hop," continued Dr. Tempest. "And I must say that I think the
bishop is right. If he were to allow the matter to pass by without
notice,--that is to say, in the event of Mr. Crawley being pronounced
guilty by a jury,--he would, I think, neglect in his duty. Now I have
been informed that the bishop has recommended Mr. Crawley to desist
from his duties till the trial be over, and that Mr. Crawley has
declined to take the bishop's advice."

"That is true," said Mr. Thumble. "He altogether disregarded the
bishop."

"I cannot say that I think he was wrong," said Dr. Tempest.

"I think he was quite right," said Mr. Robarts.

"A bishop in almost all cases is entitled to the obedience of his
clergy," said Mr. Oriel.

"I must say that I agree with you, sir," said Mr. Thumble.

"The income is not large, and I suppose that it would have gone with
the duties," said Mr. Quiverful. "It is very hard for a man with a
family to live when his income has been stopped."

"Be that as it may," continued the doctor, "the bishop feels that it
may be his duty to oppose the return of Mr. Crawley to his pulpit, and
that he can oppose it in no other way than by proceeding against Mr
Crawley under the Clerical Offences Act. I propose, therefore, that
we should invite Mr. Crawley to attend here--"

"Mr. Crawley is not coming here to-day, then?" said Mr. Robarts.

"I thought it useless to ask for his attendance until we had settled
on our course of action," said Dr. Tempest. "If we are all agreed, I
will beg him to come here on this day week, when we will meet again.
And we will then ask him whether he will submit himself to the
bishop's decision, in the event of the jury finding him guilty. If
he should decline to do so, we can only then form our opinion as to
what will be the bishop's duty by reference to the facts as they are
elicited at the trial. If Mr. Crawley should choose to make to us
any statement as to his own case, of course we shall be willing to
receive it. That is my idea of what had better be done; and now, if
any gentleman has any other proposition to make, of course we shall
be pleased to hear him." Dr. Tempest, as he said this, looked round
upon his companions, as though his pleasure, under the circumstances
suggested by himself, would be very doubtful.

"I don't suppose we can do anything better," said Mr. Robarts. "I
think it a pity, however, that any steps should have been taken by
the bishop before the trial."

"T