rit enough for a goddess. I don't think that
Major Grantly is such a fool after all."

"I never took him for a fool."

"I have no doubt all his own people do;--or they will, when they hear
of it. But, mamma, she will grow to be big enough to walk atop of all
the Lady Hartletops in England. It will all come right at last."

"You think it will?"

"Oh, yes. Why should it not? If he is worth having, it will;--and
I think he is worth having. He must wait till this horrid trial is
over. It is clear to me that Grace thinks that her father will be
convicted."

"But he cannot have taken the money."

"I think he took it, and I think it wasn't his. But I don't think he
stole it. I don't know whether you can understand the difference."

"I am afraid a jury won't understand it."

"A jury of men will not. I wish they could put you and me on it,
mamma. I would take my best boots and eat them down to the heels, for
Grace's sake, and for Major Grantly's. What a good-looking man he
is!"

"Yes, he is."

"And so like a gentleman! I'll tell you what, mamma; we won't say
anything to her about him for the present. Her heart will be so full
she will be driven to talk, and we can comfort her better in that
way." The mother and daughter agreed to act upon these tactics, and
nothing more was said to Grace about her lover on that evening.

Major Grantly walked from Mrs. Dale's house to the inn and ordered his
gig, and drove himself out of Allington, almost without remembering
where he was or whither he was going. He was thinking solely of what
had just occurred, and of what, on his part, should follow as the
result of that meeting. Half at least of the noble deeds done in this
world are due to emulation, rather than to the native nobility of
the actors. A young man leads a forlorn hope because another young
man has offered to do so. Jones in the hunting-field rides at an
impracticable fence because he is told that Smith took it three years
ago. And Walker puts his name down for ten guineas at a charitable
dinner, when he hears Thompson's read out for five. And in this case
the generosity and self-denial shown by Grace warmed and cherished
similar virtues within her lover's breast. Some few weeks ago Major
Grantly had been in doubt as to what his duty required of him in
reference to Grace Crawley; but he had no doubt whatsoever now. In
the fervour of his admiration he would have gone straight to the
archdeacon, had it been possible,