n the parish."

"That's all very well; and of course she'll do as she likes. She may
ask whom she pleases here, and I shan't interfere. It's the same as
though it was her own house. But I shall take Lucy to Lufton." Now
Lord Lufton had been building his house at Lufton for the last seven
years and it was not yet finished,--or nearly finished, if all that
his wife had said were true. And if they could have their way, it
never would be finished. And so, in order that Lord Lufton might not
actually be driven away by the turmoils of ecclesiastical contest,
the younger Lady Lufton would endeavour to moderate both the wrath
and the zeal of the elder one, and would struggle against the coming
clergymen. On this day, however, three sat at the board at Framley,
and Lady Lufton, in her justification to her son, swore that the
invitation had been given by her daughter-in-law. "You know, my
dear," the dowager said to Lord Lufton, "something must be done for
these poor Crawleys; and as the dean is away, Lucy wants to speak to
the archdeacon about them."

"And the archdeacon could not subscribe his ten-pound note without
having Mr. Champion to back him?"

"My dear Ludovic, you do put it in such a way."

"Never mind, mother. I've no special dislike to Champion, only as
you are not paid five thousand pound a year for your trouble, it is
rather hard that you should have to do all the work of opposition
bishop in the diocese."

It was felt by them all,--including Lord Lufton himself, who became
so interested in the matter as to forgive the black coats before the
evening was over,--that this matter of Mr. Crawley's committal was
very serious, and demanded the full energies of their party. It was
known to them all that the feeling at the palace was inimical to Mr
Crawley. "That she-Beelzebub hates him for his poverty, and because
Arabin brought him into the diocese," said the archdeacon, permitting
himself to use very strong language in his allusion to the bishop's
wife. It must be recorded on his behalf that he used the phrase in
the presence only of the gentlemen of the party. I think he might
have whispered the word in the ear of his confidential friend old
Lady Lufton, and perhaps have given no offence; but he would not have
ventured to use such words aloud in the presence of ladies.

"You forget, archdeacon," said Dr. Thorne, laughing, "that the
she-Beelzebub is my wife's particular friend."

"Not a bit of it," said the archd