loyed on the
local business of the Duke of Omnium, who is great in those parts,
and altogether held their heads up high, as provincial lawyers often
do. They--the Walkers--lived in a great brick house in the middle
of the town, gave dinners, to which the county gentlemen not
unfrequently condescended to come, and in a mild way led the fashion
in Silverbridge. "I can never bring myself to believe it, John," said
Miss Walker.

"You'll have to bring yourself to believe it," said John, without
taking his eyes from his book.

"A clergyman,--and such a clergyman too!"

"I don't see that that has anything to do with it." And as he now
spoke, John did take his eyes off his book. "Why should not a
clergyman turn thief as well as anybody else? You girls always seem
to forget that clergymen are only men after all."

"Their conduct is likely to be better than that of other men, I
think."

"I deny it utterly," said John Walker. "I'll undertake to say that
at this moment there are more clergymen in debt in Barsetshire than
there are either lawyers or doctors. This man has always been in
debt. Since he has been in the county I don't think he has ever been
able to show his face in the High Street of Silverbridge."

"John, that is saying more than you have a right to say," said Mrs
Walker.

"Why, mother, this very cheque was given to a butcher who had
threatened a few days before to post bills all about the county,
giving an account of the debt that was due to him, if the money was
not paid at once."

"More shame for Mr. Fletcher," said Mary. "He has made a fortune as
butcher in Silverbridge."

"What has that to do with it? Of course a man likes to have his
money. He had written three times to the bishop, and he had sent
a man over to Hogglestock to get his little bill settled six days
running. You see he got it at last. Of course, a tradesman must look
for his money."

"Mamma, do you think that Mr. Crawley stole the cheque?" Mary, as she
asked the question, came and stood over her mother, looking at her
with anxious eyes.

"I would rather give no opinion, dear."

"But you must think something when everybody is talking about it,
mamma."

"Of course my mother thinks he did," said John, going back to his
book. "It is impossible that she should think otherwise."

"That is not fair, John," said Mrs. Walker; "and I won't have you
fabricate thoughts for me, or put the expression of them into my
mouth. The whole affair is