Thedinnerwasratherlongandponderous，andoccasionally，mostdull。
Thearchdeacontalkedagooddeal，butabystanderwithanacuteearmighthaveunderstoodfromthetoneofhisvoicethathewasnottalkingashewouldhavetalkedamongfriends。MrsProudiefeltthis，andunderstoodit，andwasangry。Shecouldneverfindherselfinthepresenceofthearchdeaconwithoutbecomingangry。Heraccurateearwouldalwaysappreciatethedefianceofepiscopalauthority，asnowexistinginBarchester，whichwasconcealed，oronlyhalfconcealed，byallthearchdeacon’swords。Butthebishopwasnotsokeen，norsoeasilyroused，towrath；andthoughthepresenceoftheenemydidtoacertaindegreecowhim，hestrovetofightagainstthefeelingwithrenewedgood—humour。
’Youhaveimprovedsoupontheolddays，’saidthearchdeacon，speakingofsomesmallmatterwithreferencetothecathedral，’thatonehardlyknowstheoldplace。’
’Ihopewehavenotfallenoff，’saidthebishop，withasmile。
’Wehaveimproved，DrGrantly，’saidMrsProudie，withgreatemphasisonherwords。’Whatyousayistrue。Wehaveimproved。’