he
cathedral he would, he thought, lie in bed a little longer. And then
he had lain in bed the whole day. "And, perhaps, honoured madam,
looking at all things, it's best as he should," said Mrs. Baxter.

CHAPTER L

Lady Lufton's Proposition

It was now known throughout Barchester that a commission was to be
held by the bishop's orders, at which inquiry would be made,--that
is, ecclesiastical inquiry,--as to the guilt imputed to Mr. Crawley
in the matter of Mr. Soames's cheque. Sundry rumours had gone abroad
as to quarrels which had taken place on the subject among certain
clergymen high in office; but these were simply rumours, and nothing
was in truth known. There was no more discreet clergyman in all the
diocese than Dr. Tempest, and not a word had escaped from him as to
the stormy nature of that meeting in the bishop's palace, at which he
had attended with the bishop,--and at which Mrs. Proudie had attended
also. When it is said that the fact of this coming commission was
known to all Barsetshire, allusion is of course made to that portion
of the inhabitants of Barsetshire to which clerical matters were
dear;--and as such matters were specially dear to the inhabitants of
the parish of Framley, the commission was discussed very eagerly in
that parish, and was specially discussed by the Dowager Lady Lufton.

And there was a double interest attached to the commission in the
parish of Framley by the fact that Mr. Robarts, the vicar, had
been invited by Dr. Tempest to be one of the clergymen who were to
assist in making the inquiry. "I also to propose to ask Mr. Oriel
of Greshamsbury to join us," said Dr. Tempest. "The bishop wishes
to appoint the other two, and has already named Mr. Thumble and Mr
Quiverful, who are both residents in the city. Perhaps his lordship
may be right in thinking it better that the matter should not be left
altogether in the hands of clergymen who hold livings in the diocese.
You are no doubt aware that neither Mr. Thumble nor Mr. Quiverful do
hold any benefice." Mr. Robarts felt,--as everybody else did feel who
knew anything of the matter,--that Bishop Proudie was singularly
ignorant in his knowledge of men, and that he showed his ignorance on
this special occasion. "If he intended to name two such men he should
at any rate have named three," said Dr. Thorne. "Mr. Thumble and Mr
Quiverful will simply be outvoted on the first day, and after that
will give in their adhesion to the ma