Mr Walker, after breakfast, had himself driven up in his open carriage to Cosby Lodge, and, as he entered the gates, observed that the auctioneer’s bills as to the sale had been pulled down.  The Mr Walkers of the world know everything, and our Mr Walker had quite understood that the major was leaving Cosby Lodge because of some misunderstanding with his father.  The exact nature of the misunderstanding he did not know, even though he was Mr Walker, but had little doubt that it referred in some to Grace Crawley.  It the archdeacon’s objection to Grace arose from the imputation against the father, that objection would now be removed, but the abolition of the posters could not as yet have been owing to any such cause as that.  Mr Walker found the major at the gate of the farmyard attached to Cosby Lodge, and perceived that at that very moment he was engaged in superintending the abolition of sundry other auctioneer’s bills from sundry posts.  ‘What is all this about?’ said Mr Walker, greeting the major.  ‘Is there to be no sale after all?’

‘It has been postponed,’ said the major.

’Postponed for good, I hope?  Bill to be read again this day six months!’ said Mr Walker.

’I rather think not.  But circumstances have induced me to have to put it off.’

Mr Walker had got out of the carriage, and had taken Major Grantly aside.  ‘Just come a little further,’ he said; ’I’ve something special to tell you.  News reached me last night which will clear Mr Crawley altogether.  We know now where he got the cheque.’

‘You don’t tell me so!’

’Yes, I do.  And though the news had reached us in such a way that we cannot act upon it till it’s confirmed, I do not in the least doubt it.’

‘And how did he get it?’

‘You cannot guess?’

‘Not in the least,’ said the major; ’unless, after all, Soames gave it to him.’

‘Soames did not give it to him, but Mrs Arabin did.’

‘Mrs Arabin?’

‘Yes, Mrs Arabin.’

‘Not the dean?’

’No, not the dean.  What we know is this, that your aunt has telegraphed to Crawley’s cousin, Toogood, to say that she gave Crawley the cheque, and that she has written to your father about it at length.  We do not like to tell Crawley till that letter has been received.  It is so easy, you know, to misunderstand a telegram, and the wrong copying of a word may make such a mistake!’

‘When was it received?’

’Toogood received it in London only yesterday morning.  Your father will not get his letter, as I calculate, till the day after tomorrow.  But, perhaps, you had better go over to see him, and prepare him for it.  Toogood has gone to Barchester this morning.’  To this proposition Grantly made no immediate answer.  He could not but remember the terms on which he had left his father; and though he had, most unwillingly, pulled down the auctioneer’s bills, in compliance with his mother’s last