t from the Framley keeper. I don't doubt but it's true, and
I think that it's a great shame."

"A great shame that Henry should be at Framley! He has been there two
or three times every year since he has lived in the county."

"It is a great shame that he should be had over there just at the
time when that girl is there also. It is impossible to believe that
such a thing is an accident."

"But, archdeacon, you do not mean to say that you think that Lady
Lufton has arranged it?"

"I don't know who arranged it. Somebody has arranged it. If it is
Robarts, that is almost worse. One could forgive a woman in such a
matter better than one could a man."

"Psha!" Mrs. Grantly's temper was never bitter, but at this moment it
was not sweetened by her husband's very uncivil reference to her sex.
"The whole idea is nonsense, and you should get it out of your head."

"Am I to get it out of my head that Henry wants to make this girl his
wife, and that the two are at this moment at Framley together?" In
this the archdeacon was wrong as to his facts. Major Grantly had left
Framley on the previous day, having stayed there only one night. "It
is coming to that that one can trust no one,--no one,--literally
no one." Mrs. Grantly perfectly understood that the archdeacon, in
the agony of the moment, intended to exclude even herself from
his confidence by that "no one"; but to this she was indifferent,
understanding accurately when his words should be accepted as
expressing his thoughts, and when they should be supposed to express
only his anger.

"The probability is that no one at Lufton knew anything about Henry's
partiality for Miss Crawley," said Mrs. Grantly.

"I tell you I think they are both at Framley together."

"And I tell you that if they are, which I doubt, they are there
simply by accident. Besides, what does it matter? If they choose to
marry each other, you and I cannot prevent them. They don't want any
assistance from Lady Lufton, or anybody else. They have simply got to
make up their own minds, and then no one can hinder them."

"And, therefore, you would like to see them brought together?"

"I say nothing about that, archdeacon; but I do say that we must take
these things as they come. What can we do? Henry may go and stay with
Lady Lufton if he pleases. You and I cannot prevent him."

After this the archdeacon walked away, and would not argue the matter
any further with his wife at that moment. He knew very we