ing
to recur to the subject. Had she permitted it, the next morning
would have passed away, and no word would have been spoken. But this
would not have suited her. She had his orders to write, and she had
undertaken to obey these orders,--with the delay of one day. Were
she not to write at all,--or in writing to send no message from the
father, there would be cause for further anger. And yet this, I
think, was what the archdeacon wished.

"Archdeacon," she said, "I shall write to Henry to-day."

"Very well."

"And what am I to say from you?"

"I told you yesterday what are my intentions."

"I am not asking about that now. We hope there will be years and
years to come, in which you may change them, and shape them as you
will. What shall I tell him now from you?"

"I have nothing to say to him,--nothing; not a word. He knows what
he has to expect from me, for I have told him. He is acting with his
eyes open, and so am I. If he marries Miss Crawley, he must live on
his own means. I told him that myself so plainly, that he can want
no further intimation." Then Mrs. Grantly knew that she was absolved
from the burden of yesterday's message, and she plumed herself on the
prudence of her conduct. On the same morning the archdeacon wrote the
following note:--

DEAR THORNE,--

My man tells me that foxes have been trapped on Darvell's
farm, just outside the coppices. I know nothing of it
myself, but I am sure you'll look to it.

Yours always,

T. GRANTLY.

CHAPTER XXXIV

Mrs. Proudie Sends for Her Lawyer

[Illustration]

There was great dismay in Barchester Palace after the visit paid
to the bishop and Mrs. Proudie by that terrible clerical offender,
Mr. Crawley. It will be remembered, perhaps, how he had defied the
bishop with spoken words, and how he had defied the bishop's wife by
speaking no words to her. For the moment, no doubt, Mr. Crawley had
the best of it. Mrs. Proudie acknowledged to herself that this was the
case; but as she was a woman who had never yet succumbed to an enemy,
who had never,--if on such an occasion I may be allowed to use a
schoolboy's slang,--taken a licking from any one, it was not likely
that Mr. Crawley would be long allowed to enjoy his triumph in peace.
It would be odd if all the weight of the palace would not be able to
silence a wretch of a perpetual curate who had already been committed
to take his trial for thieving;--and Mrs. Proudie was deter