may come when it will be your lordship's
duty, in accordance with the laws of the Church,--as borne out and
backed by the laws of the land, to provide during my constrained
absence for the spiritual wants of those poor people at Hogglestock."

"Poor people, indeed," said Mrs. Proudie. "Poor wretches!"

"And, my lord, it may well be, that it shall soon be your lordship's
duty to take due and legal steps for depriving me of my benefice at
Hogglestock;--nay, probably, for silencing me altogether as to the
exercise of my sacred profession!"

"Of course it will, sir. Your gown will be taken from you," said Mrs
Proudie. The bishop was looking with all his eyes up at the great
forehead and great eyebrows of the man, and was so fascinated by the
power that was exercised over him by the other man's strength that he
hardly now noticed his wife.

"It may well be so," continued Mr. Crawley. "The circumstances are
strong against me; and, though your lordship has altogether
misunderstood the nature of the duty performed by the magistrates in
sending my case for trial,--although, as it seems to me, you have
come to conclusions in this matter in ignorance of the very theory of
our laws--"

"Sir!" said Mrs. Proudie.

"Yet I can foresee the probability that a jury will may discover me
to have been guilty of theft."

"Of course the jury will do," said Mrs. Proudie.

"Should such verdict be given, then, my lord, your interference will
be legal, proper, and necessary. And you will find that, even if it
be within my power to oppose obstacles to your lordship's authority,
I will oppose no such obstacle. There is, I believe, no appeal in
criminal cases."

"None at all," said Mrs. Proudie. "There is no appeal against your
bishop. You should have learned that before."

"But till that time shall come, my lord, I shall hold my own at
Hogglestock as you hold your own here at Barchester. Nor have you
more power to turn me out of my pulpit by your mere voice, than I
have to turn you out of your throne by mine. If you doubt me, my
lord, your lordship's ecclesiastical court is open to you. Try it
there."

"You defy us, then?" said Mrs. Proudie.

"My lord, I grant your authority as bishop is great, but even a
bishop can only act as the law allows him."

"God forbid that I should do more," said the bishop.

"Sir, you will find that your wicked threats will fall back upon your
own head," said Mrs. Proudie.

"Peace, woman," Mr. Crawley