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For the last week or ten days, Mr Slope had seen nothing of Mrs Proudie, and very little of the bishop. He still lived in the palace, and still went through his usual routine work; but the confidential doings of the diocese had passed into other hands. He had seen this clearly, and marked it well; but it had not much disturbed him.
But then Lady Lufton had given him a living and a wife, and Mrs. Proudie had given him nothing. Immediately after breakfast Mr. Robarts escaped to the Dragon of Wantly, partly because he had had enough of the matutinal Mrs. Proudie, and partly also in order that he might hurry his friends there.
"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 said, addressing her at last. The bishop jumped out of his chair at hearing the wife of his bosom called a woman. But he jumped rather in admiration than in anger.
He has approved of what I have done, and having that approval, and my own, I want none other." What horrid words were these which greeted the ear of Mrs. Proudie? Here was premeditated mutiny in the camp. The bishop had not yet been twelve months in the chair, and rebellion had already reared her hideous head in the palace. "Mr. Slope," said Mrs.
'Did you get your supper at last, Madeline? said the impudent or else mischievous young man. 'Oh, yes, said Madeline; 'Mr Slope was so very kind to bring it me. I fear, however, he put himself to more inconvenience than I wished. Mrs Proudie looked at her, but said nothing.
"Wrong!" said the archdeacon, speaking of the bishop's intention of issuing a commission "of course he is wrong. How could anything right come from him or from her? I should be sorry to have to do his bidding." "I think you are a little hard upon Bishop Proudie," said Dr Tempest. "One cannot be hard upon him," said the archdeacon.
Grantly entertained quite as strong an antagonism to Mr. Slope as did her husband; she was also quite as alive to the necessity of combating the Proudie faction, of supporting the old church interest of the close, of keeping in her own set such of the loaves and fishes as duly belonged to it; and was quite as well prepared as her lord to carry on the battle without giving or taking quarter.
He had begun to hope that he was now about to enter into a free land, a land delicious with milk which he himself might quaff and honey which would not tantalize him by being only honey to the eye. When Mrs. Proudie banged the door as she left his room, he felt himself every inch a bishop.
'Who instructed you to call on Mr Quiverful this morning? There was another pause. 'Do you intend to answer me, sir? 'I think, Mrs Proudie, that under all the circumstances it will be better for me not to answer such a question, said Mr Slope.
He did not trouble his friend Mr Towers with any written statement of the iniquity of Mrs Proudie, or the imbecility of her husband. He was aware that it would be wise in him to drop for the future all allusions to his doings in the cathedral city.
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