’Well，MrThumble！’shesaid。
　　MrThumbledidnotansweratonce，thinking，probably，thatthebishopmightchoosetoexplainthecircumstances。Butneitherdidthebishopsayanything。
　　’Well，MrThumble？’shesaidagain；andthenshestoodlookingatthemanwhohadfailedsodisastrously。
　　’Ihaveexplainedtothebishop，’saidhe。’MrCrawleyhasbeencontumacious——verycontumaciousindeed。’
　　’ButyoupreachedatHogglestock？’
　　’No，indeed，MrsProudie。Norwouldithavebeenpossible，unlessIhadthepolicetoassistme。’
　　’Thenyoushouldhavehadthepolice。Ineverheardofanythingsomismanagedinallmylife——neverinallmylife。’Andsheputherbooksdownonthestudytable，andturnedherselfroundfromMrThumbletowardsthebishop。’Ifthingsgoonlikethis，mylord，’shesaid，’yourauthorityinthediocesewillverysoonbeworthnothingatall。’
　　ItwasnotoftenthatMrsProudiecalledherhusbandmylord，butwhenshedidso，itwasasignthatterribletimeshadcome；——timessoterriblethatthebishopwouldknowthathemusteitherfightorfly。Hewouldalmostendureanythingratherthandescendintothearenaforthepurposeofdoingbattlewithhiswife，butoccasionswouldcomenowandagainwheneventhealternativesofflightwerehardlylefttohim。
　　’But，mydear——’beganthebishop。
　　’AmItounderstandthatthismanhasprofessedhimselftobealtogetherindifferenttothebishop’sprohibition？’saidMrsProudie，interruptingherhusbandandaddressingMrThumble。
　　’Quiteso。Heseemedtothinkthatthebishophadnolawfulpowerinthematteratall，’saidMrThumble。
　　’Doyouhearthat，mylord？’saidMrsProudie。
　　’NorhaveIany，’saidthebishop，almostweepingashespoke。
　　’Noauthorityinyourowndiocese！’
　　’Nonetosilenceamanmerelybymyownjudgment。Ithought，andstillthink，thatitwasforthisgentleman’sowninterest，aswellasforthecreditoftheChurch，thatsomeprovisionshouldbemadeforhisdutiesduringthepresent——present——difficulties。’
　　’Difficultiesindeed！Everybodyknowsthatthemanhasbeenathief。’
　　’No，mydear；Idonotknowit。’
　　’Youneverknowanything，bishop。’
　　’ImeantosayIdonotknowitofficially。Ofcourse，Ihaveheardthesadstory；andthoughIhopeitmaynotbe——’
　　’Thereisnodoubtaboutitstruth。Alltheworldknowsit。Hehasstolentwentypounds，andyetheistobeallowedtodesecratetheChurch，andimperilthesoulsofthepeople！’Thebishopgotupfromhischairandbegantowalkbackwardsandforwardsthroughtheroomwithshortquicksteps。’ItonlywantsfivedaystoChristmasDay，’continuedMrsProudie，’andsomethingmustbedoneatonce。Isaynothingastotheproprietyorimproprietyofhisbeingoutonbail，asitisnoaffairofours。WhenIheardthathehadbeenbailedbyabeneficedclergymanofthisdiocese，ofcourseIknewwheretolookforthemanwhowouldactwithsomuchimpropriety。OfcourseIwasnotsurprised，whenIfoundthatthatpersonbelongedtoFramley。But，asIhavesaidbefore，thatisnobusinessofours。Ihope，MrThumble，thatthebishopwillneverbefoundinterferingwiththeordinarylawsoftheland。Iamverysurethathewillneverdosobymyadvice。Butwhentherecomesaquestionofinhibitingaclergymanwhohascommittedhimselfasthatclergymanunfortunatelyhasdone，thenIsaythatthatclergymanoughttobeinhibited。’Thebishopwalkedupanddowntheroomthroughoutthewholeofthisspeech，butgraduallyhisstepsbecamequicker，andhisturnsbecameshorter。’AndnowhereisChristmasDayuponus，andwhatistobedone？’WiththesewordsMrsProudiefinishedherspeech。
　　’MrThumble，’saidthebishop，’perhapsyouhadbetternowretire。Iamverysorrythatyoushouldhavehadsothanklessandsodisagreeableatask。’
　　’WhyshouldMrThumbleretire？’askedMrsProudie。
　　’Ithinkitbetter，’saidthebishop。’MrThumble，good—night。’ThenMrThumbledidretire，andMrsProudiestoodforthinherfullpanoplyofarmour，silentandawful，withherhelmeterect，andvouchsafednorecognitionwhateverofthepartingsalutationwhichMrThumblegreetedher。’Mydear，thetruthis，youdonotunderstandthematter，’saidthebishop，assoonasthedoorwasclosed。’Youdonotknowhowlimitedismypower。’
　　’Bishop，Iunderstanditagreatdealbetterthansomepeople；andI
　　understandalsowhatisduetomyselfandthemannerinwhichIoughttobetreatedbyyouinthepresenceofthesubordinateclergyofthediocese。Ishallnot，however，remainheretobeinsultedinthepresenceorabsenceofanyone。’Thentheconqueredamazoncollectedtogetherherweaponswhichshehadlaiduponthetable，andtookherdeparturewithmajesticstep，andnotwithouttheclangofarms。Thebishop，whenhewasleftalone，enjoyedforafewmomentsthetriumphofvictory。
　　Butthenhewasleftsoverymuchalone！Whenhelookedroundabouthimuponhissolitudeafterthedepartureofhiswife，andrememberedthatheshouldnotseeheragaintillheshouldencounterongroundthatwasallherown，heregrettedhisownsuccess，andwastemptedtofollowherandtoapologise。Hewasunabletoanythingalone。Hewouldnotevenknowhowtogethistea，astheveryservantswouldaskquestions，ifheweretodosounaccustomedathingastoorderittobebroughtuptohiminhissolitude。TheywouldtellhimthatMrsProudiewashavingteainherlittlesitting—roomupstairs，orelsethatthethingswerelaidinthedrawing—room。Hedidwanderforthtothelatterapartment，hopingthathemightfindhiswifethere；butthedrawing—roomwasdarkanddeserted，andsohewanderedbackagain。Itwasagrandthingcertainlytohavetriumphedoverhiswife，andtherewasacrumbofcomfortinthethoughtthathehadvindicatedhimselfbeforeMrThumble；butthegeneralresultwasnotcomforting，andheknewfromoldhowshort—livedhistriumphwouldbe。
　　Butwretchedashewasduringthateveninghedidemployhimselfwithsomeenergy。AftermuchthoughtheresolvedthathewouldagainwritetoMrCrawley，andsummonhimtoappearatthepalace。Indoingthishewouldatanyratebedoingsomething。Therewouldbeaction。AndthoughMrCrawleywould，ashethought，declinetoobeytheorder，somethingwouldbegainedevenbythatdisobedience。Sohewrotehissummons——sittingveryfortlessandallaloneonthatSundayevening——datinghisletter，however，forthefollowingday：——
　　’PALACE，December20，186—
　　’REVERENDSIR，’IhavejustheardfromMrThumblethatyouhavedeclinedtoaccedetotheadvicewhichIthoughtitmydutytotendertoyouasthebishopwhohasbeensetoveryoubytheChurch，andthatyouyesterdayinsistedonwhatyoubelievedtobeyourright，toadministertheservicesoftheparishchurchofHogglestock。Thishasoccasionedmethedeepestregret。Itis，Ithink，unavailingthatIshouldfurtherwritetoyoumyminduponthesubject，asIpossesssuchstrongevidencethatmywrittenwordwillnotberespectedbyyou。Ihavethereforenoalternativenowbuttoinviteyoutocometomehere；andthisIdo，hopingthatImayinduceyoutolistentotheauthoritywhichIcannotbutsupposeyouacknowledgetobevestedintheofficewhichIhold。
　　’Ishallbegladtoseeyoutomorrow，Tuesday，asnearthehouroftwoasyoucanmakeitconvenienttoyourselftobehere，andIwilltakecaretoorderthatrefreshmentwillbeprovidedforyourselfandyourhorse。——Iam，ReverendSir，&c，&c，&c。
　　’THOS。BARNUM’
　　’Mydear，’hesaid，whenhedidagainencounterhiswifethatnight，’I
　　havewrittentoMrCrawley，andIthoughtImightaswellbringupthecopyofmyletter。’
　　’Iwashmyhandsofthewholeaffair，’saidMrsProudie——’ofthewholeaffair。’
　　’Butyouwilllookattheletter？’
　　’Certainlynot。WhyshouldIlookattheletter？Mywordgoesfornothing。IhavedonewhatIcould，butinvain。Nowletusseehowyoumanageityourself。’
　　Thebishopdidnotpassacomfortablenight；butinthemorninghiswifedidreadtheletter，andafterthatthingswentalittlesmootherwithhim。Shewaspleasedtosaythat，consideringallthings；seeing，asshecouldnothelpseeing，thatthematterhadbeendreadfullymismanaged，andthatgreatweaknesshadbeendisplayed；——seeingthatthesefaultshadalreadybeencommitted，perhapsnobetterstepcouldnowbetakenthanthatproposedintheletter。
　　’Isupposehewillnotcome，’saidthebishop。
　　’Ithinkhewill，’saidMrsProudie，’andItrustthatwemaybeabletoconvincehimthatobediencewillbethebestcourse。Hewillbemorehumble—mindedherethanatHogglestock。’Insayingthistheladyshowedsomeknowledgeofthegeneralnatureofclergymenandoftheworldatlarge。Sheunderstoodhowmuchlouderacockcancrowinhisownfarmyardthanelsewhere，andknewthatepiscopalauthority，backedbyallthesolemnaweofpalatialgrandeur，goesmuchfurtherthanitwilldowhensentunderthefoldsofanordinaryenvelope。Butthoughsheunderstoodordinaryhumannature，itmaybethatshedidnotunderstandMrCrawley’snature。
　　ButshewasatanyraterightinherideaastoMrCrawley’simmediatereply。ThepalacegroomwhorodeovertoHogglestockreturnedwithanimmediateanswer。
　　’MYLORD’——saidMrCrawley，’Iwillobeyyourlordship’ssummons，and，unlessimpedimentsshouldarise，Iwillwaituponyourlordshipatthehouryounametomorrow。Iwillnottrespassonyourhospitality。Formyself，Irarelybreakbreadinanyhousebutmyown；andastothehorse，Ihavenone——Ihavethehonourtoby，Mylord，&c，&c，JOSIAHCRAWLEY’
　　’OfcourseIshallgo，’hehadsaidtohiswifeassoonashehadtimetoreadtheletter，andmakeknowntoherthecontents。’Ishallgoifitbepossibleformetogetthere。IthinkthatIamboundtocomplywiththebishop’swishesinsomuchasthat。’
　　’Buthowwillyougetthere，Josiah？’
　　’Iwillwalk——withtheLord’said。’
　　NowHogglestockwasfifteenmilesfromBarchester，andMrCrawleywas，ashiswifewellknew，bynomeansfittedinhispresentstateforgreatphysicalexertion。Butfromthetoneinwhichhehadrepliedtoher，shewellknewthatitwouldnotavailforhertoremonstrateatthemoment。
　　HehadwalkedmorethanthirtymilesinadaysincehehadbeenlivingatHogglestock，andshedidnotdoubtbutthatitmightbepossibleforhimtodoitagain。Anyscheme，whichshemightbeabletodeviseforsavinghimfromsoterribleajourneyinthemiddleofwinter，mustbeponderedoversilently，andbroughttobear，ifnotslyly，atleastdeftly，andwithoutdiscussion。ShemadenoreplythereforewhenhedeclaredonthefollowingdayhewouldwalktoBarchesterandback——withtheLord’said；nordidshesee，orasktoseethenotewhichhesenttothebishop。Whenthemessengerwasgone，MrCrawleywasallalert，lookingforwardwithevidentgleetohisencounterwiththebishop——snortinglikearacehorseattheexpectedtriumphofthecomingstruggle。AndhereadmuchGreekwithJaneonthatafternoon，pouringintoheryoungears，almostwithjoyousrapture，hisappreciationofthegloryandthepathosandthehumanityalso，oftheawfultragedyofthestoryofOedipus。Hisverysoulwasonfireattheideaofclutchingtheweakbishopinhishand，andcrushinghimwithhisstronggrasp。
　　IntheafternoonMrsCrawleyslippedouttoaneighbouringfarmer’swife，andreturnedinanhour’stimewithalittlestorywhichshedidnottellwithanyappearanceofsatisfaction。Shehadlearnedwellwhatwerethelittletricksnecessarytothecarryingofsuchamatterasshenowhadinhand。MrMangle，thefarmer，asithappened，wasgoingtomorrowmorninginhistax—cartasfarasFramleyMill，andwouldbedelightedifMrCrawleywouldtakeaseat。HemustremainatFramleythebestpartoftheafternoon，andhopedthatMrCrawleywouldtakeaseatbackagain。NowFramleyMillwasonlyahalfmileoffthedirectroadtoBarchester，andwasalmosthalfwayfromHogglestockparsonagetothecity。Thiswould，atanyrate，bringthewalkwithinapracticabledistance。MrCrawleywasinstantlyplaceduponhisguard，likeananimalthatseesthebaitandsuspectsthetrap。HadhebeentoldthatfarmerManglewasgoingallthewaytoBarchester，nothingwouldhaveinducedhimtogetintothecart。HewouldhavefeltsurethatfarmerManglehadbeenpersuadedtopityhiminhispovertyandhisstrait，andhewouldsoonerhavestartedtowalktoLondonthanhaveputafootuponthestepofthecart。Butthislifthalfwaydidlooktohimasifitwerereallyfortuitous。HiswifecouldhardlyhavebeencunningenoughtopersuadethefarmertogotoFramley，consciousthatthetrapwouldhavebeensuspectedhadthebaitbeenmorefull。ButIfear——Ifearthedeargoodwomanhadbeenthuscunning——hadunderstoodhowfarthetrapmightbebaited，andhadthussucceededincatchingherprey。
　　OnthefollowingmorningheconsentedtogetintofarmerMangle’scart，andwasdrivenasfarasFramleyMill。’Iwouldn’tthinknowt，yourreverence，ofrunningyouovertoBarchester——thatIwouldn’t。Thepownyissomortalgood。，’saidfarmerMangleinhisfoolishgood—nature。
　　’Andhowaboutyourbusinesshere？’saidMrCrawley。Thefarmerscratchedhishead，rememberingMrsCrawley’sinjunctions，andawkwardlyacknowledgedthattobesurehisownbusinesswiththemillerwasverypressing。ThenMrCrawleydescended，terriblysuspicious，andwentonhisjourney。
　　’Anyways，yourreverencewillcallformecomingback？’saidthefarmerMangle。ButMrCrawleywouldmakenopromise。Hebadethefarmernotwaitforhim。Iftheychancedtomeettogetherontheroadhemightgetupagain。IfthemanreallyhadbusinessatFramley，howcouldhehaveofferedtogoontoBarchester？Weretheydeceivinghim？Thewifeofhisbosomhaddeceivedhiminsuchmattersbeforenow。Buthistroubleinthisrespectwassoondissipatedbytheprideofhisanticipatedtriumphoverthebishop。Hetookgreatgloryfromthethoughtthathewouldgobeforethebishopwithdirtyboots——withbootsnecessarilydirty——withrustypantaloons，thathewouldbehotandmud—stainedwithhiswalk，hungry，andanobjecttobewonderedatbyallwhoshouldseehim，becausethemisfortuneswhichhadbeenunworthilyheapeduponhishead；
　　whereasthebishopwouldbesleekandcleanandwell—fed——prettywithalltheprettinessesthatarebecomingtoabishop’soutwardman。Andhe，MrCrawley，wouldbehumble，whereasthebishopwouldbeproud。Andthebishopwouldbeinhisownarmchair——thecockinhisownfarmyard，whilehe，MrCrawley，wouldbeseatedafaroff，inthecoldextremityoftheroom，withnothingofoutwardcircumstancestoassisthim——amancalledthithertoundergocensure。Andyethewouldtakethebishopinhisgraspandcrushhim——crushhim——crushhim！Ashethoughtofthishewalkedquicklythroughthemud，andputouthislongarmandhisgreathand，farbeforehimintotheair，andthereandthen，hecrushedthebishopinhisimagination。Yes，indeed！Hethoughtitverydoubtfulwhetherthebishopwouldeversendforhimasecondtime。Andasthispassedthroughhismind，heforgothiswife’scunning，andfarmerMangle’ssin，andforthemomenthewashappy。
　　AsheturnedacornerroundbyLordLufton’sparkpaling，whoshouldhemeetbuthisoldfriendMrRobarts，theparsonofFramley——theparsonwhohadcommittedthesinofbeingbailforhim——thesin，thatis，accordingtoMrsProudie’sviewofthematter。Hewaswalkingwithhishandstillstretchedout——stillcrushingthebishop，whenMrRobartswascloseuponhim。
　　’What，Crawley！uponmywordIamverygladtoseeyou；youarecomingtome，ofcourse？’
　　’Thankyou，MrRobarts；no，nottoday。Thebishophassummonedmetohispresence，andIamonmyroadtoBarchester。’
　　’Buthowareyougoing？’
　　’Ishallwalk。
　　’WalktoBarchester。Impossible！’
　　’Ihopenotquiteimpossible，MrRobarts。ItrustIshallgetasfarbeforetwoo’clock；buttodosoImustbeonmyroad。’Thenheshowedsignsofadesiretogouponhiswaywithoutfurtherparley。
　　’But，Crawley，doletmesendyouover。Thereisthehorseandgigdoingnothing。’
　　’Thankyou，MrRobarts；no。Ishouldprefertowalktoday。’
　　’AndyouhavewalkedfromHogglestock？’
　　’No；——notso。Aneighbourcominghither，whohappenedtohavebusinessatyourmill——hebroughtmesofarinhiscart。Thewalkhomewillbenothing——nothing。Ishallenjoyit。Goodmorning，MrRobarts。’
　　ButMrRobartsthoughtofthedirtyroadandofthebishop’spresence，andofhisownideasofwhatwouldbebecomingforaclergyman——andpersevered。’Youwillfindthelanessoverymuddy；andourbishop，youknow，isapttonoticesuchthings。Dobepersuaded。’
　　’Noticewhatthings？’demandedMrCrawley，inanindignanttone。
　　’He，orperhapssherather，willsayhowdirtyyourshoeswerewhenyoucametothepalace。’
　　’Ifhe，orshe，canfindnothinguncleanaboutmebutmyshoes，letthemsaytheirworst。Ishallbeveryindifferent。Ihavelongceased，MrRobarts，tocaremuchwhatanymanorwomanmaysayaboutmyshoes。Goodmorning。’Thenhestalkedon，clutchingandcrushinginhishandthebishop，andthebishop’swife，andthewholediocese——andalltheChurchofEngland。Dirtyshoes，indeed！Whosewasthefaultthattherewereinthechurchsomanyfeetsoiledbyunmeritedpoverty，andsomanyhandssoiledbyundeservedwealth？Ifthebishopdidnotlikehisshoes，letthebishopdaretellhimso！Sohewalkedonthroughthethickofthemud，bynomeanspickinghisway。
　　Hewalkedfast，andhefoundhimselfintheclosehalfanhourbeforethetimenamedbythebishop。Butonnoaccountwouldhehaverungthepalacebelloneminutebeforetwoo’clock。Sohewalkedupanddownunderthetowersofthecathedral，andcooledhimself，andlookedupatthepleasantplate—glassinthewindowsofthehouseofhisfriendthedean，andtoldhimselfhow，intheircollegedays，heandthedeanhadbeenquiteequal——quiteequal，exceptbythevoicesofallqualifiedjudgesintheuniversity，he，MrCrawley，hadbeenacknowledgedtheriperscholar。AndnowtheMrArabinofthosedayswasDeanofBarchester——travellingabroadluxuriouslyatthemomentforhisdelight，whilehe，Crawley，wasperpetualcurateatHogglestock，andhadnowwalkedintoBarchesteratthecommandofthebishop，becausehewassuspectedofhavingstolentwentypounds！Whenhehadfullyimbuedhismindwiththeinjusticeofallthis，histimewasup，andhewalkedboldlytothebishop’sgate，andboldlyrangthebishop’sbell。
　　CHAPTERXVIII
　　THEBISHOPOFBARCHESTERISCRUSHED
　　Whoinquireswhyitisthatalittlegreasedflourrubbedinamongthehaironafootman’shead——justonedabhereandanotherthere——givessuchatoneofhighlifetothefamily？Andseeingthatthethingissoeasilydone，whydonotmorepeopleattemptit？Thetaxonhairpowderisbutthirteenshillingsayear。Itmay，indeed，bethattheslightestdabintheworldjustifiesthewearerindemandinghotmeatthreetimesaday，andwineatanyrateonSundays。Ithink，however，thatabishop’swifemayenjoytheprivilegewithoutsuchheavyattendantexpense；otherwisethemanwhoopenedthebishop’sdoortoMrCrawleywouldhardlyhavebeensoornamental。
　　Themanaskedforacard。’MynameisMrCrawley，’saidourfriend。
　　’Thebishopdesiredmetocometohimatthishour。WillyoubepleasedtotellhimthatIamhere。’Themanagainaskedforacard。’Iamnotboundtocarrywithmemynameprintedonaticket，’saidMrCrawley。
　　’Ifyoucannotrememberit，givemeapencilandpaper，andIwillwriteit。’Theservant，somewhatawedbythestranger’smanner，broughtpenandpaper，andMrCrawleywrotehisname：——