father and mother, he should hardly have trusted to his own skill in
ascertaining the real truth as to the alleged theft. But he was not
logical, and thus, meaning to be generous, he became unjust.

He found that among those in Silverbridge whom he presumed to be best
informed on such matters, there was a growing opinion that Mr Crawley
had stolen the money. He was intimate with all the Walkers, and was able
to find out that Mrs Walker knew that her husband believed in the
clergyman's guilt. He was by no means alone in his willingness to accept
Mr Walker's opinion as the true opinion. Silverbridge, generally, was
endeavouring to dress itself in Mr Walker's glass, and to believe as Mr
Walker believed. The ladies of Silverbridge, including the Miss
Prettymans, were aware that Mr Walker had been very kind both to Mr and
Mrs Crawley, and argued from this that Mr Walker must think the man
innocent. But Henry Grantly, who did not dare to ask a direct question
of the solicitor, went cunningly to work, and closeted himself with Mrs
Walker--with Mrs Walker, who knew well of the good fortune that was
hovering over Grace's head and was so nearly settling itself on her
shoulders. She would have given a finger to be able to whitewash Mr
Crawley in the major's estimation. Nor must it be supposed that she told
the major in plain words that her husband had convinced himself of the
man's guilt. In plain words no question was asked between them, and in
plain words no opinion was expressed. But there was the look of sorrow
in the woman's eye, there was the absence of reference to her husband's
assurance that the man was innocent, there was the air of settled grief
which told of her own conviction; and the major left her, convinced that
Mrs Walker believed Mr Crawley to be guilty.

Then he went to Barchester; not open-mouthed with inquiry, but rather
with open ears, and it seemed to him that all men in Barchester were of