nce. And then she had encased her
feet in large carpet slippers, which no doubt were comfortable, but
which struck her visitor as being strange and unsightly. "Do you
find a difficulty in getting your people together for early morning
prayers?" she said, as she commenced her operations with the teapot.

"I can't say that I do," said Mark. "But then we are seldom so early
as this."

"Parish clergymen should be early, I think," said she. "It sets a
good example in the village."

"I am thinking of having morning prayers in the church," said Mr.
Robarts.

"That's nonsense," said Mrs. Proudie, "and usually means worse than
nonsense. I know what that comes to. If you have three services on
Sunday and domestic prayers at home, you do very well." And so saying
she handed him his cup.

"But I have not three services on Sunday, Mrs. Proudie."

"Then I think you should have. Where can the poor people be so well
off on Sundays as in church? The bishop intends to express a very
strong opinion on this subject in his next charge; and then I am sure
you will attend to his wishes." To this Mark made no answer, but
devoted himself to his egg.

"I suppose you have not a very large establishment at Framley?" asked
Mrs. Proudie.

"What, at the parsonage?"

"Yes; you live at the parsonage, don't you?"

"Certainly--well; not very large, Mrs. Proudie; just enough to do the
work, make things comfortable, and look after the children."

"It is a very fine living," said she; "very fine. I don't remember
that we have anything so good ourselves,--except it is Plumstead, the
archdeacon's place. He has managed to butter his bread pretty well."

"His father was Bishop of Barchester."

"Oh, yes, I know all about him. Only for that he would barely have
risen to be an archdeacon, I suspect. Let me see; yours is L800, is
it not, Mr. Robarts? And you such a young man! I suppose you have
insured your life highly."

"Pretty well, Mrs. Proudie."

"And then, too, your wife had some little fortune, had she not? We
cannot all fall on our feet like that; can we, Mr. White?" and Mrs.
Proudie in her playful way appealed to the chaplain. Mrs. Proudie
was an imperious woman; but then so also was Lady Lufton; and it may
therefore he said that Mr. Robarts ought to have been accustomed to
feminine domination; but as he sat there munching his toast he could
not but make a comparison between the two. Lady Lufton in her little
attempts sometimes angered