en the son--would dutifully consent to accept his
father's bounty! They were both cross-grained, as Mrs. Grantly
declared; but I think that the major was the most cross-grained of
the two.

Something of the truth made its way into Henry Grantly's mind as he
drove home from Barchester after seeing his grandfather. It was not
that he began to think that his father was right, but that he almost
perceived that it might be becoming in him to forgive some fault in
his father. He had been implored to honour his father, and he was
willing to do so, understanding that such honour must, to a certain
degree, imply obedience,--if it could be done at no more than a
moderate expense to his feelings. The threatened auctioneer was the
cause of offence to his father, and he might see whether it would not
be possible to have the sale postponed. There would, of course, be a
pecuniary loss, and that in his diminished circumstances,--he would
still talk to himself of his diminished circumstances,--might be
inconvenient. But so much he thought himself bound to endure on his
father's behalf. At any rate, he would consult the auctioneer at
Silverbridge.

But he would not make any pause in the measures which he had proposed
to himself as likely to be conducive to his marriage. As for Grace's
pledge, such pledges from young ladies never went for anything. It
was out of the question that she should be sacrificed, even though
her father had taken the money. And, moreover, the very gist of the
major's generosity was to consist in his marrying her whether the
father were guilty or innocent. He understood that perfectly, and
understood also that it was his duty to make his purpose in this
respect known to Grace's family. He determined, therefore, that he
would go over to Hogglestock, and see Mr. Crawley before he saw the
auctioneer.

Hitherto Major Grantly had never spoken to Mr. Crawley. It may be
remembered that the major was at the present moment one of the
bailsmen for the due appearance of Mr. Crawley before the judge,
and that he had been present when the magistrates sat at the inn
in Silverbridge. He therefore knew the man's presence, but except
on that occasion he had never even seen his intended future
father-in-law. From that moment when he had first allowed himself
to think of Grace, he had desired, yet almost feared, to make
acquaintance with the father; but had been debarred from doing so by
the peculiar position in which Mr. Crawle