unreasonable。Buttheyhadtheirpointtogain，andthereforeonlyflatteredhim。TheywerequitesurethatMrThornewouldliketohaveaclergymanintheparishwhowouldhimselfbecloselyconnectedwiththearchdeacon。ThenDrGrantlyallegedthathemightfindhimselfinatrap。WhatifheconferredthelivingofStEwold’sonMrCrawleyandafterallthereshouldbenomarriagebetweenhissonandGrace？’Ofcoursethey’llbemarried，’saidMrsGrantly。’It’sallverywellforyoutosaythat，mydear；butthewholefamilyaresoqueerthatthereisnoknowingwhatthegirlmaydo。
Shemaytakeupsomeotherfadnow，andrefusehimpointblank。’’Shehasnevertakenupanyfad，’saidMrsGrantly，whonowmountedalmosttowrathindefenceofherfuturedaughter—in—law，’andyouarewrongtosaythatshehas。Shehasbehavedbeautifully：——asnobodyknowsbetterthanyoudo。’ThenthearchdeacongavewaysofarastopromisethatStEwold’sshouldbeofferedtoMrCrawleyassoonasGraceCrawleywasintruthengagedtoHenryGrantly。
Afterthat，thedeanwenttothepalace。Therehadneverbeenanyquarrellingbetweenthebishopandthedean，eitherdirectorindirect；——nor，indeed，hadthedeaneveryquarrelledevenwithMrsProudie。Buthehadbelongedtheanti—Proudiefaction。HehadbeenbroughtintothediocesebytheGrantlyinterest；andtherefore，duringMrsProudie’slifetime，hehadalwaysbeenaccountedamongtheenemies。
Therehadneverbeenanyrealintimacybetweenthehouses。Eachhousehadalwaysbeenaskedtodinewiththeotherhouseonceayear；butithadbeenunderstoodthatsuchdiningswereecclesiastico—official，andnotfriendly。TherehadbeenthesameoutsidediocesancivilitybetweeneventhepalaceandPlumstead。Butnow，whenthegreatchieftainofthepalacewasnomore，andthestrengthofthepalacefactionwasgone，peace，orperhapssomethingmorethanpeace——amity，perhaps，mightbemoreeasilyarrangedwiththedeanthanwiththearchdeacon。InpreparationforsucharrangementsthebishophadgonetoMrHarding’sfuneral。
Andnowthedeanwenttothepalaceatthebishop’sbehest。Hefoundhislordshipalone，andwasreceivedwithalmostreverentialcourtesy。
Hethoughtthatthebishopwaslookingwonderfullyagedsincehelastsawhim，butdidnotperhapstakeintoaccounttheabsenceofclericalsleeknesswhichwasincidentaltothebishop’sprivatelifeinhisprivateroom，andperhapsinacertainmeasuretohisrecentaffliction。
ThedeanhadbeeninthehabitofregardingDrProudieasamanalmostyoungforhisage——havingbeeninthehabitofseeinghimathisbest，clothedinauthority，redolentofthethrone，conspicuousasregardedhisapronandoutwardsignsofepiscopality。Muchofthiswasnowabsent。Thebishop，asherosetogreetthedean，shuffledwithhisoldslippers，andhishairwasnotbrushedsobecominglyasusedtobethecasewhenMrsProudiewasalwaysnearhim。
Itwasnecessarythatawordshouldbesaidbyeachastothelosswhichtheotherhadsuffered。’MrDean，’saidhislordship，’allowmetoofferyoumycondolementsinregardtothedeathofthatveryexcellentclergymanandmostworthygentleman，yourfather—in—law。’
’Thankyou，mylord。Hewasexcellentandworthy。IdonotsupposethatIshalllivetoseeanymanwhowasmoreso。Youalsohaveagreat——aterribleloss。’
’Oh，MrDean，yes；yes，indeed，MrDean。Thatwasaloss。’
’Andhardlypasttheprimeoflife！’
’Ah，yes；——justfifty—six——andsostrong！Wasshenot？Atleasteverybodythoughtso。Andyetshewasgoneinaminute；——goneinaminute。Ihaven’theldmyheadupsince，MrDean。’
’Itwasagreatloss，mylord；butyoumuststruggletobearit。’
’Idostruggle。Iamstruggling。Butitmakesonefeelsolonelyinthisgreathouse。Ahme！Ioftenwish，MrDean，thatithadpleasedProvidencetohaveleftmeinsomehumbleparsonage，wheredutywouldhavebeeneasierthanitishere。ButIwillnottroubleyouwithallthat。Whatarewetodo，MrDean，aboutthispoorMrCrawley。’
’MrCrawleyisaveryoldfriendofmine，andaverydearfriend。’
’Ishe？Ah！Averyworthyman，Iamsure，andonewhohasbeenmuchtriedbyundeservedadversities。’
’Mostseverely，mylord。’
’Sittingamongthepotsherds，likeJob；hashenot，MrDean？Well；letushopethatisallover。Whenthisaccusationabouttherobberywasbroughtagainsthim，Ifoundmyselfboundtointerfere。’
’Hehasnocomplaintonthatscore。’
’Ihopenot。Ihavenotwishedtobeharsh，butwhatcouldIdo，MrDean？Theytoldmethatthecivilauthoritiesfoundtheevidencesostrongagainsthimthatitcouldnotbewithstood。’
’Itwasverystrong。’
’Andwethoughtthatheshouldatleastberelieved，andwesentforDrTempest，whoishisruraldean。’ThenthebishoprememberingallthecircumstancesofthatinterviewwiththeDrTempest——astowhichhehadeverfeltassuredthatoneoftheresultswasthedeathofhiswife，wherebytherewasnolongerany’we’leftinthepalaceofBarchester——sighedpiteously，lookingatthedeanwithahopelessface。
’Nobodydoubts，mylord，thatyouactedforthebest。’
’Ihopewedid。Ithinkwedid。Andnowwhatwillwedo？Hehasresignedhisliving，bothtoyouandtome，asIhear——youbeingthepatron。Itwillsimplybenecessary，Ithink，thatheshouldasktohavetheletterscancelled。Then，asItakeit，thereneedbenorestitution。
Youcannotthink，MrDean，howmuchIhavethoughtaboutitall。’
Thenthedeanunfoldedhisbudget，andexplainedtothebishophowhehopedthatthelivingofStEwold’s，whichwas，aftersomeecclesiasticalfashion，attachedtotherectoryofPlumstead，andwhichwasnowvacantbythedemiseofMrHarding，mightbeconferredbythearchdeaconuponMrCrawley。Itwasnecessarytoexplainalsothatthiscouldnotbedonequiteimmediately，andindoingthisthedeanencounteredsomelittledifficulty。Thearchdeacon，hesaid，wishedtobeallowedanotherweektothinkaboutit；andthereforeperhapsprovisionforthedutiesofHogglestockmightyetbemadeforafewSundays。Thebishop，thedeansaid，mighteasilyunderstandthat，afterwhathasoccurred，MrCrawleywouldhardlywishtogoagainintothatpulpit，unlesshedidsoasresumingduties，whichwouldnecessarilybepermanentwithhim。Toallthisthebishopassented，buthewasapparentlystruckwithmuchwonderatthechoicemadebythearchdeacon。
’Ishouldhavethought，MrDean，’hesaid，’thatMrCrawleywasthelastmantohavesuitedthearchdeacon’schoice。’
’ThearchdeaconandImarriedsisters，mylord。’
’Oh，ah！yes。AndheputsthenominationofStEwold’satyourdisposition。IamsureIshallbedelightedtoinstitutesoworthyagentlemanasMrCrawley。’Thenthedeantookhisleaveofthebishop——aswewillalso。Poordearbishop！Iaminclinedtothinkthathewasrightinhisregretsastothelittleparsonage。NotthathisfailureatBarchester，andhispresentconsciousnessoflonelyincompetence，weremainlyduetoanypositiveinefficiencyonhisownpart。Hemighthavebeenasufficientlygoodbishop，haditnotbeenthatMrsProudiewassomuchmoreasufficientlygoodbishop’swife。Wewillnowsayfarewelltohim，withahopethattheloppedtreemayyetbecomegreenagain，andtosomeextentfruitful，althoughallitsbeautifulheadandrichnessofwavingfoliagehavebeentakenfromit。
AboutaweekafterthisHenryGrantlyrodeoverfromCosbyLodgetoHogglestock。IthasjustbeensaidthatthoughtheassizeshadpassedbyandthoughallquestionofMrCrawley’sguiltwasnowsetaside，novisitorhadoflatemadehiswayovertoHogglestock。IfancythatGraceCrawleyforgot，inthefullnessofhermemoryastootherthings，thatMrHarding，ofwhosedeathsheheard，hadbeenherlover’sgrandfather——andthatthereforetheremightpossiblybesomedelay。Hadtherebeenmuchsaidbetweenthemotherandthedaughteraboutthelover，nodoubtallthiswouldhavebeenexplained；butGracewasveryreticent，andtherewereothermattersintheHogglestockhouseholdwhichinthosedaysoccupiedMrsCrawley’smind。Howweretheyagaintobeginlife？for，inverytruth，lifeasithadexistedwiththembefore，hadbeenbroughttoanend。ButGracerememberedwellthesortofcompactwhichexistedbetweenherandherlover；——thecompactwhichhadbeenmadeinverywordsbetweenherselfandherlover’sfather。CompleteinherestimationashadbeentheheavenopenedtoherbyHenryGrantly’soffer，shehadrefuseditall——lestsheshouldbringdisgraceuponhim。Butthedisgracewasnotcertain；andifherfathershouldbemadefreefromit，then——then——thenHenryGrantlyoughttocometoherandbeatherfeetwithalltheexpeditionpossibletohim。Thatwasherreadingofthecompact。Shehadoncedeclared，whenspeakingofthepossibledisgracewhichmightattachitselftoherfamilyandtohername，thatherpovertydidnot’signifyabit’。Shewasnotashamedofherfather——onlyoftheaccusationagainstherfather。Thereforeshehadhurriedhomewhenthataccusationwaswithdrawn，desirousthatherlovershouldtellherofhislove——ifhechosetorepeatsuchtelling——amidstallthepoorthingsofHogglestock，andnotamongthechairs，andtablesandgooddinnersofluxuriousFramley。MrsRobartshadgivenatrueinterpretationtoLadyLuftonofthehastewhichGracehaddisplayed。
Butsheneednothavebeeninsogreatahurry。Shehadbeenathomealreadyaboveafortnight，andasyethehadmadenosign。Atlastshesaidawordtohermother。’MightInotasktogobacktoMissPrettyman’snow，mamma？’’Ithink，dear，youhadbetterwaittillthingsarealittlesettled。Papaistohearagainfromthedeanverysoon。YouseetheyareallingreatsorrowatBarchesteraboutpoorMrHarding’sdeath。’’Grace！’saidJane，rushingintothehousealmostspeechless，atthatmoment，’hereheis！——onhorseback。’IdonotknowwhyJaneshouldhavetalkedaboutMajorGrantlyassimply’he’。Therehadbeennoconversationamongthesisterstojustifyherinsuchamodeofspeech。
Gracehadnotamomenttoputtwoandtwotogether，sothatshemightrealisethemeaningofwhathermotherhadsaid；but，nevertheless，shefeltatthemomentthattheman，comingashehaddonenow，hadcomewithallcommendablespeed。Howfoolishshehadbeenwithherwretchedimpatience！
Therehewascertainly，tyinghishorsetotherailing。’Mamma，whatamItosaytohim？’
’Nay，dear；heisyourownfriend——ofyourownmaking。Youmustsaywhatyouthinkfit。’
’Youarenotgoing？’
’Ithinkwehadbetter，dear。Thenshewent，andJanewithher，andJaneopenedthedoorforMajorGrantly。MrCrawleyhimselfwasaway，atHoggleEnd，anddidnotreturntillafterMajorGrantlyhadlefttheparsonage。Jane，asshegreetedthegrandgentleman，whomshehadseenandnomorethanseen，hardlyknewwhattosaytohim。When，afteraminute’shesitation，shetoldhimthatGracewasinthere——pointingtothesitting—roomdoor，shefeltthatshehadbeenveryawkward。HenryGrantly，however，didnot，Ithink，feelherawkwardness，beingconsciousofsomesmalldifficultiesofhisown。When，however，hefoundthatGracewasalone，thetaskbeforehimatoncelosthalfitsdifficulties。’Grace，’hesaid，’amIrighttocometoyounow？’
’Idonotknow，’shesaid。’Icannottell。’
’DearestGrace，thereisnoreasononearthnowwhyyoushouldnotbemywife。’
’Istherenot？’
’Iknowofnone——ifyoucanloveme。Yousawmyfather？’
’Yes，Isawhim。’
’Andyouheardwhathesaid？’
’Ihardlyrememberwhathesaid；——buthekissedme，andIthoughthewasverykind。’
WhatlittleattemptHenryGrantlythenmade，thinkingthathecoulddonobetterthanfollowcloselytheexampleofsoexcellentafather，neednotbeexplainedwithminuteness。ButIthinkthathisfirsteffortwasnotsuccessful。Gracewasembarrassedandretreated，anditwasnottillshehadbeencompelledtogiveadirectanswertoadirectquestionthatshesubmittedtoallowhisarmroundherwaist。Butwhenshehadansweredthatquestionshewasalmostmorehumblethanbecomesamaidenwhohasjustbeenwooedandwon。Amaidenwhohasbeenwooedandwon，generallythinksthatitisshewhohasconquered，andchoosestobetriumphantaccordingly。ButGracewasevenmeanenoughtothankherlover。’Idonotknowwhyyoushouldbesogoodtome，’shesaid。
’BecauseIloveyou，’saidhe，’betterthanalltheworld。’
’Bywhyshouldyoubesogoodtomeasthat？Whyshouldyouloveme？I
amsuchapoorthingforamanlikeyoutolove。’
’Ihavehadthewittoseethatyouarenotapoorthing，Grace；anditisthusthatIhaveearnedmytreasure。Somegirlsarepoorthings，andsomearerichtreasures。’
’Iflovecanmakemeatreasure，Iwillbeyourtreasure。Andiflovecanmakemerich，Iwillberichforyou。’AfterthatIthinkhehadnodifficultyinfollowinginhisfather’sfootsteps。
AfterawhileMrsCrawleycamein，andtherewasmuchpleasanttalkingamongthem，whileHenryGrantlysathappilywithhislove，asthoughwaitingforMrCrawley’sreturn。ButthoughhewastherenearlyallmorningMrCrawleydidnotreturn。’Ithinkhelikesthebrickmakersbetterthananybodyintheworld，exceptourselves，’saidGrace。’I
don’tknowhowhewillmanagetogetonwithouthisfriends。’BeforeGracehassaidthis，MajorGrantlyhadtoldallhisstory，andhadproducedaletterfromhisfather，addressedtoMrCrawley，ofwhichthereadershallhaveacopy，althoughatthistimetheletterhadnotbeenopened。Theletterwasasfollows：—
’PLUMSTEADRECTORY，May，186—
’MYDEARSIR，’YouwillnodoubthaveheardthatMrHarding，thevicarofStEwold’s，whowasthefatherofmywifeandofMrsArabin，hasbeentakenfromus。Thelosstousofsoexcellentandsodearamanhasbeenverygreat。IhaveconferredwithmyfriendtheDeanofBarchesterastoanewnomination，andI
venturetorequestyouracceptanceofthepreferment；ifitshouldsuityoutomovefromHogglestocktoStEwold’s。ItmaybeaswellthatIshouldstateplainlymyreasonsformakingthisoffertoagentlemanwithwhomIamnotpersonallyacquainted。MrHarding，onhisdeath—bed，himselfsuggestedit，movedtheretobywhathehadheardofthecruelandundeservedpersecutiontowhichyouhadbeensubjected；asalso——onwhichpointhewasveryurgentinwhathesaid——bythecharacterwhichyoubearinthedioceseforzealandpiety。Imayalsoadd，thatthecloseconnectionwhich，asIunderstand，islikelytotakeplacebetweenyourfamilyandminehasbeenanadditionalreasonformytakingthisstep，andthelongfriendshipwhichhasexistedbetweenyouandmywife’sbrother—in—law，theDeanofBarchester，isathird。
’StEwold’sisworth350poundsperannum，besidesthehouse，whichissufficientlycommodiousforamoderatefamily。Thepopulationisabouttwelvehundred，ofwhichmorethanahalfconsistsofpersonsdwellinginanoutskirtofthecity——fortheparishrunsalmostintoBarchester。
’Ishallbegladtohearyourreplywithaslittledelayasmaysuityourconvenience，andintheeventofyouracceptingtheoffer——whichIsincerelytrustthatyoumaybeenabletodo——Ishallhopetohaveanearlyopportunityofseeingyou，withreferencetoyourinstitutiontotheparish。
’AllowmealsotosaytoyouandMrsCrawleythat，ifwehavebeencorrectlyinformedastothatothereventtowhichIhavealluded，webothhopethatwemayhaveanearlyopportunityofmakingourselvespersonallyacquaintedwiththeparentsofayoungladywhoistobesodeartous。AsI
havemetyourdaughter，Imayperhapsbeallowedtosendhermykindestlove。If，asmydaughter—in—law，shecomesuptotheimpressionwhichshegavemeatourfirstmeeting，I，atanyrate，shallbesatisfied。——Ihavethehonourtobe，mydearsir，youmostfaithfulservant，’THEOPHILUSGRANTLY’
Thisletterthearchdeaconhadshowntohiswife，bywhomithadnotbeenverywarmlyapproved。Nothing，MrsGrantlyhadsaid，couldbeprettierthanwhatthearchdeaconhadsaidaboutGrace。MrsCrawley，nodoubt，wouldbesatisfiedwiththat。ButMrCrawleywassuchastrangeman！’HewillbestrangerthanItakehimtobeifhedoesnotacceptStEwold’s，’saidthearchdeacon。’Butinofferingit，’saidMrsGrantly，’youhavenotasaidawordofyourownhighopinionofhismerits。’’I
havenotaveryhighopinionofthem，’saidthearchdeacon。’Yourfatherhad，andIhavesaidso。AndasIhavethemostprofoundrespectforyourfather’sopinioninsuchamatter，Ihavepermittedthattoovercomemyownhesitation。’Thiswasprettyfromthehusbandtothewifeasitregardedherfather，whohadnowgonefromthem；and，therefore，MrsGrantlyaccepteditwithoutfurtherargument。Thereadermayprobablyfeelassuredthatthearchdeaconhadnever，duringtheirjointlives，actedinanychurchmatterupontheadvicegiventohimbyMrHarding；anditwasprobablythecasealsothatthelivingwouldhavebeenofferedtoMrCrawley，ifnothinghadbeensaidbyMrHardingonthesubject；butitdidnotbecomeMrsGrantlyeventothinkofallthis。Thearchdeacon，havingmadehisgraciousspeechaboutherfather，wasnotagainaskedtoalterhisletter。’Isupposehewillacceptit，’
saidMrsGrantly。’Ishouldthinkthatheprobablymay，’saidthearchdeacon。
SoGrace，knowingwhatwasthepurportoftheletter，satwithitbetweenherfingers，whileherloversatbesideher，fullofvariousplansforthefuture。Thiswashisfirstlover’spresenttoher；——andwhatapresentitwas！Comfort，andhappiness，andapleasanthomeforallherfamily。’StEwold’sisn’tthebesthouseintheworld，’saidthemajor，’becauseitisold，andwhatIcallpiecemeal；butitisverypretty，andcertainlynice。’’ThatisjustthesortofparsonagethatI
dreamabout，’saidJane。’Andthegardenispleasantwitholdtrees，’
saidthemajor。’Ialwaysdreamaboutoldtrees，’saidJane，’onlyI’mafraidI’mtoooldmyselftobelettoclimbupthemnow。’MrsCrawleysaidverylittle，butsatwithhereyesfulloftears。Wasitpossiblethat，atlast，beforetheworldhadcloseduponher，shewastoenjoysomethingagainofthecomfortswhichshehadknowninherearlyyears，andtoagainsurroundedbythosedecenciesoflifewhichoflatehadbeenalmostbanishedfromherhomeofpoverty！
Theirvariousplansforthefuture——fortheimmediatefuture——wereverystartling。GracewastogooveratoncetoPlumstead，whitherEdithhadbeenalreadytransferredfromCosbyLodge。Thatwasallverywell；therewasnothingverystartlingorimpracticableinthat。TheFramleyladies，havingnoneofthosedoubtsastowhatwascomingwhichhadforawhileperplexedGraceherself，hadtakenlittlelibertieswithherwardrobe，whichenabledsuchavisittobemadewithoutoverwhelmingdifficulties。
Butthemajorwasequallyeager——oratanyrateimperious——inhisrequisitionforavisitfromMrandMrsCrawleythemselvestoPlumsteadrectory。MrsCrawleydidnotdaretoputforwardtheplainunadornedreasonsagainstit，asMrCrawleyhaddonewhendiscussingthesubjectofavisittothedeanery。Norcouldshequiteventuretoexplainthatshefearedthearchdeaconandherhusbandwouldhardlymixwelltogetherinsociety。Withwhom，indeed，wasitpossiblethatherhusbandshouldmixwell，afterhislongandhardly—triedseclusion？Shecouldonlypleadthatbothherhusbandandherselfweresolittleusedtogoingoutthatshefeared——shefeared——shefearedsheknewnotwhat。’We’llgetoverallthat，’saidthemajor，almostcontemptuously。’Itisonlythefirstplungethatisdisagreeable。’Perhapsthemajordidnotknowhowverydisagreeableafirstplungemaybe！
Attwoo’clockHenryGrantlygotuptogo。’Ishouldverymuchliketohaveseenhim，butIfearIcannotwaitanylonger。Asitis，thepatienceofmyhorsehasbeensurprising。’ThenGracewalkedoutwithhimtothegateandputherhanduponhisbridleashemounted，andthoughhowwonderfulwasthepowerofFortune，thatthegoddessshouldhavesentsogallantagentlemantobeherlordandherlover。’I
declareIdon’tquitebelieveitevenyet，’shesaid，intheletterwhichshewrotetoLilyDalethatnight。
ItwasfourbeforeMrCrawleyreturnedtohishouse，andthenhewasveryweary。ThereweremanysickinthesedaysatHoggleEnd，andhehadgonefromcottagetocottagethroughtheday。GilesHoggettwasalmostunabletoworkfromrheumatism，butstillwasoftheopinionthatdoggednessmightcarryhimon。’It’sbeenadealo’servicetoyou，MusterCrawley，’hesaid。’Wehearsaboutitall。Ifyouhadn’tabeendogged，where’dyouabeennow？’WithGilesHoggettandothershehadremainedalltheday，andnowhecamehomewearyandbeaten。’You’lltellhimfirst，’Gracehadsaid，’andthenI’llgivehimtheletter。’
Thewifewasthefirsttotellhimofthegoodfortunethatwascoming。
Heflunghimselfintotheoldchairassoonasheentered，andaskedforsomebreadandtea。’Janehasalreadygoneforit，dear，’saidhiswife。
’Wehavehadavisitorhere，Josiah。’
’Avisitor——whatvisitor？’
’Grace’sownfriend——HenryGrantly。’
’Grace，comehere，thatImaykissyouandblessyou，’hesaidverysolemnly。’Itwouldseemthattheworldisgoingtobeverygoodtoyou。’
’Papa，youmustreadthisletterfirst。’
’BeforeIkissmyowndarling？’Thenshekneltathisfeet。’Isee，’
hesaid，takingtheletter；’itisfromyourlover’sfather。
Peradventurehesignifieshisconsent，whichwouldsurelybeneedfulbeforesuchamarriagewouldbeseemly。’
’Itisn’taboutme，papa，atall。’
’Notaboutyou？Ifso，thatwouldbemostunpromising。But，inanycase，youaremybestdarling。’Thenhekissedherandblessedher，andslowlyopenedtheletter。Hiswifehadnowcomeclosetohim，andwasstandingoverhim，touchinghim，sothatshealsocouldreadthearchdeacon’sletter。Grace，whowasstillinfrontofhim，couldseetheworkingofhisfaceashereadit；butevenshecouldnottellwhetherhewasgratified，oroffended，ordismayed。Whenhehadgotasfarasthefirstofferofthepresentation，heceasedreadingitforawhile，andlookedroundabouttheroomasthoughlostinthought。’Letmeseewhatfurtherhewritestome，’hethensaid；andafterthathecontinuedtheletterslowlytotheend。’Nay，mychild，youwereinerrorinsayingthathewrotenotaboutyou。’Tisthewritingofyouthathehasputsomerealheartintohiswords。Hewritesasthoughhishomewouldbewelcometoyou。’
’AnddoeshenotmakeStEwold’swelcometoyou，papa？’
’Hemakesmewelcometoacceptit——ifImayusethewordaftertheordinaryandsomewhatfaultyparlanceofmankind。’
’Andyouwillacceptit——ofcourse？’
’Iknownotthat，mydear。Theacceptanceofacureofsoulsisathingnottobedecidedoninamoment——asisthecolourofagarmentortheshapeofatoy。NorwouldIcondescendtotakethisthingfromthearchdeacon’shands，ifIthoughtthathebestoweditsimplythatthefatherofhisdaughter—in—lawmightnolongerbeaccountedpoor。’
’Doeshesaythat，papa？’
’Hegivesitasacollateralreason，basinghisofferfirstonthekindlyexpressedjudgmentofonewhoisnomore。Thenhereferstothefriendshipofthedean。Ifhebelievedthatthejudgmentofhislatefather—in—lawinsoweightyamatterwerethebesttoberelieduponofallthatwereathiscommand，thenhewouldhavedonewelltotrusttoit。Butinsuchacaseheshouldhavebolsteredupagoodgroundforactionwithnocollateralsupportswhichareweak——andworsethanweak。
However，itshallhavemybestconsideration，whereuntoIhopethatwisdomwillbegiventomewhereonlysuchwisdomcanbehad。’
’Josiah，’saidhiswifetohim，whentheywerealone，’youwillnotrefuseit？’
’Notwillingly——notifitmaybeaccepted。Alas！youneednoturgeme，whenthetemptationissostrong！’