‘Oh, Major Grantly!’

‘It seems so easily settled, does it not?’

‘And is it settled?’

‘Yes; everything.  Everything about that.’  Now he had hold of her hand as if he were going.  ’Good-bye.  I told your father that I would just call and tell you.’

‘It seems almost more than I can believe.’

‘You may believe it; indeed you may.’  He still held her hand.  ’You will write to your mother I daresay tonight.  Tell her I was here.  Good-bye now.’

‘Good-bye,’ she said.  Her hand was still in his, as she looked up into his face.

‘Dear, dear, Grace!  My darling Grace!’ Then he took her into his arms and kissed her, and went his way without another word, feeling that he had kept his word to her father like a gentleman.  Grace, when she was left alone, thought that she was the happiest girl in Christendom.  If she could only get to her mother, and tell everything, and be told everything!  She had no idea of any promise that her lover may have made to her father, nor did she make inquiry of her own thoughts as to the reasons for staying with her so short a time; but looking back at it all she thought his conduct had been perfect.

In the meantime, the major, with Mr Toogood, was driven home to dinner at Barchester.

CHAPTER LXXV

MADALINA’S HEART IS BLEEDING

John Eames, as soon as he had left Mrs Arabin at the hotel and had taken his travelling-bag to his own lodgings, started off for his uncle Toogood’s house.  There he found Mrs Toogood, not in the most serene state of mind as to her husband’s absence.  Mr Toogood had now been at Barchester for the best part of a week—­spending a good deal of money at the inn.  Mrs Toogood was quite sure that he must be doing that.  Indeed, how could he help himself?  Johnny remarked that he did not see how in such circumstances his uncle was to help himself.  And then Mr Toogood had only written one short scrap of a letter—­just three words, and they were written in triumph.  ’Crawley is all right, and I think I’ve got the real Simon Pure by the heels.’  ‘It’s all very well, John,’ Mrs Toogood said; ’and of course it would be a terrible thing of the family if anybody connected with it were made out to be a thief.’  ’It would be quite dreadful,’ said Johnny.  ’Not that I ever looked upon the Crawleys as connections of ours.  But, however, let that pass.  I’m sure I’m very glad that your uncle should have been able to be of service to them.  But there’s reason in the roasting of eggs, and I can tell you that money is not so plenty in this house that your uncle can afford to throw it in the Barchester gutters.  Think what twelve children are, John.  It might be all very well if Toogood were a bachelor, and if some lord had left him a fortune.’  John Eames did not stay very long in Tavistock Square.  His cousins Polly and Lucy were gone to the play with