CHAPTERLXXXIII
MRCRAWLEYISCONQUERED
ItwasmorethanaweekbeforethearchdeaconreceivedareplyfromMrCrawley，duringwhichtimethedeanhadbeenovertoHogglestockmorethanonce，ashadalsoMrsArabinandLadyLuftontheyounger——andtherehadbeenletterswrittenwithoutend，andthearchdeaconhadbeennearlybesidehimself。’Amanwhopretendstoconscientiousscruplesofthatkindisnotfittohaveaparish，’hehadsaidtohiswife。Hiswifeunderstoodwhathemeant，andItrustthatthereadermayalsounderstandit。Intheordinarycuttingofblocksaveryfinerazorisnotanappropriateinstrument。Thearchdeacon，moreover，lovedthetemporalitiesoftheChurchastemporalities。TheChurchwasbeautifultohimbecauseonemanbyinterestmighthaveathousandayear，whileanothermanequallygood，butwithoutinterest，couldonlyhaveahundred。Andhelikedthemenwhohadtheinterestagreatdealbetterthanthemenwhohaditnot。Hehadbeenwillingtoadmitthepoorperpetualcurate，whohadsolongbeenkeptoutinthecold，withinthepleasantcirclewhichwaswarmwithecclesiasticalgoodthings，andthemanhesitated——becauseofscruples，asthedeantoldhim！’IalwaysbuttonupmypocketwhenIhearofscruples，’thearchdeaconsaid。
ButatlastMrCrawleycondescendedtoacceptStEwold’s。
’Reverendanddearsir，’hesaidinhisletter：’Forthepersonalbenevolenceoftheoffermadetomeinyourletterofthe——instant，Ibegtotenderyoumymostgratefulthanks；asalsoforyougenerouskindnesstome，intellingmeofthehighpraisebestoweduponmebyagentlemanwhoisnownomore——whosecharacterIhaveesteemedandwhosegoodopinionIvalue。Thereis，methinks，somethinginexpressiblydeartomeintherecordedpraiseofthedead。ForthefurtherinstanceofthefriendshipoftheDeanofBarchester，Iamalsothankful。
’SincethereceiptofyourletterIhavedoubtedmuchastomyfitnessfortheworkyouhaveproposedtoentrusttome——notfromanyfeelingthattheparishofStEwold’smaybebeyondmyintellectualpower，butbecausethelattercircumstancesofmylifehavebeenofanaturesostrangeandperplexingthattheyhaveleftmesomewhatindoubtastomyownaptitudeforgoingaboutamongmenwithoutgivingoffenceandbecomingastumblingblock。
’Nevertheless，reverendanddearsir，ifafterthisconfessiononmypartofacertainfaultydemeanourwithwhichIknowwellthatIamafflicted，youarestillwillingtoputtheparishintomyhands，Iwillacceptthecharge——instigatedtodosobytheadviceofallwhomIhaveconsultedonthesubject；and，inthusacceptingit，I
herebypledgemyselftovacateitatamonth’swarning，shouldIbecalleduponbyyoutodosoatanyperiodwithinthenexttwoyears。ShouldIbesofarsuccessfulduringthosetwenty—fourmonthsastohavesatisfiedbothyourselfandmyself，Imaythenperhapsventuretoregardtheprefermentasmyowninperpetuityforlife；——Ihavethehonourtobe，reverendanddearsir，youmosthumbleandfaithfulservant，’JOSIAHCRAWLEY’
’Psha！’saidthearchdeacon，whoprofessedthathedidnotatallliketheletter。’IwonderwhathewouldsayifIsenthimamonth’snoticeatnextMichaelmas？’
’I’msurehewouldgo，’saidMrsGrantly。
’Themorefoolhe，’saidthearchdeacon。
AtthistimeGracewasattheparsonageinaseventhheavenofhappiness。Thearchdeaconwasneverroughtoher，nordidhemakeanyofhisharshremarksaboutherfatherinherpresence。BeforeherStEwold’swasspokenofasthehomethatwastobelongtotheCrawleysforthenexttwentyyears。MrsGrantlywasverylovingwithher，lavishinguponherprettypresents，andwordsthatwereprettierthanpresents。
Grace’slifehadhithertobeensodestituteofthoseprettinessesandsoftnesseswhichcanhardlybehadwithoutmoneythoughmoneyalonewillnotpurchasethem，thatitseemedtohernowthattheheavensrainedgraciousnessuponher。Itwasnotthatthearchdeacon’swatchorherlover’schain，orMrsGrantly’slocket，orthelittletoyfromItalywhichMrsArabinbroughttoherfromthetreasuresofthedeanery，filledherheartwithundueexaltation。Itwasnotthatsherevelledinhernewdelightsofsilverandgoldandshininggems；butthatthesilverandgoldandshininggemswereconstantindicationstoherthatthingshadchanged，notonlyforher，butforherfatherandmother，andbrotherandsister。Shefeltnowmoresurethaneverthatshecouldnothaveenjoyedherlovehadsheacceptedherloverwhilethedisgraceoftheaccusationagainstherfatherremained。Butnow——havingwaitedtillthathadpassedaway，everythingwasanewhappinesstoher。
AtlastitwassettledthatMrandMrsCrawleyweretocometoPlumstead——andtheycame。itwouldbetoolongtotellnowhowgraduallyhadcomeaboutthatchangedstateofthingswhichmadesuchavisitpossible。MrCrawleyhadatfirstdeclaredthatsuchathingwasoutofthequestion。IfStEwold’swastodependuponitStEwold’smustbegivenup。AndIthinkthatitwouldhavebeenimpossibleforhimtogodirectfromHogglestocktoPlumstead。Butitfelloutafterthiswise。
MrHarding’scurateatStEwold’swasnominatedtoHogglestock，andthedeanurgeduponhisfriendCrawleytheexpediencyofgivingupthehouseasquicklyashecoulddoso。GraduallyatthistimeMrCrawleyhadbeenforcedintoacertainamountofintimacywiththehauntsofmen。HehadbeentwiceorthriceatBarchester，andhadlunchedwiththedean。HehadbeenatFramleyforanhourortwo，andhadbeenforcedintosomecommunicationwitholdMrThorne，thesquireofhisnewparish。Theendofthishadbeenthathehadatlastconsentedtotransferhimselfandwifeanddaughtertothedeaneryforafortnight。HehadpreachedonefarewellsermonatHogglestock——not，ashetoldhisaudience，astheirpastor，whichhehadceasedtobenowforsometwoorthreemonths——butastheiroldandlovingfriend，towhomtheuseofhisformerpulpithadbeenlent，thathemightexpresshimselfthusamongthemforthelasttime。Hissermonwasveryshort，andwaspreachedwithoutbookornotes——butheneveroncepausedforawordorhaltedinthestringorrhythmofhisdiscourse。Thedeanwasthereanddeclaredafterwardsthathehadnotgivenhimcreditforsuchpowersofutterance。’Anymancanutteroutofafullheart，’Crawleyhadanswered。’Inthistrumperyaffairaboutmyself，myheartisfull！Ifwecouldonlyhaveourheartsfullinothermatters，ourutterancesthereanentwouldreceivemoreattention。’Toallofthisthedeanmadenoreply。
OnthedayafterthistheCrawleystooktheirfinaldeparturefromHogglestock，allthebrickmakersfromHoggleEndhavingassembledontheoccasion，withapursecontainingseventeenpoundssevenshillingsandsixpence，whichtheyinsistedonpresentingtoMrCrawley，andastowhichtherewasalittledifficulty。Andatthedeanerytheyremainedforafortnight。HowMrsCrawley，undertheguidanceofMrsArabin，hadtheresofartrenchedupontherevenuesofStEwold’sastoprovideforherhusbandandherselfraimentfittingfortheworldlysplendourofPlumstead，neednotherebetoldindetail。Sufficetosay，theraimentwasforthcoming，andMrCrawleyfoundhimselftobetheperplexedpossessorofablackdresscoat，inadditiontothelongfrock，comingnearlytohisfeet，whichwasprovidedforhisdailywear。Touchingthisgarment，therehadbeensomediscussionbetweenthedeanandthenewvicar。Thedeanhaddesiredthatitshouldbecurtailedinlength。Thevicarhadremonstrated——butstillwithsomethingoftheweaknessofcomplianceinhiseye。Thenthedeanhadpersisted。’Surelythepriceoftheclothwantedtoperfectthecomelinessofthegarmentcannotbemuch，’saidthevicar，almostwoefully。Afterthat，thedeanrelented，andthecomelinessofthecoatwasmadeperfect。Thenewblacklongfrock，Ithink，MrCrawleyliked；butthedresscoat，withthesuitcomplete，perplexedhimsorely。
Withhisnewcoat，andsomethingalso，ofnewmanners，heandhiswifewentovertoPlumstead，leavingJaneatthedeanerywithMrsArabin。ThedeanalsowenttoPlumstead。Theyarrivedtherenotmuchbeforedinner，andasGracewastherebeforethemthefirstmomentswerenotsobad。
BeforeMrCrawleyhadhadtimetofeelhimselflostinthedrawing—room，hewassummonedawaytopreparehimselffordinner——fordinner，andforthecoat，whichatthedeaneryhehadbeenallowedtoleaveunworn。’I
wouldwithallmyheartthatImightretiretorest，’hesaidtohiswife，whentheceremonyhadbeenperfected。
’Donotsayso。Godownandtakeyourplacewiththem，andspeakyourmindwiththem——asyousowellknowhow。Whoamongthemcandoitsowell？’
’Ihavebeentold，’saidMrCrawley，’thatyoushalltakeacockwhichislordofthefarmyard——thecockofallthatwalk——andwhenyouhavedaubedhisfeatherswithmud，heshallbethrashedbyeverydunghillcoward。IsaynotthatIwaseverthecockofthewalk，butIknowthattheyhavedaubedmyfeathers。’Thenhewentdownamongtheotherpoultryinthefarmyard。
Atdinnerhewasverysilent，answering，however，withasortofgracefulstatelinessanywordthatMrsGrantlyaddressedtohim。MrThorne，ofUllathorne，wastherealsotomeethisnewvicar，aswasalsoMrThorne’sveryoldsister，MissMonicaThorne。AndLadyAnneGrantlywasthere——shehavingcomewiththeexpressedintentionthatthewivesofthetwobrothersshouldknoweachother——butwithawarmerdesire，I
think，ofseeingMrCrawley，ofwhomtheclericalworldhadbeentalkingsincesomenoticeoftheaccusationsagainsthimhadbecomegeneral。
Therewere，therefore，tenortwelveatthedinner—table，andMrCrawleyhadnotmadeoneatsuchaboardcertainlysincehismarriage。Allwentfairlysmoothwithhimtilltheladieslefttheroom；forthoughLadyAnne，whosatathislefthand，hadperplexedhimsomewhatwithclericalquestions，hehadfoundthathewasnotcalleduponformuchmorethanmonosyllabicresponses。Butinhishearthefearedthearchdeaconandhefeltthatwhentheladiesweregonethearchdeaconwouldnotleavehimaloneinhissilence。
Assoonasthedoorwasclosed，thefirstsubjectmootedwasthatofthePlumsteadfox，whichhadbeensobaselymurderedonMrThorne’sground。
MrThornehadconfessedtheiniquity，haddismissedthemurderousgamekeeper，andallwasserene。Butthegreateronthataccountwasthefeasibilityofdiscussingthequestion，andthearchdeaconhadagooddealtosayaboutit。ThenMrThorneturnedtothenewvicar，andaskedhimwhetherfoxesaboundedinHogglestock。Hadhebeenaskedastotheratsormoles，hewouldhaveknownmoreaboutit。
’Indeed，sir，IknownotwhetherornotherebeanyfoxesintheparishofHogglestock。IdonotremembermethatIeversawone。ItisananimalwhosehabitsIhavenotwatched。’
’ThereisanearthatHoggleBushes，’saidthemajor；’andIneverknewitwithoutalitter。’
’IthinkIknowthedomesticwhereaboutsofeveryfoxinPlumstead，’
saidthearchdeacon，withanill—naturedintentionofastonishingMrCrawley。
’Offoxeswithtwolegsourfriendisspeaking，withoutdoubt，’saidthevicarofStEwold’s，withanattemptatgrimpleasantry。
’OfthemwehavenoneatPlumstead。No——Iwasspeakingofthedearoldfellowwiththebrush。Passthebottle，MrCrawley。Won’tyoufillyourglass？’MrCrawleypassedthebottle，butwouldnotfilltheglass。Thenthedean，lookingupslyly，sawthevexationwritteninthearchdeacon’sface。Theparsonwhomthearchdeaconfearedmostofallwastheparsonwhowouldn’tfillhisglass。
Thenthesubjectwaschanged。’I’mtoldthatthebishophasatlastmadehisreappearanceonhisthrone，’saidthearchdeacon。
’HewasinthecathedrallastSunday，’saidthedean。
’Doesheevermeantopreachagain？’’Heneverdidpreachveryoften，’
saidthedean。
’Agreatdealtoooften，fromallpeoplesay，’saidthearchdeacon。’I
neverheardhimmyself，andnevershall，Idaresay。Youhaveheardhim，MrCrawley？’
’Ihaveneverhadthatgoodfortune，MrArchdeacon。ButlivingasI
shallnowdo，soneartothecity，Imayperhapsbeenabledtoattendthecathedralserviceonsomeholy—dayoftheChurch，whichmaynotrequireprayersinmyownruralparish。Ithinkthattheclergyofthedioceseshouldbeacquaintedwiththeopinions，andwiththevoice，andwiththeverymannerandwordsoftheirbishop。Asthingsarenowdone，thisisnotpossible。Icouldwishthattherewereoccasionsonwhichabishopmightassemblehisclergy，andpreachtothemsermonsadaptedtotheiruse。’
’Whatdoyoucallabishop’scharge，then？’
’ItisusuallyintheprintedformthatIhavereceivedit，’saidMrCrawley。
’Ithinkwehavehadquiteenoughofthatkindofthing，’saidthearchdeacon。
’Heisamanwhoseconversationisnotpleasingtome，’MrCrawleysaidtohiswifethatnight。
’Donotjudgehimtooquickly，Josiah，’hiswifesaid。’Thereissomuchofgoodinhim！Heiskind，andgenerous，andIthinkaffectionate。’
’Butheisoftheearth，earthy。Whenyouandtheotherladieshadretired，theconversationatfirstfellonthehabitsandvalueof——foxes。Ihavebeeninformedthatinthesepartsthefoxisgreatlyprized，aswithoutafoxtorunbeforethedogs，thatscamperingoverthecountrywhichiscalledhunting，andwhichdelightsbythequicknessandperhapstheperiloftheexercise，isnotrelishedbytheriders。OfthewisdomortastehereindisplayedbythehuntersofthedayIsaynothing。ButitseemedtomethatintalkingoffoxesDrGrantlywasmasterofhissubject。Thencethetopicglidedtothedutiesofabishopandtoquestionsofpreaching，astowhichDrGrantlywasnotslowinofferinghisopinion。ButIthoughtthatIwouldratherhaveheardhimtalkaboutthefoxesforaweektogether。’Shesaidnothingmoretohim，knowingwellhowuselessitwastoattempttoturnhimbyanyargument。
Toherthinkingthekindnessofthearchdeacontothempersonallydemandedsomeindulgenceintheexpression，andevenintheformation，ofanopinion，respectinghisclericalpeculiarities。
Onthenextday，however，MrCrawley，havingbeensummonedbythearchdeaconintothelibraryforalittleprivateconversation，foundthathegotonbetterwithhim。HowthearchdeaconconqueredhimmayperhapsbebestdescribedbyafurthernarrationofwhatMrCrawleytoldhiswife。’Itoldhimthatinregardtomoneymatters，ashecalledthem，Ihadnothingtosay。Ionlytrustedthathissonwasawarethatmydaughterhadnomoney，andneverwouldhaveany。\"MydearCrawley，\"
thearchdeaconsaid——foroflatethereseemstohavegrownupintheworldahabitofgreaterfamiliaritythanthatwhichIthinkdidprevailwhenlastImovedmuchamongmen——\"mydearCrawley，Ihaveenoughforboth。\"\"Iwouldwestoodonmoreequalground，\"Isaid。Thenasheansweredme，herosefromhischair。\"Westand，\"saidhe，\"ontheperfectlevelonwhichmencanmeeteachother。Wearebothgentlemen。\"
\"Sir，\"Isaid，risingalso，\"fromthebottomoftheheartIagreewithyou。Icouldnothavespokensuchwords；butcomingfromyouwhoarerichtomeampoor，theyarehonourabletotheoneandcomfortabletotheother。\"’
’Andafterthat？’
’Hetookdownfromtheshelvesavolumeofsomesermonswhichhisfatherpublishedmanyyearsago，andpresentedtome。Ihaveitnowundermyarm。Ithaththeoldbishop’smanuscriptnotes，whichIwillstudycarefully。’Andthusthearchdeaconhadhithisbirdonbothwings。
CHAPTERLXXXIV
CONCLUSION
Itnowonlyremainsformetogathertogetherafewloosestrings，andtiethemtogetherinaknot，sothatmyworkmaynotbecomeuntwisted。
EarlyinJuly，HenryGrantlyandGraceCrawleyweremarriedintheparishchurchofPlumstead——agreatimpropriety，astowhichneitherArchdeaconGrantlynorMrCrawleycouldbegottoassentforalongtime，butwhichwasatlastcarried，notsimplybyaunionofMrsGrantlyandMrsCrawley，norevenbytheassistanceofMrsArabin，butbythestronginterventionofLadyLuftonherself。’OfcourseMissCrawleyoughttobemarriedfromStEwold’svicarage；butwhenthefurniturehasonlybeenhalfgotin，howisitpossible？’WhenLadyLuftonthusspoke，thearchdeacongaveway，andMrCrawleyhadn’talegtostandon。HenryGrantlyhadnotanopiniononthematter。Hetoldhisfatherthatheexpectedthattheywouldmarryhimamongthem，andthatthathadbeenenoughforhim。AsforGrace，nobodyeventhoughtofaskingher；andIdoubtwhethershewouldhaveheardanythingaboutthecontest，hadnotsometidingsofitreachedherfromherlover。MarriedtheywereatPlumstead——andthebreakfastwasgivenwithallthatluxurianceofplentywhichwassodeartothearchdeacon’smind。MrCrawleywastheofficiatingpriest。Withhishandsdroppingbeforehim，foldedhumbly，hetoldthearchdeacon——whenthatPlumsteadquestionhadbeenfinallysettledinoppositiontohiswishes——thathewouldfainhimselfperformtheceremonybywhichhisdearestdaughterwouldbeboundtohermarriageduties。’Andwhoelseshould？’saidthearchdeacon。MrCrawleymutteredthathehadnotknownhowfarhisreverendbrothermighthavebeenwillingtowaivehisrights。Butthearchdeacon，whowasinhighgood—humour——havingjustbestowedalittleponycarriageonhisnewdaughter—in—law——onlylaughedathim；and，iftherumourwhichwashandedaboutthefamiliesbetrue，thearchdeacon，beforetheinterviewwasover，hadpokedMrCrawleyintheribs。MrCrawleymarriedthem；butthearchdeaconassisted——andthedeangavethebrideaway。TheRevCharlesGrantlywastherealso；andastherewas，asamatterofcourse，acloudofcuratesfloatinginthedistance，HenryGrantlywasperhapstobeexcusedfordeclaringtohiswife，whenthepairhadescaped，thatsurelynocouplehadeverbeensotightlybuckledsincemarriagehadfirstbecomeaChurchceremony。
Soonafterthat，MrandMrsCrawleybecamequietatStEwold’s，and，asIthink，contented。Herhappinessbeganveryquickly。Thoughshehadbeengreatlybrokenbyhertroubles，thefirstsightshehadofherhusbandinhisnewlongfrock—coatwentfartorestoreher，andwhilehewasdeclaringhimselftobeacocksodaubedwithmudastobeincapableofcrowing，shewascongratulatingherselfonseeingherhusbandoncemoreclothedasbecamehisposition。Andtheywerelucky，too，asregardedthesquire’shouse；forMrThornewasold，andquiet，andold—
fashioned；andMissThornewasolder，andthoughshewasnotexactlyquiet，shewasveryold—fashionedindeed。SothattheregrewtobeapleasantfriendshipbetweenMissThorneandMrsCrawley。
JohnnyEames，whenlastIheardofhim，wasstillabachelor，and，asI
think，likelytoremainso。AtlasthehadutterlythrownoverSirRaffleBuffle，declaringtohisfriendsthatthespecialdutiesofprivatesecretaryshipwerenotexactlytohistaste。’Yougetsosickatthethirteenthprivatenote，’hesaid，’thatyoufindyourselfunabletocarryonthehumbuganyfarther。’Buthedidnotleavehisoffice。’I’mtheheadofaroom，youknow，’hetoldLadyJuliaDeGuest；’andthere’snothingtotroubleme——andafellow，youknow，oughttohavesomethingtodo。’LadyJuliatoldhim，withagreatdealofenergy，thatshewouldneverforgivehimifhegaveuphisoffice。AfterthateventfulnightwhenheescapedignominiouslyfromthehouseofLadyDemolinesundertheprotectionofthepoliceman’slantern，hedidhearmorethanoncefromPorchesterTerrace，andfromalliesemployedbytheenemywhowasthereresident。’Mycousintheserjeant’provedtobeamyth。JohnnyfoundoutallaboutthatSerjeantRunter，whowasdistantlyconnected，indeed，withthelatehusbandofLadyDemolines，buthadalwayspersistentlydeclinedtohaveanyintercoursewhateverwithherladyship。Fortheserjeantwasarisingman，andLadyDemolineswasnotexactlyprogressingintheworld。Johnnyheardnothingfromtheserjeant；butfromMadalinahegotletterafterletter。Inthefirstsheaskedhimnottothinktoomuchofthelittlejokethathadoccurred。Inhersecond，shedescribedthevehemenceofherlove。Inherthirdthebitternessofherwrath。HerfourthsimplyinvitedhimtocomeanddineinPorchesterTerrace。Herfifthwastheoutpouringofinjuredinnocence。Andthencamelettersfromanattorney。Johnnyanswerednotawordtoanyofthem，andgraduallytheletterswerediscontinued。Withinsixmonthsofthereceiptofthelast，hewasdelightedbyreadingamongthemarriagesinthenewspapers，anoticethatPeterBangles，Esq；，ofthefirmBurtonandBangles，winemerchants，ofHookCourt，hadbeenunitedtoMadalina，daughterofthelateSirConfuciusDemolines，atthechurchofPetertheMartyr。’Mostappropriate，’saidJohnny，ashereadthenoticetoConwayDalrymple，whowasthenbackfromhisweddingtour；’formostassuredlytherewillnowbeanotherPetertheMartyr。’
’I’mnotsosureofthat，’saidConway，whohadheardsomethingofMrPeterBangles。’Therearemenwhohavestrongwillsoftheirownandstronghandsoftheirown。’
’PoorMadalina！’saidJohnny。’Ifhedoesbeather，Ihopehewilldoittenderly。Itmaybethatalittleofitwillsuitherfeveredtemperament。’
BeforethesummerwasoverConwayDalrymplehadbeenmarriedtoClaraVanSiever，andbyasingulararrangementofcircumstanceshadmarriedherwiththefullapprovalofoldMrsVan。MrMusselboro——whosenameI
hopehasnotbeenaltogetherforgotten，thoughthepartplayedbyhimhasbeensubordinate——hadopposedDalrympleintheeffortsmadebytheartisttogetsomethingoutofBroughton’sestateforthebenefitofthewidow。FromcircumstancesofwhichDalrymplelearnedtheparticularswiththeaidofanattorney，itseemedtohimthatcertainfactswerewilfullykeptinthedarkbyMusselboro，andhewentwithhiscomplainttoMrsVanSiever，declaringthathewouldbringthewholeaffairintocourt，unlessalltheworkingsofthefirmweremadecleartohim。MrsVanwasveryinsolenttohim——andeventurnedhimoutofthehouse。But，nevertheless，shedidnotallowMrMusselborotoescape。Whoeverwastobeleftinthedarkshedidnotwishittobeherself；——anditbegantodawnuponherthatherdearMrMusselborowasdeceivingher。ThenshesentforDalrymple，andwithoutawordofapologyforherformerconduct，puthimupontherighttrack。Ashewaspushinghisinquiriesandworkingheavenandearthfortheunfortunatewidow——astowhomhesworedailythatwhenthismatterwassettledhewouldneverseeheragain，soterriblewasshetohimwithhermockaffectionandpretendedhysterics，andfalsemoralities——hewastoldonedaythatshehadgoneoffwithMrMusselboro！MrMusselboro，findingthatthiswasthesurestplainofobtainingforhimselfthelittlebusinessinHookCourt，marriedthewidowofhislatepartner，andisatthismomentprobablycarryingalaw—suitwithMrsVan。Forthelaw—suitConwayDalrymplecarednothing。WhenthequarrelhadbecomehotbetweenMrsVanandherlatemyrmidon，ClarafellintoConway’shandswithoutopposition；and，letthelaw—suitgoasitmay，therewillbeenoughleftofMrsVan’smoneytomakethehouseofMrandMrsConwayDalrympleverycomfortable。
ThepictureofJaelandSiserawasstitchedupwithoutanydifficulty，andIdaresaymostofmyreaderswillrememberithangingonthewallsoftheexhibition。
BeforeItakemyleaveofthedioceseofBarchesterforever，whichI
purposetodointhesucceedingparagraph，Idesiretobeallowedtosayonewordofapologyformyself，inanswertothosewhohaveaccusedme——alwayswithoutbitterness，andgenerallywithtenderness——ofhavingforgotten，inwritingofclergymen，thefirstandmostprominentcharacteristicoftheordinaryEnglishclergyman’slife。Ihavedescribedmanyclergymen，theysay，buthavespokenofthemallasthoughtheirprofessionalduties，theirhighcalling，theirdailyworkingsforthegoodofthosearoundthem，weremattersofnomoment，eithertome，orinmyopinion，tothemselves。Iwouldplead，inanswertothis，thatmyobjecthasbeentopaintthesocialandnottheprofessionallivesofclergymen；andthatIhavebeenledtodoso，firstly，byafeelingthatasnomenaffectmorestrongly，bytheirowncharacter，thesocietyofthosearoundthandocountryclergymen，so，therefore，theirsocialhabitshavebeenworththelabournecessaryforpaintingthem；andsecondly，byafeelingthatthoughI，asanovelist，mayfeelmyselfentitledtowriteofclergymenoutoftheirpulpits，asImayalsowriteoflawyersanddoctors，Ihavenosuchlibertytowriteofthemintheirpulpits。WhenIhavedoneso，ifIhavedoneso，Ihavesofartransgressed。TherearethosewhohavetoldmethatIhavemadeallmyclergymenbad，andnonegood。Imustventuretohinttosuchjudgesthattheyhavetaughttheireyestoloveacolouringhigherthannaturejustifies。Weare，mostofus，apttoloveRaphael’smadonnasbetterthanRembrandt’smatrons。But，thoughwedoso，weknowthatRembrandt’smatronsexisted；butwehaveastrongbeliefthatnosuchwomanasRaphaelpaintedeverdidexist。Inthathepainted，ashemaybesurmisedtohavedone，forpiouspurposes——atleastforChurchpurposes——Raphaelwasjustified；buthadhepaintedsoforfamilyportraiturehewouldhavebeenfalse。HadIwrittenanepicaboutclergymen，IwouldhavetakenStPaulformymodel；butdescribing，asI
haveendeavouredtodo，suchclergymenasIseearoundme，Icouldnotventuretobetranscendental。FormyselfIcanonlysaythatIshallalwaysbehappytosit，whenallowedtodoso，atthetableofArchdeaconGrantly，towalkthroughtheHighStreetofBarchesterarminarmwithMrRobartsofFramley，andtostandaloneandshedatearbeneaththemodestblackstoneinthenorthtranseptofthecathedralonwhichisinscribedthenameofSeptimusHarding。
Andnow，ifthereaderwillallowmetoseizehimaffectionatelybythearm，wewilltogethertakeourlastfarewellofBarsetandofthetowersofBarchester。Imaynotventuretosaytohimthat，inthiscountry，heandItogetherhavewanderedoftenthroughthecountrylanes，andhaveriddentogetheroverthetoowell—woodedfields，orhavestoodtogetherinthecathedralnavelisteningtothepealsoftheorgan，orhavetogethersatatgoodmen’stables，orhaveconfrontedtogethertheangryprideofmenwhowerenotgood。Imaynotboastthatanybesidemyselfhavesorealisedtheplace，andthepeople，andthefacts，astomakesuchreminiscencespossibleasthosewhichIshouldattempttoevokebyanappealtoperfectfellowship。ButtomeBarsethasbeenarealcounty，anditscityarealcity，andthespiresandtowershavebeenbeforemyeyes，andthevoicesofthepeopleareknowntomyears，andthepavementofthecitywaysarefamiliartomyfootsteps。TothemallInowsayfarewell。ThatIhavebeeninducedtowanderamongthemtoolongbymyloveforoldfriendships，andbythesweetnessofoldfaces，isafaultforwhichImayperhapsbemorereadilyforgiven，whenI
repeat，withsolemnityofassurance，thatpromisemadeinmytitle，thatthisshallbethelastchronicleofBarset。
THEEND