Grace was very reticent, and there were other matters in the
Hogglestock household which in those days occupied Mrs. Crawley's
mind. How were they again to begin life? for, in very truth, life
as it had existed with them before, had been brought to an end. But
Grace remembered well the sort of compact which existed between her
and her lover;--the compact which had been made in very words between
herself and her lover's father. Complete in her estimation as had
been the heaven opened to her by Henry Grantly's offer, she had
refused it all,--lest she should bring disgrace upon him. But the
disgrace was not certain; and if her father should be made free from
it, then--then--then Henry Grantly ought to come to her and be at her
feet with all the expedition possible to him. That was her reading
of the compact. She had once declared, when speaking of the possible
disgrace which might attach itself to her family and to her name,
that her poverty did not "signify a bit". She was not ashamed of her
father,--only of the accusation against her father. Therefore she
had hurried home when that accusation was withdrawn, desirous that
her lover should tell her of his love,--if he chose to repeat such
telling,--amidst all the poor things of Hogglestock, and not among
the chairs and tables and good dinners of luxurious Framley. Mrs
Robarts had given a true interpretation to Lady Lufton of the haste
which Grace had displayed. But she need not have been in so great a
hurry. She had been at home already above a fortnight, and as yet he
had made no sign. At last she said a word to her mother. "Might I not
ask to go back to Miss Prettyman's now, mamma?" "I think, dear, you
had better wait till things are a little settled. Papa is to hear
again from the dean very soon. You see they are all in a great sorrow
at Barchester about poor Mr. Harding's death." "Grace!" said Jane,
rushing into the house almost speechless, at that moment, "here he
is!--on horseback." I do not know why Jane should have talked about
Major Grantly as simply "he". There had been no conversation among
the sisters to justify her in such a mode of speech. Grace had not
a moment to put two and two together, so that she might realise the
meaning of what her mother had said; but, nevertheless, she felt at
the moment that the man, coming as he had done now, had come with
all commendable speed. How foolish had she been with her wretched
impatience!

There he was certainly, tying