But Dr Tempest, though he had argued in this way, was by no means eager for the commencement of the commission over which he was to be called upon to preside.  In spite of such arguments as the above, which came from the man’s head when his head was brought to bear on the matter, there was a thorough desire within his heart to oppose the bishop.  He had no strong sympathy with Mr Crawley, as had others.  He would have had Mr Crawley silenced without regret, presuming Mr Crawley to be guilty.  But he had a much stronger feeling with regard to the bishop.  Had there been any question of silencing the bishop—­could it have been possible to take steps in that direction—­he would have been very active.  It may therefore be understood that in spite of his defence of the bishop’s present proceedings as to the commission, he was anxious that the bishop should fail, and anxious to put impediments in the bishop’s way, should it appear to him that he could do so with justice.  Dr Tempest was well known among his parishioners to be hard and unsympathetic, some said unfeeling also, and cruel; but it was admitted by those who disliked him the most that he was both practical and just, and that he cared for the welfare of many, though he was rarely touched by the misery of one.  Such was the man who was rector of Silverbridge and rural dean in the district, and who was now called upon by the bishop to assist him in making further inquiry as to this wretched cheque for twenty pounds.

Once at this period Archdeacon Grantly and Dr Tempest met each other and discussed the question of Mr Crawley’s guilt.  Both these men were inimical to the present bishop of the diocese, and both had perhaps respected the old bishop beyond all other men.  But they were different in this, that the archdeacon hated Dr Proudie as a partisan—­whereas Dr Tempest opposed the bishop on certain principles which he endeavoured to make clear, at any rate to himself.  ‘Wrong!’ said the archdeacon, speaking of the bishop’s intention of issuing a commission—­’of course he’s wrong.  How could anything right come from him or from her?  I should be sorry to have to do his bidding.’

‘I think you are a little hard upon Bishop Proudie,’ said Dr Tempest.

‘One cannot be hard upon him,’ said the archdeacon.  ’He is so scandalously weak, and she is so radically vicious, that they cannot but be wrong together.  The very fact that such a man should be a bishop among us is to me terribly strong evidence of evil days coming.’

‘You are more impulsive than I am,’ said Dr Tempest.  ’In this case I am sorry for the poor man, who is, I am sure, honest in the main.  But I believe that in such a case your father would have done just what the present bishop is doing;—­that he could have done nothing else; and as I think that Dr Proudie is right I shall do all that I can to assist him in the commission.’