CHAPTER XVII.
EXODUS.
But let us turn and see what has been going forward in the old parsonage this long weary year.

Not much that is noteworthy, I fear.
The chronicle of a year's sickness and unhappiness, would be rather uninteresting, so I must get on as quick as I can.
The Vicar only slowly revived from the fit in which he fell on the morning of Mary's departure to find himself hopelessly paralytic, unable to walk without support, and barely able to articulate distinctly.

It was when he was in this state, being led up and down the garden by the Doctor and Frank Maberly, the former of whom was trying to attract his attention to some of their old favourites, the flowers, that Miss Thornton came to him with the letter which Mary had written from Brighton, immediately after their marriage.
It was, on the whole, a great relief for the Vicar.

He had dreaded to hear worse than this.

They had kept from him all knowledge of Hawker's forgery on his father, which had been communicated to them by Major Buckley.