rdly enough, apparently in a
jostle with the neighbouring house; and then there was a third--shall
we say drawing-room, or closet?--in which Mrs. Proudie delighted to
be seen sitting, in order that the world might know that there was a
third room; altogether a noble suite, as Mrs. Proudie herself said
in confidence to more than one clergyman's wife from Barsetshire.
"A noble suite, indeed, Mrs. Proudie!" the clergymen's wives from
Barsetshire would usually answer.

For some time Mrs. Proudie was much at a loss to know by what sort
of party or entertainment she would make herself famous. Balls and
suppers were of course out of the question. She did not object to her
daughters dancing all night at other houses--at least, of late she
had not objected, for the fashionable world required it, and the
young ladies had perhaps a will of their own--but dancing at her
house--absolutely under the shade of the bishop's apron--would be a
sin and a scandal. And then as to suppers--of all modes in which one
may extend one's hospitality to a large acquaintance, they are the
most costly. "It is horrid to think that we should go out among our
friends for the mere sake of eating and drinking," Mrs. Proudie would
say to the clergymen's wives from Barsetshire. "It shows such a
sensual propensity."

"Indeed it does, Mrs. Proudie; and is so vulgar too!" those ladies
would reply. But the elder among them would remember with regret, the
unsparing, open-handed hospitality of Barchester Palace in the good
old days of Bishop Grantly--God rest his soul! One old vicar's wife
there was whose answer had not been so courteous--

"When we are hungry, Mrs. Proudie," she had said, "we do all have
sensual propensities."

"It would be much better, Mrs. Athill, if the world would provide
for all that at home," Mrs. Proudie had rapidly replied; with which
opinion I must here profess that I cannot by any means bring myself
to coincide. But a conversazione would give play to no sensual
propensity, nor occasion that intolerable expense which the
gratification of sensual propensities too often produces. Mrs.
Proudie felt that the word was not all that she could have desired.
It was a little faded by old use and present oblivion, and seemed to
address itself to that portion of the London world that is considered
blue, rather than fashionable. But, nevertheless, there was a
spirituality about it which suited her, and one may also say an
economy. And then as r