is a matter of no consequence whatever. In such a preliminary
inquiry any three clergymen will suffice. It need not be done by the
rural dean at all."

"My dear!"

"I will not be turned out of this room by Dr. Tempest;--and that is
enough."

"My lord," said the doctor, "you had better write to me as I proposed
to you just now."

"His lordship will not write. His lordship will do nothing of the
kind," said Mrs. Proudie.

"My dear!" said the bishop, driven in his perplexity beyond all
carefulness of reticence. "My dear, I do wish you wouldn't,--I do
indeed. If you would only go away!"

"I will not go away, my lord," said Mrs. Proudie.

"But I will," said Dr. Tempest, feeling true compassion for the
unfortunate man whom he saw writhing in agony before him. "It will
manifestly be for the best that I should retire. My lord, I wish you
good morning. Mrs. Proudie, good morning." And so he left the room.

"A most stubborn and a most ungentlemanlike man," said Mrs. Proudie,
as soon as the door was closed behind the retreating rural dean. "I
do not think that in the whole course of my life I ever met with
any one so insubordinate and so ill-mannered. He is worse than the
archdeacon." As she uttered these words she paced about the room. The
bishop said nothing; and when she herself had been silent for a few
minutes she turned upon him. "Bishop," she said, "I hope that you
agree with me. I expect that you will agree with me in a matter that
is so of much moment to my comfort, and I may say to my position
generally in the diocese. Bishop, why do you not speak?"

"You have behaved in such a way that I do not know that I shall ever
speak again," said the bishop.

"What is that you say?"

"I say that I do not know how I shall ever speak again. You have
disgraced me."

"Disgraced you! I disgrace you! It is you that disgrace yourself by
saying such words."

"Very well. Let it be so. Perhaps you will go away now and leave me
to myself. I have got a bad headache, and I can't talk any more. Oh
dear, oh dear, what will he think of it!"

"And you mean to tell me that I have been wrong?"

"Yes, you have been wrong,--very wrong. Why didn't you go away when I
asked you? You are always being wrong. I wish I had never come to
Barchester. In any other position I should not have felt it so much.
As it is I do not know how I can ever show my face again."

"Not have felt what so much, Mr. Proudie?" said the wife, going back
in t