It would have been of no
avail had he made her such offer. The pledge she had given had not
been wrung from her by his influence, nor could his influence have
availed aught with her towards the alteration of her purpose. It was
not the archdeacon who had taught her that it would not be her duty
to take disgrace into the house of the man she loved. As he looked
down upon her face two tears formed themselves in his eyes, and
gradually trickled down his old nose. "My dear," he said, "if
this cloud passes away from you, you shall come to us and be our
daughter." And thus he also pledged himself. There was a dash of
generosity about the man, in spite of his selfishness, which always
made him desirous of giving largely to those who gave largely to him.
He would fain that his gifts should be bigger, if it were possible.
He longed at this moment to tell her that the dirty cheque should
go for nothing. He would have done it, I think, but that it was
impossible for him to speak in her presence of that which moved her
so greatly.

He had contrived that her hand should fall from his arm into his
grasp, and now for a moment he held it. "You are a good girl," he
said--"a dear, dear, good girl. When this cloud has passed away, you
shall come to us and be our daughter."

"But it will never pass away," said Grace.

[Illustration: "But it will never pass away," said Grace.]

"Let us hope that it may. Let us hope that it may." Then he stooped
over and kissed her, and leaving the room, got out into the hall and
thence into the garden, and so away, without saying a word of adieu
to Mrs. Robarts.

As he walked across to the Court, whither he was obliged to go,
because of his chaise, he was lost in surprise at what had occurred.
He had gone to the parsonage hating the girl, and despising his son.
Now, as he retraced his steps, his feelings were altogether changed.
He admired the girl,--and as for his son, even his anger was for the
moment altogether gone. He would write to his son at once and implore
him to stop the sale. He would tell his son all that had occurred,
or rather would make Mrs. Grantly do so. In respect to his son he was
quite safe. He thought at that moment that he was safe. There would
be no use in hurling further threats at him. If Crawley were found
guilty of stealing the money, there was the girl's promise. If he
were acquitted there was his own pledge. He remembered perfectly well
that the girl had said more than t