as Grantly
had done with his carriage; and walked on first to the school. He
heard voices inside, but could not distinguish from them whether Mr
Crawley was there or not. Slowly he opened the door, and looking
round saw that Jane Crawley was in the ascendant. Jane did not know
him at once, but told him when he had introduced himself that her
father had gone down to Hoggle End. He had started two hours ago, but
it was impossible to say when he might be back. "He sometimes stays
all day long with the brickmakers," said Jane. Her mother was at
home, and she would take the dean into the house. As she said this
she told him that her father was sometimes better and sometimes
worse. "But he has never been so very, very bad, since Henry Grantly
and mamma's cousin came and told us about the cheque." That word
Henry Grantly made the dean understand that there might yet be a ray
of sunshine among the Crawleys.

"There is papa," said Jane, as they got to the gate. Then they waited
for a few minutes till Mr. Crawley came up, very hot, wiping the sweat
from his forehead.

"Crawley," said the dean, "I cannot tell you how glad I am to see
you, and how rejoiced I am that this accusation has fallen off from
you."

"Verily the news came in time, Arabin," said the other, "but it was a
narrow pinch--a narrow pinch. Will you enter, and see my wife?"

CHAPTER LXXIX

Mr. Crawley Speaks of His Coat

[Illustration]

At this time Grace had returned home from Framley. As long as the
terrible tragedy of the forthcoming trial was dragging itself on she
had been content to stay away, at her mother's bidding. It has not
been possible in these pages to tell of all the advice that had been
given to the ladies of the Crawley family in their great difficulty,
and of all the assistance that had been offered. The elder Lady
Lufton and the younger, and Mrs. Robarts had continually been in
consultation on the subject; Mrs. Grantly's opinion had been asked and
given; and even the Miss Prettymans and Mrs. Walker had found means
of expressing themselves. The communications to Mrs. Crawley had been
very frequent,--though they had not of course been allowed to reach
the ears of Mr. Crawley. What was to be done when the living should be
gone and Mr. Crawley should be in prison? Some said that he might be
there for six weeks, and some for two years. Old Lady Lufton made
anxious inquiries about Judge Medlicote, before whom it was said
that the tria