthimnow。’
’Ofcoursehewillrenewit，andofcourseshewillaccepthim。’
’Justso。Butsheprefersthatheshouldcomeforhertoherownhouse——becauseofthepoverty。Ifhechoosestoseekherthere，Idon’tthinkshewillmakemuchdifficulty。’LadyLuftondemurredatthis，nothoweverwithanger，andexpressedacertainamountofmilddispleasure。
ShedidnotquiteseewhyMajorGrantlyshouldnotbeallowedtocomeanddohislove—makingcomfortably，wheretherewasadecentdinnerforhimtoeat，andchairsandtablesandsofasandcarpets。ShesaidthatshethoughtthatsomethingwasduetoMajorGrantly。Shewasintruthalittledisappointedthatshewasnotallowedtohaveherownway，andtoarrangethemarriageatFramleyunderherowneye。But，throughitall，sheappreciatedGrace；andtheywhoknewherwellandheardwhatshesaidupontheoccasion，understoodthatherfavourwasnottobewithdrawn。AllyoungwomenweredividedbytheoldLadyLuftonintosheepandgoats——verywhitesheepandveryblackgoats——andGracewastobeasheep。ThusitcametopassthatGraceCrawleywasathomewhenthedeanvisitedHogglestock。’Mamma，’shesaid，lookingoutofthewindow，’thereisthedeanwithpapaatthegate。’
’Itwasanarrowsqueak——averynarrowsqueak，’MrCrawleyhadsaidwhenhisfriendhadcongratulatedhimonhisescape。ThedeanfeltatthemomentthatnotformanyyearshadheheardtheincumbentofHogglestockspeakeitherofhimselforofanythingelsewithsomanifestanattemptatjocularity。Arabinhadexpectedtofindthemanbrokendownbytheweightofhissorrows，andlo！atthefirstmomentoftheirfirstinterviewhehimselfbegantoridiculethem！Crawleyhavingthusalludedtothenarrowsqueakhadaskedhisvisitortoenterthehouseandseehiswife。
’OfcourseIwill，’saidArabin，’butIwillspeakjustawordtoyoufirst。’Janewhohadaccompaniedthedeanfromtheschool，nowleftthem，andwentintothehousetohermother。’Mywifecannotforgiveherselfaboutthecheque，’continuedhe。
’Thereisnothingtobeforgiven，’saidMrCrawley；’nothing。’
’Shefeelsthatwhatshedidwasawkwardandfoolish。Sheoughtnevertohavepaidthechequeawayinsuchamanner。Sheknowsthatnow。’
’Itwasgiven——notpaid，’saidCrawley；andashespokesomethingoftheblackcloudcamebackonhisface。’AndIamwellawarehardMrsArabinstrovetotakeawayfromthealmsshebestowedthebitternessofthestingofeleemosynaryaid。Ifyouplease，Arabin，wewillnottalkanymoreofthat。IcanneverforgetthatIhavebeenabeggar，butIneednotmakemybeggarythematterofconversation。IhopetheHolyLandhasfulfilledyourexpectation？’
’Ithasmorethandoneso，’saidthedean，bewilderedbythesuddenchange。
’Formyself，itis，ofcourse，impossiblethatIshouldevervisitanyscenesexceptthosetowhichmyimmediateworkmaycallme——neverinthisworld。ThenewJerusalemisstillwithinmyreach——ifitbenotforfeitedbyprideandobstinacy；buttheoldJerusalemIcanneverbehold。Methinks，becauseitisso，IwouldsoonerstandwithmyfootonMountOlivet，ordrinkacupofwaterinthevillageofBethany，thanvisitanyotherspotwithinthetraveller’scompass。ThesourcesoftheNile，ofwhichmentalksomuch——IseeitinthepapersandreviewswhichtheladiesatFramleyaresogoodastosendtomywife——donotinterestmemuch。IhavenoambitiontoclimbMontBlancortheMatterhorn；Romemakesmymouthwaterbutlittle，norevenAthensmuch。
IcanrealisewithoutseeingallthatAthenscouldshowme，andcanfancythattheexistingtruthwoulddestroymorethanitwouldbuildup。
ButtohavestoodonCalvary！’
’Wedon’tknowwhereCalvarywas，’saidthedean。
’IfancythatIshouldknow——shouldknowenough，’saidtheillogicalandunreasonableMrCrawley。’IsittruethatyoucanlookoverfromthespotonwhichHestoodasHecameacrossthebrowofthehill，andseethehugestonesofthetempleplacedtherebySolomon’smen——asHesawthem——rightacrossthebrookCedron，isitnot？’
’It’sallthere，Crawley——justasyourknowledgeofittellsyou。’
’IntheprivilegeofseeingthoseplacesIcanalmostenvyamanhis——money。’Thelastwordsheutteredafterapause。Hehadbeenabouttosaythatunderneathtemptationhecouldalmostenvyamanhispromotion；buthebethoughthimselfthatonsuchanoccasionasthisitwouldbebetterthatheshouldsparethedean。’Andnow，ifyouwishit，wewillgoin。IfancythatIseemywifeatthewindow，asthoughshewerewaitingforus。’Sosaying，hestrodeonalongthelittlepath，andthedeanwasfaintofollowhim，eventhoughhehadsaidsolittleofallthathehadintendedtosay。
AssoonashewasinwithMrsCrawleyherepeatedhisapologyaboutthecheque，andfoundhimselfbetterabletoexplainhimselfthanhecoulddowhenhewasalonewiththehusband。’Ofcourse，ithasbeenourfault，’hesaid。
’Oh，no，’saidMrsCrawley，’howcanyouhavebeenatfaultwhenyouronlyobjectwastodousgood？’But，nevertheless，thedeantooktheblameuponhisownshoulders，or，rather，uponthoseofhiswife，anddeclaredhimselftoberesponsibleforallthetroubleaboutthecheque。
’Letitgo，’saidCrawley，aftersittingawhileinsilence；’letitpass。’
’Youcannotwonder，Crawley，’saidthedean，’thatIshouldhavefeltmyselfobligedtospeakofit。’
’Forthefutureitwillbewellthatitshouldbeforgotten，’saidCrawley；’or，ifnotforgotten，treatedasthoughforgotten。Andnow，dean，whatmustIdoabouttheliving？’
’Justresumeit，asthoughnothinghappened。’
’Butthatmayhardlybedonewithoutthebishop’sauthority。Ispeak，ofcourse，withdeferencetoyourhigherandbetterinformationonsuchsubjects。Myexperienceinthetakingupandlayingdownoflivingshasnotbeenextended。Butitseemethtomethatthoughitmaycertainlybeinyourpowertonominatemeagaintotheperpetualcuracyoftheparish——presumingyourpatronagetobeunlimitedandnottoreachyouinrotationonly——yetthebishopmaydemandtoinstituteagain，andmustsodemand，unlesshepleasestopermitthatmylettertohimshallberevokedandcancelled。’
’Ofcoursehewilldoanythingofthatkind。HemustknowthecircumstancesaswellasyouandIdo。’
’Atpresenttheytellmeheismuchafflictedbythedeathofhiswife，and，therefore，canhardlybeexpectedtotakeimmediateaction。TherecameonthelastSundayoneMrSnapper，hischaplain。’
’WeallknowSnapper，’saidthedean。’Snapperisnotabadlittlefellow。’
’Isaynothingofhisbeingbad，myfriend，butmerelymentionthefactthatonSundaymorninglastheperformedtheserviceinourchurch。OntheSundaypreviousMrThumblewashere。’
’WeallknowThumble，too，’saidthedean；’or，atleast，weknowsomethingabouthim。’