. Robarts did feel it hard that his friend
the archdeacon should be snubbed in this way because he was deficient
in reverence for his bishop! "I thought, Crawley," he said, "that
you yourself were inclined to dispute orders coming to you from the
palace. The world at least says as much concerning you."

"What the world says of me I have learned to disregard very much, Mr
Robarts. But I hope that I shall never disobey the authority of the
Church when properly and legally exercised."

"I hope with all my heart you never will; not I either. And the
archdeacon, who knows, to the breadth of a hair, what a bishop ought
to do and what he ought not, and what he may do and what he may not,
will, I should say, be the last man in England to sin in that way."

"Very probably. I am far from contradicting you there. Pray
understand, Mr. Robarts, that I bring no accusation against the
archdeacon. Why should I?"

"I didn't mean to discuss him at all."

"Nor did I, Mr. Robarts."

"I only mentioned his name, because, as I said, he was over with us
the other day at Framley, and we were all talking about your affair."

"My affair!" said Mr. Crawley. And then came a frown upon his brow,
and a gleam of fire into his eyes, which effectually banished that
look of extreme humility which he had assumed. "And may I ask why the
archdeacon was discussing--my affair?"

"Simply from the kindness which he bears to you."

"I am grateful for the archdeacon's kindness, as a man is bound to be
for any kindness, whether displayed wisely or unwisely. But it seems
to me that my affair, as you call it, Mr. Robarts, is of that nature
that they who wish well to me will better further their wishes by
silence than by any discussion."

"Then I cannot agree with you." Mr. Crawley shrugged his shoulders,
opened his hands a little and then closed them, and bowed his head.
He could not have declared more clearly by any words that he differed
altogether from Mr. Robarts, and that as the subject was one so
peculiarly his own he had a right to expect that his opinion should
be allowed to prevail against that of any other person. "If you come
to that, you know, how is anybody's tongue to be stopped?"

"That vain tongues cannot be stopped, I am well aware. I do not
expect that people's tongues should be stopped. I am not saying what
men will do, but what good wishes should dictate."

"Well, perhaps you'll hear me out for a minute." Mr. Crawley again
bowed hi