ound guilty, then will come that difficulty to the
bishop, in which we are bound to give him any assistance within our
power."

"Of course we are," said Mr. Thumble, who, having heard his own voice
once, and having liked the sound, thought that he might creep into a
little importance by using it on any occasion that opened itself for
him.

"If you will allow me, sir, I will venture to state my views as
shortly as I can," said Dr. Tempest. "That may perhaps be the most
expeditious course for us all in the end."

"Oh, certainly," said Mr. Thumble. "I didn't mean to interrupt."

"In the case of his being found guilty," continued the doctor, "there
will arise the question whether the punishment awarded to him by
the judge should suffice for ecclesiastical purposes. Suppose, for
instance, that he should be imprisoned for two months, should he be
allowed to return to his living at the expiration of that term?"

"I think he ought," said Mr. Robarts:--"considering all things."

"I don't see why he shouldn't," said Mr. Quiverful.

Mr. Oriel sat listening patiently, and Mr. Thumble looked up to the
doctor, expecting to hear some opinion expressed by him with which he
might coincide.

"There certainly are reasons why he should not," said Dr. Tempest;
"though I by no means say that those reasons are conclusive in the
present case. In the first place, a man who has stolen money can
hardly be a fitting person to teach others not to steal."

"You must look to the circumstances," said Robarts.

"Yes, that is true; but just bear with me a moment. It cannot, at any
rate, be thought that a clergyman should come out of prison and go
to his living without any notice from his bishop, simply because he
has already been punished under the common law. If this were so, a
clergyman might be fined ten days running for being drunk in the
street,--five shillings each time,--and at the end of that time might
set his bishop at defiance. When a clergyman has shown himself to
be utterly unfit for clerical duties, he must not be held to be
protected from ecclesiastical censure or from deprivation by the
action of the common law."

"But Mr. Crawley has not shown himself to be unfit," said Robarts.

"That is begging the question, Robarts," said the doctor.

"Just so," said Mr. Thumble. Then Mr. Robarts gave a look at Mr
Thumble, and Mr. Thumble retired into his shoes.

"That is the question as to which we are called upon to advise the
bis