nce. When a man so
circumstanced will suddenly go to Paris, without notice given even to
his future bride, people must doubt; and grave were the apprehensions
expressed on this occasion by Mrs. Proudie, even at her child's
wedding breakfast. "God bless you, my dear children," she said,
standing up at the head of her table as she addressed Mr. Tickler and
his wife; "when I see your perfect happiness--perfect, that is, as
far as human happiness can be made perfect in this vale of tears--and
think of the terrible calamity which has fallen on our unfortunate
neighbours, I cannot but acknowledge His infinite mercy and goodness.
The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away." By which she intended,
no doubt, to signify that whereas Mr. Tickler had been given to her
Olivia, Lord Dumbello had been taken away from the archdeacon's
Griselda. The happy couple then went in Mrs. Proudie's carriage
to the nearest railway station but one, and from thence proceeded
to Malvern, and there spent the honeymoon. And a great comfort it
was, I am sure, to Mrs. Proudie when authenticated tidings reached
Barchester that Lord Dumbello had returned from Paris, and that the
Hartletop-Grantly alliance was to be carried to its completion. She
still, however, held her opinion--whether correctly or not who shall
say?--that the young lord had intended to escape. "The archdeacon has
shown great firmness in the way in which he has done it," said Mrs.
Proudie; "but whether he has consulted his child's best interests
in forcing her into a marriage with an unwilling husband, I for one
must take leave to doubt. But then, unfortunately, we all know how
completely the archdeacon is devoted to worldly matters."

In this instance the archdeacon's devotion to worldly matters was
rewarded by that success which he no doubt desired. He did go up
to London, and did see one or two of Lord Dumbello's friends. This
he did, not obtrusively, as though in fear of any falsehood or
vacillation on the part of the viscount, but with that discretion
and tact for which he has been so long noted. Mrs. Proudie declares
that during the few days of his absence from Barsetshire he himself
crossed to France and hunted down Lord Dumbello at Paris. As to this
I am not prepared to say anything; but I am quite sure, as will be
all those who knew the archdeacon, that he was not a man to see his
daughter wronged as long as any measure remained by which such wrong
might be avoided. But, be that