\'MrsProudieissoverykindastosaythatshewilltakemein,withmypoodle,parrot,andpetoldwoman.\'
\'ItellMissDunstablethatweshallhavequiteroomforanyofhersuite,\'saidMrsProudie.\'Andthatitwillgiveusnotrouble.\'
\'\"Thelabourwedelightinphysicspain\"\'saidthegallantbishop,bowinglow,puttinghishanduponhisheart.InthemeantimeMrFothergillhadgotholdofMarkRobarts.MrFothergillwasagentlemanandamagistrateofthecounty,butheoccupiedthepositionofmanagingmanontheDukeofOmnium\'sestate.Hewasnotexactlyhisagent;thatistosay,hedidnotreceivehisrents;buthe\'managed\'forhim,sawpeople,wentaboutthecounty,wroteletters,supportedtheelectioneeringinterest,didpopularitywhenitwastoomuchtroublefortheduketodoithimself,andwas,infact,invaluable.PeopleinWestBarsetshirewouldoftensaythattheydidnotknowwhatonearththedukewoulddo,ifitwerenotforMrFothergill.Indeed,MrFothergillwasusefultotheduke.
\'MrRobarts,\'hesaid,\'Iamveryhappytohavethepleasureofmeetingyou——veryhappyindeed.IhaveoftenheardofyoufromourfriendSowerby.\'Markbowed,andsaidthathewasdelightedtohavethehonourofmakingMrFothergill\'sacquaintance.\'IamcommissionedbytheDukeofOmnium,\'continuedMrFothergill,\'tosayhowgladhewillbeifyouwilljoinhisgrace\'spartyatGatherumCastlenextweek.Thebishopwillbethere,andindeednearlyallthewholesetwhoareherenow.ThedukewouldhavewrittenwhenheheardthatyouweretobeatChaldicotes;butthingswerehardlyquitearrangedthen,sohisgracehasleftitformetotellyouhowhappyhewillbetomakeyouracquaintanceinhisownhouse.IhavespokentoSowerby,\'continuedMrFothergill,\'andheverymuchhopesthatyouwillbeabletojoinus.\'
Markfeltthathisfacebecameredwhenthispropositionwasmadetohim.Thepartyinthecountytowhichheproperlybelonged——heandhiswife,andallthatmadehimhappyandrespectable——lookedupontheDukeofOmniumwithhorrorandamazement;andnowhehadabsolutelyreceivedaninvitationtotheduke\'shouse!A