’You may say the same, sir, of everybody’s wife and everybody’s daughter.’

‘You know what I mean, Henry.’

‘I am not quite sure that I do, sir.’

’Perhaps I had better speak out at once.  A rumour has reached your mother and me, which we don’t believe for a moment, but which, nevertheless, makes us unhappy even as a report.  They say that there is a young woman living in Silverbridge to whom you are becoming attached.’

’Is there any reason why I should not become attached to a young woman in Silverbridge?—­though I hope any young woman to whom I may become attached will be worthy at any rate of being called a young lady.’

‘I hope so, Henry; I hope so.  I do hope so.’

The archdeacon looked across at his son’s face, and his heart sank within him.  His son’s voice and his son’s eyes seemed to tell him two things.  They seemed to tell him, firstly, that the rumour about Grace Crawley was true; and, secondly, that the major was resolved not to be talked out of his folly.  ‘But you are not engaged to anyone, are you?’ said the archdeacon.  The son did not at first make any answer, and then the father repeated the question.  ’Considering our mutual positions, Henry, I think you ought to tell me if you are engaged.’

’I am not engaged.  Had I become so, I should have taken the first opportunity of telling you or my mother.’

’Thank God.  Now, my dear boy, I can speak out more plainly.  The young woman whose name I have heard is daughter to that Mr Crawley who is perpetual curate at Hogglestock.  I knew that there could be nothing in it.’

‘But there is something in it, sir.’

’What is there in it?  Do not keep me in suspense, Henry.  What is it you mean?’

’It is rather hard to be cross-questioned in this way on such a subject.  When you express yourself as thankful that there is nothing in the rumour, I am forced to stop you, as otherwise it is possible that hereafter you may say that I have deceived you.’

‘But you don’t mean to marry her?’

‘I certainly do not pledge myself not to do so.’

‘Do you mean to tell me, Henry, that you are in love with Miss Crawley?’ Then there was another pause, during which the archdeacon sat looking for an answer; but the major never said a word.  ’Am I to suppose that you intend to lower yourself by marrying a young woman who cannot possibly have enjoyed any of the advantages of a lady’s education?  I say nothing of the imprudence of the thing; nothing of her own want of fortune; nothing of your having to maintain a whole family steeped in poverty; nothing of the debts and character of the father, upon whom, as I understand, at this moment there rests a grave suspicion of—­of—­of—­what I’m afraid I must call downright theft.’

‘Downright theft, certainly, if he were guilty.’

‘I say nothing of that; but looking at the young woman herself—­’