Thentherewasapause。’Andwhathavetheygiventome?’saidMrCrawley,whentheman’sill—humourabouthissixpencehadsofarsubsidedastoallowofhisbusyinghimselfagainaboutthepremises。
  ’Yes,indeed;——yes,indeed,’saidthewoman。’Yes,yes,wefeelthat;
  wedoindeed,MrCrawley。’
  ’Itellyouwhat,sir;foranothersixpenceI’dhaveswornyou’dneverguv’methepaperatall;andsoIwillnow,ifitbean’ttoolate;——sixpenceornosixpence。WhatdoIcare?D———them。’
  ’Dan!’
  ’Andwhyshouldn’tI?Theyhain’tgotbrainsenoughamongthemtowinnythetruthfromthelies——notamongthelotof’em。I’llswearaforethejudgethatyoudidn’tgiveitmeatall,ifthat’lldoanygood。’
  ’Man,doyouthinkIwouldhaveyouperjureyourself,evenifthatwoulddomeaservice?Anddoyouthinkanymanwaseverservedbyalie?’
  ’Faix,amongthemchapsitdon’tdototellthemtoomuchofthetruth。
  Lookatthat!’Andhebroughtoutthesixpenceagainfromhisbreeches—pocket。’Andlookatyourreverence。Onlythatthey’veletyououtforawhile,they’vebeennighashardonyouasthoughyouwereoneofus。’
  ’IftheythinkthatIstoleit,theyhavebeenright,’saidMrCrawley。
  ’It’sbeenalongofthatchapSoames,’saidthewoman。’Thelordwould’vepaidthemoneyoutofhisownpocketandneversaidnotaword。’
  ’IftheythinkthatI’vebeenathief,they’vedoneright,’repeatedMrCrawley。’Buthowcantheythinkso?Howcantheythinkso?HaveIlivedlikeathiefamongthem?’
  ’Forthemattero’that,ifamanain’tpaidforhisworkbythemashisemployers,hemustpayhisself。Them’smynotions。Lookatthat!’
  Whereuponheagainpulledoutthesixpence,andhelditforthinthepalmofhishand。
  ’Youbelieve,then,’saidMrCrawley,speakingveryslowly,’thatIdidstealthemoney。Speakout,Dan;Ishallnotbeangry。Asyougoyouareanhonestmen,andIwanttoknowwhatsuchofyouthinkaboutit。’
  ’Hedon’tthinknothingofthekind,’saidthewoman,almostgettingoutofbedinherenergy。’Ifhe’thoughtthelikeo’thatinhishead,I’dread’unsuchalessonhe’dneverthinkagainthelongestdayhehadtolive。’
  ’Speakout,Dan,’saidtheclergyman,notattendingtothewoman。’Youcanunderstandthatnogoodcancomeoflie。’DanMorrisscratchedhishead。’Speakout,man,whenItellyou,’saidCrawley。
  ’Dratitall,’saidDan,’where’stheuseofsomuchjawaboutit?’
  ’Sayyouknowhisreverenceisasinnocentasthebabeasisn’tborn,’
  saidthewoman。
  ’No;Iwon’t——sayanythingofthekind,’saidDan。
  ’Speakoutthetruth,’saidCrawley。
  ’Theydosay,among’em,’saidDan,’thatyoupickeditup,andthengotwoolgatheringinyourheadtillyoudidn’trightlyknowwhereitcomefrom。’Thenhepaused。’Andafterabityouguv’itmetogetthemoney。
  Didn’tyou,now?’
  ’Idid。’
  ’Andtheydosayifapoormanhaddoneit,it’dbestealing,forsartin。’
  ’AndI’mapoorman——thepoorestinallHogglestock;and,therefore,ofcourse,itisstealing。OfcourseIamathief。Yes;ofcourseIamathief。Whentheworldbelievetheworstofthepoor?’Havingsospoken,MrCrawleyrosefromhischairandhurriedoutofthecottage,waitingfornofurtherreplyfromDanMorrisorhiswife。Andashemadehiswayslowlyhome,notgoingtherebythedirectroad,butbyalongcircuit,hetoldhimselftherecouldbenosympathyforhimanywhere。EvenDanMorris,thebrickmaker,thoughtthathewasathief。
  ’AndamIathief?’hesaidtohimself,standinginthemiddleoftheroad,withhishandsuptohisforehead。
  CHAPTERXIII
  THEBISHOP’SANGEL
  ItwasnearlyninebeforeMrCrawleygotbacktohishouse,andfoundhiswifeanddaughterwaitingbreakfastforhim。’IshouldnotwonderifGracewereoverheretoday,’saidMrsCrawley。’She’dbetterremainwheresheis,’saidhe。Afterthisthemealpassedalmostwithoutaword。Whenitwasover,Jane,atasignfromhermother,wentuptoherfatherandaskedhimwhethersheshouldreadwithhim。’Notnow,’hesaid,’notjustnow。Imustrestmybrainbeforeitwillbefitforanywork。’Thenhegotintothechairoverthefire,andhiswifebegantofearthathewouldremainthereallday。
  Butthedaywasnotfaradvanced,whentherecameavisitorwhodisturbedhim,andbydisturbinghimdidhimarealservice。Justattentherearrivedatthelittlegatebeforethehouseamanonapony,whomJaneespied,standingtherebythepony’sheadandlookingaboutforsomeonetorelievehimofthechargeofthesteed。ThiswasMrThumble,whohadriddenovertoHogglestockonapoorspavinedbrutebelongingtothebishop’sstable,andwhichhadoncebeenthebishop’scob。NowitwasthevehiclebywhichMrsProudie’sepiscopalmessagesweresentbackwardsandforwardsthroughatwelve—milesrideroundBarchester;andsomanywerethelady’srequirements,thatthepooranimalbynomeansatethehayofidleness。MrThumblehadsuggestedtoMrsProudie,aftertheirinterviewwiththebishopandthegivingupofthelettertotheclericalmessenger’scharge,thatbeforehiringagigfromtheDragonofWantley,heshouldbegladtoknow——lookingashealwaysdidto’MaryAnneandthechildren’——whencethepriceofthegigwastobereturnedtohim。MrsProudiehadfrownedathim——notwithalltheyausterityoffrowningwhichshecouldusewhenreallyangered,butsimplywithafrownwhichgavehersomelittletimeforthought,andwouldenablehertocontinuetorebukeif,afterthinking,sheshouldfindthatrebukewasneeded。ButmatureconsiderationshowedherthatMrThumble’scautionwasnotwithoutreason。Werethebishopenergetic——oreventhebishop’smanagingchaplainasenergeticasheshouldbe,MrCrawleymight,asMrsProudiefeltassured,bemadeinsomewaytopayforaconveyanceforMrThumble。Buttheenergywaslacking,andthepriceofthegig,ifthegigwereordered,wouldcertainlyfallultimatelyonthebishop’sshoulders。Thiswasverysad。MrsProudiehadoftengrievedoverthenecessaryexpenditureofepiscopalsurveillance,andhadbeenheardtodeclareheropinionthataliberalallowanceforsecretserviceshouldbemadeineverydiocese。WhatbettercouldtheEcclesiasticalCommissiondowithallthoserichrevenueswhichtheyhadstolenfromthebishops?Buttherewasnosuchliberalallowanceatpresent,andtherefore,MrsProudie,afterhavingfrownedatMrThumbleforsomeseconds,desiredhimtotakethegreycob。Now,MrThumblehadriddenthegreycobbefore,andwouldhavemuchpreferredagig。Buteventhegreycobwasbetterthanagigathisowncost。
  ’Mamma,there’samanatthegatewaitingtocomein,’saidJane。’I
  thinkhe’saclergyman。’
  MrCrawleyimmediatelyraisedhishead,thoughhedidnotatonceleavehischair。MrsCrawleywenttothewindow,andrecognisedthereverendvisitor。’Mydear,itisthatMrThumble,whoissomuchwiththebishop。’
  ’WhatdoesMrThumblewantwithme。’
  ’Nay,mydear;hewilltellyouthathimself。’ButMrsCrawley,thoughsheansweredhimwithavoiceintendedtobecheerful,greatlyfearedthecomingmessengerfromthepalace。Sheperceivedatoncethatthebishopwasabouttointerferewithherhusbandinconsequenceofthatwhichthemagistrateshaddoneyesterday。
  ’Mamma,hedoesn’tknowwhattodowithhispony,’saidJane。
  ’Tellhimtotieittotherail,’saidMrCrawley。’Ifhehasexpectedtofindmenialshere,ashehasthematthepalace,hewillbewrong。Ifhewantstocomeinhere,lethimtiethebeasttotherail。’SoJanewentoutandsentamessagetoMrThumblebythegirl,andMrThumbledidtietheponytotherail,andfollowedthegirlintothehouse。JaneinthemeantimehadretiredoutbythebackdoortotheschoolbutMrsCrawleykeptherground。Shekepthergroundalthoughshebelievedthatherhusbandwouldhavepreferredtohavethefieldtohimself。AsMrThumbledidnotatonceentertheroom,MrCrawleystalkedtothedoor,andstoodwithitopeninhishand。ThoughheknewMrThumble’sperson,hewasnotacquaintedwithhim,andthereforesimplybowedtothevisitor,bowingmorethanonceortwicewithacoldcourtesy,whichdidnotputMrThumblealtogetherathisease。’MynameisMrThumble,’saidthevisitor——’theReverendCalebThumble,’andheheldthebishop’sletterinhishand。MrCrawleyseemedtotakenonoticeoftheletter,butmotionedMrThumblewithhishandintotheroom。
  ’IsupposeyouhavecomefromBarchesterthismorning?’saidMrsCrawley。
  ’Yes,madam——fromthepalace。’MrThumble,thoughahumblemaninpositionsinwhichhefelthumilitywouldbecomehim——ahumblemantohisbetters,ashehimselfwouldhaveexpressedit——hadstillabouthimsomethingofthatpridewhichnaturallybelongedtothoseclergymenwhowerecloselyattachedtothepalaceatBarchester。HadhebeensentonamessagetoPlumstead——couldanysuchmessagefromBarchesterpalacehavebeenpossible——hewouldhavebeenproperlyhumbleinhisdemeanourtothearchdeacon,ortoMrsGrantlyhadhebeenadmittedtotheaugustpresenceofthatlady;buthewasawarethathumilitywouldnotbecomehimonthispresentmission;hehadbeenexpresslyorderedtobefirmbyMrsProudie,andfirmhemeanttobe;andtherefore,incommunicatingtoMrsCrawleythefactthathehadcomefromthepalace,hedidloadthetoneofhisvoicewithsomethingofthedignitywhichMrCrawleymightperhapsbeexcusedforregardingasarrogance。
  ’Andwhatdoesthe"palace"wantwithme?’saidMrCrawley。MrsCrawleyknewatoncetherewastobeabattle。Nay,thebattlehadbegun。Norwasshealtogethersorry;forthoughshecouldnottrustherhusbandtositalonealldayinhisarm—chairoverthefire,shecouldtrusthimtocarryonadisputationwithanyotherclergymanonanysubjectwhatever。
  ’Whatdoesthepalacewantwithme?’AndasMrCrawleyaskedthequestionhestooderect,andlookedMrThumblefullintheface。MrThumblecalledtomindthefact,thatMrCrawleywasaverypoormanindeed——sopoorthatheowedmoneyallroundthecountrytobutchersandbakers,andtheotherfactthathe,MrThumblehimself,didnotoweanymoneytoanyone,hiswifeluckilyhavingalittleincomeofherown;
  and,strengthenedbytheseremembrances,heendeavouredtobearMrCrawley’sattackwithgallantry。
  ’Ofcourse,MrCrawley,youareawarethatthisunfortunateaffairatSilverbridge——’
  ’IamnotpreparedtodiscusstheunfortunateaffairatSilverbridgewithastranger。IfyouarethebearerofanymessagetomefromtheBishopofBarchester,perhapsyouwilldeliverit。’
  ’Ihavebroughtaletter,’saidMrThumble。ThenMrCrawleystretchedouthishandwithoutaword,andtakingtheletterwithhimtothewindow,readitveryslowly。Whenhehadmadehimselfmasterofitscontents,herefoldedtheletter,placeditagainintheenvelope,andreturnedtothespotwhereMrThumblewasstanding。’Iwillanswerthebishop’sletter,’hesaid;’Iwillansweritofcourse,asitisfittingthatIshoulddoso。ShallIaskyoutowaitformyreply,orshallI
  senditbycourseofpost?’
  ’Ithink,MrCrawley,asthebishopwishesmetoundertaketheduty——’
  ’Youwillnotundertaketheduty,MrThumble。Youneednottroubleyourself,forIshallnotsurrendermypulpittoyou。’
  ’Butthebishop——’
  ’Icarenothingforthebishopinthismatter。’Somuchhespokeinanger,andthenhecorrectedhimself。’Icravethebishop’spardon,andyoursashismessenger,ifintheheatoccasionedbymystrongfeelingsIhavesaidaughtwhichmaysavourofirreverencetowardshislordship’soffice。Irespecthislordship’shighpositionasbishopofthisdiocese,andIbowtohiscommandsinallthingslawful。ButImustnotbowtohiminthingsunlawful,normustIabandonmydutybeforeGodathisbidding,unlesshisbiddingbegiveninaccordancewiththecanonsoftheChurchandthelawsoftheland。Itwillbemyduty,onthecomingSunday,toleadtheprayersofmypeopleinthechurchofmyparish,andtopreachtothemfrommypulpit;andthatmyduty,withGod’sassistance,Iwillperform。NorwillIallowanyclergymantointerferewithmeintheperformanceofthosesacredoffices——no,notthoughthebishophimselfshouldbepresentwiththeobjectofenforcinghisillegalcommand。’MrCrawleyspokethesewordswithouthesitation,evenwitheloquence,standingupright,andwithsomethingofanobleangergleamingoverhispoorwanface;and,Ithink,thatwhilespeakingthem,hewashappierthanhehadbeenformanyalongday。
  MrThumblelistenedtohimpatiently,standingwithonefootalittleinadvanceoftheother,withonehandfoldedovertheother,withhisheadratherononeside,andwithhiseyesfixedonthecornerwherethewallandceilingjoinedeachother。Hehadbeentoldtobefirm,andhewasconsideringhowhemightbestdisplayfirmness。Hethoughtthatherememberedsomestoryoftwoparsonsfightingforonepulpit,andhethoughtalsothatheshouldnothimselfliketoincurthescandalofsuchaproceedinginthediocese。Astothelawinthematterheknewnothinghimself;buthepresumedthatabishopwouldprobablyknowtheletterbetterthanaperpetualcurate。ThatMrsProudiewasintemperateandimperious,hewasaware。Hadthemessagecomefromheralone,hemighthavefeltthatevenforhersakehehadbettergiveway。Butasthedespoticarroganceoftheladyinthiscasehadbeenbackedbythetimidpresenceandhesitatingwordsofherlord,MrThumblethoughtthathemusthavethelawonhisside。’Ithinkyouwillfind,MrCrawley,’
  saidhe,’thatthebishop’sinhibitionisstrictlylegal。’HehadpickedupthepowerfulwordfromMrsProudieandflatteredhimselfthatitmightbeofusetohimincarryinghispurpose。
  ’Itisillegal,’saidMrCrawley,speakingsomewhatlouderthanbefore,’andwillbeabsolutelyfutile。Asyoupleadedtomethatyouyourselfandyourpersonalconveniencewereconcernedinthismatter,Ihavemadeknownmyintentionstoyou,whichotherwiseIshouldhavemadeknownonlytothebishop。Ifyouplease,wewilldiscussthematternofurther。’
  ’AmItounderstand,MrCrawley,thatyourefusetoobeythebishop?’
  ’Thebishophaswrittentome,sire,andIwillmakeknownmyintentiontothebishopbyawrittenanswer。Asyouhavebeenthebearerofthebishop’slettertome,IamboundtoaskwhetherIshallbeindebtedtoyouforcarryingbackmyreply,orwhetherIshallsenditbycourseofpost?’MrThumbleconsideredforamoment,andthenmadeuphismindthathehadbetterwait,andcarrybacktheepistle。ThiswasFriday,andthelettercouldnotbedeliveredbyposttilltheSaturdaymorning。
  MrsProudiemightbeangrywithhimifheshouldbethecauseoflossoftime。Hedidnot,however,atalllikewaiting,havingperceivedthatMrCrawley,thoughwithlanguagecourteouslyworded,hadspokenofhimasameremessenger。
  ’Ithink,’hesaid,’thatImay,perhaps,bestfurthertheobjectwhichwemustallhaveinview,thatnamelyofprovidingproperlyfortheSundayservicesinthechurchofHogglestock,bytakingyourreplypersonallytothebishop。’
  ’Thatprovisionismycareandneedtroublenooneelse,’saidMrCrawley,inaloudvoice。Then,beforeseatinghimselfathisolddesk,hestoodawhile,ponderingwithhisbackturnedtohisvisitor。’Ihavetoaskyourpardon,sir,’saidhe,lookingroundforamoment,’becausebythereasonoftheextremepovertyofthishouse,mywifeisunabletoofferyouanyhospitalitywhichisespeciallyduefromoneclergymantoanother。’
  ’Oh,don’tmentionit,’saidMrThumble。
  ’Ifyouwillallowme,sir,Iwouldpreferthatitshouldbementioned。’
  Thenheseatedhimself,andcommencedhisletter。
  MrThumblefelthimselftobeawkwardlyplaced。HadtherebeennothirdpersonintheroomhecouldhavesatdowninMrCrawley’sarm—chair,andwaitedpatientlytillthelettershouldbefinished。ButMrsCrawleywasthere,andofcoursehewasboundtospeaktoher。Inwhatstrainshouldhedoso?Evenhe,aslittleashewasgiventoindulgeinsentiment,hadbeentouchedbytheman’sappealtohisownpoverty,andhefelt,moreover,thatMrsCrawleymusthavebeendeeplymovedbyherhusband’spositionwithreferencetothebishop’sorder。Itwasquiteoutofthequestionthatheshouldspeakofthat,asMrCrawleywould,hewaswellaware,wouldimmediatelyturnuponhim。Atlasthethoughtofasubject,andspokewithavoiceintendedtobepleasant。’Thatwastheschool—houseIpassed,probably,asIcamehere?’MrsCrawleytoldhimthatitwastheschool—house。’Ah,yes,Ithoughtso。Haveyouacertifiedteacherthere?’MrsCrawleyexplainedthatnoGovernmentaidhadeverreachedHogglestock。Besidesthemselves,theyhadonlyayoungwomanwhomtheythemselveshadinstructed。
  ’Ah,thatisapity,’saidMrThumble。
  ’I——Iamthecertifiedteacher,’saidMrCrawley,turningrounduponhimfromhischair。
  ’Oh,ah,yes,’saidMrThumble;andafterthatMrThumbleaskednomorequestionsabouttheHogglestockschool。SoonafterwardsMrsCrawleylefttheroom,seeingthedifficultyunderwhichMrThumblewaslabouring,andfeelingsurethatherpresencewouldnotnowbenecessary。MrCrawley’sletterwaswrittenquickly,thougheverynowandthenhewouldsitforamomentwithhispenpoisedintheair,searchinghismemoryforaword。Butthewordscametohimeasily,andbeforeanhourwasoverhehadhandedhislettertoMrThumble。Theletterwasasfollows:——
  ’THEPARSONAGE,HOGGLESTOCK,December,186—
  ’RIGHTREVERENDLORD,’Ihavereceivedtheletterofyesterday’sdatewhichyourlordshiphasdonemethehonourofsendingbythehandsoftheReverendMrThumble,andIavailmyselfofthatgentleman’skindnesstoreturntoyouananswerbythesamemeans,movedthistousehispatiencechieflybytheconsiderationthatinthiswaymyreplytoyourlordship’sinjunctionsmaybeinyourhandswithlessdelaythanwouldattendthecourseofthemail—post。
  ’ItiswithdeepregretthatIfeelmyselfconstrainedtoinformyourlordshipthatIcannotobeythecommandwhichyouhavelaiduponmewithreferencetotheservicesofmychurchinthisparish。IcannotpermitMrThumble,oranyotherdelegatefromyourlordship,tousurpmyplaceinthepulpit。Iwouldnothaveyouthink,ifIcanpossiblydispelsuchthoughtsfromyourmind,thatIdisregardyourhighoffice,orthatIamdeficientinthatrespectfulobediencetothebishopsetoverme,whichisduetotheauthorityoftheCrownastheheadofthechurchintheserealms;butinthis,asinallquestionsofobedience,hewhoisrequiredtoobeymustexaminetheextentoftheauthorityexercisedbyhimwhodemandsobedience。Yourlordshipmightpossiblycalluponme,usingyourvoiceasbishopofthediocese,toabandonaltogetherthefreeholdrightswhicharenowmineinthisperpetualcuracy。Thejudgeofassize,beforewhomIshallsoonstandformytrial,mightcommandmetoretiretoprisonwithoutaverdictgivenbyajury。
  Themagistrateswhocommittedmesolatelyasyesterday,uponwhosedecisioninthatrespectyourlordshiphastakenactionagainstmesoquickly,mighthaveequallystrainedtheirauthority。Butinnocase,inthisland,ishethatissubjectboundtoobey,furtherthanwherethelawgivesauthorityandexactsobedience。ItisnotinthepoweroftheCrownitselftoinhibitmefromtheperformanceofmyordinarydutiesinthisparishbyanysuchmissiveasthatsenttomebyyourlordship。Ifyourlordshipthinkrighttostopmymouthasaclergymaninyourdiocese,youmustproceedtodosoinanecclesiasticalcourtinaccordancewiththelaws,andwillsucceedinyourobject,offail,inaccordancewiththeevidencesastotheministerialfitnessorunfitness,whichmaybeproducedrespectingmebeforethepropertribunal。
  ’Iwillallowthatmuchattentionisduefromaclergymantopastoraladvicegiventohimbyhisbishop。OnthatheadImustfirstexpresstoyourlordshipmyfullunderstandingthatyourletterhasnotbeenintendedtoconveyadvice,butanorder;——aninhibition,asyourmessenger,theReverendMrThumble,hasexpressedit。TheremightbeacasecertainlyinwhichIshouldsubmitmyselftocounsel,thoughIshouldresistcommand。Nocounsel,however,hasbeengiven——exceptindeedthatIshouldreceiveyourmessengerinaproperspirit,whichIhopeIhavedone。Nootheradvicehasbeengivenme,andthereforethereisnownosuchcaseasthatIhaveimagined。Butinthismatter,mylord,Icouldnothaveacceptedadvicefromalivingman,no,notthoughthehandsoftheapostlesthemselveshadmadehimbishopwhotenderedittome,andhadsethimovermeformyguidance。Iaminaterriblestrait。Trouble,andsorrow,anddangerareuponmeandmine。Itmaywellbe,asyourlordshipsays,thatthebitterwatersofthepresenthourmaypassovermyheadanddestroyme。IthankyourlordshipfortellingmewhitherIamtolookforassistance。TrulyIknownotwhetherthereisanytobefoundformeonearth。Butthedeepermytroubles,thegreatermysorrow,themorepressinganydanger,thestrongerismyneedthatI
  shouldcarrymyselfinthesedayswiththatoutwardrespectofselfwhichwillteachthosearoundmetoknowthat,letwhowillcondemnme,Ihavenotcondemnedmyself。WereItoabandonmypulpit,unlessforcedtodosobylegalmeans,Ishouldindoingsobeputtingapleaofguiltyagainstmyselfupontherecord。This,mylord,Iwillnotdo。
  ’Ihavethehonourtobe,mylord,’Yourlordship’smostobedientservant,’JOSIAHCRAWLEY’
  Whenhehadfinishedwritinghisletterhereaditoverslowly,andthenhandedittoMrThumble。Theactofwriting,andthecurrentofthethoughtsthroughhisbrain,andthefeelingthatineverywordwrittenhewasgettingthebetterofthebishop——allthisjoinedtoacertainmanlydelightinwarfareagainstauthority,lighteduptheman’sfaceandgavetohiseyesanexpressionwhichhadbeenlongwantingtothem。
  HiswifeatthatmomentcameintotheroomandhelookedatherwithanairoftriumphashehandedthelettertoMrThumble。’Ifyouwillgivethattohislordshipwithanassuranceofmydutytohislordshipinallthingsproper,Iwillthankyoukindly,cravingyourpardonforthegreatdelaytowhichyouhavebeensubjected。’
  ’Astothedelay,itisnothing,’saidMrThumble。
  ’Ithasbeenmuch;butyouasaclergymanwillfeelthatithasbeenincumbentuponmetospeakmymindfully。’
  ’Oh,yes;ofcourse。’MrCrawleywasstandingup,asalsowasMrsCrawley。ItwasevidenttoMrThumblethattheybothexpectedthatheshouldgo。Buthehadbeenespeciallyenjoinedtobefirm,andhedoubtedwhetherhithertohehadbeenfirmenough。Asfarasthismorning’sworkhadasyetgone,itseemedtohimthatMrCrawleyhadhadtheplaytohimself,andthathe,MrThumble,hadnothadhisinnings。
  He,fromthepalace,hadbeen,asitwere,cowedbythisman,whohadbeenforcedtopleadhisownpoverty。Itwascertainlyincumbentuponhim,beforehewent,tospeakup,notonlyforthebishop,butforhimselfalso。’MrCrawley,’hesaid,’hithertoIhavelistenedtoyoupatiently。’
  ’Nay,’saidMrCrawley,smiling,’youhaveindeedbeenpatient,andI
  thankyou;butmywordshavebeenwritten,notspoken。’
  ’Youhavetoldmethatyouintendtodisobeythebishop’sinhibition。’
  ’Ihavetoldthebishopso,certainly。’
  ’MayIaskyounowtolistentomeforafewminutes?’
  MrCrawley,stillsmiling,stillhavinginhiseyestheunwontedtriumphwhichhadlightedthemup,pausedamoment,andthenansweredhim。
  ’Reverendsir,youmustexcusemeifIsayno——notonthissubject。’
  ’Youwillnotletmespeak?’
  ’No;notonthismatter,whichisveryprivatetome。WhatshouldyouthinkifIwentintoyourhouseandinquiredofyouastothosethingswhichwereparticularlyneartoyou?’
  ’Butthebishopsentme。’
  ’Thoughtenbishopssentme——acouncilofarchbishopsifyouwill!’MrThumblestartedback,appalledbytheenergyofthewordsusedtohim。
  ’Shallamanhavenothingofhisown;——nosorrowinhisheart,nocareinhisfamily,nothoughtinhisbreastsoprivateandspecialtohim,butthat,ifhehappentobeaclergyman,thebishopmaytouchitwithhisthumb?’
  ’Iamnotthebishop’sthumb,’saidMrThumble,drawinghimselfup。
  ’Iintendednottohintanythingpersonallyobjectionabletoyourself。
  Iwillregardyouasoneoftheangelsofthechurch。’MrThumble,whenheheardthis,begantobesurethatMrCrawleywasmad;heknewofnoangelsthatcouldrideabouttheBarsetshirelanesongreyponies。’AndasmuchasIrespectyou;butIcannotdiscusswithyouthematterofthebishop’smessage。’
  ’Oh,verywell。Iwilltellhislordship。’
  ’Iwillprayyoutodoso。’