n him, but I fear I cannot wait longer. As it is, the
patience of my horse has been surprising." Then Grace walked out with
him to the gate and put her hand upon his bridle as he mounted, and
thought how wonderful was the power of Fortune, that the goddess
should have sent so gallant a gentleman to be her lord and her lover.
"I declare I don't quite believe it even yet," she said, in the
letter which she wrote to Lily Dale that night.

It was four before Mr. Crawley returned to his house, and then he was
very weary. There were many sick in these days at Hoggle End, and he
had gone from cottage to cottage through the day. Giles Hoggett was
almost unable to work from rheumatism, but still was of opinion that
doggedness might carry him on. "It's been a deal o' service to you,
Muster Crawley," he said. "We hears about it all. If you hadn't a
been dogged, where'd you a been now?" With Giles Hoggett and others
he had remained all the day, and now he came home weary and beaten.
"You'll tell him first," Grace had said, "and then I'll give him the
letter." The wife was the first to tell him of the good fortune that
was coming.

He flung himself into the old chair as soon as he entered, and asked
for some bread and tea. "Jane has already gone for it, dear," said
his wife. "We have had a visitor here, Josiah."

"A visitor,--what visitor?"

"Grace's own friend,--Henry Grantly."

"Grace, come here, that I may kiss you and bless you," he said, very
solemnly. "It would seem that the world is going to be very good to
you."

"Papa, you must read this letter first."

"Before I kiss my own darling?" Then she knelt at his feet. "I
see," he said, taking the letter; "it is from your lover's father.
Peradventure he signifies his consent, which would be surely needful
before such a marriage would be seemly."

[Illustration: "Peradventure he signifies his Consent."]

"It isn't about me, papa, at all."

"Not about you? If so, that would be most unpromising. But, in any
case, you are my best darling." Then he kissed her and blessed her,
and slowly opened the letter. His wife had now come close to him, and
was standing over him, touching him, so that she also could read the
archdeacon's letter. Grace, who was still in front of him, could see
the working of his face as he read it; but even she could not tell
whether he was gratified, or offended, or dismayed. When he had got
as far as the first offer of the presentation, he ceased read