uncles and aunts? She had seen him with Mr
Crosbie, and it might be possible that they were intimate friends. It
might be that Mr. Pratt was asking questions in Mr. Crosbie's interest.
Let that be as it might, she would answer no more questions from him
further than ordinary good breeding should require of her.

"She is a nice girl, certainly," said Fowler Pratt to himself, as
he walked home, "and I have no doubt would make a good, ordinary,
everyday wife. But she is not such a paragon that a man should
condescend to grovel in the dirt for her."

That night Lily told Emily Dunstable the whole of Mr. Crosbie's
history as far as she knew it, and also explained her new aversion to
Mr. Fowler Pratt. "They are very great friends," said Emily. "Bernard
has told me so; and you may be sure that Mr. Pratt knew the whole
history before he came here. I am so sorry that my aunt asked him."

"It does not signify in the least," said Lily. "Even if I were to
meet Mr. Crosbie I don't think I should make such a fool of myself
again. As it is, I can only hope he did not see it."

"I am sure he did not."

Then there was a pause, during which Lily sat with her face resting
on both her hands. "It is wonderful how much he is altered," she said
at last.

"Think how much he has suffered."

"I suppose I am altered as much, only I do not see it in myself."

"I don't know what you were, but I don't think you can have changed
much. You no doubt have suffered too, but not as he has done."

"Oh, as for that, I have done very well. I think I'll go to bed now.
The riding makes me so sleepy."

CHAPTER LIV

The Clerical Commission

It was at last arranged that the five clergymen selected should meet
at Dr. Tempest's house at Silverbridge to make inquiry and report to
the bishop whether the circumstances connected with the cheque for
twenty pounds were of such a nature as to make it incumbent on him
to institute proceedings against Mr. Crawley in the Court of Arches.
Dr. Tempest had acted upon the letter which he had received from the
bishop, exactly as though there had been no meeting at the palace, no
quarrel to the death between him and Mrs. Proudie. He was a prudent
man, gifted with the great power of holding his tongue, and had not
spoken a word, even to his wife, of what had occurred. After such
a victory our old friend the archdeacon would have blown his own
trumpet loudly among his friends. Plumstead would have heard of it