lled a bishop, and before her who makes herself great by his
littleness, and I scorned them both to their faces. Though the shoes
which I had on were all broken, as I myself could not but see when I
stood, yet I was greater than they were with all their purple and
fine linen."

"But, Josiah, my cousin will not be harsh to you."

"Well,--and if he be not?"

"Ill-usage you can bear; and violent ill-usage, such as that which
Mrs. Proudie allowed herself to exhibit, you can repay with interest;
but kindness seems to be too heavy a burden for you."

"I will struggle. I will endeavour. I will speak but little, and, if
possible, I will listen much. Now, my dear, I will write to this man,
and you shall give me the address that is proper for him." Then he
wrote the letter, not accepting a word in the way of dictation from
his wife, but "craving the great kindness of a short interview, for
which he ventured to become a solicitor, urged thereto by his wife's
assurance that one with whom he was connected by family ties would do
as much as this for the possible preservation of the honour of the
family." In answer to this Mr. Toogood wrote back as follows:--"Dear
Mr. Crawley, I will be at my office all Thursday morning next from ten
to two, and will take care that you shan't be kept waiting for me
above ten minutes. You parsons never like waiting. But hadn't you
better come and breakfast with me and Maria at nine? Then we'd have a
talk as we walk to the office. Yours always, THOMAS TOOGOOD." And
the letter was dated from the attorney's private house in Tavistock
Square.

"I am sure he means to be kind," said Mrs. Crawley.

"Doubtless he means to be kind. But kindness is rough;--I will not
say unmannerly, as the word would be harsh. I have never even seen
the lady whom he calls Maria."

"She is his wife!"

"So I would venture to suppose; but she is unknown to me. I will
write again, and thank him, and say that I will be with him at ten to
the moment."

There were still many things to be settled before the journey could
be made. Mr. Crawley, in his first plan, proposed that he should go
up by night mail train, travelling in the third class, having walked
over to Silverbridge to meet it; that he should then walk about
London from 5 A.M. to 10 A.M., and afterwards come down by an
afternoon train to which a third class was also attached. But at
last his wife persuaded him that such a task as that, performed
in the middle of t