e want with
me?" And as Mr. Crawley asked the question he stood erect, and looked
Mr. Thumble full in the face. Mr. Thumble called to mind the fact, that
Mr. Crawley was a very poor man indeed,--so poor that he owed money
all round the country to butchers and bakers, and the other fact,
that he, Mr. Thumble himself, did not owe any money to any one, his
wife luckily having a little income of her own; and, strengthened by
these remembrances, he endeavoured to bear Mr. Crawley's attack with
gallantry.

"Of course, Mr. Crawley, you are aware that this unfortunate affair at
Silverbridge--"

"I am not prepared, sir, to discuss the unfortunate affair at
Silverbridge with a stranger. If you are the bearer of any message to
me from the Bishop of Barchester, perhaps you will deliver it."

"I have brought a letter," said Mr. Thumble. Then Mr. Crawley stretched
out his hand without a word, and taking the letter with him to the
window, read it very slowly. When he had made himself master of its
contents, he refolded the letter, placed it again in the envelope,
and returned to the spot where Mr. Thumble was standing. "I will
answer the bishop's letter," he said; "I will answer it of course,
as it is fitting that I should do so. Shall I ask you to wait for my
reply, or shall I send it by course of post?"

"I think, Mr. Crawley, as the bishop wishes me to undertake the
duty--"

"You will not undertake the duty, Mr. Thumble. You need not trouble
yourself, for I shall not surrender my pulpit to you."

"But the bishop--"

"I care nothing for the bishop in this matter." So much he spoke in
anger, and then he corrected himself. "I crave the bishop's pardon,
and yours as his messenger, if in the heat occasioned by my strong
feelings I have said aught which may savour of irreverence towards
his lordship's office. I respect his lordship's high position as
bishop of this diocese, and I bow to his commands in all things
lawful. But I must not bow to him in things unlawful, nor must I
abandon my duty before God at his bidding, unless his bidding be
given in accordance with the canons of the Church and the laws of
the land. It will be my duty, on the Sunday, to lead the prayers of
my people in the church of my parish, and to preach to them from my
pulpit; and that duty, with God's assistance, I will perform. Nor
will I allow any clergyman to interfere with me in the performance of
those sacred offices,--no, not though the bishop himself