The Bishop had been induced by influences which should have had no
power over him to use his episcopal rod and to smite him,--him Dr. Wortle!
He would certainly show the Bishop that he should have considered
beforehand whom he was about to smite. "'Amo' in the cool of the
evening!" And that given as an expression of opinion from the metropolitan
press in general! He had spared the Bishop as far as that action was
concerned, but he would not spare him should he be driven to further
measures by further injustice. In this way he lashed himself again into a
rage. Whenever those odious words occurred to him he was almost mad with
anger against the Bishop.

When the letter had been two days sent, so that he might have had a reply
had a reply come to him by return of post, he put a copy of it into his
pocket and rode off to call on Mr. Puddicombe. He had thought of showing
it to Mr. Puddicombe before he sent it, but his mind had revolted from
such submission to the judgment of another. Mr. Puddicombe would no doubt
have advised him not to send it, and then he would have been almost
compelled to submit to such advice. But the letter was gone now. The
Bishop had read it, and no doubt re-read it two or three times. But he
was anxious that some other clergyman should see it,--that some other
clergyman should tell him that, even if inexpedient, it had still been
justified. Mr. Puddicombe had been made acquainted with the former
circumstances of the affair; and now, with his mind full of his own
injuries, he went again to Mr. Puddicombe.

"It is just the sort of letter that you would write, as a matter of
course," said Mr. Puddicombe.

"Then I hope that you think it is a good letter?"

"Good as being expressive, and good also as being true, I do think it."

"But not good as being wise?"

"Had I been in your case I should have thought it unnecessary. But you
are self-demonstrative, and cannot control your feelings."

"I do not quite understand you."

"What did it all matter? The Bishop did a foolish thing in talking of the
metropolitan press. But he had only meant to put you on your guard."

"I do not choose to be put on my guard in that way," said the Doctor.

"No; exactly. And he should have known you better than to suppose you
would bear it. Then you pressed him, and he found himself compelled to
send you that stupid newspaper. Of course he had made a mistake. But
don't you think that the world goes ea