’Clara，’saidConway，’IdonotknowwhenImayhaveanotherchanceofaskingforananswertomyquestion。Youheardmyquestion？’
’Yes，Iheardit。’
’Andwillyouanswerit？’
’Ifyouwishit，Iwill。’
’OfcourseIwishit。YouunderstandwhatIsaiduponthedoor—stepyesterday？’
’Idon’tthinkmuchofthat；mensaythosethingssooften。Whatyousaidbeforewasserious，Isuppose？’
’Serious！Heavens！DoyouthinkthatIamjoking？’
’MammawantsmetomarryMrMusselboro。’
’Heisavulgarbrute。Itwouldbeimpossible。’
’Itisimpossible；butmammaisveryobstinate。Ihavenofortuneofmyown——notashilling。Shetoldmetodaythatshewouldturnmeoutintothestreet。Sheforbademetocomehere，thinkingIshouldmeetyou；butIcame，becauseIhadpromisedMrsBroughton。Iamsurethatshewillnevergivemeoneshilling。’
Dalrymplepausedforamoment。ItwascertainlytruethathehadregardedClaraVanSieverasanheiress，andhadatfirstbeenattractedtoherbecausehethoughtitexpedienttomarryanheiress。Buttherehadsincecomesomethingbeyondthat，andtherewasperhapslessofregretthanmostmenwouldhavefeltashegaveuphisgoldenhopes。Hetookherintohisarmsandkissedher，andcalledherhisown。’Nowweunderstandeachother，’hesaid。
’Ifyouwishittobeso。’
’Idowishit。’
’AndIshalltellmymothertodaythatIamengagedtoyou——unlesssherefusestoseeme。GotoMrsBroughtonnow。Ifeelthatwearealmostcrueltobethinkingofourselvesinthishouseatsuchatime。’UponthisDalrymplewent，andClaraVanSieverwaslefttoherreflections。
Shehadneverbeforehadalover。Shehadneverhadevenafriendwhomshelovedandtrusted。Herlifehadbeenpassedatschooltillshewasnearlytwenty，andsincethenhadbeenvainlyendeavouringtoaccommodateherselfintotheabsolutepowerofamanwhowasnearlyastrangetoher！Butshedidlovehim，asshehadneverlovedanyoneelse；——andthen，ontheotherside，therewasMrMusselboro！
Dalrymplewentupstairsforanhour，andClaradidnotseehimagainbeforeheleftthehouse。Itwascleartoher，fromMrsBroughton’sfirstwords，thatConwayhadtoldherwhathadpassed。’OfcourseI
shallneverseenanythingmoreofeitherofyounow？’saidMrsBroughton。
’Ishouldsaythatprobablyyouwillseeagreatdealofusboth。’
’Therearesomepeople，’saidMrsBroughton，’whocandowellfortheirfriends，butcanneverdowellforthemselves。Iamoneofthem。Isawatoncehowgreatathingitwouldbeforbothofyoutobringyoutwotogether——especiallyforyou，Clara；andthereforeIdidit。ImaysaythatIneverhaditoutofmymindformonthspast。PoorDobbsmisunderstoodwhatIwasdoing。Godknowshowfarthatmayhavebroughtaboutwhathashappened。’
’Oh，MrsBroughton！’
’Ofcoursehecouldnotbeblindtoonething；——norwasI。Imentionitnowbecauseitisright，butIshallnever，neveralludetoagain。Ofcoursehesaw，andIsaw，thatConway——wasattachedtome。PoorConwaymeantnoharm。Iwasawareofthat。Buttherewastheterriblefact。I
knewatoncethattheonlycureforhimwasamarriagewithsomegirlhecouldrespect。AdmiringyouasIdo，Iimmediatelyresolvedonbringingyoutotogether。Mydear，Ihavebeensuccessful，andIheartilytrustthatyoumaybehappierthanMariaBroughton。’
MissVanSieverknewthewoman，understoodallthefacts，andpityingtheconditionofthewretchedcreature，boreallthiswithoutawordofrebuke。Shescornedtoputoutherstrengthagainstonewhowasintruthsoweak。
CHAPTERLXVI
REQUIESCATINPACE
Thingsweregloomyatthepalace。IthasalreadybeensaidthatformaydaysafterDrTempest’svisittoBarchestertheintercoursebetweenthebishopandMrsProudiehadnotbeenofapleasantnature。Hehadbecomesosilent，sosullen，andsosolitaryinhisways，thatevenhercouragehadbeenalmostcowed，andforawhileshehadcondescendedtousegentlermethods，withthehopethatshemightthusbringherlordroundtohisusualstateofactivesubmission；orperhaps，ifwestrivetodoherfulljustice，wemaysayofherthathereffortwasmadeconscientiously，withtheideaofinducinghimtodohisdutywithproperactivity。Forshewasawomannotwithoutaconscience，andbynomeansindifferenttotherealservicewhichherhusband，asbishopofthediocese，wasboundtorendertotheaffairsoftheChurcharoundher。Ofherownstrugglesafterpersonaldominionshewasherselfunconscious；andnodoubttheygaveher，whenrecognisedandacknowledgedbyherself，manystabstoherinnerself，ofwhichnosinglebeingintheworldknewanything。Andnow，asafterawhileshefailedinproducinganyameliorationinthebishop’smood，hertemperalsogaveway，andthingswerebecomingverygloomyandunpleasant。
Thebishopandhiswifewereatpresentaloneinthepalace。Theirmarrieddaughterandherhusbandhadleftthem，andtheunmarrieddaughterwasalsoaway。Howfarthebishop’smoodmayhaveproducedthissolitudeinthevasthouseIwillnotsay。ProbablyMrsProudie’sstateofmindmayhavepreventedherfromhavingotherguestsintheplaceofthosewhohadgone。Shefeltherselftobealmostdisgracedintheeyesofallthosearoundherbyherhusband’slongabsencefromthecommonroomsofthehouseandbyhisdoggedsilenceatmeals。Itwasbetter，shethought，thattheytwoshouldbealoneinthepalace。
Herowneffortstobringhimbacktosomethinglikelife，tosomeactivityofmindifnotbody，weremadeconstantly；andwhenshefailed，asshedidfaildayafterday，shewouldgoslowlytoherownroom，andlockherdoor，andlookbackinsolitudeatallthedaysofherlife。
Shehadagoniesintheseminutesofwhichnoonenearherknewanything。
Shewouldseizewithherarmthepartofthebednearwhichshewouldstand，andholdbyit，graspingit，asthoughshewereafraidtofall；
andthen，whenitwasattheworstwithher，shewouldgotohercloset——aclosetthatnoeyeseversawunlockedbutherown——andfillforherselfandswallowsomedraughtandthenshewouldsitdownwiththeBiblebeforeher，andreaditsedulously。ShespenthourseverydaywithherBiblebeforeher，repeatingtoherselfwholechapters，whichsheknewalmostbyheart。
Itcannotbesaidthatshewasabadwoman，thoughshehadinhertimedoneanindescribableamountofevil。Shehadendeavouredtodogood，failingpartlybyignoranceandpartlyfromtheeffectsofanunbridled，ambitioustemper。Andnow，evenamidstherkeenestsufferings，herambitionwasbynomeansdead。Shestilllongedtorulethediocesebymeansofherhusband，butwasmadetopauseandhesitatebytheunwontedmoodthathadfallenuponhim。Beforethis，onmorethanoneoccasion，andononeverymemorableoccasion，hehadendeavouredtocombather。Hehadfoughtwithher，strivingtoputherdown。Hehadfailed，andgivenupthehopeofanyescapefrohimselfinthatdirection。Onthoseoccasionshercouragehadneverquailedforamoment。Whileheopenlystruggledtobemaster，shecouldopenlystruggletobemistress——andcouldenjoythestruggle。Butnothinglikethishadevercomeuponhimbefore。
Shehadyieldedtoitformanydays，strivingtocoaxhimbylittlesoftnessesofwhichsheherselfhadbeenashamedasshepractisedthem。
Theyhadservedhernothing，andatlastshedeterminedthatsomethingelsemustbedone。Ifonlyforhissake，tokeepsomelifeinhim，somethingelsemustbedone。Werehetocontinueashewasnow，hemustgiveupthediocese，or，atanyrate，declarehimselftooilltokeepuptheworkingofitinhisownhands。HowshehatedMrCrawleyforallthesorrowthathehadbroughtuponherandherhouse！
AnditwasstilltheaffairofMrCrawleywhichurgedherontofurtheraction。WhenthebishopreceivedMrCrawley’sletterhesaidnothingofittoher；buthehandeditovertohischaplain。Thechaplain，fearingtoactuponithimself，handedittoMrThumble，whoheknewtobeoneofthebishop’scommission，andMrThumble，equallyfearingresponsibilityinthepresentstateofaffairsatthepalace，foundhimselfobligedtoconsultMrsProudie。MrsProudiehadnodoubtastowhatshouldbedone。Themanhadabdicatedhisliving，andofcoursesomeprovisionmustbemadefortheservices。Shewouldagainmakeanattemptuponherhusband，andthereforeshewentintohisroomholdingMrCrawley’sletterinherhand。
’Mydear，’shesaid，’hereisMrCrawley’sletter。Isupposeyouhavereadit。’
’Yes，’saidthebishop；’Ihavereadit。’
’Andwhatwillyoudoaboutit？Somethingmustbedone。’
’Idon’tknow，’saidhe。Hedidnotevenlookatherashespoke。Hehadnotturnedhiseyesuponhersinceshehadenteredtheroom。
’But，bishop，itisaletterthatrequirestobeacteduponatonce。Wecannotdoubtthatthemanisdoingrightatlast。Heissubmittinghimselfwherehissubmissionisdue；buthissubmissionwillbeofnoavailunlessyoutakesomeactionuponhisletter。DoyounotthinkthatMrThumblehadbettergoover？’
’No，Idon’t。IthinkMrThumblehadbetterstaywhereheis，’saidtheirritatedbishop。
’What，then，wouldyouwishtobedone？’
’Nevermind，’saidhe。
’But，bishop，thatisnonsense，’saidMrsProudie，addingsomethingofseveritytothetoneofhervoice。
’No，itisn’tnonsense，’saidhe。Stillhedidnotlookather，norhadhedonesoforamomentsinceshehadenteredtheroom。MrsProudiecouldnotbearthis，andherangerbecamestrongerwithinherbreast，shetoldherselfthatshewouldbewrongtobearit。Shehadtriedwhatgentlenesswoulddo，andshehadfailed。Itwasnowimperativelynecessarythatsheshouldresorttosternermeasures。ShemustmakehimunderstandthathemustgiveherauthoritytosendMrThumbletoHogglestock。
’Whydoyounotturnroundandspeaktomeproperly？’shesaid。
’Idonotwanttospeaktoyouatall，’thebishopanswered。
Thiswasverybad；——almostanythingwouldbebetterthanthis。Hewassittingnowoverthefire，withhiselbowsonhisknees，andhisfaceburiedinhishands。Shehadgoneroundtheroomsoastofacehim，andwasnowstandingalmostoverhim，butstillshecouldnotseehiscountenance。’Thiswillnotdoatall，’shesaid。’Mydear，doyouknowthatyouareforgettingyourselfaltogether？’
’IwishIcouldforgetmyself。’
’Thatmightbeallverywellifyouwereinapositioninwhichyouowednoservicetoanyone；or，rather，itwouldnotbewellthen，buttheevilwouldnotbesomanifest。Youcannotdoyourdutyinthedioceseifyoucontinuetosittheredoingnothing，withyourheaduponyourhands。
Whydoyounotrally，andgettoyourworklikeaman？’
’Iwishyouwouldgoawayandleaveme，’hesaid。
’No，bishop。Iwillnotgoawayandleaveyou。Youhavebroughtyourselfintosuchaconditionthatitismydutyasyourwifetostaybyyou；andifyouneglectyourduty，Iwillnotneglectmine。’
’Itwasyouthatbroughtmetoit。’
’Nosir，thatisnottrue。Ididnotbringyoutoit。’
’Itisthetruth。’Andnowhegotupandlookedather。Foramomenthestooduponhislegs，andthensatdownagainwithhisfaceturnedtowardsher。’Itisthetruth。YouhavebroughtonmesuchdisgracethatIcannotholdupmyhead。Youhaveruinedme。IwishIweredead；anditisallthroughyouthatIamdriventowishit。’
Ofallthatshehadsufferedinherlifethiswastheworst。Sheclaspedbothherhandstohersideasshelistenedtohim，andforaminuteortwoshemadenoreply。Whenheceasedfromspeakingheagainputhiselbowsinhiskneesandagainburiedhisfaceinhishands。Whathadshebetterdo，orhowwasitexpedientthatsheshouldtreathim？Atthiscrisisthewholethingwassoimportanttoherthatshewouldhavepostponedherownambitionandwouldhavecurbedhertemperhadshethoughtthatbydoingsoshemightinanydegreehavebenefitedhim。Butitseemedtoherthatshecouldnotrousehimbyconciliation。Neithercouldsheleavehimashewas。Somethingmustbedone。’Bishop，’shesaid，’thewordsthatyouspeakareverysinful，verysinful。’
’Youhavemadethemsinful，’hesaid。
’Iwillnothearthatfromyou。Iwillnotindeed。Ihaveendeavouredtodomydutybyyou，andIdonotdeserveit。Iamendeavouringtodomydutynow，andyoumustknowthatitwouldillbecomemetoremainquiescentwhileyouareinsuchastate。Theworldaroundyouisobservingyou，andknowsthatyouarenotdoingyourwork。AllIwantofyouisthatyoushouldarouseyourself，andgotoyourwork。’
’Icoulddomyworkverywell，’hesaid，’ifyouwerenothere。’
’Isuppose，then，youwishthatIweredead？’saidMrsProudie。Tothishemadenoreply，nordidhestirhimself。Howcouldfleshandbloodbearthis——femalefleshandblood——MrsProudie’sfleshandblood？Now，atlast，hertemperoncemoregotthebetterofherjudgment，probablymuchtoherimmediatesatisfaction，andshespokeout。’I’lltellyouwhatitis，mylord，ifyouareimbecile，Imustbeactive。ItisverysadthatIshouldhavetoassumeyourauthority——’
’Iwillnotallowyoutoassumemyauthority。’
’Imustdoso，orelsemustobtainamedicalcertificateastoyourincapacity，andbegthatsomeneighbouringbishopmayadministerthediocese。Thingsshallnotgoonastheyarenow。I，atanyrate，willdomyduty。IshalltellMrThumblethathemustgoovertoHogglestock，andarrangeforthedutiesoftheparish。’
’Idesirethatyouwilldonosuchthing，’saidthebishop，nowagainlookingupather。
’YoumaybesurethatIshall，’saidMrsProudie，andthenshelefttheroom。
Hedidnotevenyetsupposethatshewouldgoabouthisthisworkatonce。Theconditionofhismindwasintruthbad，andwasbecomingworse，probably，fromdaytoday；butstillhedidmakehiscalculationsaboutthings，andnowreflectedthatitwouldbesufficientifhespoketohischaplaintomorrowaboutMrCrawley’sletter。SincetheterriblescenethatDrTempesthadwitnessed，hehadneverbeenabletomakeuphismindthatsomegreatstepwasnecessary。Thereweremomentsinwhichhethoughtthathewouldresignhisbishopric。Forsuchresignation，withoutacknowledgedincompetenceonthescoreofinfirmity，theprecedentswereveryfew；buteveniftherewerenoprecedents，itwouldbebettertodothatthentoremainwherehewas。Ofcoursetherewouldbedisgrace。Butthenitwouldbedisgracefromwhichhecouldhidehimself。Nowtherewasequaldisgrace；andhecouldnothidehimself。
Andthensuchameasureasthatwouldbringpunishmentwherepunishmentwasdue。Itwouldbringhiswifetotheground——herwhohadbroughthimtotheground。Thesufferingshouldnotbeallhisown。Whenshefoundthatherincome，andherpalace，andherpositionwereallgone，thenperhapsshemightrepenttheevilthatshehaddonehim。Now，whenhewasleftalone，hismindwentbacktothis，andhedidnotthinkoftakingimmediatemeasures——measuresonthatveryday——topreventtheactionofMrThumble。
ButMrsProudiedidtakeimmediatesteps。MrThumblewasatthismomentinthepalacewaitingforinstructions。ItwashewhohadbroughtMrCrawley’slettertoMrsProudie，andshenowreturnedtohimwiththatletterinherhand。Thereaderwillknowwhatwastheresult。MrThumblewassentofftoHogglestockatonceonthebishop’soldcob，and——aswillberemembered，fellintotroubleontheroad。Lateintheafternoon，heenteredthepalaceyardhavingledthecobbythebridlethewholewayhomefromHogglestock。
SomehourortwobeforeMrThumble’sreturnMrsProudiereturnedtoherhusband，thinkingitbettertolethimknowwhatshehaddone。Sheresolvedtobeveryfirmwithhim，butatthesametimeshedeterminednottouseharshlanguageifitcouldbeavoided。’Mydear，’shesaid，’IhavearrangedwithMrThumble。’Shefoundhimonthisoccasionsittingathisdeskwithpapersbeforehim，withapeninhishand；andshecouldseeataglancethatnothinghadbeenwrittenonthepaper。
Whatwouldshehavethoughthadsheknownthatwhenheplacedthesheetbeforehimhewasproposingtoconsultthearchbishopastotheproprietyofhisresignation！Hehadnot，however，progressedsofarastowriteeventhedateofhisletter。
’Youhavedonewhat？’saidhe，throwingdownhispen。
’IhavearrangedwithMrThumbleastogoingouttoHogglestock，’shesaidfirmly。’Indeedhehasgonealready。’Thenthebishopjumpedupfromhisseat，andrangthebellwithviolence。’Whatareyougoingtodo？’saidMrsProudie。
’Iamgoingtodepartfromhere，’hesaid。’Iwillnotstayheretobethemarkofscornforallmen’sfingers。Iwillresignthediocese。’
’Youcannotdothat，’saidhiswife。
’Icantry，atanyrate，’saidhe。Thentheservantentered。’John，’
saidhe，addressingtheman，’letMrThumbleknowthemomenthereturnstothepalaceIwishtoseehimhere。Perhapshemaynotcometothepalace。Inthatcaseletwordbesenttohishouse。’
MrsProudieallowedthemantogobeforesheaddressedherhusbandagain。’WhatdoyoumeantosaytoMrThumblewhenyouseehim？’
’Thatisnothingtoyou。’
Shecameuptohimandputherhanduponhisshoulder，andspoketohimverygently。’Tom，’shesaid，’isthatthewayinwhichyouspeaktoyourwife？’
’Yes，itis。Youhavedrivenmetoit。WhyhaveyoutakenuponyourselftosendthatmantoHogglestock？’
’Becauseitwasrighttodoso。Icametoyouforinstructions，andyouwouldgivenone。’
’IshouldhavegivenwhatinstructionsIpleasedinpropertime。ThumbleshallnotgotoHogglestocknextSunday。’
’Whoshallgo，then？’
’Nevermind。Nobody。Itdoesnotmattertoyou。IfyouwillleavemenowIshallbeobligedtoyou。Therewillbeanendofallthisverysoon——verysoon。’
MrsProudiestoodforawhilethinkingwhatshewouldsay；butshelefttheroomwithoututteringanotherword。Asshelookedathimahundreddifferentthoughtscameintohermind。Shehadlovedhimdearly，andshelovedhimstill；butsheknewnow——atthismomentfeltabsolutelysure——thatbyhimshewashated！Inspiteofallherroughnessandtemper，MrsProudiewasinthislikeotherwomen——thatshewouldfainhavebeenlovedhaditbeenpossible。Shehadalwaysmeanttoservehim。
Shewasconsciousofthat；consciousalsoinawaythat，althoughshehadbeenindustrious，althoughshehadbeenfaithful，althoughshewasclever，yetshehadfailed。Atthebottomofherheartsheknewthatshehadbeenabadwife。Andyetshehadmeanttobeapatternwife！ShehadmeanttobeagoodChristian；butshehadsoexercisedherChristianitythatnotasoulintheworldlovedher，orwouldendureherpresenceifitcouldbeavoided！Shehadsufficientinsighttothemindsandfeelingsofthosearoundhertobeawareofthis。Andnowherhusbandhadtoldherthathertyrannytohimwassooverbearingthathemustthrowuphisgreatposition，andretiretoanobscuritythatwouldbeexceptionallydisgracefultothemboth，becausehecouldnolongerendurethepublicdisgracewhichherconductbroughtuponhiminhishighplacebeforetheworld！Herheartwastoofullforspeech；andshelefthim，veryquietlyclosingthedoorbehindher。
Shewaspreparingtogouptoherchamber，withherhandonthebanistersandwithherfootuponthestairs，whenshesawtheservantwhohadansweredthebishop’sbell。’John，’shesaid，’whenMrThumblecomestothepalace，letmeseehimbeforehegoestomylord。’
’Yes，ma’am，’saidJohn，whowellunderstoodthenatureofthosequarrelsbetweenhismasterandhismistress。Butthecommandsofthemistresswerestillparamountamongtheservants，andJohnproceededonhismissionwiththeviewofaccomplishingMrsProudie’sbehests。ThenMrsProudiewentupstairstoherchamber，andlockedherdoor。
MrThumblereturnedtoBarchesterthatday，leadingthebroken—downcob；andadreadfulwalkhehad。Hewasnotgoodatwalking，andbeforehecamenearBarchesterhadcometoentertainaviolenthatredforthebeastthathewasleading。Theleadingofahorsethatistired，orinpain，orevenstiffinhislimbs，isnotpleasantwork。Thebrutewillnotaccommodatehispacestotheman，andwillcontrivetomakehisheadveryheavyonthebridle。Andhewillnotwalkonthepartoftheroadwhichthemanintendsforhim，butwillleanagainsttheman，andwillmakehimselfaltogetherdisagreeable。Itmaybeunderstood，therefore，thatMrThumblewasnotinagoodhumourwhenheenteredthepalaceyard。Norwasaltogetherquietinhismindastotheinjurywhichhehaddonetotheanimal。’Itwasthebrute’sfault，’saidMrThumble。’Itcomesgenerallyofnotknowinghowtoride’em，’saidthegroom。ForMrThumble，thoughheoftenhadahorseoutoftheepiscopalstables，wasnotreadywithhisshillingstothemanwhowaiteduponhimwiththesteed。
Hehadnot，however，cometoanysatisfactoryunderstandingrespectingthebrokenkneeswhenthefootmanfromthepalacetoldhimthathewaswanted。ItwasinvainthatMrThumblepleadedthathewasnearlydeadwithfatigue，thathehadwalkedallthewayfromHogglestockandmustgohometochangehisclothes。Johnwasperemptorywithhim，insistingthathemustwaitfirstuponMrsProudieandthenwaituponthebishop。
MrThumblemightperhapshaveturnedadeafeartothelattercommand，buttheformerwasonewhichhefelthimselfboundtoobey。Soheenteredthepalace，rathercross，verymuchsoiledastohisouterman；
andinthisconditionwentupacertainsmallstaircasewhichwasfamiliartohim，toasmallparlourwhichadjoinedMrsProudie’sroom，andthereawaitedthearrivalofthelady。Thatheshouldberequiredtowaitsomequarterofanhourwasnotsurprisingtohim；butwhenhalfanhourwasgone，andherememberedhimselfofhisownwifeathome，andofthedinnerwhichhehadnotyeteaten，heventuredtoringthebell。MrsProudie’sownmaid，MrsDraperbyname，cametohimandsaidthatshehadknockedtwiceatMrsProudie’sdoorandwouldknockagain。Twominutesafterthatshereturned，runningintotheroomwithherarmsextended，andexclaiming，’Ohheavens，sir；mistressisdead！’MrThumble，hardlyknowingwhathewasabout，followedthewomanintothebedroom，andtherehefoundhimselfstandingawe—struckbeforethecorpseofherwhohadsolatelybeenthepresidingspiritofthepalace。
Thebodywasstillrestingonitslegs，leaningagainsttheendofthesideofthebed，whileoneofthearmswascloseclaspedroundthebed—post。Themouthwasrigidlyclose，buttheeyeswereopenasthoughtstaringathim。Neverthelesstherecouldbenodoubtfromthefirstglancethatthewomanwasdead。Hewentupclosetoit，butdidnotdaretotouchit。TherewasnoonethereasyetbutheandMrsDraper；——nooneelseknewwhathadhappened。
’It’sherheart，’saidMrsDraper。
’Didshesufferfromheartcomplaint？’heasked。
’Wesuspectedit，sir，thoughnobodyknewit。Shewasveryshyoftalkingaboutherself。’
’Wemustsendforthedoctoratonce，’saidMrThumble。’Wehadbettertouchnothingtillheishere。’Thentheyretreatedandthedoorwaslocked。
Intenminuteseverybodyinthehouseknewitexceptthebishop；andintwentyminutesthenearestapothecarywithhisassistantwereintheroom，andthebodyhadbeenproperlylaiduponthebed。Eventhenthehusbandhadnotbeentold——didnotknoweitherhisrelieforhisloss。
Itwasnowpastseven，whichwastheusualhourfordinneratthepalace，anditwasprobablethathewouldcomeoutofhisroomamongtheservants，ifhewerenotsummoned。WhenitwasproposedtoMrThumblethatheshouldgoinandtellhim，hepositivelydeclined，sayingthatthesightwhichhehadjustseenandtheexertionsofthedaytogether，hadsounnervedhim，thathehadnotphysicalstrengthforthetask。Theapothecary，whohadbeensummonedinahurry，hadescaped，probablybeingequallyunwillingtobethebearerofsuchacommunication。ThedutythereforefelltoMrsDraper，andunderthepressinginstanceoftheotherservantsshedescendedtohermaster’sroom。Haditnotbeenthatthehourofdinnerhadcome，sothatthebishopcouldnothavebeenleftmuchlongertohimself，theeviltimewouldhavebeenstillpostponed。
Shewentveryslowlyalongthepassage，andwasjustgoingtopauseereshereachedtheroomwhenthedoorwasopenedandthebishopstoodclosebeforeher。Itwaseasytobeseenthathewascross。Hishandsandfacewereunwashedandhisfacewashaggard。Inthesedayshewouldnotevengothroughtheceremonyofdressinghimselfbeforedinner。’MrsDraper，’
hesaid，’whydon’ttheytellmethatdinnerisready？Aretheygoingtogivemeanydinner？’Shestoodamomentwithoutansweringhim，whilethetearsstreameddownherface。’Whatisthematter？’saidhe。’Hasyourmistresssentyouhere？’
’Ohlaws！’saidMrsDraper——andsheputoutherhandstosupporthimifsuchsupportshouldbenecessary。
’Whatisthematter？’hedemandedangrily。
’Oh，mylord——bearitlikeaChristian。Mistressisn’tnomore。’Heleanedbackagainstthedoor—postandshetookholdofhimbythearms。
’Itwastheheart，mylord。DrFilgravehisselfhasnotbeenyet；butthat’swhatitwas。’Thebishopdidnotsayaword，butwalkedbacktohischairbeforethefire。
CHAPTERLXVII
INMEMORIAM
Thebishopwhenhehadheardofthetidingsofhiswife’sdeathwalkedbacktohisseatoverthefire，andMrsDraper，thehousekeepercameandstoodoverhimwithoutspeaking。Thusshestoodfortenminuteslookingdownathimandlistening。Buttherewasnosound；notaword，noramoan，norasob。Itwasasthoughhealsoweredead，butthataslightirregularmovementofhisfingersonthetopofhisbaldhead，toldherthathismindandbodywerestillactive。’Mylord，’shesaidatlast，’wouldyouwishtoseethedoctorwhenhecomes？’Shespokeverylowandhedidnotanswerher。Then，afteranotherminuteofsilence，sheaskedthesamequestionagain。
’Whatdoctor？’hesaid。
’DrFilgrave。Wesentforhim。Perhapsheisherenow。ShallIgoandsee，mylord？’MrsDraperfoundthatherpositiontherewaswearyandshewishedtoescape。Anythingonhisbehalfrequiringtroubleorworkshewouldhavedonewillingly；butshecouldnotstandthereforever，watchingthemotionofhisfingers。
’IsupposeImustseehim，’saidthebishop。MrsDrapertookthisasanorderforherdeparture，andcreptsilentlyoutoftheroom，closingthedoorbehindherwiththelongprotractedelaborateclickwhichisalwaysproducedbyanattemptatsilenceonsuchoccasions。Hedidnotcarefornoiseorforsilence。Hadsheslammedthedoorhewouldnothaveregardedit。Awonderfulsilencehadcomeuponhimwhichforthetimealmostcrushedhim。Hewouldneverhearthatwell—knownvoiceagain！