d so well. But the troubles of life
had almost robbed the elder lady of her beauty; and with the younger,
the awkward thinness of the last years of feminine childhood had not
yet given place to the fulfilment of feminine grace. But the likeness
in each was quite enough to make him feel that he ought to be at home
in that room. He thought that he could love the woman as his mother,
and the girl as his sister. He found it very difficult to begin any
conversation in their presence, and yet it seemed to be his duty to
begin. Mr. Crawley had marshalled him into the room, and having done
so, stood aside near the door. Mrs. Crawley had received him very
graciously, and having done so, seemed to be ashamed of her own
hospitality. Poor Jane had shrunk back into a distant corner, near
the open standing desk at which she was accustomed to read Greek
to her father, and, of course, could not be expected to speak. If
Major Grantly could have found himself alone with any one of the
three,--nay, if he could have been there with any two, he could have
opened his budget at once; but, before all the family, he felt the
difficulty of his situation. "Mrs. Crawley," said he, "I have been
most anxious to make your acquaintance, and I trust you will excuse
the liberty I have taken in calling."

"I feel grateful to you, as I am sure does also my husband." So much
she said, and then felt angry with herself for saying so much. Was
she not expressing the strong hope that he might stand fast by her
child, whereby the whole Crawley family would gain so much,--and the
Grantly family lose much, in the same proportion?

"Sir," said Mr. Crawley, "I owe you thanks, still unexpressed, in that
you came forward together with Mr. Robarts of Framley, to satisfy the
not unnatural requisition of the magistrates before whom I was called
upon to appear in the early winter. I know not why any one should
have ventured into such jeopardy on my account."

"There was no jeopardy, Mr. Crawley. Any one in the county would have
done it."

"I know not that; nor can I see that there was no jeopardy. I trust
that I may assure you that there is no danger;--none, I mean, to
you. The danger to myself and those belonging to me, is, alas, very
urgent. The facts of my position are pressing close upon me. Methinks
I suffer more from the visit of the gentleman who has just departed
from me than anything that has yet happened to me. And yet he is in
his right;--he is altogether