with his
grace."

"Oh--ah! I did not know. Because Mr. Sowerby is going; and so are the
Harold Smiths, and, I think, Mr. Supplehouse. An excellent man is
the duke;--that is, as regards all the county interests," added the
bishop, remembering that the moral character of his bachelor grace
was not the very best in the world. And then his lordship began to
ask some questions about the church affairs of Framley, in which a
little interest as to Framley Court was also mixed up, when he was
interrupted by a rather sharp voice, to which he instantly attended.

"Bishop," said the rather sharp voice; and the bishop trotted across
the room to the back of the sofa, on which his wife was sitting.
"Miss Dunstable thinks that she will be able to come to us for a
couple of days, after we leave the duke's."

"I shall be delighted above all things," said the bishop, bowing low
to the dominant lady of the day. For be it known to all men, that
Miss Dunstable was the great heiress of that name.

"Mrs. Proudie is so very kind as to say that she will take me in,
with my poodle, parrot, and pet old woman."

"I tell Miss Dunstable that we shall have quite room for any of her
suite," said Mrs. Proudie. "And that it will give us no trouble."

"'The labour we delight in physics pain,'" said the gallant bishop,
bowing low, and putting his hand upon his heart. In the meantime
Mr. Fothergill had got hold of Mark Robarts. Mr. Fothergill was
a gentleman and a magistrate of the county, but he occupied the
position of managing man on the Duke of Omnium's estates. He was not
exactly his agent; that is to say, he did not receive his rents;
but he "managed" for him, saw people, went about the county, wrote
letters, supported the electioneering interest, did popularity when
it was too much trouble for the duke to do it himself, and was, in
fact, invaluable. People in West Barsetshire would often say that
they did not know what on earth the duke would do, if it were not for
Mr. Fothergill. Indeed, Mr. Fothergill was useful to the duke.

"Mr. Robarts," he said, "I am very happy to have the pleasure of
meeting you--very happy indeed. I have often heard of you from our
friend Sowerby." Mark bowed, and said that he was delighted to
have the honour of making Mr. Fothergill's acquaintance. "I am
commissioned by the Duke of Omnium," continued Mr. Fothergill,
"to say how glad he will be if you will join his grace's party at
Gatherum Castle next week. The bi