gs; seeing, as she could not help seeing, that the matter
had been dreadfully mismanaged, and that great weakness had been
displayed;--seeing that these faults had already been committed,
perhaps no better step could now be taken than that proposed in the
letter.

"I suppose he will not come," said the bishop.

"I think he will," said Mrs. Proudie, "and I trust that we may be able
to convince him that obedience will be his best course. He will be
more humble-minded here than at Hogglestock." In saying this the lady
showed some knowledge of the general nature of clergymen and of the
world at large. She understood how much louder a cock can crow in
its own farmyard than elsewhere, and knew that episcopal authority,
backed by all the solemn awe of palatial grandeur, goes much further
than it will do when sent under the folds of an ordinary envelope.
But though she understood ordinary human nature, it may be that she
did not understand Mr. Crawley's nature.

But she was at any rate right in her idea as to Mr. Crawley's
immediate reply. The palace groom who rode over to Hogglestock
returned with an immediate answer.

MY LORD--[said Mr. Crawley]

I will obey your lordship's summons, and, unless
impediments should arise, I will wait upon your lordship
at the hour you name to-morrow. I will not trespass on
your hospitality. For myself, I rarely break bread in any
house but my own; and as to the horse, I have none.

I have the honour to be,
My lord, &c &c,

JOSIAH CRAWLEY.

"Of course I shall go," he had said to his wife as soon as he had had
time to read the letter, and make known to her the contents. "I shall
go if it be possible for me to get there. I think that I am bound to
comply with the bishop's wishes in so much as that."

"But how will you get there, Josiah?"

"I will walk,--with the Lord's aid."

Now Hogglestock was fifteen miles from Barchester, and Mr. Crawley
was, as his wife well knew, by no means fitted in his present state
for great physical exertion. But from the tone in which he had
replied to her, she well knew that it would not avail for her to
remonstrate at the moment. He had walked more than thirty miles in a
day since they had been living at Hogglestock, and she did not doubt
but that it might be possible for him to do it again. Any scheme,
which she might be able to devise for saving him from so terrible
a journey in the middle of winter, must be pondered o