‘I’m not so sure of that,’ said Conway, who had heard something of Mr Peter Bangles.  ’There are men who have strong wills of their own and strong hands of their own.’

‘Poor Madalina!’ said Johnny.  ’If he does beat her, I hope he will do it tenderly.  It may be that a little of it will suit her fevered temperament.’

Before the summer was over Conway Dalrymple had been married to Clara Van Siever, and by a singular arrangement of circumstances had married her with the full approval of old Mrs Van.  Mr Musselboro—­whose name I hope has not been altogether forgotten, though the part played by him has been subordinate—­had opposed Dalrymple in the efforts made by the artist to get something out of Broughton’s estate for the benefit of the widow.  From circumstances of which Dalrymple learned the particulars with the aid of an attorney, it seemed to him that certain facts were wilfully kept in the dark by Musselboro, and he went with his complaint to Mrs Van Siever, declaring that he would bring the whole affair into court, unless all the workings of the firm were made clear to him.  Mrs Van was very insolent to him—­and even turned him out of the house.  But, nevertheless, she did not allow Mr Musselboro to escape.  Whoever was to be left in the dark she did not wish it to be herself;—­and it began to dawn upon her that her dear Mr Musselboro was deceiving her.  Then she sent for Dalrymple, and without a word of apology for her former conduct, put him upon the right track.  As he was pushing his inquiries and working heaven and earth for the unfortunate widow—­as to whom he swore daily that when this matter was settled he would never see her again, so terrible was she to him with her mock affection and pretended hysterics, and false moralities—­he was told one day that she had gone off with Mr Musselboro!  Mr Musselboro, finding that this was the surest plain of obtaining for himself the little business in Hook Court, married the widow of his late partner, and is at this moment probably carrying a law-suit with Mrs Van.  For the law-suit Conway Dalrymple cared nothing.  When the quarrel had become hot between Mrs Van and her late myrmidon, Clara fell into Conway’s hands without opposition; and, let the law-suit go as it may, there will be enough left of Mrs Van’s money to make the house of Mr and Mrs Conway Dalrymple very comfortable.  The picture of Jael and Sisera was stitched up without any difficulty, and I daresay most of my readers will remember it hanging on the walls of the exhibition.

Before I take my leave of the diocese of Barchester for ever, which I purpose to do in the succeeding paragraph, I desire to be allowed to say one word of apology for myself, in answer to those who have accused me—­always without bitterness, and generally with tenderness—­of having forgotten, in writing of clergymen, the first and most prominent characteristic of the ordinary English clergyman’s life.  I have described many clergymen, they say,