ad been summoned as a witness
for Mr. Crawley's trial,--and how he was now under the surveillance
of the police. Grantly had not cared very much about the red-nosed
man, confining his present solicitude to the question whether Grace
Crawley's father would certainly be shown to have been innocent of
the theft. "There's not a doubt about it, major," said Mr. Toogood;
"no a doubt on earth. But we'd better be a little quiet till your
aunt comes home,--just a little quiet. She'll be here in a day or
two, and I won't budge till she comes." In spite of his desire for
quiescence Mr. Toogood consented to a revelation being at once made to
the archdeacon and Mrs. Grantly. "And I'll tell you what, major; as
soon as ever Mrs. Arabin is here, and has given us her own word to act
on, you and I will go over to Hogglestock and astonish them. I should
like to go myself, because, you see, Mrs. Crawley is my cousin, and
we have taken a little trouble about this matter." To this the major
assented; but he altogether declined to assist in Mr. Toogood's
speculations respecting the unfortunate Dan Stringer. It was agreed
between them that for the present no visit should be made to the
palace, as it was thought that Mr. Thumble had better be allowed to do
the Hogglestock duties on the next Sunday. As matters went, however,
Mr. Thumble did not do so. He had paid his last visit to Hogglestock.

It may be as well to explain here that the unfortunate Mr. Snapper
was constrained to go out to Hogglestock on the Sunday which was now
approaching,--which fell out as follows. It might be all very well
for Mr. Toogood to arrange that he would not tell this person or that
person of the news which he had brought down from London; but as he
had told various people in Silverbridge, as he had told Mr. Soames,
and as he had told the police at Barchester, of course the tale found
its way to the palace. Mr. Thumble heard it, and having come by this
time thoroughly to hate Hogglestock and all that belonged to it, he
pleaded to Mr. Snapper that this report offered ample reason why he
need not again visit that detestable parish. Mr. Snapper did not see
it in the same light. "You may be sure Mr. Crawley will not get into
the pulpit after his resignation, Mr. Thumble," said he.

"His resignation means nothing," said Thumble.

"It means a great deal," said Snapper; "and the duties must be
provided for."

"I won't provide for them," said Thumble; "and so you may te