Mr. Harding felt that he ought to rebuke the lady for presuming so to talk to a gentleman and a clergyman many years her senior; but he recoiled from the idea of scolding the bishop’s wife, in the bishop’s presence, on his first visit to the palace; moreover, to tell the truth, he was somewhat afraid of her.

The archdeacon was now ready to depart, and he and the precentor, after bowing low to the lady and shaking hands with my lord, made their escape from Mr. Slope as best they could.  It was not till they were well out of the palace and on the gravel walk of the close that the archdeacon allowed the wrath inspired by Mr. Slope to find expression.

“He is the most thoroughly bestial creature that ever I set my eyes upon,” said the archdeacon.  “But what are we to do with him?  Impudent scoundrel!  To have to cross-examine me about out-houses, and Sunday travelling, too.  I never in my life met his equal for sheer impudence.  Why, he must have thought we were two candidates for ordination!”

“I declare I thought Mrs. Proudie was the worst of the two.” said Mr. Harding.

III.—­Mrs. Proudie Gets a Fall

An act of Parliament had decided that in future the warden of Hiram’s Hospital should receive L450 a year, and no one thought for a moment that the new bishop would appoint any other than Mr. Harding.

Mr. Slope, however, had other plans.  He saw from the first that he could not conciliate Dr. Grantly, and decided on open battle against the archdeacon and all his adherents.  Only those came to call on Mr. Slope who, like Mr. Quiverful, the rector of Puddingdale, had large families and small incomes, and could not afford to neglect the loaves and fishes of the diocese, even if a Mr. Slope had charge of the baskets.

So Mr. Harding received a note begging him to call on Mr. Slope at the palace concerning the wardenship.

The result of this interview was so offensive to Mr. Harding that he said: 

“You may tell the bishop, Mr. Slope, that as I altogether disagree with his views about the hospital, I shall decline the situation if I find that any such conditions are attached to it as those you have suggested.”  And so saying, he took his hat and went his way.

Mr. Slope was contented.  He considered himself at liberty to accept Mr. Harding’s last speech as an absolute refusal of the appointment.  At least, he so represented it to the bishop and to Mrs. Proudie.

“I really am sorry for it,” said the bishop.

“I don’t know that there is much cause for sorrow,” said the lady.  “Mr. Quiverful is a much more deserving man.”

“I suppose I had better see Quiverful,” said the chaplain.

“I suppose you had,” said the bishop.

But no sooner had Mr. Slope promised Quiverful the wardenship, Mrs. Proudie writing at the same time to her protegee, Mrs. Quiverful, than he repented of the step he had taken.