’Yes，IthinkIdid。’
　　’Anybodymusthavebelievedhim——exceptoldTempest，whoneverbelievesanybody，andFothergill，whoalwayssuspectseverybody。Thetruthis，thathefoundthechequeandputitby，anddidnotrememberanythingaboutit。’
　　’But，Lufton，surelythatwouldamounttostealingit？’
　　’Yes，ifitwasn’tthatheissuchapoor，cracked，crazycreature，withhismindallabroad。IthinkSoamesdiddrophisbookinhishouse。I’msureSoameswouldnotsaysounlesshewasquiteconfident。Somebodyhaspickeditup，andinsomewaythechequehasgotintoCrawley’shand。
　　Thenhehaslockeditupandforgottenallaboutit；andwhenthatbutcherthreatenedhim，hehasputhishanduponit，andhethought，orbelieved，thatithadcomefromSoamesorthedeanorfromheaven，ifyouwill。Whenamanissocrazyasthat，youcan’tjudgeofhimasyoudoofothers。’
　　’Butajurymustjudgehimasitwouldofothers。’
　　’Andthereforethereshouldbealawyertotellthejurywhattodo。
　　Theyshouldhavesomebodyupoutoftheparishtoshowthatheisbesidehimselfhalfthetime。Hiswifewouldbethebestperson，onlyitwouldbehardlinesonher。’
　　’Veryhard。Andafterallhewouldonlyescapebybeingshowntobemad。’
　　’Andheismad。’
　　’MrsProudiewouldcomeuponhiminsuchacaseasthat，andsequesterhisliving。’
　　’AndwhatwillMrsProudiedowhenhe’saconvictedthief？Simplyunfrockhim，andtakeawayhislivingaltogether。NothingonearthshouldinducemetofindhimguiltyifIwereonajury。’
　　’Butyouhavecommittedhim。’
　　’Yes——I’vebeenone，atleast，indoingso。IsimplydidthatwhichWalkertolduswemustdo。Amagistrateisnotlefttohimselfasajurymanis。I’deatthebiggestpairofbootsinBarchesterbeforeI
　　foundhimguilty。Isay，Mark，youmusttalkitoverwiththewomen，andseewhatcanbedoneforthem。Lucytellsmethatthey’resopoor，thatiftheyhavebreadtoeat，it’sasmuchastheyhave。’
　　OnthiseveningArchdeaconGrantlyandhiswifedinedandsleptatFramleyCourt，therehavingbeenaverylongfamilyfriendshipbetweenoldLadyLuftonandtheGrantlys，andDrThornewithhiswife，fromChaldicotes，alsodinedatFramley。TherewasalsothereanotherclergymanfromBarchester，oneMrChampion，oneoftheprebendsofthecathedral。Therewereonlythreenowwhohadhousesinthecitysincetheretrenchmentsoftheecclesiasticalcommissionhadcomeintofullforce。AndthisMrChampionwasdeartotheDowagerLadyLufton，becausehecarriedonworthilytheclericalwaragainstthebishopwhichhadragedinBarchestereversinceDrProudiehadcomethere——whichwaroldLadyLufton，goodandpiousandcharitableasshewas，consideredthatshewasboundtokeepup，eventotheknife，tillDrProudieandallhissatellitesshouldhavebeenbanishedintotheouterdarkness。AsthelightoftheProudiesstillshonebrightly，itwasprobablethatpooroldLadyLuftonmightdiebeforeherbattlewasaccomplished。Sheoftensaidthatitwouldbeso，butwhensosaying，alwaysexpressedawishthatismightbecarriedonafterherdeath。’Ishallnever，neverrestinmygrave，’shehadoncesaidtothearchdeacon，’whilethatwomansitsinyourfather’spalace。’Forthearchdeacon’sfatherhadbeenBishopofBarchesterbeforeDrProudie。WhatmodeofgettingridofthebishoporhiswifeLadyLuftonproposedtoherself，Iamunabletosay；
　　butIthinkshelivedinhopesthatinsomewayitmightbedone。IfonlythebishopcouldhavebeenfoundtohavestolenachequefortwentypoundsinsteadofpoorMrCrawley，LadyLuftonwould，Ithink，havebeensatisfied。
　　InthecourseofthesebattlesFramleyCourtwouldsometimesassumeaclericalaspect——havingaprevailinghue，asitwere，ofblackcoats，whichwasnotaltogethertothetasteofLordLufton，andastowhichhewouldmakecomplainttohiswife，andtoMarkRobarts，himselfaclergyman。’There’smoreofthisthanIcanstand，’he’dsaytothelatter。’There’sdeucedmoreofitthanyoulikeyourself，Iknow。’
　　’It’snotformetolikeordislike。It’sagreatthinghavingyourmotherintheparish。’
　　’That’sallverywell；andofcourseshe’lldoasshelikes。Shemayaskwhomshepleaseshere，andIshan’tinterfere。It’sthesameasthoughitwasherownhouse。ButIshalltakeLucytoLufton。’NowLordLuftonhadbeenbuildinghishouseatLuftonforthelastsevenyearsanditwasnotyetfinished——ornearlyfinished，ifallthathiswifehadsaidweretrue。Andiftheycouldhavetheirway，itneverwouldbefinished。Andso，inorderthatLordLuftonmightnotactuallybedrivenawaybytheturmoilsofecclesiasticalcontest，theyoungerLadyLuftonwouldendeavourtomoderateboththewrathandthezealoftheelderone，andwouldstruggleagainstthecomingclergymen。Onthisday，however，threesatattheboardatFramley，andLadyLufton，inherjustificationtoherson，sworethattheinvitationhadbeengivenbyherdaughter—in—law。’Youknow，mydear，’thedowagersaidtoLordLufton，’somethingmustbedoneforthesepoorCrawleys；andasthedeanisaway，Lucywantstospeaktothearchdeaconaboutthem。’
　　’Andthearchdeaconcouldnotsubscribehisten—poundnotewithouthavingChampiontobackhim？’
　　’MydearLudovic，youdoputitinsuchaway。’
　　’Nevermind，mother。I’venospecialdislikeforChampion，onlyasyouarenotpaidfivethousandpoundayearforyourtrouble，itisratherhardthatyoushouldhaveto&alltheworkofoppositionbishopinthediocese。’
　　Itwasfeltbythemall——includingLordLuftonhimself，whobecamesointerestedinthematterastoforgivetheblackcoatsbeforetheeveningwasover——thatthismatterofMrCrawley’scommittalwasveryserious，anddemandedthefullenergiesoftheirparty。ItwasknowntothemallthatthefeelingatthepalacewasinimicaltoMrCrawley。
　　’Thatshe—Beelzebubhateshimforhispoverty，andbecauseArabinbroughthimintothediocese，’saidthearchdeacon，permittinghimselftouseverystronglanguageinhisallusiontothebishop’swife。Itmustberecordedonhisbehalfthatheusedthephraseinthepresenceonlyofthegentlemenoftheparty。IthinkhemighthavewhisperedthewordintheearofhisconfidentialfriendoldLadyLufton，andperhapshavegivennooffence；buthewouldnothaveventuredtousesuchwordsaloudinthepresenceofladies。
　　’Youforget，archdeacon，’saidDrThorne，laughing，’thattheshe—Beelzebubismywife’sparticularfriend。’
　　’Notabitofit，’saidthearchdeacon。’Yourwifeknowsbetterthanthat。YoutellherwhatIcallher，andifshecomplainsofthenameI’llunsayit。’ItmaythereforebesupposedthatDrThorne，andMrsThorne，andthearchdeacon，kneweachotherintimately，andunderstoodeachother’sfeelingsonthesematters。
　　ItwasquitetruethatthepalacepartywasinimicaltoMrCrawley。MrCrawleyundoubtedlywaspoor，andhadnotbeensosubmissivetoepiscopalauthorityasitbehovesanyclergymantobewhoseloavesandfishesarescanty。Hehadraisedhisbackmorethanonceagainstordersemanatingfromthepalaceinamannerthathadmadethehairsontheheadofthebishop’swifetostandalmostonend，andhadtakenasmuchuponhimselfasthoughhislivinghadbeenworthtwelvehundredayear。
　　MrsProudie，almostasenergeticinherlanguageasthearchdeacon，hadcalledhimabeggarlyperpetualcurate。’Wemusthaveperpetualcurates，mydear，’thebishophadsaid。’Theyshouldknowtheirplacesthen。Butwhatcanyouexpectofacreaturefromthedeanery？Allthatoughttobealtered。Thedeanshouldhavenopatronageinthediocese。Nodeanshouldhaveanypatronage。Itisanabusefromthebeginningtotheend。
　　DeanArabin，ifhehadanyconscience，wouldbedoingthedutyatHogglestockhimself。’Howthebishopstrovetoteachhiswife，withthemildestwords，whatreallyoughttobeadean’sduty，andhowthewiferejoinedbyteachingherhusband，notinthemildestwords，whatoughttobeabishop’sduty，wewillnotfurtherinquirehere。ThefactthatsuchdialoguestookplaceatthepalaceisrecordedsimplytoshowthatthepalatialfeelinginBarchesterrancountertoMrCrawley。
　　Andthiswascauseenough，ifnoothercauseexisted，forpartialitytoMrCrawleyatFramleyCourt。But，ashasbeenpartlyexplained，thereexisted，ifpossible，evenstrongergroundthanthisforadherencetotheCrawleycause。TheyoungerLadyLuftonhadknowntheCrawleysintimately，andtheelderLadyLuftonhadreckonedthemamongtheneighbouringclericalfamiliesofheracquaintance。BoththeseladieswerethereforestaunchintheirdefenceofMrCrawley。Thearchdeaconhimselfhadhisownreasons——reasonswhichatpresenthekeptaltogetherwithinhisownbosom——forwishingthatMrCrawleyhadneverenteredthediocese。Whethertheperpetualcurateshouldorshouldnotbedeclaredathief，itwouldterribletohimtohavetocallthechildofthatperpetualcuratehisdaughter—in—law。Butnotthelessonthisoccasionwashetruetohisorder，truetohissideofthediocese，truetohishatredofthepalace。
　　’Idon’tbelieveitforamoment，’hesaid，ashetookhisplaceontherugbeforethefireinthedrawing—roomwhenthegentlemencameinfromtheirwine。Theladiesunderstoodatoncewhatitwasthathecouldn’tbelieve。MrCrawleyhadforthemomentsousurpedthecountythatnobodythoughtoftalkingofanythingelse。
　　’Howisitthe，’saidMrsThorne，’thatLordLufton，andmyhusband，andtheotherwiseacresatSilverbridge，havecommittedhimfortrial？’
　　’Becausewearetoldtodosobythelawyer，’saidDrThorne。
　　’Ladieswillneverunderstandthatmagistratesmustactinaccordancewiththelaw，’saidLordLufton。
　　’Butyouallsayhe’snotguilty，’saidMrsRobarts。
　　’Thefactis，thatthemagistratecannottrythequestion，’saidthearchdeacon；’theyonlyhearprimaryevidence。InthiscaseIdon’tbelieveCrawleywouldeverhavebeencommittedifhehademployedanattorney，insteadofspeakingforhimself。’
　　’Whydidn’tsomebodymakehimhaveanattorney？’saidLadyLufton。
　　’Idon’tthinkanyattorneyintheworldcouldhavespokenforhimbetterthanhespokeforhimself，’saidDrThorne。
　　’Andyetyoucommittedhim，’saidhiswife。’Whatcanwedoforhim？
　　Can’twepaythebailandsendhimofftoAmerica？’
　　’Ajurywillneverfindhimguilty，’saidLordLufton。
　　’Andwhatisthetruthofit？’askedtheyoungerLadyLufton。
　　Thenthewholematterwasdiscussedagain，anditwassettledamongthemallthatMrCrawleyhadundoubtedlyappropriatedthechequethroughtemporaryobliquityofjudgment——obliquityofjudgmentandforgetfulnessastothesourcefromwhencethechequehadcometohim。’Hehaspickeditupaboutthehouse，andthenhasthoughtthatitwashisown，’saidLordLufton。Hadtheycometotheconclusionthatsuchanappropriationofmoneyhadbeenmadebyoneoftheclergyofthepalace，byoneoftheProudieianparty，theywoulddoubtlesshavebeenveryloudandverybitterastotheiniquityoftheoffender。Theywouldhavesaidasmuchastotheweaknessofthebishopandthewickednessofthebishop’swife，andwouldhavedeclaredtheappropriatortohavebeenasveryathiefaseverpickedapocketoropenedabill；——buttheywereunanimousintheiracquittalofMrCrawley。Ithadnotbeenhisintention，theysaid，tobeathief，andamanshouldbejudgedonlybyhisintention。
　　ItmustnowbetheirobjecttoinduceaBarchesterjurytolookatthematterinthesamelight。
　　’Whentheycometounderstandhowthelandlies，’saidthearchdeacon，’theywillbeallright。There’snotatradesmaninthecitywhodoesnothatethatwomanasthoughshewere——’
　　’Archdeacon，’saidhiswife，cautioninghimtorepresshisenergy。
　　’Theirbillsareallpaidbythisnewchaplainthey’vegot，andheismadetoclaimdiscountoneverylegofmutton，’saidthearchdeacon。
　　Arguingfromwhichfact——orfromwhichassertion，hecametotheconclusionthatnoBarchesterjurywouldfindMrCrawleyguilty。
　　ButitwasagreedonallsidesthatitwouldnotbewelltotrusttotheunassistedfriendshipoftheBarchestertradesmen。MrCrawleymustbeprovidedwithlegalassistance，andthismustbefurnishedtohimwhetherheshouldbewillingorunwillingtoreceiveit。Thattherewouldbeadifficultywasacknowledged。MrCrawleywasknowntobeamannoteasyofpersuasion，withawillofhisown，withagreatenergyofobstinacyonpointswhichhechosetotakeasbeingofimportancetohiscalling，ortohisownprofessionalstatus。Hehadpleadedhisowncausebeforethemagistrates，anditmightbethathewouldinsistondoingthesamethingbeforethejudge。AtlastMrRobarts，theclergymanfromFramley，wasdeputedfromtheknotofCrawleianadvocatesassembledatLadyLufton’sdrawing—room，toundertakethedutyofseeingMrCrawley，andofexplainingtohimthathisproperdefencewasregardedasamatterappertainingtotheclergyandgentrygenerallyofthatpartofthecountry，andthatforthesakeoftheclergyandgentrythedefencemustofcoursebeproperlyconducted。Insuchcircumstancestheexpenseofthedefencewouldofcoursebebornebytheclergyandgentryconcerned。ItwasthoughtthatMrRobartscouldputthemattertoMrCrawleywithsuchamixtureofthestrengthofmanlyfriendshipandthesoftnessofclericalpersuasion，astoovercometherecogniseddifficultiesofthetask。
　　CHAPTERXI
　　THEBISHOPSENDSHISINHIBITION
　　TidingsofMrCrawley’sfatereachedthepalaceatBarchesterontheafternoonofthedayonwhichthemagistrateshadcommittedhim。Allsuchtidingstravelveryquickly，conveyedbyimperceptiblewires，anddistributedbyindefatigablemessageboyswhomRumourseemstosupplyforthepurpose。BarchesteristwentymilesfromSilverbridgebyroad，andmorethanfortybyrailway。Idoubtwhetheranyonewascommissionedtosendthenewsalongtheactualtelegraph，andyetMrsProudieknewitbeforefouro’clock。Butshedidnotknowitquiteaccurately。’Bishop，’
　　shesaid，standingatherhusband’sstudydoor。’Theyhavecommittedthatmantogaol。Therewasnohelpforthemunlesstheyhadforeswornthemselves。’
　　’Notforeswornthemselves，mydear，’saidthebishop，striving，aswasusualwithhim，bysomemeekandineffectualwordtoteachhiswifethatshewasoccasionallyledbyherenergyintoerror。Heneverpersistedinthelessonswhenhefound，aswasusual，thattheyweretakenamiss。
　　’Isayforeswornthemselves！’saidMrsProudie；’andnowwhatdoyoumeantodo？ThisisThursday，andofcoursethemanmustnotbeallowedtodesecratethechurchofHogglestockbyperformingtheSundayservices。’
　　’Ifhehasbeencommitted，mydear，andisinprison——’
　　’Isaidnothingaboutprison，bishop。’
　　’Gaol，mydear。’
　　’Isaidtheycommittedhimtogaol。Somyinformanttellsme。ButofcourseallPlumsteadandFramleysetwillmoveheavenandearthtogethimout，sothathemaybethereasadisgracetothediocese。Iwonderhowthedeanwillfeelwhenhehearsofit！Idoindeed。Forthedean，thoughheisanidle，uselessman，withnochurchprinciples，andnorealpiety，stillhehasaconscience。Ithinkhehasaconscience。’
　　’I’msurehehas，mydear。’
　　’Well；——letushopeso。Andifhehasaconscience，whatmustbehisfeelingswhenhehearsthatthiscreaturewhomhehasbroughtintothediocesehasbeencommittedtogaolalongwithcommonfelons。’
　　’Notwithfelons，mydear；atleast，Ishouldthinknot。’
　　’Isaywithcommonfelons！Adownrightrobberyoftwentypounds，justasthoughhehadbrokenintothebank！Andsohedid，withslyartifice，whichisworseinsuchhandsthanacrowbar。Andnowwhatarewetodo？
　　HereisThursday，andsomethingmustbedonebeforeSundayforthesoulsofthosepoorbenightedcreaturesatHogglestock。’MrsProudiewasreadyforthebattle，andwasevennowsniffingthebloodfaroff。’Ibelieveit’sahundredandthirtypoundsayear，’shesaid，beforethebishophadcollectedhisthoughtsufficientlyforareply。
　　’Ithinkwemustfindout，firstofall，whetherheisreallytobeshutupinprison，’saidthebishop。
　　’Andsupposeheisnottobeshutup。Supposetheyhavebeenweak，oruntruetotheirduty——andfromwhatweknowofthemagistratesofBarsetshire，thereistoomuchreasontosupposetheywillhavebeenso；
　　supposetheyhavelethimout，ishetogoaboutlikearoaringlion——amongthesoulsofthepeople？’
　　Thebishopshookinhisshoes。WhenMrsProudiebegantotalkofthesoulsofthepeoplehealwaysshookinhisshoes。Shehadaneloquentwayofraisinghervoiceoverthewordsoulsthatwasqualifiedtomakeanyordinarymanshakeinhisshoes。Thebishopwasaconscientiousman，andwellknowthatpoorMrCrawley，even，wouldnotroaratHogglestocktotheinjuryofanyman’ssoul。Hewasawarethatthispoorclergymanhaddonehisdutylaboriouslyandefficiently，andhewasalsoawarethatthoughhemighthavebeencommittedbythemagistrates，andthenletoutuponbail，heshouldnotberegardednow，inthesedaysbeforetrial，asaconvictedthief。ButtoexplainallthistoMrsProudiewasbeyondhispower。HeknewwellthatshewouldnothearawordinmitigationofMrCrawley’spresumedoffence。MrCrawleybelongedtotheotherparty，andMrsProudiewasathorough—goingpartisan。Iknowaman——anexcellentfellow，who，beinghimselfastrongpolitician，constantlyexpressedabeliefthatallpoliticiansopposedtohimarethieves，child—murderers，parricides，loversofincest，demonsuponearth。Heisastrongpartisan，butnot，Ithink，sostrongasMrsProudie。Hesaysthathebelievesallevilofhisopponents；butshereallybelievedtheevil。ThearchdeaconhadcalledMrsProudieashe—
　　Beelzebub；butthatwasasimpleebullitionofmortalhatred。Hebelievedhertosimplyavulgar，interfering，brazen—facedvirago。MrsProudieintruthbelievedthatthearchdeaconwasanactualemanationfromSatan，senttothesepartstodevoursouls——asshewouldcallit——andthatsheherselfwasanemanationofanothersort，sentfromanothersourceexpresslytoBarchester，topreventsuchdevouring，asfarasitmightbepreventedbyamortalagency。Thebishopknewitall——understooditall。Heregardedthearchdeaconasaclergymanbelongingtoapartyopposedtohisparty，andhedislikedtheman。Heknewthatfromhisfirstcomingintothediocesehehadbeenencounteredwithenmitybythearchdeaconandthearchdeacon’sfriends。Iflefttohimselfhecouldfeelandtoacertainextentcouldresentsuchenmity。
　　Buthehadnofaithinhiswife’sdoctrineofemanations。Hehadnotfaithinmanythingswhichshebelievedreligiously；——andyetwhatcouldhedo？Ifheattemptedtoexplain，shewouldstophimbeforehehadgotthroughthefirsthalfofhisfirstsentence。
　　’Ifheisoutonbail——’commencedthebishop。
　　’Ofcoursehewillbeoutonbail。’
　　’ThenIthinkheshouldfeel——’
　　’Feel！Suchmenneverfeel！Whatfeelingcanoneexpectfromaconvictedthief？’
　　’Notconvictedyet，mydear，’saidthebishop。
　　’Aconvictedthief，’repeatedMrsProudie；andshevociferatedthewordsinsuchatonethatthebishopresolvedthathewouldforthefutureletthewordconvictedpasswithoutnotice。Afterallshewasonlyusingthephraseinapeculiarsensegiventoitbyherself。
　　’Itwon’tbeproper，certainly，thatheshoulddotheservices，’
　　suggestedthebishop。
　　’Proper！Itwouldbeascandaltothewholediocese。Howcouldheraisehisheadashepronouncedtheeighthcommandment？Thatmustbeatleastprevented。’
　　Thebishop，whowasseated，frettedhimselfinhischair，movingaboutwithlittlemovements。Heknewthattherewasamiserycominguponhim；
　　and，asfarashecouldsee，itmightbecomeagreatmisery——ahugeblisteringsoreuponhim。Whenmiseriescametohim，astheydidnotunfrequently，hewouldunconsciouslyendeavourtofathomthemandweighthem，andthen，withsomegallantry，resolvetobearthem，ifhecouldfindthattheirdepthandweightwerenottoogreatforhispowersofendurance。Hewouldletthecoldwindwhistlebyhim，puttingupthecollarofhiscoat，andwouldbepatientunderthewinterweatherwithoutcomplaint。Andhewouldbepatientunderthesun，knowingwellthattranquillityisbestforthosewhohavetobeartropicalheat。Butwhenthestormthreatenedtoknockhimoffhislegs，whentheearthbeneathhimbecametoohotforhispoortenderfeet——whatcouldhedothen？Therehadbeenwithhimsuchperiodsofmisery，duringwhichhehadwailedinwardlyandhadconfessedtohimselfthatthewifeofhisbosomwastoomuchforhim。Nowthestormseemedtobecomingveryroughly。Itwouldbedemandedofhimthatheshouldexercisecertainepiscopalauthoritywhichheknewdidnotbelongtohim。Now，episcopalauthorityadmitsofbeingstretchedorcontractedaccordingtothecharacterofthebishopwhousesit。Itisnotalwayseasyforabishophimselftoknowwhathemaydo，andwhathemaynotdo。Hemaycertainlygiveadvicetoanyclergymaninhisdiocese，andhemaygiveitinsuchformthatitwillhaveinitsomethingofauthority。Suchadvicecomingfromadominantbishoptoaclergymanwithasubmissivemind，hasinitverymuchofauthority。ButBishopProudieknewthatMrCrawleywasnotaclergymanwithasubmissivemind，andhefearedthathehimself，asregardedfromMrCrawley’spointofview，wasnotadominantbishop。Andyethecouldonlyactbyadvice。’Iwillwritetohim，’saidthebishop’andwillexplaintohimthatasheiscircumstancedheshouldnotappearinthereading—desk。’
　　’Ofcoursehemustnotappearinthereading—desk。Thatscandalmustatanyratebeinhibited。’Nowthebishopdidnotatallliketheuseofthewordinhibited，understandingwillthatMrsProudieintendedittobeunderstoodasimplyingsomeepiscopalcommandagainstwhichthereshouldbenoappeal；——butheletitpass。
　　’Iwillwritetohim，dear，tonight。’
　　’AndMrThumblecangooverwiththeletterfirstthinginthemorning。’
　　’Willnotthepostbebetter？’
　　’No，bishop；certainlynot。’
　　’Hewouldgetitsooner，ifIwritetonight，dear。’
　　’Ineithercasehewillgetittomorrowmorning。Anhourortwowillnotsignify，andifMrThumbletakesithimselfweshallknowhowitisreceived。ItwillbewellthatThumbleshouldbethereinpersonashewillwanttolookforlodgingsintheparish。’
　　’But，mydear——’
　　’Well，bishop？’
　　’Aboutlodgings？IhardlythinkMrThumble，ifwedecidethatMrThumbleshouldundertaketheduty——’
　　’WehavedecidedthatMrThumbleshouldundertaketheduty。Thatisdecided。’
　　’ButIdonotthinkheshouldtroublehimselftolookforlodgingsatHogglestock。HecangooverontheSundays。’
　　’Andwhoistodotheparishwork？Wouldyouhavethatman，aconvictedthief，tolookaftertheschools，andvisitthesick，andperhapsattendthedying？’
　　’Therewillbeagreatdifficulty；therewillindeed，’saidthebishop，becomingveryunhappy，andfeelingthathewasdrivenbycircumstanceseitherasserthisownknowledgeorteachhiswifesomethingofthelawwithreferencetohispositionasabishop。’WhoistopayMrThumble？’
　　’Theincomeoftheparishmustbesequestrated，andhemustbepaidoutofthat。Ofcoursehemusthavetheincomewhilehedoesthework。’
　　’But，mydear，Icannotsequestratetheman’sincome。’
　　’Idon’tbelieveit，bishop。Ifthebishopcannotsequestrate，whocan？
　　Butyouarealwaystimidinexercisingtheauthorityputintoyourhandsforwisepurposes。Notsequestratetheincomeofamanwhohasbeenprovedtobeathief！Youleavethattous，andwewillmanageit。’The’us’namedcomprisedMrsProudieandthebishop’smanagingchaplain。
　　ThenthebishopwasleftaloneforanhourtowritetheletterwhichMrThumblewastocarryovertoMrCrawley——andafterawhilehedidwriteit。Beforehecommencedthetask，however，hesatforsomemomentsinhisarm—chairclosebythefire—side，askinghimselfwhetheritmightnotbepossibleforhimtoovercomehisenemyinthismatter。Howwoulditgowithhimsupposeheweretoleavetheletterunwritten，andsendinamessagebyhischaplaintoMrsProudie，sayingthatasMrCrawleywasoutonbail，theparishmightbeleftforthepresentwithoutepiscopalinterference？Shecouldnotmakehiminterfere。Shecouldnotforcehimtowritetheletter。So，atleast，hesaidtohimself。Butashesaidit，healmostthoughtthatshecoulddothesethings。Inthelastthirtyyears，ormore，shehadevercontrivedbysomepowerlatentinhertohaveherwilleffected。Butwhatwouldhappenifnow，evennow，heweretorebel？Thathewouldpersonallybecomeveryuncomfortable，hewaswellaware，buthethoughthecouldbearthat。Thefoodwouldbecomebad——mereashes，betweenhisteeth，thedailymodicumofwinewouldloseitsflavour，thechimneyswouldallsmoke，thewindwouldcomefromtheeast，andtheservantswouldnotanswerthebell。