our people, Mr. Crawley, I came to the conclusion that
it would be expedient that you should cease your ministrations
for awhile." The bishop paused, and Mr. Crawley bowed his head.
"I, therefore, sent over to you a gentleman with whom I am well
acquainted, Mr. Thumble, with a letter from myself, in which I
endeavoured to impress upon you, without the use of any severe
language, what my convictions were."

"Severe words are often the best mercy," said Mrs. Proudie. Mr. Crawley
had raised his hand, with his finger out, preparatory to answering
the bishop. But as Mrs. Proudie had spoken he dropped his finger and
was silent.

"Mr. Thumble brought me back your written reply," continued the
bishop, "by which I was grieved to find that you were not willing to
submit yourself to my counsel in the matter."

"I was most unwilling, my lord. Submission to authority is at times a
duty;--and at times opposition to authority is a duty also."

"Opposition to just authority cannot be a duty, Mr. Crawley."

"Opposition to usurped authority is an imperative duty," said Mr
Crawley.

"And who is to be the judge?" demanded Mrs. Proudie. Then there was
silence for a while; when, as Mr. Crawley made no reply, the lady
repeated her question. "Will you be pleased to answer my question,
sir? Who, in such a case, is to be the judge?" But Mr. Crawley did
not please to answer the question. "The man is obstinate," said Mrs
Proudie.

"I had better proceed," said the bishop. "Mr. Thumble brought me back
your reply, which grieved me greatly."

"It was contumacious and indecent," said Mrs. Proudie.

The bishop again shook his head and looked so utterly miserable that
a smile came across Mr. Crawley's face. After all, others besides
himself had their troubles and trials. Mrs. Proudie saw and understood
the smile, and became more angry than ever. She drew her chair close
to the table, and began to fidget with her fingers among the papers.
She had never before encountered a clergyman so contumacious, so
indecent, so unreverend,--so upsetting. She had had to deal with men
difficult to manage;--the archdeacon for instance; but the archdeacon
had never been so impertinent to her as this man. She had quarrelled
once openly with a chaplain of her husband's, a clergyman whom she
herself had introduced to her husband, and who had treated her
very badly;--but not so badly, not with such unscrupulous violence,
as she was now encountering from this ill-c