to so much indignity.  He had resolved that his father should have nothing to do with his marriage one way or the other.  He would not accept anything from his father on the understanding that his father had any such right.  His father had asserted such right with threats, and he, the major, taking such threats as meaning something, had seen that he must leave Cosby Lodge.  Let his father come forward, and say that they meant nothing that he abandoned all right to any interference as to his son’s marriage, and that the son—­would dutifully consent to accept his father’s bounty!  They were both cross-grained, as Mrs Grantly declared; but I think that the major was the most cross-grained of the two.

Something of the truth made its way to Henry Grantly’s mind as he drove home from Barchester after seeing his grandfather.  It was not that he began to think that his father was right, but that he almost perceived that it might be becoming to him to forgive some fault in his father.  He had been implored to honour his father, and he was willing to do so, understanding that such honour must, to a certain degree, imply obedience—­if it could be done at no more than a moderate expense of his feelings.  The threatened auctioneer was the cause of offence to his father, and he might see whether it would not be possible to have the sale postponed.  There would, of course, be a pecuniary loss, and that in his diminished circumstances—­might be inconvenient.  But so much he thought himself bound to endure on his father’s behalf.  At any rate, he would consult the auctioneer at Silverbridge.

But he would not make any pause in the measures which he had proposed to himself as likely to be conducive to his marriage.  As for Grace’s pledge, such pledges from young ladies never went for anything.  It was out of the question that she should be sacrificed, even though his father had taken the money.  And, moreover, the very gist of the major’s generosity was to consist in his marrying her whether her father were guilty or innocent.  He understood that perfectly, and understood also that it was his duty to make his purpose in this respect known to Grace’s family.  He determined, therefore, that he would go over to Hogglestock, and see Mr Crawley before he saw the auctioneer.

Hitherto Major Grantly had never spoken to Mr Crawley.  It may be remembered that the major was at the present moment one of the bailsmen for the due appearance of Mr Crawley before the judge, and that he had been present when the magistrates sat at the inn in Silverbridge.  He therefore knew the man’s presence, but except on that occasion he had never even seen his intended future father-in-law.  From that moment when he had first allowed himself to think of Grace, he had desired, yet almost feared, to make acquaintance with the father; but had been debarred from doing so by the peculiar position in which Mr Crawley was placed.  He had felt that it would be impossible to speak to