Mr Crawley, the fanatically proud curate of Hogglestock, is accused of theft and persecuted by the domineering Mrs Proudie and her self-righteous followers. Already familiar to readers of Framley Parsonage, Mr Crawley's sufferings here reach a tragic intensity. Other familiar characters on the Barsetshire landscape include Mr Harding, whose old age is movingly described; Grace Crawley, who becomes romantically involved with Major Grantly; and Johnny Eames, who continues his pursuit of Lily Dale but becomes entangled in a dangerous flirtation with the intriguing Madalina Demolines. Lady Lufton, Mr Robarts, the Greshams, and the Thornes also reappear to play their final part in the Barsetshire drama.