Being of a domestic turn, and keeping the house a great deal with her daughters, she ruled absolutely within the Rectory, wisely giving her husband full liberty without.

He was welcome to come and go, and dine abroad as many days as his fancy dictated, for Mrs.Crawley was a saving woman and knew the price of port wine.

Ever since Mrs.Bute carried off the young Rector of Queen's Crawley (she was of a good family, daughter of the late Lieut.-Colonel Hector McTavish, and she and her mother played for Bute and won him at Harrowgate), she had been a prudent and thrifty wife to him.

In spite of her care, however, he was always in debt.

It took him at least ten years to pay off his college bills contracted during his father's lifetime.