because the man is in a position which makes the crime more criminal in him than it would be in another." "But I feel sure that Mr. Crawley has committed no crime at all," said Mary. "My dear," said Mrs. Walker, "I have just said that I would rather you would not talk about it. Papa will be in directly." "I won't, mamma;—only—" "Only! yes; just only!" said John. "She'd go on till dinner if any one would stay to hear her." "You've said twice as much as I have, John." But John had left the room before his sister's last words could reach him. "You know, mamma, it is quite impossible not to help thinking of it," said Mary. "I dare say it is, my dear." "And when one knows the people it does make it so dreadful." "But do you know them? I never spoke to Mr. Crawley in my life, and I do not think I ever saw her." "I knew Grace very well,—when she used to come first to Miss Prettyman's school." "Poor girl. I pity her." "Pity her! Pity is no word for it, mamma. My heart bleeds for them. And yet I do not believe for a moment that he stole the cheque. How can it be possible? For though he may have been in debt because they have been so very, very poor; yet we all know that he has been an excellent clergyman. When the Robartses were dining here last, I heard Mrs. Robarts say that for piety and devotion to his duties she had hardly ever seen any one equal to him. And the Robartses know more of them than anybody." "They say that the dean is his great friend." "What a pity it is that the Arabins should be away just now when he is in such trouble." And in this way the mother and daughter went on discussing the question of the clergyman's guilt in spite of Mrs. Walker's previously expressed desire that nothing more might be said about it. But Mrs. Walker, like many other mothers, was apt to be more free in converse with her daughter than she was with her son. While they were thus talking the father came in from his office, and then the subject was dropped. He was a man between fifty and sixty years of
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