home, Master Crawley, and think o' that,
and maybe it'll do ye a good yet. It's dogged as does it. It ain't
thinking about it." Then Giles Hoggett withdrew his hand from the
clergyman's, and walked away towards his home at Hoggle End. Mr
Crawley also turned away homewards, and as he made his way through
the lanes, he repeated to himself Giles Hoggett's words. "It's dogged
as does it. It's not thinking about it."

[Illustration: "It's dogged as does it."]

He did not say a word to his wife on that afternoon about Dr. Tempest;
and she was so much taken up with his outward condition when he
returned, as almost to have forgotten the letter. He allowed himself,
but barely allowed himself, to be made dry, and then for the
remainder of the day applied himself to learn the lesson which
Hoggett had endeavoured to teach him. But the learning of it was not
easy, and hardly became more easy when he had worked the problem out
in his own mind, and discovered that the brickmaker's doggedness
simply meant self-abnegation;--that a man should force himself to
endure anything that might be sent upon him, not only without outward
grumbling, but also without grumbling inwardly.

Early on the next morning, he told his wife that he was going into
Silverbridge. "It is that letter,--the letter which I got yesterday
that calls me," he said. And then he handed her the letter as to
which he had refused to speak to her on the preceding day.

"But this speaks of your going next Monday, Josiah," said Mrs
Crawley.

"I find it more suitable that I should go to-day," said he. "Some
duty I do owe in this matter, both to the bishop, and to Dr. Tempest,
who, after a fashion, is, as regards my present business, the
bishop's representative. But I do not perceive that I owe it as a
duty to either to obey implicitly their injunctions, and I will not
submit myself to the cross-questionings of the man Thumble. As I am
purposed at present I shall express my willingness to give up the
parish."

"Give up the parish altogether?"

"Yes, altogether." As he spoke he clasped both his hands together,
and having held them for a moment on high, allowed them to fall thus
clasped before him. "I cannot give it up in part; I cannot abandon
the duties and reserve the honorarium. Nor would I if I could."

"I did not mean that, Josiah. But pray think of it before you speak."

"I have thought of it, and I will think of it. Farewell, my dear."
Then he came up to her and