id Mrs. Proudie, and then she left
the room.

He did not even yet suppose that she would go about this work at
once. The condition of his mind was in truth bad, and was becoming
worse, probably, from day to day; but still he did make his
calculations about things, and now reflected that it would be
sufficient if he spoke to his chaplain to-morrow about Mr. Crawley's
letter. Since the terrible scene that Dr. Tempest had witnessed, he
had never been able to make up his mind as to what great step he
would take, but he had made up his mind that some great step was
necessary. There were moments in which he thought that he would
resign his bishopric. For such resignation, without acknowledged
incompetence on the score of infirmity, the precedents were very few;
but even if there were no precedents, it would be better to do that
than to remain where he was. Of course there would be disgrace. But
then it would be disgrace from which he could hide himself. Now there
was equal disgrace; and he could not hide himself. And then such a
measure as that would bring punishment where punishment was due. It
would bring his wife to the ground,--her who had brought him to the
ground. The suffering should not be all his own. When she found that
her income, and her palace, and her position were all gone, then
perhaps she might repent the evil that she had done him. Now, when he
was left alone, his mind went back to this, and he did not think of
taking immediate measures,--measures on that very day,--to prevent
the action of Mr. Thumble.

But Mrs. Proudie did take immediate steps. Mr. Thumble was at this
moment in the palace waiting for instructions. It was he who had
brought Mr. Crawley's letter to Mrs. Proudie, and she now returned
to him with that letter in her hand. The reader will know what was
the result. Mr. Thumble was sent off to Hogglestock at once on the
bishop's old cob, and,--as will be remembered, fell into trouble on
the road. Late in the afternoon, he entered the palace yard having
led the cob by the bridle the whole way home from Hogglestock.

Some hour or two before Mr. Thumble's return Mrs. Proudie returned to
her husband, thinking it better to let him know what she had done.
She resolved to be very firm with him, but at the same time she
determined not to use harsh language if it could be avoided. "My
dear," she said, "I have arranged with Mr. Thumble." She found him on
this occasion sitting at his desk with papers bef