uld not be delivered by
post till the Saturday morning. Mrs. Proudie might be angry with him
if he should be the cause of loss of time. He did not, however, at
all like waiting, having perceived that Mr. Crawley, though with
language courteously worded, had spoken of him as a mere messenger.

"I think," he said, "that I may, perhaps, best further the object
which we must all have in view, that namely of providing properly
for the Sunday services of the church of Hogglestock, by taking your
reply personally to the bishop."

"That provision is my care and need trouble no one else," said
Mr. Crawley, in a loud voice. Then, before seating himself at his
old desk, he stood awhile, pondering, with his back turned to his
visitor. "I have to ask your pardon, sir," said he, looking round
for a moment, "because, by reason of the extreme poverty of this
house, my wife is unable to offer to you that hospitality which is
especially due from one clergyman to another."

"Oh, don't mention it," said Mr. Thumble.

"If you will allow me, sir, I would prefer that it should be
mentioned." Then he seated himself, and commenced his letter.

Mr. Thumble felt himself to be awkwardly placed. Had there been no
third person in the room he could have sat down in Mr. Crawley's
arm-chair, and waited patiently till the letter should be finished.
But Mrs. Crawley was there, and of course he was bound to speak to
her. In what strain should he do so? Even he, little as he was given
to indulge in sentiment, had been touched by the man's appeal to his
own poverty, and he felt, moreover, that Mrs. Crawley must have been
deeply moved by her husband's position with reference to the bishop's
order. It was quite out of the question that he should speak of that,
as Mr. Crawley would, he was well aware, immediately turn upon him. At
last he thought of a subject, and spoke with a voice intended to be
pleasant. "That was the school-house I passed, probably, just as I
came here?" Mrs. Crawley told him that it was the school-house. "Ah,
yes, I thought so. Have you a certified teacher here?" Mrs. Crawley
explained that no Government aid had ever reached Hogglestock.
Besides themselves, they had only a young woman whom they themselves
had instructed. "Ah, that is a pity," said Mr. Thumble.

"I,--I am the certified teacher," said Mr. Crawley, turning round upon
him from his chair.

"Oh, ah, yes," said Mr. Thumble; and after that Mr. Thumble asked no
more quest