LADY LUFTON'S PROPOSITION.
It was now known throughout Barchester that a commission was to be
held by the bishop's orders, at which inquiry would be made,--that
is, ecclesiastical inquiry,--as to the guilt imputed to Mr. Crawley
in the matter of Mr. Soames's cheque. Sundry rumours had gone abroad
as to quarrels which had taken place on the subject among certain
clergymen high in office; but these were simply rumours, and nothing
was in truth known. There was no more discreet clergyman in all the
diocese than Dr. Tempest, and not a word had escaped from him as to
the stormy nature of that meeting in the bishop's palace, at which he
had attended with the bishop,--and at which Mrs. Proudie had attended
also. When it is said that the fact of this coming commission was
known to all Barsetshire, allusion is of course made to that portion
of the inhabitants of Barsetshire to which clerical matters were
dear;--and as such matters were specially dear to the inhabitants of
the parish of Framley, the commission was discussed very eagerly in
that parish, and was specially discussed by the Dowager Lady Lufton.
And there was a double interest attached to the commission in the
parish of Framley by the fact that Mr. Robarts, the vicar, had
been invited by Dr. Tempest to be one of the clergymen who were to
assist in making the inquiry. "I also propose to ask Mr. Oriel of
Greshamsbury to join us," said Dr. Tempest. "The bishop wishes to
appoint the other two, and has already named Mr. Thumble and Mr.
Quiverful, who are both residents in the city. Perhaps his lordship
may be right in thinking it better that the matter should not be left
altogether in the hands of clergymen who hold livings in the diocese.
You are no doubt aware that neither Mr. Thumble nor Mr. Quiverful do
hold any benefice." Mr. Robarts felt,--as everybody else did feel
who knew anything of the matter,--that Bishop Proudie was singularly
ignorant in his knowledge of men, and that he showed his ignorance on
this special occasion. "If he intended to name two such men he should
at any rate have named three," said Dr. Thorne. "Mr. Thumble and Mr.
Quiverful will simply be outvoted on the first day, and after that
will give in their adhesion to the majority." "Mr. Thumble, indeed!"
Lady Lufton had said, with much scorn in her voice. To her thinking,
it was absurd in the highest degree that such men as Dr. Tempest and
her Mr. Robarts should be asked to meet Mr. Thumble and Mr. Quiverful
on a matter of ecclesiastical business. Outvoted! Of course they
would be outvoted. Of course they would be so paralyzed by fear at
finding themselves in the presence of real gentlemen, that they would
hardly be able to vote at all. Old Lady Lufton did not in fact utter
words so harsh as these; but thoughts as harsh passed through her
mind. The reader therefore will understand that much interest was
felt on the subject at Framley Court, where Lady Lufton lived with
her son and her daughter-in-law.
"They tell me," said Lady Lufton, "that both the archdeacon and Dr.
Tempest think it right that a commission should be held. If so, I
have no doubt that it is right."
"Mark says that the bishop could hardly do anything else," rejoined
Mrs. Robarts.
"I daresay not, my dear. I suppose the bishop has somebody near him
to tell him what he may do, and what he may not do. It would be
terrible to think of, if it were not so. But yet, when I hear that
he has named such men as Mr. Thumble and Mr. Quiverful, I cannot but
feel that the whole diocese is disgraced."
"Oh, Lady Lufton, that is such a strong word," said Mrs. Robarts.
"It may be strong, but it is not the less true," said Lady Lufton.
And from talking on the subject of the Crawleys, Lady Lufton soon
advanced, first to a desire for some action, and then to acting.
"I think, my dear, I will go over and see Mrs. Crawley," said Lady
Lufton the elder to Lady Lufton the younger. Lady Lufton the younger
had nothing to urge against this; but she did not offer to accompany
the elder lady. I attempted to explain in the early part of this
story that there still existed a certain understanding between Mrs.
Crawley and Lord Lufton's wife, and that kindnesses occasionally
passed from Framley Court to Hogglestock Parsonage; but on this
occasion young Lady Lufton,--the Lucy Robarts who had once passed
certain days of her life with the Crawleys at Hogglestock,--did not
choose to accompany her mother-in-law; and therefore Mrs. Robarts was
invited to do so. "I think it may comfort her to know that she has
our sympathy," the elder woman said to the younger as they made their
journey together.
When the carriage stopped before the little wicket-gate, from whence
a path led through a ragged garden from the road to Mr. Crawley's
house, Lady Lufton hardly knew how to proceed. The servant came to
the door of the carriage, and asked for her orders. "H--m--m, ha,
yes; I think I'll send in my card;--and say that I hope Mrs. Crawley
will be able to see me. Won't that be best; eh, Fanny?" Fanny,
otherwise Mrs. Robarts, said that she thought that would be best; and
the card and message were carried in.
It was happily the case that Mr. Crawley was not at home. Mr. Crawley
was away at Hoggle End, reading to the brickmakers, or turning the
mangles of their wives, or teaching them theology, or politics, or
history, after his fashion. In these days he spent, perhaps, the
happiest hours of his life down at Hoggle End. I say that his absence
was a happy chance, because, had he been at home, he would certainly
have said something, or done something, to offend Lady Lufton. He
would either have refused to see her, or when seeing her he would
have bade her hold her peace and not interfere with matters which did
not concern her, or,--more probable still,--he would have sat still
and sullen, and have spoken not at all. But he was away, and Mrs.
Crawley sent out word by the servant that she would be most proud to
see her ladyship, if her ladyship would be pleased to alight. Her
ladyship did alight, and walked into the parsonage, followed by Mrs.
Robarts.
Grace was with her mother. Indeed Jane had been there also when the
message was brought in, but she fled into back regions, overcome by
shame as to her frock. Grace, I think, would have fled too, had she
not been bound in honour to support her mother. Lady Lufton, as she
entered, was very gracious, struggling with all the power of her
womanhood so to carry herself that there should be no outwardly
visible sign of her rank or her wealth,--but not altogether
succeeding. Mrs. Robarts, on her first entrance, said only a word or
two of greeting to Mrs. Crawley, and kissed Grace, whom she had known
intimately in early years. "Lady Lufton," said Mrs. Crawley, "I am
afraid this is a very poor place for you to come to; but you have
known that of old, and therefore I need hardly apologize."
"Sometimes I like poor places best," said Lady Lufton. Then there was
a pause, after which Lady Lufton addressed herself to Grace, seeking
some subject for immediate conversation. "You have been down at
Allington, my dear, have you not?" Grace, in a whisper, said that she
had. "Staying with the Dales, I believe? I know the Dales well by
name, and I have always heard that they are charming people."
"I like them very much," said Grace. And then there was another
pause.
"I hope your husband is pretty well, Mrs. Crawley?" said Lady Lufton.
"He is pretty well,--not quite strong. I daresay you know, Lady
Lufton, that he has things to vex him?" Mrs. Crawley felt that it was
the need of the moment that the only possible subject of conversation
in that house should be introduced; and therefore she brought it in
at once, not loving the subject, but being strongly conscious of the
necessity. Lady Lufton meant to be good-natured, and therefore Mrs.
Crawley would do all in her power to make Lady Lufton's mission easy
to her.
"Indeed yes," said her ladyship; "we do know that."
"We feel so much for you and Mr. Crawley," said Mrs. Robarts; "and
are so sure that your sufferings are unmerited." This was not
discreet on the part of Mrs. Robarts, as she was the wife of one
of the clergymen who had been selected to form the commission of
inquiry; and so Lady Lufton told her on their way home.
"You are very kind," said Mrs. Crawley. "We must only bear it with
such fortitude as God will give us. We are told that He tempers the
wind to the shorn lamb."
"And so He does, my dear," said the old lady, very solemnly. "So He
does. Surely you have felt that it is so?"
"I struggle not to complain," said Mrs. Crawley.
"I know that you struggle bravely. I hear of you, and I admire you
for it, and I love you." It was still the old lady who was speaking,
and now she had at last been roused out of her difficulty as to
words, and had risen from her chair, and was standing before Mrs.
Crawley. "It is because you do not complain, because you are so great
and so good, because your character is so high, and your spirit so
firm, that I could not resist the temptation of coming to you. Mrs.
Crawley, if you will let me be your friend, I shall be proud of your
friendship."
"Your ladyship is too good," said Mrs. Crawley.
"Do not talk to me after that fashion," said Lady Lufton. "If you do
I shall be disappointed, and feel myself thrown back. You know what
I mean." She paused for an answer; but Mrs. Crawley had no answer to
make. She simply shook her head, not knowing why she did so. But we
may know. We can understand that she had felt that the friendship
offered to her by Lady Lufton was an impossibility. She had decided
within her own breast that it was so, though she did not know that
she had come to such decision. "I wish you to take me at my word,
Mrs. Crawley," continued Lady Lufton. "What can we do for you? We
know that you are distressed."
"Yes,--we are distressed."
"And we know how cruel circumstances have been to you. Will you not
forgive me for being plain?"
"I have nothing to forgive," said Mrs. Crawley.
"Lady Lufton means," said Mrs. Robarts, "that in asking you to talk
openly to her of your affairs, she wishes you to remember that-- I
think you know what we mean," said Mrs. Robarts, knowing very well
herself what she did mean, but not knowing at all how to express
herself.
"Lady Lufton is very kind," said Mrs. Crawley, "and so are you, Mrs.
Robarts. I know how good you both are, and for how much it behoves
me to be grateful." These words were very cold, and the voice in
which they were spoken was very cold. They made Lady Lufton feel that
it was beyond her power to proceed with the work of her mission in
its intended spirit. It is ever so much easier to proffer kindness
graciously than to receive it with grace. Lady Lufton had intended
to say, "Let us be women together;--women bound by humanity, and not
separated by rank, and let us open our hearts freely. Let us see how
we may be of comfort to each other." And could she have succeeded in
this, she would have spread out her little plans of succour with so
loving a hand that she would have conquered the woman before her. But
the suffering spirit cannot descend from its dignity of reticence. It
has a nobility of its own, made sacred by many tears, by the flowing
of streams of blood from unseen wounds, which cannot descend from its
daïs to receive pity and kindness. A consciousness of undeserved woe
produces a grandeur of its own, with which the high-souled sufferer
will not easily part. Baskets full of eggs, pounds of eleemosynary
butter, quarters of given pork, even second-hand clothing from the
wardrobe of some richer sister,--even money, unsophisticated money,
she could accept. She had learned to know that it was a portion
of her allotted misery to take such things,--for the sake of her
children and her husband,--and to be thankful for them. She did take
them, and was thankful; and in the taking she submitted herself to
the rod of cruel circumstances; but she could not even yet bring
herself to accept spoken pity from a stranger, and to kiss the
speaker.
"Can we not do something to help you?" said Mrs. Robarts. She would
not have spoken but that she perceived that Lady Lufton had completed
her appeal, and that Mrs. Crawley did not seem prepared to answer it.
"You have done much to help us," said Mrs. Crawley. "The things you
have sent to us have been very serviceable."
"But we mean something more than that," said Lady Lufton.
"I do not know what there is more," said Mrs. Crawley. "A bit to eat
and something to wear;--that seems to be all that we have to care for
now."
"But we were afraid that this coming trial must cause you so much
anxiety."
"Of course it causes anxiety;--but what can we do? It must be so. It
cannot be put off, or avoided. We have made up our minds to it now,
and almost wish that it would come quicker. If it were once over I
think that he would be better whatever the result might be."
Then there was another lull in the conversation, and Lady Lufton
began to be afraid that her visit would be a failure. She thought
that perhaps she might get on better if Grace were not in the room,
and she turned over in her mind various schemes for sending her away.
And perhaps her task would be easier if Mrs. Robarts also could be
banished for a time. "Fanny, my dear," she said at last, boldly, "I
know you have a little plan to arrange with Miss Crawley. Perhaps you
will be more likely to be successful if you can take a turn with her
alone." There was not much subtlety in her ladyship's scheme; but it
answered the proposed purpose, and the two elder ladies were soon
left face to face, so that Lady Lufton had a fair pretext for making
another attempt. "Dear Mrs. Crawley," she said, "I do so long to say
a word to you, but I fear that I may be thought to interfere."
"Oh, no, Lady Lufton; I have no feeling of that kind."
"I have asked your daughter and Mrs. Robarts to go out because I can
speak more easily to you alone. I wish I could teach you to trust
me."
"I do trust you."
"As a friend, I mean;--as a real friend. If it should be the case,
Mrs. Crawley, that a jury should give a verdict against your
husband,--what will you do then? Perhaps I ought not to suppose that
it is possible."
"Of course we know that is possible," said Mrs. Crawley. Her voice
was stern, and there was in it a tone almost of offence. As she spoke
she did not look at her visitor, but sat with her face averted and
her arms akimbo on the table.
"Yes;--it is possible," said Lady Lufton. "I suppose there is not one
in the county who does not truly wish that it may not be so. But it
is right to be prepared for all alternatives. In such case have you
thought what you will do?"
"I do not know what they would do to him," said she.
"I suppose that for some time he would be--"
"Put in prison," said Mrs. Crawley, speaking very quickly, bringing
out the words with a sharp eagerness that was quite unusual to her.
"They will send him to gaol. Is it not so, Lady Lufton?"
"I suppose it would be so; not for long I should hope; but I presume
that such would be the sentence for some short period."
"And I might not go with him?"
"No; that would be impossible."
"And the house, and the living; would they let him have them again
when he came out?"
"Ah; that I cannot say. That will depend much, probably, on what
these clergymen will report. I hope he will not put himself in
opposition to them."
"I do not know. I cannot say. It is probable that he may do so. It
is not easy for a man so injured as he has been, and one at the same
time so great in intelligence, to submit himself gently to such
inquiries. When ill is being done to himself or others he is very
prone to oppose it."
"But these gentlemen do not wish to do him ill, Mrs. Crawley."
"I cannot say. I do not know. When I think of it I see that there is
nothing but ruin on every side. What is the use of talking of it? Do
not be angry, Lady Lufton, if I say that it is of no use."
"But I desire to be of use,--of real use. If it should be the case,
Mrs. Crawley, that your husband should be--detained at Barchester--"
"You mean imprisoned, Lady Lufton."
"Yes, I mean imprisoned. If it should be so, then do you bring
yourself and your children,--all of them,--over to Framley, and I
will find a home for you while he is lost to you."
"Oh, Lady Lufton; I could not do that."
"Yes, you can. You have not heard me yet. It would not be a comfort
to you in such a home as that to sit at table with people who are
partly strangers to you. But there is a cottage nearly adjoining to
the house, which you shall have all to yourself. The bailiff lived
in it once, and others have lived in it who belong to the place; but
it is empty now and it shall be made comfortable." The tears were
now running down Mrs. Crawley's face, so that she could not answer a
word. "Of course it is my son's property, and not mine, but he has
commissioned me to say that it is most heartily at your service. He
begs that in such case you will occupy it. And I beg the same. And
your old friend Lucy has desired me also to ask you in her name."
"Lady Lufton, I could not do that," said Mrs. Crawley through her
tears.
"You must think better of it, my dear. I do not scruple to advise
you, because I am older than you, and have experience of the world."
This, I think, taken in the ordinary sense of the words, was a boast
on the part of Lady Lufton, for which but little true pretence
existed. Lady Lufton's experience of the world at large was not
perhaps extensive. Nevertheless she knew what one woman might offer
to another, and what one woman might receive from another. "You would
be better over with me, my dear, than you could be elsewhere. You
will not misunderstand me if I say that, under such circumstances, it
would do your husband good that you and your children should be under
our protection during his period of temporary seclusion. We stand
well in the county. Perhaps I ought not to say so, but I do not know
how otherwise to explain myself; and when it is known, by the bishop
and others, that you have come to us during that sad time, it will be
understood that we think well of Mr. Crawley, in spite of anything
that a jury may say of him. Do you see that, my dear? And we do think
well of him. I have known of your husband for many years, though I
have not personally had the pleasure of much acquaintance with him.
He was over at Framley once at my request, and I had great occasion
then to respect him. I do respect him; and I shall feel grateful to
him if he will allow you to put yourself and your children under my
wing, as being an old woman, should this misfortune fall upon him.
We hope that it will not fall upon him; but it is always well to be
provided for the worst."
In this way Lady Lufton at last made her speech and opened out the
proposal with which she had come laden to Hogglestock. While she was
speaking Mrs. Crawley's shoulder was still turned to her; but the
speaker could see that the quick tears were pouring themselves down
the cheeks of the woman whom she addressed. There was a downright
honesty of thorough-going well-wishing charity about the proposition
which overcame Mrs. Crawley altogether. She did not feel for a
moment that it would be possible for her to go to Framley in such
circumstances as those which had been suggested. As she thought of it
all at the present moment, it seemed to her that her only appropriate
home during the terrible period which was coming upon her, would
be under the walls of the prison in which her husband would be
incarcerated. But she fully appreciated the kindness which had
suggested a measure, which, if carried into execution, would make
the outside world feel that her husband was respected in the county,
despite the degradation to which he was subjected. She felt all this,
but her heart was too full to speak.
"Say that it shall be so, my dear," continued Lady Lufton. "Just give
me one nod of assent, and the cottage shall be ready for you should
it so chance that you should require it."
But Mrs. Crawley did not give the nod of assent. With her face still
averted, while the tears were still running down her cheeks, she
muttered but a word or two. "I could not do that, Lady Lufton; I
could not do that."
"You know at any rate what my wishes are, and as you become calmer
you will think of it. There is quite time enough, and I am speaking
of an alternative which may never happen. My dear friend Mrs.
Robarts, who is now with your daughter, wishes Miss Crawley to go
over to Framley Parsonage while this inquiry among the clergymen is
going on. They all say it is the most ridiculous thing in all the
world,--this inquiry. But the bishop you know is so silly! We all
think that if Miss Crawley would go for a week or so to Framley
Parsonage, that it will show how happy we all are to receive her. It
should be while Mr. Robarts is employed in his part of the work. What
do you say, Mrs. Crawley? We at Framley are all clearly of opinion
that it will be best that it should be known that the people in
the county uphold your husband. Miss Crawley would be back, you
know, before the trial comes on. I hope you will let her come, Mrs.
Crawley?"
But even to this proposition Mrs. Crawley could give no assent,
though she expressed no direct dissent. As regarded her own feelings,
she would much have preferred to have been left to live through her
misery alone; but she could not but appreciate the kindness which
endeavoured to throw over her and hers in their trouble the ægis of
first-rate county respectability. She was saved from the necessity
of giving a direct answer to this suggestion by the return of Mrs.
Robarts and Grace herself. The door was opened slowly, and they crept
into the room as though they were aware that their presence would be
hardly welcomed.
"Is the carriage there, Fanny?" said Lady Lufton. "It is almost time
for us to think of returning home."
Mrs. Robarts said that the carriage was standing within twenty yards
of the door.
"Then I think we will make a start," said Lady Lufton. "Have you
succeeded in persuading Miss Crawley to come over to Framley in
April?"
Mrs. Robarts made no answer to this, but looked at Grace; and Grace
looked down upon the ground.
"I have spoken to Mrs. Crawley," said Lady Lufton, "and they will
think of it." Then the two ladies took their leave, and walked out to
their carriage.
"What does she say about your plan?" Mrs. Robarts asked.
"She is too broken-hearted to say anything," Lady Lufton answered.
"Should it happen that he is convicted, we must come over and take
her. She will have no power then to resist us in anything."