ht I might as well hurry away."

"You knew Mrs. Dale before, then?"

"No, I didn't. I never saw her in my life before. But I knew the old
squire when I was a boy. However, I should have said friend. I went
to see one friend, and I saw her."

John Eames perceived that his companion put a strong emphasis on the
word "her", as though he were determined to declare boldly that he
had gone to Allington solely to see Grace Crawley. He had not the
slightest objection to recognising in Major Grantly a suitor for his
cousin's hand. He could only reflect what an unusually fortunate girl
Grace must be if such a thing could be true. Of those poor Crawleys
he had only heard from time to time that their misfortunes were as
numerous as the sands on the sea-shore, and as unsusceptible of any
fixed and permanent arrangement. But, as regarded Grace, here would
be a very permanent arrangement. Tidings had reached him that Grace
was a great scholar, but he had never heard much of her beauty. It
must probably be the case that Major Grantly was fond of Greek. There
was, he reminded himself, no accounting for tastes; but as nothing
could be more respectable than such an alliance, he thought that it
would become him to be civil to the major.

"I hope you found her quite well. I had barely time to speak to her
myself."

"Yes, she was very well. This is a sad thing about her father."

"Very sad," said Johnny. Perhaps the major had heard about the
accusation for the first time to-day, and was going to find an escape
on that plea. If such was the case, it would not be so well to be
particularly civil.

"I believe Mr. Crawley is a cousin of yours?" said the major.

"His wife is my mother's first-cousin. Their mothers were sisters."

"She is an excellent woman."

"I believe so. I don't know much about them myself,--that is,
personally. Of course I have heard of this charge that has been made
against him. It seems to me to be a great shame."

"Well, I can't exactly say that it is a shame. I do not know that
there has been anything done with a feeling of persecution or of
cruelty. It is a great mystery, and we must have it cleared up if we
can."

"I don't suppose he can have been guilty," said John.

"Certainly not in the ordinary sense of the word. I heard all the
evidence against him."

"Oh, you did?"

"Yes," said the major. "I live near them in Barsetshire, and I am one
of his bailsmen."

"Then you are an old friend, I suppose?