jority." "Mr. Thumble, indeed!"
Lady Lufton had said, with much scorn in her voice. To her thinking,
it was absurd in the highest degree that such men as Dr. Tempest and
her Mr. Robarts should be asked to meet Mr. Thumble and Mr. Quiverful on
a matter of ecclesiastical business. Outvoted! Of course whey would
be outvoted. Of course they would be so paralysed by fear at finding
themselves in the presence of real gentlemen, that they would hardly
be able to vote at all. Old Lady Lufton did not in fact utter words
so harsh as these; but thoughts as harsh passed through her mind. The
reader therefore will understand that much interest was felt on the
subject at Framley Court, where Lady Lufton lived with her son and
daughter-in-law.

"They tell me," said Lady Lufton, "that both the archdeacon and Dr
Tempest think it is right that a commission should be held. If so, I
have no doubt that it is right."

"Mark says that the bishop could hardly do anything else," rejoined
Mrs. Robarts.

"I daresay not, my dear. I suppose the bishop has somebody near him
to tell him what he may do, and what he may not do. It would be
terrible to think of, if it were not so. But yet, when I hear that he
has named such men as Mr. Thumble and Mr. Quiverful, I cannot but feel
that the whole diocese is disgraced."

"Oh, Lady Lufton, that is such a strong word," said Mrs. Robarts.

"It may be strong, but it is not the less true," said Lady Lufton.

And from talking on the subject of the Crawleys, Lady Lufton soon
advanced, first to a desire for some action, and than to acting. "I
think, my dear, I will go over and see Mrs. Crawley," said Lady Lufton
the elder to Lady Lufton the younger. Lady Lufton the younger had
nothing to urge against this; but she did not offer to accompany the
elder Lady. I attempted to explain in the early part of this story
that there still existed a certain understanding between Mrs. Crawley
and Lord Lufton's wife, and that kindnesses occasionally passed from
Framley Court to Hogglestock Parsonage; but on this occasion young
Lady Lufton,--the Lucy Robarts who had once passed certain days
of her life with the Crawleys at Hogglestock,--did not choose to
accompany her mother-in-law; and therefore Mrs. Robarts was invited
to do so. "I think it may comfort her to know that she has our
sympathy," the elder woman said to the younger as they made their
journey together.

When the carriage stopped before the little wicket-gate,