’Imustknowmoreofthis，sir，beforeyouleavethehouse，’saidLadyDemolines。Hesawthatbetweenthemboththeremightprobablybeaverybadquarterofanhourinstoreforhim；buthesworetohimselfthatnounionofdragonandtigressshouldextractfromhimawordthatcouldbetakenasapromiseofmarriage。
Theoldwomanwasnowkneelingbytheheadofthesofa，andJohnnywasstandingclosebyherside。SuddenlyMadalinaopenedhereyes——openedthemverywide，andgazedaroundher。Thenslowlysheraisedherselfonthesofa，andturnedherfacefirstuponhermotherandthenuponJohnny。’Youhere，mamma！’shesaid。
’Dearestone，Iamnearyou。Benotafraid，’saidherladyship。
’Afraid！WhyshouldIbeafraid？John！MyownJohn！Mamma，heismyown。’Andsheputoutherarmstohim，asthoughcallingtohimtocometoher。ThingswerenowverybadwithJohnEames——sobadthathewouldhavegivenaveryconsiderablelumpoutofLordDeGuest’slegacytobeabletoescapeatonceintothestreet。Thepowerofawoman，whenshechoosestouseitrecklessly，is，forthemoment，almostunbounded。
’Ihopeyoufindyourselfalittlebetter，’saidJohn，strugglingtospeak，asthoughhewerenotutterlycrushedbytheoccasion。
LadyDemolinesslowlyraisedherselffromherknees，helpingherselfwithherhandsagainsttheshoulderofthesofa——forthoughstillveryclever，shewasoldandstiff——andthenofferedbothherhandstoJohnny。Johnnycautiouslytookoneofthem，findinghimselfunabletodeclinethemboth。’Myson！’sheexclaimed；andbeforeheknewwherehewastheoldwomanhadsucceededinkissinghisnoseandwhiskers。’Myson！’shesaidagain。
Nowthatthetimehadcomeforfacingthedragonandthetigressintheirwrath。Iftheyweretobefacedatall，thetimeforfacingthemhadcertainlyarrived。’Idon’tquiteunderstand，’hesaid，almostinawhisper。Madalinaputoutonearmtowardshim，andthefingerstrembled。
Herlipswereopened，andthewhiterowofinteriorivorymightbeseenplainly；butatthepresentconjunctureofaffairsshespokenotaword。
Shespokenotaword；butherarmremainedstretchedtowardshim，andherfingersdidnotceasetotremble。
’Youdonotunderstand！’saidLadyDemolines，drawingherselfbackandlooking，inhershortopencloak，likeaknightwhohasdonnedhiscuirass，buthasforgottentoputonhisleg—gear。Andsheshookthebrightribbonsofhercap，asaknightinhiswrathshakesthecrestofhishelmet。’Youdonotunderstand，MrEames！Whatisit，sir，thatyoudonotunderstand？’
’Thereissomemisconception，Imean，’saidJohnny。
’Mother！’saidMadalina，turninghereyesfromherrecentlovertohertenderparent；tremblingallover，butstillkeepingherhandextended。
’Mother！’
’Mydarling！Butleavehimtome，dearest。Composeyourself。’
’’Twasthewordthathesaid——thismoment；beforehepressedmetohisheart。’
’Ithoughtyouwerefainting，’saidJohnny。
’Sir！’saidLadyDemolines，asshespoke，shookhercrest，andglaredathim，andalmostflewathiminherarmour。
’Itmaybethatnaturehasgivenwaywithme，andthatIhavebeeninadream，’saidMadalina。
’Thatwhichmineeyessawwasnodream，’saidLadyDemolines。’MrEames，Ihavegivenyouthesweetestnamethatcanfallfromanoldwoman’slips。Ihavecalledyoumyson。’
’Yes，youdid，Iknow。But，asIsaidbefore，thereissomemistake。I
knowhowproudIoughttobe，andhowhappy，andallthatkindofthing。
But——’ThentherecameascreechfromMadalina，whichwouldhaveawakenedthedead，hadtherebeenanydeadinthathouse。Thepageandcook，however，tooknonoticeofit，whethertheywereawakenedornot。
Andhavingscreeched，Madalinastooderectuponthefloor，andshealsoglaredatherrecreantlover。Thedragonandthetigerweretherebeforehimnow，andheknewthatitbehovedhimtolooktohimself。Ashehadabattletofight，mightitnotbebesttoputaboldfaceuponit？’Thetruthis，’saidhe，’thatIdon’tunderstandthiskindofthing。’
’Notunderstandit，sir？’saidthedragon。
’Leavehimtome，mother，’saidthetigress，shakingherheadagain，butwithakindofshakedifferingfromthatwhichshehadusedbefore。
’Thisismybusiness，andI’llhaveitoutformyself。IfhethinksIamgoingtoputupwiththiskindofnonsensehe’smistaken。I’vebeenstraightforwardandaboveboardwithyou，MrEames，andIexpecttobetreatedinthesamewayinreturn。Doyoumeantotellmymotherthatyoudenythatweareengaged？’
’Well；yes；Ido。I’mverysorry，youknow，ifIseemtobeuncivil——’
’It’sbecauseI’venobrother，’saidthetigress。’HethinksthatI
havenomannearmetoprotectme。ButheshallfindthatIcanprotectmyself。JohnEames，whyareyoutreatingmelikethis？’
’Ishallconsultmycousintheserjeanttomorrow，’saidthedragon。’Inthemeantimehemustremaininthishouse。Ishallnotallowthefrontdoortobeunlockedforhim。’
This，Ithink，wasthebitterestmomentofallforJohnny。TobeconfinedallnightinLadyDemolines’sdrawing—roomwould，ofitself，beanintolerablenuisance。Andthentheabsurdityofthething，andthestorythatwouldgoabroad！Andwhatwouldhesaytothedragon’scousintheserjeant，iftheserjeantshouldbebroughtuponthefieldbeforehewasabletoescapefromit？Hedidnotknowwhataserjeantmightnotdotohiminsuchcircumstances。Therewasonethingnoserjeantshoulddo，andnodragon！Betweenthemalltheyshouldneverforcehimtomarrythetigress。AtthismomentJohnnyheardatrampalongthepavement，andherushedtothewindow。Beforethedragonoreventhetigresscouldarresthim，hehadthrownopenthesash，andhadappealedinhisdifficultytotheguardianofthenight。’Isay，oldfellow，’saidJohnny，’don’tyoustirfromthattillItellyou。’Thepolicemanturnedhisbull’s—eyeuponthewindow，andstoodperfectlymotionless。’Now，ifyouplease，I’llsaygood—night，’saidJohnny。But，ashespokehestillheldtheopenwindowinhishand。
’Whatmeansthisviolenceinmyhouse？’saidthedragon。
’Mamma，youhadbetterlethimgo，’saidthetigress。’Weshallknowwheretofindhim。’
’Youwillcertainlybeabletofindme，’saidJohnny。
’Go，’saidthedragon，shakinghercrest——shakingallherarmourathim——’dastard，go！’
’Policeman，’shoutedJohnny，whilehestillheldtheopenwindowinhishand，’mindyoudon’tstirtillIcomeout。’Thebull’s—eyewasshiftedalittle，butthepolicemanneversaidaword。
’Iwishyouagood—night，LadyDemolines，’saidJohnny。’Good—night，MissDemolines。’Thenheleftthewindowandmadearunforthedoor。
Butthedragonwastherebeforehim。
’Lethimgo，mamma，’saidthetigressassheclosedthewindow。’Weshallonlyhavearumpus。’
’Thatwillbeall，’saidJohnny。’Thereisn’ttheslightestuseinyourtryingtokeepmehere。’
’Andarewenevertoseeyouagain？’saidthetigress，almostlanguishingagainwithoneeye。
’Well；no。Whatwouldbetheuse？Nomanlikestobeshutin，youknow。’
’Go，then，’saidthetigress；’butifyouthinkthatthisistobetheendofityou’llfindyourselfwonderfullymistaken。Youpoorfalse，drivellingcreature！LilyDalewon’ttouchyouwithapairoftongs。
It’snouseyourgoingtoher。’
’Goaway，sir，thismoment，anddon’tcontaminatemyroomaninstantlongerbyyourpresence，’saidthedragon，whohadobservedthroughthewindowthebull’s—eyewasstillinfullforcebeforethehouse。ThenJohnEameswithdrew，anddescendingintothehallmadehiswayinthedarktothefrontdoor。Foraughtheknewtheremightstillbetreacheryinregardtothelock；buthisheartwascomfortedasheheardthefootfallofthepolicemanonthedoor—step。Withmuchfumblinghesucceededatlastinturningthekeyanddrawingthebolt，andthenhefoundhimselfatlibertyinthestreet。Beforeheevenspokeawordtothepolicemanhewentoutintotheroadandlookedupatthewindow。Hecouldjustseethefigureofthedragon’shelmetasshewasclosingtheshutters。ItwasthelastheeversawofLadyDemolinesorherdaughter。
’Whatwasitallabout？’saidthepoliceman。
’Idon’tknowthatIcanjusttellyou，’saidJohnny，searchinginhispocket—bookforhalfasovereignwhichhetenderedtotheman。’Therewasalittledifficulty，andI’mobligedtoyouforwaiting。’
’Thereain’tnothingwrong？’saidthemansuspiciously，hesitatingforamomentbeforeheacceptedthecoin。
’Nothingonearth。I’llwaitwithyou，whileyouhavethehouseopenedandinquire，ifyouwishit。Thetruthissomebodyinsiderefusedtohavethedooropened，andIdidn’twanttostaythereallnight。’
’They’rearummycouple，ifwhatIhearistrue。’
’Theyarearummycouple，’saidJohnny。
’Isupposeit’sallright，’saidthepoliceman，takingthemoney。AndthenJohnwalkedoffhomebyhimself，turninghismindallthecircumstancesofhisconnectionwithMissDemolines。Takinghisownconductasawhole，hewasratherproudofit；butheacknowledgedtohimselfthatitwouldbewellthatheshouldkeephimselffreefromthesocietyofMadalinasforthefuture。
CHAPTERLXXXI
BARCHESTERCLOISTERS
OnthemorningoftheSundayafterthedean’sreturn，MrHardingwaslyinginhisbed，andPosywassittingonthebedbesidehim。Itwasmanifesttoallnowthathebecamefeeblerandfeeblerfromdaytoday，andthathewouldneverleavehisbedagain。Eventhearchdeaconhadshakenhishead，andhadacknowledgedtohiswifethatthelastdayforherfatherwasnearathand。ItwouldverysoonbenecessarythatheshouldelectanothervicarforStEwold’s。
’Grandpawon’tplaycat’s—cradle，’saidPosy，asMrsArabinenteredtheroom。
’No，darling——notthismorning，’saidtheoldman。Hehimselfwellknewthathewouldneverplaycat’s—cradleagain。Eventhatwasoverforhimhow。
’Sheteasesyou，papa，’saidMrsArabin。
’No，indeed，’saidhe。’Posyneverteasesme；’andheslowlymovedhiswitheredhanddownoutsidethebed，soastoholdthechildbyherfrock。’Letherstaywithme，mydear。’
’DrFilgraveisdownstairs，papa。Youwillseehim，ifhecomesup？’
NowDrFilgravewastheleadingphysicianofBarchester，andnobodyofnoteinthecity——orforthatmatterofthatintheeasterndivisionofthecounty——wasallowedtostartuponthelastgreatjourneywithoutsomeassistancefromhimasthehourofgoingdrewnigh。Idonotknowthathehadmuchreputationforprolonginglife，buthewassupposedtoaddagracetothehourofdeparture。MrHardingexpressednowishtoseethedoctor——hadratherdeclaredhisconvictionthatDrFilgravecouldbeofnopossibleservicetohim。Buthewasnotamantopersevereinhisobjectioninoppositiontothewishesofhisfriendsaroundhim；andassoonasthearchdeaconhadspokenawordonthesubjectheassented。
’Ofcourse，mydear，Iwillseehim。’
’AndPosyshallcomebackwhenhehasgone，’saidMrsArabin。
’PosywilldomemoregoodthanDrFilgrave，I’mquitesure；——butPosyshallgonow。’SoPosyscrambledoffthebed，andthedoctorwasusheredintotheroom。
’Adayortwowillseetheendofit，archdeacon；Ishouldsayadayortwo，’saidthedoctor，ashemetDrGrantlyinthehall。’Ishouldsaythatadayortwowillseetheendofit。IndeedIwillnotundertakethattwenty—fourhoursmaynotseethecloseofhisearthlytroubles。Hehasnosuffering，nopain，nodisturbingcause。Naturesimplyretirestorest。’DrFilgrave，ashesaidthis，madeaslowfallingmotionwithhishands，whichaloneonvariousoccasionshadbeenthoughttobeworthallthemoneypaidforhisattendance。’PerhapsyouwouldwishthatIshouldstepinthisevening，MrDean？Asithappens，Ishallbeatliberty。’
Thedeanofcoursesaidthathewouldtakeitasanadditionalfavour。
NeitherthedeannorthearchdeaconhadtheslightestbeliefinDrFilgrave，andyettheywouldhardlyhavebeencontentedthattheirfather—in—lawshouldhavedepartedwithouthim。
’Lookatthatman，now，’saidthearchdeacon，whenthedoctorhadgone，’whotalkssogliblyaboutnaturegoingtorest。I’veknownhimallmylife。He’sanoldermanbysomemonthsthanourdearoldfriendupstairs。Andhelooksasifheweregoingtoattenddeath—bedsinBarchesterforever。’
’Isupposeheisrightinwhathetellsusnow？’saidthedean。
’Nodoubtheis；butmybeliefdoesn’tcomefromhissayingit。’Thentherewasapauseasthetwochurchdignitariessattogether，doingnothing，feelingthatthesolemnityofthemomentwassuchthatitwouldbehardlybecomingthattheyshouldevenattempttoread。’Hisgoingwillmakeanoldmanofme，’saidthearchdeacon。’Itwillbedifferentwithyou。’
’ItwillmakeanoldwomanofEleanor，Ifear。’
’Iseemtohaveknownhimallmylife，’saidthearchdeacon。’IhaveknownhimeversinceIleftcollege；andIhaveknownhimasonemanseldomdoesknowanother。Thereisnothingthathehasdone——asI
believenothingthathehasthought——withwhichIhavenotbeencognisant。Ifeelsurethatheneverhadanimpurefancyinhismind，orafaultywishinhisheart。Histendernesshassurpassedthetendernessofawoman；andyet，whenoccasioncameforshowingit，hehadallthespiritofahero。Ishallneverforgethisresignationofthehospital，andallthatIdidandsaidtomakehimkeepit。’
’Buthewasright？’
’AsSeptimusHardinghewas，Ithink，right；butitwouldhavebeenwronginanyotherman。Andhewasright，too，aboutthedeanery。’ForpromotionhadcomeinMrHarding’sway，andhe，too，mighthavebeenDeanofBarchester。’Thefactis，heneverwaswrong。Hecouldn’tgowrong。Helackedguile，andhefearedGod——andamanwhodoesbothwillnevergofarastray。Idon’tthinkheevercovetedaughtinhislife——exceptanewcaseforhisvioloncelloandsomebodytolistentohimwhenheplayedit。’Thenthearchdeacongotup，andwalkedabouttheroominhisenthusiasm；and，perhaps，ashewalkedsomethoughtsastothesternerambitionofhisownlifepassedthroughhismind。Whatthingshadhecoveted？Hadhelackedguile？HetoldhimselfthathadfearedGod——buthewasnotsurethathewastellinghimselftrueeveninthat。
DuringthewholeofthemorningMrsArabinandMrsGrantlywerewiththeirfather，andduringthegreaterpartofthedaytherewasabsolutesilenceintheroom。Heseemedtosleep；andthey，thoughtheyknewintruththathewasnotsleeping，fearedtodisturbhimbyaword。AbouttwoMrsBaxterbroughthimhisdinner，andhedidrousehimselfandswallowedaspoonfulofsoup，andhalfaglassofwine。AtthistimePosycametohim，andstoodatthebedside，lookingathimwithhergreatwideeyes。Sheseemedtobeawarethatlifehadgonesofarwithherdearoldfriendthatshemustnotbeallowedonhisbedagain。Butheputhishandouttoher，andsheheldit，standingquitestillandsilent。WhenMrsBaxtercametotakeawaythetray，Posy’smothergotup，andwhisperedawordtothechild。ThenPosywentaway，andhereyesneverbeheldtheoldmanagain。ThatwasadaywhichPosyneverforgot——notthoughsheshouldlivetobemucholderthanhergrandfatherwaswhenshethuslefthim。
’Itissosweettohaveyoubothhere，’hesaid，whenhehadbeenlyingsilentfornearlyanhourafterthechildhadgone。Thentheygotup，andcameandstoodclosetohim。’Thereisnothingleftformetowish，mydears；——nothing。’Notlongafterwardsheexpressedadesirethatthetwohusbands——histwosons—in—law——shouldcometohim；andMrsArabinwenttothem，andbroughtthemintotheroom。Ashetooktheirhandshemerelyrepeatedthesamewordsagain。’Thereisnothingleftformetowish，mydears；——nothing。’Heneverspokeagainabovehisbreath；buteverandanonhisdaughters，whowatchedhim，couldseethathewaspraying。Thetwomendidnotstaywithhimlong，butreturnedtothegloomofthelibrary。Thegloomhadalmostbecomethedarknessofthenight，andtheywerestillsittingtherewithoutanylight，whenMrsBaxterenteredtheroom。’Thedeargentlemanisnomore，’saidMrsBaxter；anditseemedtothearchdeaconthattheverymomentofhisfather’sdeathhadrepeateditself。WhenDrFilgravecalledhewastoldthathisserviceswouldbeofnofurtheruse。’Dear，dear！’saidthedoctor。’Wearealldust，MrsBaxter；arewenot？’TherewerepeopleinBarchesterwhopretendedtoknowhowoftenthedoctorhadrepeatedthislittleformuladuringthelastthirtyyears。
Therewasnoviolenceofsorrowinthehousethatnight；buttherewereachinghearts，andoneheartsosorethatitseemedthatnocureforitsanguishcouldeverreachit。’Hehasalwaysbeenwithme，’MrsArabinsaidtoherhusband，ashestrovetoconsoleher。’ItwasnotthatI
lovedhimbetterthanSusan，butIhavefeltsomuchmoreofhislovingtenderness。ThesweetnessofhisvoicehasbeeninmyearsalmostdailysinceIwasborn。’
Theyburiedhiminthecathedralwhichhehadlovedsowell，andinwhichnearlyalltheworkofhislifehadbeendone；andallBarchesterwastheretoseehimlaidinhisgravewithinthecloisters。Therewasnoprocessionofcoaches，nohearse，norwasthereanyattemptatfunerealpomp。Fromthedean’ssidedoor，acrossthevaultedpassage，andintothetransept——overthelittlestepuponwhichhehadsonearlyfallenwhenlasthemadehiswayoutofthebuilding——thecoffinwascarriedonmen’sshoulders。Itwasbutashortjourneyfromhisbedroomtohisgrave。Butthebellhadbeentollingsadlyallmorning，andthenaveandtheaislesandthetransepts，closeuptothedoorleadingfromthetranseptintothecloister，werecrowdedwiththosewhohadknownthenameandthefigureandthevoiceofMrHardingaslongastheyhadknownanything。UptothisdaynoonewouldhavesaidspeciallythatMrHardingwasafavouriteofthetown。Hehadneverbeenforwardenoughinanythingtobecometheacknowledgedpossessorofpopularity。But，nowthathewasgone，menandwomentoldeachotherhowgoodhehadbeen。
Theyrememberedthesweetnessofhissmile，andtalkedoflovinglittlewordswhichhehadspokentothem——eitheryearsagoortheotherday，forhiswordshadalwaysbeenloving。Thedeanandthearchdeaconcamefirst，shouldertoshoulder，andafterthemcametheirwives。Idonotknowthatitwastheproperorderformourning，butitwasatouchingsighttobeseen，andwaslongrememberedinBarchester。Painfulasitwasforthem，thetwowomenwouldbethere，andthetwosisterswouldwalktogether；——norwouldtheygobeforetheirhusbands。Thentherewerethearchdeacon’stwosons——fortheRevCharlesGrantlyhadcometoPlumsteadfortheoccasion。Andinthevaultedpassagewhichrunsbetweenthedeaneryandtheendofthetranseptallthechapter，withthechoir，theprebendaries，withthefatoldchancellor，theprecentor，andtheminorcanonsdowntothelittlechoristers——theywereallthere，andfollowedinatthetranseptdoor，twobytwo。Andinthetransepttheywerejoinedbyanotherclergymanwhonoonehadexpectedtoseethatday。Thebishopwasthere，lookingoldandworn——almostasthoughhewereunconsciousofwhathewasdoing。Sincehiswife’sdeathnoonehadseenhimoutofthepalaceorthepalacegroundstillthatday。Buttherehewas——andtheymadewayforhimintotheprocessionbehindthetwoladies——andthearchdeacon，whenhesawit，resolvedthatthereshouldbepeaceinhisheart，ifpeacewerepossible。
Theymadetheirwayintothecloisterswherethegravehadbeendug——asmanyasmightbeallowedtofollow。Theplaceindeedwasopentoallwhochosetocome；buttheywhohadonlyslightlyknownthemanrefrainedfrompressinguponthosewhohadarighttostandaroundhiscoffin。ButtherewasoneothertherewhomthefaithfulchroniclerofBarchestershouldmention。Beforeanyotheronehadreachedthespot，thesextonandthevergerbetweenthemhadledinbetweenthem，amongthegravesbeneaththecloisters，ablindoldman，veryold，withawondrousstoop，butwhomusthaveownedagrandstaturebeforeextremeoldagehadbenthim，andtheyplacedhimsittingonastoneinthecornerofthearchway。Butassoonastheshufflingofstepsreachedhisears，heraisedhimselfwiththeaidofhisstick，andstoodduringtheserviceleaningagainstthepillar。TheblindmanwassooldthathemightalmosthavebeenMrHarding’sfather。ThiswasJohnBunce，bedesmanfromHiram’sHospital——andnoneperhapstherehadknownMrHardingbetterthanhehadknownhim。Whentheearthhadbeenthrownontothecoffin，andtheservicewasover，andtheywereabouttodisperse，MrsArabinwentuptotheoldman，andtakinghishandbetweenherswhisperedawordintohisear。’Oh，MissEleanor！，’hesaid。’Oh，MissEleanor！’
Withinafortnighthealsowaslyingwithinthecathedralprecincts。
AndsotheyburiedMrSeptimusHarding，formerlyWardenofHiram’sHospitalinthecityofBarchester，ofwhomthechroniclermaysaythatthatcityneverknewasweetergentlemanorabetterChristian。
CHAPTERLXXXII
THELASTSCENEATHOGGLESTOCK
ThefortnightfollowingMrHarding’sdeathwaspassedveryquietlyatHogglestock，forduringthattimenovisitormadeanappearanceintheparishexceptMrSnapperontheSundays。MrSnapper，whenhehadcompletedtheserviceonthefirstoftheseSundays，intimatedtoMrCrawleyhisopinionthatprobablythatgentlemanmighthimselfwishtoresumehisdutiesonthefollowingSabbath。MrCrawley，however，courteouslydeclinedtodoanythingofthekind。Hesaidthatitwasquiteoutofthequestionthatheshoulddosowithoutadirectcommunicationmadetohimfromthebishop，orbythebishop’sorder。Theassizeshad，ofcourse，goneby，andallquestionofthetrialwasover。
Nevertheless——asMrSnappersaid——thebishophadnot，asyet，givenanyorder。MrSnapperwasoftheopinionthatthebishopinthesedayswasnotquitehimself。Hehadspokentothebishopaboutit，andthebishophadtoldhimpeevishly——’Imustsayquitepeevishly，’MrSnapperhadsaid——thatnothingwastobedoneatpresent。MrSnapperwasnotthelessclearlyoftheopinionthatMrCrawleymightresumehisduties。Tothis，however，MrCrawleywouldnotassent。
ButevenduringthisfortnightMrCrawleyhadnotremainedaltogetherneglected。TwodaysafterMrHarding’sdeathhehadreceivedanotefromthedeaninwhichhewasadvisednottoresumethedutiesatHogglestockforthepresent。’Ofcourseyoucanunderstandthatwehaveasadhousehereforthepresent，’thedeanhadsaid。’Butassoonaseverweareabletomoveinthematterwewillarrangethingsforyouascomfortablyaswecan。Iwillseethebishopmyself。’MrCrawleyhadnoambitiousideaofanycomfortwhichmightaccruetohimbeyondthatofanhonourablereturntohishumbleprefermentatHogglestock；but，nevertheless，hewasinthiscasemindedtodoasthedeancounselledhim。Hehadsubmittedhimselftothebishop，andhewouldwaittillthebishopabsolvedhimfromhissubmission。
Onthedayafterthefuneral，thebishophadsenthiscomplimentstothedeanwithanexpressionofawishthatthedeanwouldcalluponhimonanyearlydaythatmightbeconvenientwithreferencetothepositionofMrCrawleyofHogglestock。Thenotewasinthebishop’sownhandwritingandwasasmildandcivilasabishop’snotecouldbe。Ofcoursethedeannamedanearlydayfortheinterview；butitwasnecessarybeforehewenttothebishopthatheshoulddiscussthematterwiththearchdeacon。IfStEwold’smightbegiventoMrCrawley，theHogglestockdifficultieswouldallbebroughttoanend。Thearchdeacon，afterthefuneral，hadreturnedtoPlumstead，andthitherthedeanwenttohimbeforehewasthebishop。Hedidsucceed——heandMrsGrantlybetweenthem——butwithverygreatdifficulty，inobtainingaconditionalpromise。TheyhadboththoughtthatwhenthearchdeaconbecamefullyawarethatGracewastobehisdaughter—in—law，hewouldatoncehavebeendelightedtohaveanopportunityofextricatingfromhispovertyaclergymanwithwhomitwashisfatetobecloselyconnected。Buthefoughtthematterontwentydifferentpoints。HedeclaredatfirstthatasitwashisprimarydutytogivethepeopleofStEwold’sthebestclergymanhecouldselectforthemhecouldnotgivethepreferencetoMrCrawley，becauseMrCrawley，inspiteofallhiszealandpiety，wasamansoquaintinhismannersandsoeccentricinhismodeofspeechasnottobethebestclergymanwhomhecouldselect。’WhatismyoldfriendThornetodowithamanintheparishwhowon’tdrinkaglassofwinewithhim？’。ForUllathorne，theseatofthatMrWilfredThornewhohadbeensoguiltyinthematterofthefoxes，wassituatedintheparishofStEwold’s。WhenMrsGrantlyproposedthatMrThorne’sconsentshouldbeasked，thearchdeaconbecameveryangry。ItwashisspecialdutytothebesthecouldforMrThorne，butitwasspeciallyhisdutytodosowithoutconsultingMrThorneaboutit。Asthearchdeacon’sobjectionhadbeenarguedsimplyonthepointofaglassofwine，boththedeanandMrsGrantlythoughtthathewas