affair of ours.  When I heard that he had been bailed by a beneficed clergyman of this diocese, of course I knew where to look for the man who would act with so much impropriety.  Of course I was not surprised, when I found that that person belonged to Framley.  But, as I have said before, that is no business of ours.  I hope, Mr Thumble, that the bishop will never be found interfering with the ordinary laws of the land.  I am very sure that he will never do so by my advice.  But when there comes a question of inhibiting a clergyman who has committed himself as that clergyman unfortunately has done, then I say that that clergyman ought to be inhibited.’  The bishop walked up and down the room throughout the whole of this speech, but gradually his steps became quicker, and his turns became shorter.  ’And now here is Christmas Day upon us, and what is to be done?’ With these words Mrs Proudie finished her speech.

‘Mr Thumble,’ said the bishop, ’perhaps you had better now retire.  I am very sorry that you should have had so thankless and so disagreeable a task.’

‘Why should Mr Thumble retire?’ asked Mrs Proudie.

‘I think it better,’ said the bishop.  ‘Mr Thumble, good-night.’  Then Mr Thumble did retire, and Mrs Proudie stood forth in her full panoply of armour, silent and awful, with her helmet erect, and vouchsafed no recognition whatever of the parting salutation which Mr Thumble greeted her.  ‘My dear, the truth is, you do not understand the matter,’ said the bishop, as soon as the door was closed.  ’You do not know how limited is my power.’

’Bishop, I understand it a great deal better than some people; and I understand also what is due to myself and the manner in which I ought to be treated by you in the presence of the subordinate clergy of the diocese.  I shall not, however, remain here to be insulted in the presence or absence of anyone.’  Then the conquered amazon collected together her weapons which she had laid upon the table, and took her departure with majestic step, and not without the clang of arms.  The bishop, when he was left alone, enjoyed for a few moments the triumph of victory.

But then he was left so very much alone!  When he looked round about him upon his solitude after the departure of his wife, and remembered that he should not see her again till he should encounter on ground that was all her own, he regretted his own success, and was tempted to follow her and to apologise.  He was unable to do anything alone.  He would not even know how to get his tea, as the very servants would ask questions, if he were to do so unaccustomed a thing as to order it to be brought up to him in his solitude.  They would tell him that Mrs Proudie was having tea in her little sitting-room upstairs, or else that the things were laid in the drawing-room.  He did wander forth to the latter apartment, hoping that he might find his wife there; but the drawing-room was dark and deserted, and so he wandered back again.  It was a grand thing certainly to have triumphed over his wife, and there was a crumb of comfort in the thought that he had vindicated himself before Mr Thumble; but the general result was not comforting, and he knew from old how short-lived his triumph would be.