‘Really, I don’t know what to do as to getting upon him again,’ said Mr Thumble.

‘If you will allow him to progress slowly,’ said Mr Crawley, ’he will probably travel with greater safety.’

’I don’t know what you call slow, Mr Crawley.  I was ever so much over two hours coming here from Barchester.  He stumbled almost at every step.’

‘Did he fall while you were on him?’ asked the major.

’Indeed he did, sir.  You never saw such a thing, Major Grantly.  Look here.’  Then Mr Thumble, turning round, showed that the rear portion of his clothes had not escaped without injury.

’It was well that he was not going fast, or you would have come on to your head,’ said Grantly.

‘It was a mercy,’ said Thumble.  ’But, sir, as it was, I came to the ground with much violence.  It was on Spigglewick Hill, where the road is covered with loose stones.  I see, sir, you have a gig and horse here, with a servant.  Perhaps, as the circumstances are so very peculiar—­’ Then Mr Thumble stopped, and looked up into the major’s face with imploring eyes.  But the major had no tenderness for such sufferings.  ‘I’m sorry to say that I am going quite the other way,’ he said.  ’I am returning to Silverbridge.’

Mr Thumble hesitated, and then made a renewed request.  ’If you would not mind taking me to Silverbridge, I could get home from thence by railway; and perhaps you would allow your servant to take the horse to Barchester.’

Major Grantly was for a moment dumbfounded.  ’The request is most unreasonable, sir.’ said Mr Crawley.

‘That is as Major Grantly pleases to look at it,’ said Mr Thumble.

‘I am sorry to say that it is quite out of my power,’ said the major.

‘You can surely walk, leading the beast, if you fear to mount him,’ said Mr Crawley.

‘I shall do as I please about that,’ said Mr Thumble.  ’And, Mr Crawley, if you will have the kindness to leave things in the parish just as they are—­just as they are, I will be obliged to you.  It is the bishop’s wish that you should touch nothing.’  Mr Thumble was by this time on the step, and Mr Crawley instantly slammed the door.  ’The gentleman is a clergyman from Barchester,’ said Mr Crawley, modestly folding his hands upon his breast, ’whom the bishop has sent over here to take upon himself temporarily the services of the church, and it appears, the duties also of the parish.  I refrain from animadverting upon his lordship’s choice.’

‘And you are leaving Hogglestock?’

’When I have found a shelter for my wife and children I shall do so; nay, peradventure, I must do so before any such shelter can be found.  I shall proceed in that matter as I am bid.  I am one who can regard myself as no longer possessing the privilege of free action in anything.  But while I have a room at your service, permit me to ask you to enter it.’  Then Mr Crawley motioned him in with his hand, and Major Grantly found himself in the presence of Mrs Crawley and her younger daughter.