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Updated: May 27, 2025
Touching the remuneration to which Mr Thumble will become entitled for his temporary ministrations in the parish of Hogglestock, I do not at present lay down any strict injunction. He must, at any rate, be paid at a rate not less than that ordinarily afforded for a curate.
I have received the letter of yesterday's date which your lordship has done me the honour of sending to me by the hands of the Reverend Mr Thumble, and I avail myself of that gentleman's kindness to return to you an answer by the same means, moved thus to use his patience chiefly by the consideration that in this way my reply to your lordship's injunctions may be in your hands with less delay than would attend the regular course of the mail-post.
Though he knew Mr Thumble's person, he was not acquainted with him, and therefore he simply bowed to the visitor, bowing more than once or twice with a cold courtesy, which did not put Mr Thumble altogether at his ease. "My name is Mr Thumble," said the visitor, "the Reverend Caleb Thumble," and he held the bishop's letter in his hand.
The church was very near to the house, and any vehicle arriving might have been seen had Mr Crawley watched closely. But no one had cared to watch Mr Thumble's arrival at the church. He did not doubt that Mr Thumble would be at the church. With reference to the school, he had had some doubt. But just as he was about to start he heard the clatter of a gig.
Mr Thumble was now returning to his horse, and having enjoyed, if he did enjoy, his little triumph about the parish, was becoming unhappy at the future dangers that awaited him. Perhaps he was the more unhappy because it had been proposed to him by authorities at the palace that he should repeatedly ride on the same animal from Barchester to Hogglestock and back.
"I am going to depart from here," he said. "I will not stay here to be the mark of scorn for all men's fingers. I will resign the diocese." "You cannot do that," said his wife. "I can try, at any rate," said he. Then the servant entered. "John," said he, addressing the man, "let Mr Thumble know the moment he returns to the palace I wish to see him here. Perhaps he may not come to the palace.
"Some duty I do owe in this matter, both to the bishop, and to Dr Tempest, who, after a fashion, is, as regards my present business, the bishop's representative. But I do not perceive that I owe it as a duty to either to obey implicitly their injunctions, and I will not submit myself to the cross-questionings of the man Thumble.
From the communion-table Mr Thumble had stated that, in the present peculiar circumstances of the parish, there would be no second service at Hogglestock for the present; and this was all he said or did peculiar to the occasion. The moment the service was over he got into his gig, and was driven back to Barchester.
Had the message come from her alone, he might have felt that even for her sake he had better give way. But as the despotic arrogance of the lady had been in this case backed by the timid presence and hesitating words of her lord, Mr Thumble thought that he must have the law on his side. "I think you will find, Mr Crawley," said he, "that the bishop's inhibition is strictly legal."
Mr Thumble had seen one of Dr Tempest's curates, and had told the whole story he, Mr Thumble, having heard Mrs Proudie's version of what had occurred, and having, of course, drawn his own deductions from her premises. And it seemed that Mr Crawley had been watched as he passed through the close out of Barchester.
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