prepared to say at so very short a notice. You seem to
have made up your mind, and therefore I need not consider it. As it
is, I wish you joy, and hope that it may turn out to your advantage
in every way."

"You understand, Lady Lufton, that I have by no means got it as yet."

"Oh, I thought it had been offered to you: I thought you spoke of
this new minister as having all that in his own hand."

"Oh dear, no. What may be the amount of his influence in that respect
I do not at all know. But my correspondent assures me--"

"Mr. Sowerby, you mean. Why don't you call him by his name?"

"Mr. Sowerby assures me that Mr. Smith will ask for it; and thinks it
most probable that his request will be successful."

"Oh, of course. Mr. Sowerby and Mr. Harold Smith together would no
doubt be successful in anything. They are the sort of men who are
successful nowadays. Well, Mr. Robarts, I wish you joy." And she gave
him her hand in token of her sincerity. Mark took her hand, resolving
to say nothing further on that occasion. That Lady Lufton was not now
cordial with him, as she used to be, he was well aware; and sooner or
later he was determined to have the matter out with her. He would ask
her why she now so constantly met him with a taunt, and so seldom
greeted him with that kind old affectionate smile which he knew and
appreciated so well. That she was honest and true he was quite sure.
If he asked her the question plainly, she would answer him openly.
And if he could induce her to say that she would return to her old
ways, return to them she would in a hearty manner. But he could not
do this just at present. It was but a day or two since Mr. Crawley
had been with him; and was it not probable that Mr. Crawley had been
sent thither by Lady Lufton? His own hands were not clean enough for
a remonstrance at the present moment. He would cleanse them, and then
he would remonstrate. "Would you like to live part of the year in
Barchester?" he said to his wife and sister that evening.

"I think that two houses are only a trouble," said his wife. "And we
have been very happy here."

"I have always liked a cathedral town," said Lucy; "and I am
particularly fond of the close."

"And Barchester Close is the closest of all closes," said Mark.
"There is not a single house within the gateways that does not belong
to the chapter."

"But if we are to keep up two houses, the additional income will soon
be wasted," said Fanny, prudently.