y rate undeserved,
determined that he would persevere.

Mrs. Crawley disappeared almost as soon as her husband appeared,
and Mr. Robarts found himself standing in front of his friend, who
remained fixed to the spot, with his hands folded over each other
and his neck slightly bent forward, in token also of humility. "I
regret," he said, "that your horse should be left there, exposed to
the inclemency of the weather; but--"

"The horse won't mind it a bit," said Mr. Robarts. "A parson's horse
is like a butcher's, and knows he mustn't be particular about waiting
in the cold."

"I never have had one myself," said Mr. Crawley. Now Mr. Robarts had
had more horses than one before now, and had been thought by some
to have incurred greater expense than was befitting in his stable
comforts. The subject, therefore, was a sore one, and he was worried
a little. "I just wanted to say a few words to you, Crawley," he
said, "and if I am not occupying too much of your time--"

"My time is altogether at your disposal. Will you be seated?"

Then Mr. Robarts sat down, and, swinging his hat between his legs,
bethought himself how he should begin his work. "We had the
archdeacon over at Framley the other day," he said. "Of course you
know the archdeacon?"

"I never had the advantage of any acquaintance with Dr. Grantly. Of
course I know him well by name, and also personally,--that is, by
sight."

"And by character?"

"Nay; I can hardly say so much as that. But I am aware that his name
stands high with many of his order."

"Exactly; that is what I mean. You know that his judgment is thought
more of in clerical matters than that of any other clergyman in the
county."

"By a certain party, Mr. Robarts."

"Well, yes. They don't think much of him, I suppose, at the palace.
But that won't lower him in your estimation."

"I by no means wish to derogate from Dr. Grantly's high position
in his own archdeaconry,--to which, as you are aware, I am not
attached,--nor to criticise his conduct in any respect. It would be
unbecoming in me to do so. But I cannot accept it as a point in a
clergyman's favour, that he should be opposed to his bishop."

Now this was too much for Mr. Robarts. After all that he had heard of
the visit paid by Mr. Crawley to the palace,--of the venom displayed
by Mrs. Proudie on that occasion, and of the absolute want of
subordination to episcopal authority which Mr. Crawley himself was
supposed to have shown,--Mr