“I myself, as you know, Mr. Lydgate, highly valued the opportunity of new and independent procedure which you have diligently employed:  the original plan, I confess, was one which I had much at heart, under submission to the Divine Will.  But since providential indications demand a renunciation from me, I renounce.”

Bulstrode showed a rather exasperating ability in this conversation.  The broken metaphor and bad logic of motive which had stirred his hearer’s contempt were quite consistent with a mode of putting the facts which made it difficult for Lydgate to vent his own indignation and disappointment.  After some rapid reflection, he only asked—­

“What did Mrs. Casaubon say?”

“That was the further statement which I wished to make to you,” said Bulstrode, who had thoroughly prepared his ministerial explanation.  “She is, you are aware, a woman of most munificent disposition, and happily in possession—­not I presume of great wealth, but of funds which she can well spare.  She has informed me that though she has destined the chief part of those funds to another purpose, she is willing to consider whether she cannot fully take my place in relation to the Hospital.  But she wishes for ample time to mature her thoughts on the subject, and I have told her that there is no need for haste—­that, in fact, my own plans are not yet absolute.”

Lydgate was ready to say, “If Mrs. Casaubon would take your place, there would be gain, instead of loss.”  But there was still a weight on his mind which arrested this cheerful candor.  He replied, “I suppose, then, that I may enter into the subject with Mrs. Casaubon.”

“Precisely; that is what she expressly desires.  Her decision, she says, will much depend on what you can tell her.  But not at present:  she is, I believe, just setting out on a journey.  I have her letter here,” said Mr. Bulstrode, drawing it out, and reading from it. “`I am immediately otherwise engaged,’ she says. `I am going into Yorkshire with Sir James and Lady Chettam; and the conclusions I come to about some land which I am to see there may affect my power of contributing to the Hospital.’  Thus, Mr. Lydgate, there is no haste necessary in this matter; but I wished to apprise you beforehand of what may possibly occur.”

Mr. Bulstrode returned the letter to his side-pocket, and changed his attitude as if his business were closed.  Lydgate, whose renewed hope about the Hospital only made him more conscious of the facts which poisoned his hope, felt that his effort after help, if made at all, must be made now and vigorously.