cks of his whip, and with a
spasmodic gallop along the short avenue, took the archdeacon up to
the door of Lord Lufton's house. He asked for Lord Lufton first,
putting on his pleasantest smile, so that the servant should not
suspect the purpose, of which he was somewhat ashamed. Was Lord
Lufton at home? Lord Lufton was not at home. Lord Lufton had gone up
to London that morning, intending to return the day after to-morrow;
but both my ladies were at home. So the archdeacon was shown into the
room where both my ladies were sitting,--and with them he found Mrs
Robarts. Any one who had become acquainted with the habits of the
Framley ladies would have known that this might very probably be the
case. The archdeacon himself was as well aware as any one of the
modes of life at Framley. The lord's wife was the parson's sister,
and the parson's wife had from her infancy been the petted friend of
the old lady. Of course they all lived very much together. Of course
Mrs. Robarts was as much at home in the drawing-room of Framley Court
as she was in her own drawing-room at the parsonage. Nevertheless,
the archdeacon thought himself to be hardly used when he found that
Mrs. Robarts was at the house.

"My dear archdeacon, who ever expected to see you?" said old Lady
Lufton. Then the two younger women greeted him. And they all smiled
on him pleasantly, and seemed overjoyed to see him. He was, in truth,
a great favourite at Framley, and each of the three was glad to
welcome him. They believed in the archdeacon at Framley, and felt for
him that sort of love which ladies in the country do feel for their
elderly male friends. There was not one of the three who would not
have taken much trouble to get anything for the archdeacon which
they had thought the archdeacon would like. Even old Lady Lufton
remembered what was his favourite soup, and always took care that he
should have it when he dined at the Court. Young Lady Lufton would
bring his tea to him as he sat in his chair. He was petted in the
house, was allowed to poke the fire if he pleased, and called the
servants by their names as though he were at home. He was compelled,
therefore, to smile and to seem pleased; and it was not till after
he had eaten his lunch, and had declared that he must return home
to dinner, that the dowager gave him an opportunity of having the
private conversation which he desired.

"Can I have a few minutes' talk with you?" he said to her, whispering
into