thus he knew his
friend from a long distance, and had time to meditate the mode of his
greeting. He too doubtless had come, if not with jelly and chicken,
then with money and advice;--with money and advice such as a thriving
dean might offer to a poor brother clergyman; and Mr. Crawley, though
no husband could possibly be more anxious for a wife's safety than
he was, immediately put his back up and began to bethink himself how
these tenders might be rejected.

"How is she?" were the first words which the dean spoke as he pulled
up his horse close to the little gate, and put out his hand to take
that of his friend.

"How are you, Arabin?" said he. "It is very kind of you to come so
far, seeing how much there is to keep you at Barchester. I cannot
say that she is any better, but I do not know that she is worse.
Sometimes I fancy that she is delirious, though I hardly know. At any
rate her mind wanders, and then after that she sleeps."

"But is the fever less?"

"Sometimes less and sometimes more, I imagine."

"And the children?"

"Poor things; they are well as yet."

"They must be taken from this, Crawley, as a matter of course."

Mr. Crawley fancied that there was a tone of authority in the dean's
advice, and immediately put himself into opposition.

"I do not know how that may be; I have not yet made up my mind."

"But, my dear Crawley--"

"Providence does not admit of such removals in all cases," said he.
"Among the poorer classes the children must endure such perils."

"In many cases it is so," said the dean, by no means inclined to make
an argument of it at the present moment; "but in this case they need
not. You must allow me to make arrangements for sending for them,
as of course your time is occupied here." Miss Robarts, though she
had mentioned her intention of staying with Mrs. Crawley, had said
nothing of the Framley plan with reference to the children.

"What you mean is that you intend to take the burden off my
shoulders--in fact, to pay for them. I cannot allow that, Arabin.
They must take the lot of their father and their mother, as it is
proper that they should do." Again the dean had no inclination for
arguing, and thought it might be well to let the question of the
children drop for a little while.

"And is there no nurse with her?" said he.

"No, no; I am seeing to her myself at the present moment. A woman
will be here just now."

"What woman?"

"Well; her name is Mrs. Stubbs; she