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。’
’Notadoubtaboutthat，’saidthearchdeacon。ThenMrsGrantlyinterposed，strovetochangethesubject，andthrewoiluponthewaters。
’Talkingofimprovements，’saidMrsGrantly，’whatanexcellentrowofhousestheyhavebuiltatthebottomofHighStreet。’Iwonderwhoistoliveinthem？’
’Irememberwhenthatwastheveryworstpartoftown，’saidDrThorne。
’Andnowthey’reaskingseventypoundsapieceforhouseswhichdidnotcostabovesixhundredeachtobuild，’saidMrThorneofUllathorne，withthatseemingdislikeofmodernsuccesswhichisevincedbymostoftheeldersoftheworld。
’Andwhoistoliveinthem，’askedMrsGrantly。
’Twohavethemhavebeenalreadytakenbyclergymen，’saidthebishop，inatoneoftriumph。
’Yes，’saidthearchdeacon，’andthehousesintheClosewhichusedtobetheresidencesoftheprebendarieshavebeenleasedouttotallow—chandlersandretiredbrewers。ThatcomesoftheworkingoftheEcclesiasticalCommission。’
’Andwhynot？’demandedMrsProudie。
’Whynot，indeed，ifyouliketohavetallow—chandlersnextdoortoyou？’saidthearchdeacon。’Intheolddays，wewouldsoonerhavehadourbrethrenneartous。’
’Thereisnothing，DrGrantly，soobjectionableinacathedraltownasalotofidleclergymen，’saidMrsProudie。
’Itisbeginningtobeaquestiontome，’saidthearchdeacon，’whetherthereisanyuseinclergymenatallforthepresentgeneration。’
’DrGrantly，thosecannotbeyourrealsentiments，’saidMrsProudie。
ThenMrsGrantly，workinghardinhervocationasapeacemaker，changedtheconversationagainandbegantotalkoftheAmericanwar。Buteventhatwasmadeamatterofdiscordonchurchmatters——thearchdeaconprofessinganopinionthattheSouthernerswereChristiangentlemen，andtheNorthernersidlesnobs；whereasMrsProudiehadanideathattheGospelwaspreachedwithgenuinezealintheNorthernStates。Andateachsuchoutbreakthepoorbishopwouldlaughuneasily，andsayawordortwotowhichnoonepaidmuchattention。Andsothedinnerwenton，notalwaysinthemostpleasantmannerforthosewhopreferredcontinuedgood—humourtotheoccasionalexcitementofahalf—suppressedbattle。
NotawordwassaidaboutMrCrawley。WhenMrsProudieandtheladiesleftthedining—room，thebishopstrovetogetupalittlelayconversation。HespoketoMrThorneabouthisgame，andtoDrThorneabouthistimber，andeventoMrGreshamabouthishounds。’Itisnotsoverymanyyears，MrGresham，’saidhe，’sincetheBishopofBarchesterwasexpectedtokeephoundshimself，’andthebishoplaughedathisownjoke。
’Yourlordshipshallhavethembackatthepalacenextseason，’saidyoungFrankGresham，’ifyouwillpromisetodothecountyjustice。’
’Ha，ha，ha！’laughedthebishop。’Whatdoyousay，MrTozer？’MrTozerwasthechaplainonduty。
’Ihavenotleastobjectionintheworld，mylord，’saidMrTozer，’toactassecondwhip。’
’I’mafraidyou’llfindthemanexpensiveadjuncttotheepiscopate，’
saidthearchdeacon。Andthenthejokewasover；fortherehadbeenarumour，nowforsomeyearsprevalentinBarchester，thatBishopProudiewasnotliberalinhisexpenditure。AsMrThornesaidafterwardstohiscousinthedoctor，thearchdeaconmighthavesparedthatsneer。’Thearchdeaconwillneversparethemanwhositsinhisfather’sseat，’saidthedoctor。’Thepityofitisthatmenwhoaresothoroughlydifferentinalltheirsympathiesshouldeverbebroughtintocontact。’’Dear，dear，’saidthearchdeacon，ashestoodafterwardsontherugbeforethedrawing—roomfire，’howmanyofrubbersofwhistIhaveseenplayedinthisroom。’’Isincerelyhopethatyouwillneverseeanotherplayedhere，’saidMrsProudie。’I’mquitesurethatIshallnot，’saidthearchdeacon。Forthislastsallyhiswifescoldedhimbitterlyonthewayhome。’Youknowverywell，’shesaid，’thatthetimesarechanged，andthatifyouwereBishopofBarchesteryourself，youwouldnothavewhistplayedinthepalace。’’Ionlyknow，’saidhe，’thatwhenwehadthewhistwehadthetruereligionalongwithit，andsomegoodsenseandgoodfeelingalso。’’Youcannotberighttosneeratothersfordoingwhatyouwoulddoyourself，’saidhiswife。Thenthearchdeaconthrewhimselfsulkilyintothecornerofhiscarriage，andnothingmorewassaidbetweenhimandhiswifeaboutthebishop’sdinner—party。
NotawordwasspokenthatnightaboutMrCrawley；andwhenthatobnoxiousguestfromPlumsteadwasgone，MrsProudieresumedhergood—humourtowardsDrTempest。Sointentwassheonconciliatinghimthatsherefrainedevenfromabusingthearchdeacon，whomsheknewtohavebeenintimateforverymanyyearswiththerectorofSilverbridge。
Inheraccustomedmoodsshewouldhavebrokenforthinloudanger，caringnothingforoldfriendships；butatpresentshewasthoughtfulofthemorrow，anddesirousthatDrTempestshould，ifpossible，meetherinafriendlyhumourwhenthegreatdiscussionastoHogglestockshouldbeopenedbetweenthem。ButDrTempestunderstoodherbearing，andashepulledonhisnightcapmadecertainresolutionsofhisownastothemorrow’sproceedings。’Idon’tsupposeshewilldaretointerfere，’hehadsaidtohiswife；’butifshedoesIshallcertainlytellthebishopthatIcannotspeakonthesubjectinherpresence。’
Atbreakfastonthefollowingmorningtherewasnoonepresentbutthebishop，MrsProudie，andDrTempest。Verylittlewassaidatthemeal。
MrCrawley’snamewasnotmentioned，butthereseemedtobeageneralfeelingamongthemthattherewasataskhangingoverthemwhichpreventedanygeneralconversation。Theeggswereeatenandthecoffeewasdrunk，buttheeggsandthecoffeedisappearedalmostinsilence。
Whentheseceremonieshadbeenaltogethercompleted，anditwasclearlynecessarythatsomethingfurthershouldbedone，thebishopspoke：’DrTempest，’hesaid，’perhapsyouwilljoinmeinmystudyateleven。WecanthensayafewwordstoeachotherabouttheunfortunatematteronwhichIshallhavetotroubleyou。’DrTempestsaidhewouldbepunctualtohisappointment，andthenthebishopwithdrew，mutteringsomethingastothenecessityoflookingathisletters。DrTempesttookanewspaperinhishand，whichhadbeenbroughtinbyaservant，butMrsProudiedidnotallowhimtoreadit。’DrTempest，’shesaid，’thisisamatterofmostvitalimportance。Iamquitesurethatyoufeelthatitisso。’
’Whatmatter，madam？’saidthedoctor。
’ThisterribleaffairofMrCrawley’s。Ifsomethingisnotdonethewholediocesewillbedisgraced。’Thensheturnedforananswer，butreceivingnoneshewasobligedtocontinue。’Ofthepoorman’sguilttherecan，Ifear，benodoubt。’Thentherewasanotherpause，butstillthedoctormadenoanswer。’Andifhebeguilty，’saidMrsProudie，resolvingthatshewouldaskaquestionthatmustbringforthsomereply，’cananyexperiencedclergymanthinkthathecanbefittopreachfromthepulpitofaparishchurch？Iamsurethatyoumustagreewithme，DrTempest？Considerthesoulsofthepeople！’
’MrsProudie，’saidhe，’Ithinkthatwehadbetternotdiscussthematter。’
’Notdiscussit？’
’Ithinkthatwehadbetternotdoso。IfIunderstandthebishoparight，hewishesitthatIshouldtakesomestepinthematter。’
’Ofcoursehedoes。’
’AndthereforeImustdeclinetomakeitamatterofcommonconversation。’
’Commonconversation，DrTempest！Ishouldbethelastpersonintheworldtomakeitamatterofcommonconversation。Iregardthisasbynomeansacommonconversation。Godforbidthatitshouldbeacommonconversation。IamspeakingveryseriouslywithreferencetotheinterestsoftheChurch，whichIthinkwillbeendangeredbyhavingamongheractiveservantsamanwhohasbeenguiltyofsobaseacrimeastheft。Thinkofit，DrTempest。Theft！Stealingmoney！Appropriatingtohisownuseachequefortwentypoundswhichdidnotbelongtohim！
Andthentellingsuchterriblefalsehoodsaboutit！Cananythingbeworse，anythingmorescandalous，anythingmoredangerous？Indeed，DrTempest，Idonotregardthisasanycommonconversation。’Thewholeofthisspeechwasnotmadeatonce，fluently，orwithoutabreak。FromstoptostopMrsProudiepaused，waitingforhercompanion’swords；butashewouldnotspeakshewasobligedtocontinue。’Iamsurethatyoucannotbutagreewithme，DrTempest？’shesaid。
’IamquitesureIwillnotdiscussitwithyou，’saidthedoctor，verybrusquely。
’Andwhynot？Areyounotheretodiscussit？’
’Notwithyou，MrsProudie。Youmustexcusemeforsayingso，butIamnotheretodiscussanysuchmatterwithyou。WereItodoso，Ishouldbeguiltyofaverygreatimpropriety。’
’Allthesethingsareincommonbetweenmeandthebishop，’saidMrsProudie，withanairthatwasintendedtobedignified，butwhichneverthelessdisplayedherrisinganger。
’AstothatIknownothing，buttheycannotbeincommonbetweenyouandme。ItgrievesmemuchthatIshouldhavetospeaktoyouinsuchastrain，butmydutyallowsmenoalternative。Ithink，ifyouwillpermitme，IwilltakeaturnroundthegardenbeforeIkeepmyappointmentwithhislordship。’Andsosayingheescapedfromtheladywithouthearingherfurtherremonstrance。
Itstillwantedanhourtothetimenamedbythebishop，andDrTempestuseditinpreparingforhiswithdrawalfromthepalaceassoonashisinterviewwiththebishopshouldbeover。AfterwhathadpassedhethoughthewouldbejustifiedintakinghisdeparturewithoutbiddingadieuformallytoMrsProudie。Hewouldsayawordortwo，explaininghishaste，tothebishop；andthen，ifhecouldgetoutofthehouseatonce，itmightbethathewouldneverseeMrsProudieagain。Hewasratherproudofhissuccessintheirlatebattle，buthefeltthat，havingbeensocompletelyvictorious，itwouldbefoolishinhimtoriskhislaurelsinthechanceofanotherencounter。Hewouldsaynotawordofwhathadhappenedtothebishop，andhethoughtitprobablethatneitherwouldMrsProudiespeakofit——atanyratetillafterhewasgone。Generalswhoarebeatenoutofthefieldarenotquicktotalkoftheirownrepulses。He，indeed，hadnotbeatenMrsProudieoutofthefield。Hehad，infact，himselfrunaway。Buthehadlefthisfoesilenced；andwithsuchafoe，andinsuchacontest，thatwaseverything。Heputuphisportmanteau，therefore，andpreparedforhisfinalretreat。Thenheranghisbellanddesiredtheservanttoshowhimtothebishop’sstudy。Theservantdidso，andwhenheenteredtheroomthefirstthinghesawwasMrsProudiesittinginanarm—chairnearthewindow。Thebishopwasalsointheroom，sittingwithhisarmsuponthewriting—table，andhisheaduponhishands。ItwasveryevidentthatMrsProudiedidnotconsiderherselftohavebeenbeatenandthatshewaspreparedforanotherbattle。’Willyousitdown，DrTempest？’shesaid，motioninghimwithherhandtoachairoppositetothatoccupiedbythebishop。DrTempestsatdown。Hefeltthatatthemomenthehadnothingelsetodo，andthathemustrestrainanyremonstrancethathemightmaketillMrCrawley’snameshouldbementioned。Hewasalmostlostinadmirationofthewoman。Hehadlefther，ashethought，utterlyvanquishedandprostratedbyhisdeterminedbutuncourteoususageofher；andhereshewas，presentagainonthefieldofbattleasthoughshehadneverbeenwounded。Hecouldseethattherehadbeenwordsbetweenherandthebishop，andthatshehadcarriedapointonwhichthebishophadbeenveryanxioustohavehisownway。Hecouldperceiveatoncethatthebishophadbeggedhertoabsentherselfandwasgreatlychagrinedthatheshouldnothaveprevailedwithher。Thereshewas——andasDrTempestwasresolvedthathewouldneithergiveadvicenorreceiveinstructionsrespectingMrCrawleyinherpresence，hecouldonlydrawuponhiscourageandhisstrategyforthecomingwarfare。Forafewmomentsnoonesaidaword。ThebishopfeltthatifDrTempestwouldonlybegin，theworkonhandmightbegotthrough，eveninhiswife’spresence。MrsProudiewasawarethatherhusbandshouldbegin。Ifhewoulddoso，andifDrTempestwouldlistenandthenreply，shemightgraduallymakeherwayintotheconversation；andifherwordswereonceacceptedthenshecouldsayallthatshedesiredtosay；thenshecouldplayherpartandbecomesomebodyintheepiscopalwork。Whenoncesheshouldhavebeenallowedlibertyofspeech，theenemywouldbepowerlesstostopher。ButallthisDrTempestunderstoodquiteaswellassheunderstoodit，andhadtheywaitedtillnighthewouldnothavebeenthefirsttomentionMrCrawley’sname。
Thebishopsighedaloud。Thesighmightbetakenasexpressinggriefoverthesinofanerringbrotherwhoseconducttheywerethentodiscuss，andwasnotamiss。Butwhenthesighwithitsattendantmurmurshadpassedawayitwasnecessarythatsomeinitiativestepshouldbetaken。’DrTempest，’saidthebishop，’whatarewetodoaboutthispoorstiff—neckedgentleman？’StillDrTempestdidnotspeak。’Thereisnoclergymaninthediocese，’continuedthebishop，’inwhoseprudenceandwisdomIhavemoreconfidencethaninyours。AndIknow，too，thatyouarebynomeansdisposedtoseveritywhereseveremeasuresarenotnecessary。Whatoughtwetodo？Ifhehasbeenguilty，heshouldnotsurelyreturntohispulpitaftertheexpirationofsuchpunishmentasthelawofthiscountrymayawardhim。’
DrTempestlookedatMrsProudie，thinkingthatshemightperhapssayawordnow；butMrsProudieknewherpartbetterandwassilent。Angryasshewas，shecontrivedtoholdherpeace。Letthedebateoncebeginandshewouldbeabletocreepintoit，andthentoleadit——andsoshewouldholdherown。Butshehadmetafoeaswaryasherself。’Mylord，’
saidthedoctor，’itwillperhapsbewellthatyoushouldcommunicateyourwishestomeinwriting。IfitbepossibleformetocomplywiththemIwilldoso。’
’Yes；——exactly；nodoubt；——butIthoughtthatperhapswemightbetterunderstandeachotherifwehadafewwordsofquietconversationuponthesubject。IbelieveyouknowthestepsthatIhave——’
Butherethebishopwasinterrupted。DrTempestrosefromhischair，andadvancingtothetableputbothhandsuponit。’Mylord，’hesaid，’IfeelmyselfcompelledtosaythatwhichIwouldverymuchratherleaveunsaid，wereitpossible。Ifeelthedifficulty，andImaysaydelicacy，ofmyposition；butIshouldbeuntruetomyconscienceandtomyfeelingofwhatisrightinsuchmatters，ifIweretakeanypartonadiscussiononthismatterinthepresenceof——alady。’
’DrTempest，whatisyourobjection？’saidMrsProudie，risingfromherchair，andcomingalsotothetable，sothatfromthenceshemightconfrontheropponent；andasshestoodoppositetoDrTempestshealsoputbothherhandsuponthetable。
’Mydear，perhapsyouwillleaveusforafewmoments，’saidthebishop。
Poorbishop！Poorweakbishop！Asthewordscamefromhismouthheknewthattheywouldbespokeninvain，andthatifso，itwouldhavebeenbetterforhimtohaveleftthemunspoken。
’WhyshouldIbedismissedfromyourroomwithoutareason？’saidMrsProudie。’CannotDrTempestunderstandthatawifemayshareherhusband’scounsels——asshemustsharehistroubles？Ifhecannot，Ipityhimverymuchastohisownhousehold。’
’DrTempest，’saidthebishop，’MrsProudietakesthegreatestpossibleinterestineverythingconcerningthediocese。’
’Iamsure，mylord，’saidthedoctor，’thatyouwillseehowunseemlyitwouldbethatIshouldinterfereinanywaybetweenyouandMrsProudie。Icertainlywillnotdoso。Icanonlysayagainthatifyouwillcommunicatewithmeyourwishesinwriting，Iwillattendtothem——ifitbepossible。’
’Youmeantobestubborn，’saidMrsProudie，whoseprudencewasbeginningtogivewayunderthegreatprovocationtowhichhertemperwasbeingsubjected。
’Yes，madam；ifitistobecalledstubbornness，Imustbestubborn。Mylord，MrsProudiespoketomeonthissubjectinthebreakfast—roomafteryouhadleftit，andIthenventuredtoexplaintoherthatinaccordancewithsuchlightasIhaveonthematter，Icouldnotdiscussitinherpresence。IgreatlygrievethatIfailedtomakemyselfunderstoodbyher——as，otherwise，thisunpleasantnessmighthavebeenspared。’
’Iunderstoodyouverywell，DrTempest，andIthinkyoutobeamostunreasonableman。Indeed，Imightuseamuchharsherword。’
’Youmayuseanywordyouplease，MrsProudie，’saidthedoctor。
’Mydear，Ireallythinkyouhadbetterleaveusforafewminutes，’
saidthebishop。
’No，mylord——no，’saidMrsProudie，turningrounduponherhusband。
’Notso。ItwouldbemostunbecomingthatIshouldbeturnedoutofaroominthispalacebyanuncourteouswordfromaparishclergyman。Itwouldbeunseemly。IfDrTempestforgetshisduty，Iwillnotforgetmine。ThereareotherclergymeninthediocesebesidesDrTempestwhocanundertaketheveryeasytaskofthiscommission。AsforhishavingbeenappointedruraldeanIdon’tknowhowmanyyearsago，itismatterofnoconsequencewhatever。Insuchapreliminaryinquiryanythreeclergymenwillsuffice。Itneednotbedonebytheruraldeanatall。’
’Mydear！’
’IwillnotbeturnedoutofthisroombyDrTempest；——andthatisenough。’
’Mylord，’saidthedoctor，’youhadbetterwritetomeasIproposedtoyoujustnow。’
’Hislordshipwillnotwrite。Hislordshipwilldonothingofthekind，’saidMrsProudie。
’Mydear！’saidthebishop，driveninhisperplexitybeyondallcarefulnessofreticence。’Mydear，Idowishyouwouldn’t——Idoindeed。
Ifyouwouldonlygoaway！’
’Iwillnotgoaway，mylord，’saidMrsProudie。
’ButIwill，’saidDrTempest，feelingtruecompassionfortheunfortunatemanwhomhesawwrithinginagonybeforehim。’ItwillmanifestlybeforthebestthatIshouldretire。Mylord，Iwishyougoodmorning。MrsProudie，goodmorning。’Andsohelefttheroom。
’Amoststubbornandamostungentlemanlikeman，’saidMrsProudie，assoonasthedoorwasclosedbehindtheretreatingruraldean。’IdonotthinkthatinthewholecourseofmylifeIevermetwithanyonesoinsubordinateandsoill—mannered。Heisworsethanthearchdeacon。’Assheutteredthesewordsshepacedabouttheroom。Thebishopsaidnothing；andwhensheherselfhadbeensilentforafewminutessheturneduponhim。’Bishop，’shesaid，’Ihopethatyouagreewithme。I
expectthatwillagreewithmeinamatterthatissoofmuchmomenttomycomfort，andImaysaytomypositiongenerallyinthediocese。
Bishop，whydoyounotspeak？’
’YouhavebehavedinsuchawaythatIdonotknowthatIshalleverspeakagain，’saidthebishop。
’Whatisthatyousay？’
’IsaythatIdonotknowhowIshalleverspeakagain。Youhavedisgracedme。’
’Disgracedyou！Idisgraceyou！Itisyouthatdisgraceyourselfbysayingsuchwords。’
’Verywell。Letitbeso。Perhapsyouwillgoawaynowandleavemetomyself。Ihavegotabadheadache，andIcan’ttalkanymore。Ohdear，ohdear，whatwillhethinkofit？’
’AndyoumeantotellmethatIhavebeenwrong？’
’Yes，youhavebeenwrong——verywrong。Whydidn’tyougoawaywhenI
askedyou？Youarealwaysbeingwrong。IwishIhadnevercometoBarchester。InanyotherpositionIshouldnothavefeltitsomuch。AsitisIdonotknowhowIcanevershowmyfaceagain。’
’Nothavefeltwhatsomuch，MrProudie？’saidthewife，goingbackintheexcitementofherangertothenomenclatureofolddays。’Andthisistobemyreturnforallmycareinyourbehalf！Allowmetotellyou，sir，thatinanypositioninwhichyoumaybeplacedIknowwhatisduetoyou，andthatyourdignitywillneverloseanythinginmyhands。I
wishthatyouwereaswellabletotakecareofityourself。’Thenshestalkedoutoftheroom，andleftthepoormanalone。
BishopProudiesataloneinhisstudythroughoutthewholeday。Onceortwiceinthecourseofthemorninghischaplaincametohimonsomematterofbusiness，andwasansweredwithasmile——thepeculiarsoftnessofwhichthechaplaindidnotfailtoattributetherightcause。Foritwassoonknownthroughoutthehouseholdthattherehadbeenaquarrel。Couldhequitehavemadeuphismindtodoso——couldhehaveresolvedthatitwouldbealtogetherbettertoquarrelwithhiswife——thebishopwouldhaveappealedtothechaplain，andhaveaskedatanyrateforsympathy。Butevenyethecouldnotbringhimselftoconfesshismisery，andtoownhimselftoanothertobethewretchthathewas。Thenduringthelonghoursofthedayhesatthinkingofitall。
Howhappycouldhebeifitwereonlypossibleforhimtogoaway，andbecomeevenacurateinaparish，withouthiswife！Wouldthereevercometohimatimeoffreedom？Wouldsheeverdie？Hewasolderthanshe，andofcoursehewoulddiefirst。Woulditnotbeafinethingifhecoulddieatonce，andthusescapefromhismisery。
Whatcouldhedo，evensupposinghimselfstrongenoughtofightthebattle？Hecouldnotlockherup。Hecouldnotevenverywelllockheroutofhisroom。Shewashiswife，andmusthavetherunofthehouse。
Hecouldnotaltogetherdebarherfromthesocietyofthediocesanclergymen。Hehad，onthisverymorning，takenstrongmeasureswithher。
Morethanonceortwicehehaddesiredhertoleavetheroom。Whatwastheretobedonewithawomanwhowouldnotobeyherhusband——whowouldnotevenleavehimtotheperformanceofhisownwork？Whatablessedthingitwouldbeifabishopcouldgoawayfromhishometohisworkeverydaylikeaclerkinapublicoffice——asastone—masondoes！Buttherewasnosuchescapeforhim。Hecouldnotgoaway。Andhowwashetomeetheragainonthisveryday？
AndthenforhourshethoughtofDrTempestandMrCrawley，consideringwhathehadbetterdotorepairtheshipwreckofthemorning。Atlastheresolvedthathewouldwritetothedoctor；andbeforehehadagainseenhiswife，hedidwritehisletter，andhesentitoff。Inthisletterhemadenodirectillusiontotheoccurrenceofthemorning，butwroteasthoughtherehadnotbeenanyfixedintentionofapersonaldiscussionbetweenthem。’Ithinkitwillbebetterthatthereshouldbeacommission，’hesaid，’andIwouldsuggestthatyoushouldhavefourotherclergymenwithyou。Perhapsyouwillselecttwoyourselfoutofyourruraldeanery；and，ifyoudonotobject，IwillnameastheothertwoMrThumbleandMrQuiver，whoarebothresidentinthecity。’Ashewrotethesetwonameshefeltashamedofhimself，knowingthathehadchosenthetwomenasbeingspecialfriendsofhiswife，andfeelingthatheshouldhavebeenbraveenoughtothrowasideallconsiderationsofhiswife’sfavour——especiallyatthismoment，inwhichhewasputtingonhisarmourtodobattleagainsther。’Itisnotprobable，’hecontinuedtosayinhisletter，’thatyouwillbeabletomakeyourreportuntilafterthetrialofthisunfortunategentlemanshallhavetakenplace，andaverdictshallhavebeengiven。Shouldhebeacquitted，that，Iimagine，shouldendthematter。Therecanbenoreasonwhyweshouldattempttogobeyondtheverdictofajury。Butshouldhebefoundguilty，Ithinkweoughttobereadywithsuchstepsasitwillbebecomingforustotakeattheexpirationofanysentencewhichmaybepronounced。Itwillbe，atanyrate，expedientthatinsuchacasethemattershouldbebroughtbeforeanecclesiasticalcourt。’heknewwellashewrotethis，thathewasproposingsomethingmuchmilderthanthecourseintendedbyhiswifewhenshehadinstigatedhimtotakeproceedingsinthematter；buthedidnotmuchregardthatnow。Thoughhehadbeenweakenoughtonamecertainclergymenasassessorswiththeruraldean，becausehethoughtthatbydoingsohewouldtoacertaindegreeconciliatehiswife——thoughhehadbeensofaracoward，yethewasresolvedthathewouldnotsacrificetoherhisownjudgmentandhisownconscienceinhismannerofproceeding。Hekeptnocopyofhisletter，sothathemightbeunabletoshowherhisverywordswhensheshouldasktoseethem。Ofcoursehewouldtellherwhathehaddone；