f one of the lower
rooms, and sat for some minutes all alone, recovering from the shock
of her sister's anger. "At any rate, he hasn't popped," she said to
herself, as she made her way back to the school.

After that Miss Prettyman and Miss Crawley were closeted together for
about an hour. What passed between them need not be repeated here
word for word; but it may be understood that Miss Prettyman said no
more than she ought to have said, and that Grace understood all that
she ought to have understood.

"No man ever behaved with more considerate friendship, or more like a
gentleman," said Miss Prettyman.

"I am sure he is very good, and I am so glad he did not ask to see
me," said Grace. Then Grace went away, and Miss Prettyman sat awhile
in thought, considering what she had done, not without some stings of
conscience.

Major Grantly as he walked home was not altogether satisfied with
himself, though he gave himself credit for some diplomacy which I do
not think he deserved. He felt that Miss Prettyman and the world in
general, should the world in general ever hear anything about it,
would give him credit for having behaved well; and that he had
obtained this credit without committing himself to the necessity
of marrying the daughter of a thief, should things turn out badly
in regard to her father. But,--and this but robbed him of all the
pleasure which comes from real success,--but he had not treated Grace
Crawley with the perfect generosity which love owes, and he was in
some degree ashamed of himself. He felt, however, that he might
probably have Grace, should he choose to ask for her when this
trouble should have passed by. "And I will," he said to himself, as
he entered the gate of his own paddock, and saw his child in her
perambulator before the house. "And I will ask her, sooner or later,
let things go as they may." Then he took the perambulator under his
own charge for half-an-hour, to the satisfaction of the nurse, of the
child, and of himself.

CHAPTER VIII

Mr. Crawley Is Taken to Silverbridge

It had become necessary on the Monday morning that Mrs. Crawley should
obtain from her husband an undertaking that he would present himself
before the magistrates at Silverbridge on the Thursday. She had
been made to understand that the magistrates were sinning against
the strict rule of the law in not issuing a warrant at once for Mr
Crawley's apprehension; and that they were so sinning at the insta