t to say that under such temptation he could almost envy a man
his promotion; but he bethought himself that on such an occasion as
this it would be better that he should spare the dean. "And now, if
you wish it, we will go in. I fancy that I see my wife at the window,
as though she were waiting for us." So saying, he strode on along the
little path, and the dean was fain to follow him, even though he had
said so little of all that he had intended to say.

As soon as he was with Mrs. Crawley he repeated his apology about the
cheque, and found himself better able to explain himself than he
could do when he was alone with her husband. "Of course, it has been
our fault," he said.

"Oh, no," said Mrs. Crawley, "how can you have been in fault when your
only object was to do us good?" But, nevertheless, the dean took the
blame upon his own shoulders, or, rather upon those of his wife, and
declared himself to be responsible for all the trouble about the
cheque.

"Let it go," said Crawley, after sitting awhile in silence; "let it
pass."

"You cannot wonder, Crawley," said the dean, "that I should have felt
myself obliged to speak of it."

"For the future it will be well that it should be forgotten," said
Crawley; "or, if not forgotten, treated as though forgotten. And now,
dean, what must I do about the living?"

"Just resume it, as though nothing happened."

"But that may hardly be done without the bishop's authority. I speak,
of course, with deference to your higher and better information on
such subjects. My experience in the taking up and laying down of
livings has not been extended. But it seemeth to me that though it
may certainly be in your power to nominate me again to the perpetual
curacy of this parish,--presuming your patronage to be unlimited and
not to reach you in rotation only,--yet the bishop may demand to
institute again, and must so demand, unless he pleases to permit that
my letter to him shall be revoked and cancelled."

"Of course he will not do anything of that kind. He must know the
circumstances as well as you and I do."

"At present they tell me he is much afflicted by the death of his
wife, and, therefore, can hardly be expected to take immediate
action. There came here on the last Sunday one Mr. Snapper, his
lordship's chaplain."

"We all know Snapper," said the dean. "Snapper is not a bad little
fellow."

"I say nothing of his being bad, my friend, but merely mention the
fact that on S