he bishop has been placed in a very delicate position," said Mr
Thumble, pleading for his patron.

"I don't know the meaning of the word 'delicate'," said Robarts.
"I think his duty was very clear, to avoid interference whilst the
matter is, so to say, before the judge."

"Nobody has anything else to propose?" said Dr. Tempest. "Then I will
write to Mr. Crawley and you, gentlemen, will perhaps do me the honour
of meeting me here at one o'clock on this day week." Then the meeting
was over, and the four clergymen having shaken hands with Dr. Tempest
in the hall, all promised that they would return on that day week. So
far, Dr. Tempest had carried his point exactly as he might have done
had the four gentlemen been represented by the chairs on which they
had sat.

"I shan't come again, all the same, unless I know where I'm to get my
expenses," said Mr. Quiverful, as he got into the gig.

"I shall come," said Mr. Thumble, "because I think it a duty. Of
course it is a hardship." Mr. Thumble liked the idea of being joined
with such men as Dr. Tempest, and Mr. Oriel, and Mr. Robarts, and
would any day have paid the expense of a gig from Barchester to
Silverbridge out of his own pocket, for the sake of sitting with such
benchfellows on any clerical inquiry.

"One's first duty is to one's own wife and family," said Mr
Quiverful.

"Well, yes; in a way, of course, that is quite true, Mr. Quiverful;
and when we know how very inadequate are the incomes of the working
clergy, we cannot but feel ourselves to be, if I may so say, put
upon, when we have to defray the expenses incidental to special
duties out of our own pockets. I think, you know,--I don't mind
saying this to you,--that the palace should have provided us with
a chaise and pair." This was ungrateful on the part of Mr. Thumble,
who had been permitted to ride miles upon miles to various outlying
clerical duties upon the bishop's worn-out cob. "You see," continued
Mr. Thumble, "you and I go specially to represent the palace, and the
palace ought to remember that. I think there ought to have been a
chaise and pair; I do indeed."

"I don't care much what the conveyance is," said Mr. Quiverful; "but I
certainly shall pay nothing more out of my own pocket;--certainly I
shall not."

"The result will be that the palace will be thrown over if they
don't take care," said Mr. Thumble. "Tempest, however, seems to be
pretty steady. Tempest, I think, is steady. You see he is g