elp
the poor gentleman on his trial. I cannot understand how
this should be necessary, because it seems to me that the
evidence should all be wanted on the other side. I cannot
for a moment suppose that a clergyman and a gentleman
such as Mr. Crawley should have stolen money, and if he is
innocent I cannot understand why all this trouble should
be necessary to prevent a jury finding him guilty.

Mr. Toogood came here because he wanted to see the
dean,--and you also. He did not explain, as far as I
can remember, why he wanted to see you; but he said it
would be necessary, and that he was going to send off a
messenger to find you first, and the dean afterwards. It
has something to do with the money which was given to Mr
Crawley last year, and which, if I remember right, was
your present. But of course, Mr. Toogood could not have
known anything about that. However, I gave him the
address,--poste restante, Florence,--and I daresay that
somebody will make you out before long, if you are still
stopping at Florence. I did not like letting him go
without telling you about it, as I thought that a lawyer's
coming to you would startle you.

The bairns are quite well, as I told you in my other
letter, and Miss Jones says that little Elly is as good
as gold. They are with me every morning and evening, and
behave like darling angels, as they are. Posy is my own
little jewel always. You may be quite sure I do nothing to
spoil them.

God bless you, dearest Nelly,
Your most affectionate father,

SEPTIMUS HARDING.

After this he wrote another letter to his other daughter, Mrs
Grantly, telling her also of Mr. Toogood's visit; and then he spent
the remainder of the day thinking over the gravity of the occurrence.
How terrible would it be if a beneficed clergyman in the diocese
should really be found guilty of theft by a jury from the city! And
then he had always heard so high a character of this man from his
son-in-law. No,--it was impossible that Mr. Crawley had in truth
stolen a cheque for twenty pounds!

Mr. Toogood could get no further information in Barchester, and went
on to Silverbridge early in the afternoon. He was half disposed to go
by Hogglestock and look up his cousin, whom he had never seen, and
his cousin's husband, upon whose business he was now intent; but on
reflection he feared that he might do more harm than good. He