'I am sure he is very good, and I am so glad he did not ask to see me,'
said Grace. Then Grace went away, and Miss Prettyman sat awhile in
thought, considering what she had done, not without some stings of
conscience.

Major Grantly as he walked home was not altogether satisfied with
himself, though he gave himself credit for some diplomacy which I do not
think he deserved. He felt that Miss Prettyman and the world in general,
should the world in general ever hear anything about it, would give him
credit for having behaved well; and that he had obtained this credit
without committing himself to the necessity of marrying the daughter of
a thief, should things turn out badly in regard to the father. But--and
this but robbed him of all the pleasure which comes from real
success--but he had not treated Grace Crawley with the perfect
generosity which love owes, and he was in some degree ashamed of
himself. He felt, however, that he might probably have Grace, should he
choose to ask for her when this trouble should have passed by. 'And I
will,' he said to himself, as he entered the gate of his own paddock,
and saw his child in her perambulator before the nurse. 'And I will ask
her, sooner or later, let things go as they may.' Then he took the
perambulator under his own charge for half-an-hour, to the satisfaction
of the nurse, of the child, and of himself.



CHAPTER VIII

MR CRAWLEY IS TAKEN TO SILVERBRIDGE

It had become necessary on the Monday morning that Mrs Crawley should