threatened in the house by Grobury, the baker, of which the dean had
heard. Then there had been some scenes at the deanery between her
husband and the dean and Mrs Arabin, as to which she had subsequently
heard much from Mrs Arabin. Mrs Arabin had told her that money had been
given--and at last taken. Indeed, so much had been very apparent, as
bills had been paid to the amount of at least fifty pounds. When the
threat made by the butcher had reached her husband's ears, the effect
upon him had been very grievous. All this was the story told by Mrs
Crawley to Mr Walker, the lawyer, when he was pushing his inquiries.
She, poor woman, at any rate told all she knew. Her husband had told her
one morning, when the butcher's threat was weighing heavily on his mind,
speaking to her in such a humour that she found it impossible to cross-
question him, that he had still money left, though it was money which he
had hoped that he would not be driven to use; and he had given her four
five pound notes and had told her to go to Silverbridge and satisfy the
man who was so eager for his money. She had done so, and had felt no
doubt that the money so forthcoming had been given by the dean. That was
the story told by Mrs Crawley.

But how could she explain her husband's statements as to the cheque,
which had been shown to be altogether false? All this passed between Mr
Walker and Mrs Crawley, and the lawyer was very gentle with her. In the
first stages of the inquiry he had simply desired to learn the truth,
and place the clergyman above suspicion. Latterly, being bound as he was
to follow up officially, he would not have seen Mrs Crawley, had he been
able to escape that lady's importunity. 'Mr Walker,' she had said, at
last, 'you do not know my husband. No one knows him but I. It is hard to
have to tell you all of our troubles.' 'If I can lessen them, trust me
that I will do so,' said the lawyer. 'No one, I think, can lessen them
in this world,' said the lady. 'The truth is, sir, that my husband often