vercome the remembrance of the scene in which the
perpetual curate of Hogglestock had undoubtedly had the mastery
of him. So, when two dogs have fought and one has conquered, the
conquered dog will always show an unconscious submission to the
conqueror.

He hailed a boy on the road as he drew near to the house, knowing
that he would find no one at the parsonage to hold his horse for him,
and was thus able without delay to walk through the garden and knock
at the door. "Papa was not at home," Jane said. "Papa was at the
school. But papa could certainly be summoned." She herself would
run across to the school if Mr. Robarts would come in. So Mr. Robarts
entered, and found Mrs. Crawley in the sitting-room. Mr. Crawley would
be in directly, she said. And then, hurrying on to the subject with
confused haste, in order that a word or two might be spoken before
her husband came back, she expressed her thanks and his for the good
things which had been sent to them at Christmas-tide.

"It's old Lady Lufton's doings," said Mr. Robarts, trying to laugh the
matter over.

"I knew that it came from Framley, Mr. Robarts, and I know how good
you all are there. I have not written to thank Lady Lufton. I thought
it better not to write. Your sister will understand why, if no one
else does. But you will tell them from me, I am sure, that it was, as
they intended, a comfort to us. Your sister knows too much of us for
me to suppose that our great poverty can be a secret from her. And,
as far as I am concerned, I do not now much care who knows it."

"There is no disgrace in not being rich," said Mr. Robarts.

"No; and the feeling of disgrace which does attach itself to being so
poor as we are is deadened by the actual suffering which such poverty
brings with it. At least it has become so with me. I am not ashamed
to say that I am very grateful for what you all have done for us at
Framley. But you must not say anything to him about that."

"Of course I will not, Mrs. Crawley."

"His spirit is higher than mine, I think, and he suffers more from
the natural disinclination which we all have to receiving alms. Are
you going to speak to him about the affair of the--the cheque, Mr
Robarts?"

"I am going to ask him to put his case into some lawyer's hands."

"Oh! I wish he would!"

"And will he not?"

"It is very kind of you, your coming to ask him, but--"

"Has he so strong an objection?"

"He will tell you that he has no money to pa