w that he must
either fight or fly. He would almost endure anything rather than
descend into the arena for the purpose of doing battle with his wife,
but occasions would come now and again when even the alternative of
flight was hardly left to him.

"But, my dear--" began the bishop.

"Am I to understand that this man has professed himself to be
altogether indifferent to the bishop's prohibition?" said Mrs
Proudie, interrupting her husband and addressing Mr. Thumble.

"Quite so. He seemed to think that the bishop had no lawful power in
the matter at all," said Mr. Thumble.

"Do you hear that, my lord?" said Mrs. Proudie.

"Nor have I any," said the bishop, almost weeping as he spoke.

"No authority in your own diocese!"

"None to silence a man merely by my own judgment. I thought, and
still think, that it was for this gentleman's own interest, as well
as for the credit of the Church, that some provision should be made
for his duties during his present,--present--difficulties."

"Difficulties indeed! Everybody knows that the man has been a thief."

"No, my dear; I do not know it."

"You never know anything, bishop."

"I mean to say that I do not know it officially. Of course I have
heard the sad story; and though I hope it may not be the--"

"There is no doubt about its truth. All the world knows it. He has
stolen twenty pounds, and yet he is to be allowed to desecrate the
Church, and imperil the souls of the people!" The bishop got up from
his chair and began to walk backwards and forwards through the room
with short quick steps. "It only wants five days to Christmas Day,"
continued Mrs. Proudie, "and something must be done at once. I say
nothing as to the propriety or impropriety of his being out on bail,
as it is no 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 the 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 through