ey had
never shewn to her husband, need not here be told at length. But Mr
Robarts, as he heard the two grooms talking about Mr. Crawley, began
to feel that Mr. Crawley had achieved at least celebrity.

The groom touched his hat as Mr. Robarts walked up. "Has the major
returned home yet?" Mr. Robarts asked. The groom said that his master
was still at Plumstead, and that he was to go over to Plumstead to
fetch the major and Miss Edith in a day or two. Then Mr. Robarts got
into his gig, and as he drove out of the yard he heard the words of
the men as they returned to the same subject. "Footed it all the
way," said one. "And yet he's a gen'leman, too," said the other.
Mr. Robarts thought of this as he drove on, intending to call at
Hogglestock on that very day on his way home. It was undoubtedly the
fact that Mr. Crawley was recognised to be a gentleman by all who knew
him, high or low, rich or poor, by those who thought well of him and
by those who thought ill. These grooms, who had been telling each
other that this parson, who was to be tried as a thief, had been
constrained to walk from Hogglestock to Barchester and back, because
he could not afford to travel any other way, and that his boots
were cracked and his clothes ragged, had still known him to be a
gentleman! Nobody doubted it; not even they who thought he had stolen
the money. Mr. Robarts himself was certain of it, and told himself
that he knew it by the evidences which his own education made clear
to him. But how was it that the grooms knew it? For my part I think
that there are no better judges of the article than the grooms.

Thinking still of all which he had heard, Mr. Robarts found himself at
Mr. Crawley's gate at Hogglestock.

CHAPTER XXI

Mr. Robarts on His Embassy

Mr. Robarts was not altogether easy in his mind as he approached Mr
Crawley's house. He was aware that the task before him was a very
difficult one, and he had not confidence in himself,--that he was
exactly the man fitted for the performance of such a task. He was a
little afraid of Mr. Crawley, acknowledging tacitly to himself that
the man had a power of ascendancy with which he would hardly be able
to cope successfully. In old days he had once been rebuked by Mr
Crawley, and had been cowed by the rebuke; and though there was no
touch of rancour in his heart on this account, no slightest remaining
venom,--but rather increased respect and friendship,--still he
was unable to o