her foot on the board of a child's cradle, rocking
it, while an infant about three months old was lying in her lap. For
the elder one, who was the sufferer, had in her illness usurped the
baby's place. Two other children, considerably older, were also in
the room. The eldest was a girl, perhaps nine years of age, and the
other a boy three years her junior. These were standing at their
father's elbow, who was studiously endeavouring to initiate them in
the early mysteries of grammar. To tell the truth Mrs. Robarts would
much have preferred that Mr. Crawley had not been there, for she had
with her and about her certain contraband articles, presents for the
children, as they were to be called, but in truth relief for that
poor, much-tasked mother, which they knew it would be impossible to
introduce in Mr. Crawley's presence. She, as we have said, was not
quite so gaunt, not altogether so haggard as in the latter of those
dreadful Cornish days. Lady Lufton and Mrs. Arabin between them, and
the scanty comfort of their improved, though still wretched, income,
had done something towards bringing her back to the world in which
she had lived in the soft days of her childhood. But even the liberal
stipend of a hundred and thirty pounds a year--liberal according
to the scale by which the incomes of clergymen in some of our new
districts are now apportioned--would not admit of a gentleman with
his wife and four children living with the ordinary comforts of
an artisan's family. As regards the mere eating and drinking,
the amounts of butcher's meat and tea and butter, they of course
were used in quantities which any artisan would have regarded as
compatible only with demi-starvation. Better clothing for her
children was necessary, and better clothing for him. As for her own
raiment, the wives of few artisans would have been content to put up
with Mrs. Crawley's best gown. The stuff of which it was made had
been paid for by her mother when she with much difficulty bestowed
upon her daughter her modest wedding _trousseau_.

Lucy had never seen Mrs. Crawley. These visits to Hogglestock were
not frequent, and had generally been made by Lady Lufton and Mrs.
Robarts together. It was known that they were distasteful to Mr.
Crawley, who felt a savage satisfaction in being left to himself.
It may almost be said of him that he felt angry with those who
relieved him, and he had certainly never as yet forgiven the Dean
of Barchester for paying