his,--that she had not confined
her assurance to the verdict of a jury, that she had protested that
she would not accept Major Grantly's hand as long as people thought
that her father had stolen the cheque; but the archdeacon felt that
it would be ignoble to hold her closely to her words. The event,
according to his ideas of the compact, was to depend on the verdict
of the jury. If the jury should find Mr. Crawley not guilty, all
objection on his part to the marriage was to be withdrawn. And he
would keep his word! In such case it should be withdrawn.

When he came to the rags of the auctioneer's bill, which he had
before torn down with his umbrella, he stopped a moment to consider
how he would act at once. In the first place he would tell his son
that his threats were withdrawn, and would ask him to remain at Cosby
Lodge. He would write the letter as he passed through Barchester,
on his way home, so that his son might receive it on the following
morning; and he would refer the major to his mother for a full
explanation of the circumstances. Those odious bills must be removed
from every barn-door and wall in the county. At the present moment
his anger against his son was chiefly directed against his ill-judged
haste in having put up those ill-omened posters. Then he paused to
consider what must be his wish as to the verdict of the jury. He had
pledged himself to abide by the verdict, and he could not but have
a wish on the subject. Could he desire in his heart that Mr. Crawley
should be found guilty? He stood still for a moment thinking of this,
and then he walked on, shaking his head. If it might be possible he
would have no wish on the subject whatsoever.

"Well!" said Lady Lufton, stopping him in the passage,--"have you
seen her?"

"Yes; I have seen her."

"Well?"

"She is a good girl,--a very good girl. I am in a great hurry, and
hardly know how to tell you more now."

"You say that she is a good girl."

"I say that she is a very good girl. An angel could not have behaved
better. I will tell you some day, Lady Lufton, but I can hardly tell
you now."

When the archdeacon was gone old Lady Lufton confided to young Lady
Lufton her very strong opinion that many months would not be gone by
before Grace Crawley would be mistress of Cosby Lodge. "It will be a
great promotion," said the old lady, with a little toss of her head.
When Grace was interrogated afterwards by Mrs. Robarts as to what had
passed between