'What, if you marry this girl?'

'Yes sir; will my income be continued to me if I marry Miss Crawley?'

'No, it will not.' Then the father got up hastily, pushed the decanter
back angrily from his hand, and without saying another word walked away
into the drawing-room. That evening at the rectory was gloomy. The
archdeacon now and again said a word or two to his daughter, and his
daughter answered him in monosyllables. The major sat apart moodily, and
spoke to no one. Mrs Grantly, understanding well what had passed, knew
that nothing could be done at the present moment to restore family
comfort; so she sat by the fire and knitted. Exactly at ten they all
went to bed.

'Dear Henry,' said the mother to her son the next morning; 'think much
of yourself and of your child, and of us, before you take any great step
in your life.'

'I will, mother,' said he. Then he went out and put on his wrapper, and
got into his dog-cart, and drove himself to Silverbridge. He had not
spoken to his father since they were in the dining-room on the previous
evening. When he started, the marchioness had not yet come downstairs;
but at eleven she breakfasted, and at twelve she also was taken away.
Poor Mrs Grantly had not had much comfort from her children's visits.



CHAPTER IV

THE CLERGYMAN'S HOUSE AT HOGGLESTOCK