etting
tired of parish work, and would like to go into the close. That's
what he is looking out for. Did you ever see such a fellow as that
Robarts,--just look at him;--quite indecent, wasn't he? He thinks he
can have his own way in everything, just because his sister married a
lord. I do hate to see all that meanness."

Mark Robarts and Caleb Oriel left Silverbridge in another gig by the
same road, and soon passed their brethren, as Mr. Robarts was in the
habit of driving a large, quick-stepping horse. The last remarks were
being made as the dust from the vicar of Framley's wheels saluted the
faces of the two slower clergymen. Mr. Oriel had promised to dine and
sleep at Framley, and therefore returned in Mr. Robarts's gig.

"Quite unnecessary, all this fuss; don't you think so?" said Mr
Robarts.

"I am not quite sure," said Mr. Oriel. "I can understand that the
bishop may have found a difficulty."

"The bishop indeed! The bishop doesn't care two straws about it. It's
Mrs. Proudie! She has put her finger on the poor man's neck because
he has not put his neck beneath her feet; and now she thinks she can
crush him,--as she would crush you or me, if it were in her power.
That's about the long and the short of the bishop's solicitude."

"You are very hard on him," said Mr. Oriel.

"I know him;--and am not all hard on him. She is hard upon him if you
like. Tempest is fair. He is very fair, and as long as no one meddles
with him he won't do amiss. I can't hold my tongue always, but I
often know that it is better that I should."

Dr. Tempest said not a word to any one on the subject, not even in his
own defence. And yet he was sorely tempted. On the very day of the
meeting he dined at Mr. Walker's in Silverbridge, and there submitted
to be talked to by all the ladies and most of the gentlemen present,
without saying a word in his own defence. And yet a word or two would
have been so easy and so conclusive.

"Oh, Dr. Tempest," said Mary Walker, "I am so sorry that you have
joined the bishop."

"Are you, my dear?" said he. "It is generally thought well that a
parish clergyman should agree with his bishop."

"But you know, Dr. Tempest, that you don't agree with your bishop
generally."

"Then it is the more fortunate that I shall be able to agree with him
on this occasion."

Major Grantly was present at the dinner, and ventured to ask the
doctor in the course of the evening what he thought would be done. "I
should