absent herself and was greatly chagrined that he should not have prevailed with her.  There she was—­and as Dr Tempest was resolved that he would neither give advice nor receive instructions respecting Mr Crawley in her presence, he could only draw upon his courage and his strategy for the coming warfare.  For a few moments no one said a word.  The bishop felt that if Dr Tempest would only begin, the work on hand might be got through, even in his wife’s presence.  Mrs Proudie was aware that her husband should begin.  If he would do so, and if Dr Tempest would listen and then reply, she might gradually make her way into the conversation; and if her words were once accepted then she could say all that she desired to say; then she could play her part and become somebody in the episcopal work.  When once she should have been allowed liberty of speech, the enemy would be powerless to stop her.  But all this Dr Tempest understood quite as well as she understood it, and had they waited till night he would not have been the first to mention Mr Crawley’s name.

The bishop sighed aloud.  The sigh might be taken as expressing grief over the sin of an erring brother whose conduct they were then to discuss, and was not amiss.  But when the sigh with its attendant murmurs had passed away it was necessary that some initiative step should be taken.  ‘Dr Tempest,’ said the bishop, ’what are we to do about this poor stiff-necked gentleman?’ Still Dr Tempest did not speak.  ’There is no clergyman in the diocese,’ continued the bishop, ’in whose prudence and wisdom I have more confidence than in yours.  And I know, too, that you are by no means disposed to severity where severe measures are not necessary.  What ought we to do?  If he has been guilty, he should not surely return to his pulpit after the expiration of such punishment as the law of this country may award him.’

Dr Tempest looked at Mrs Proudie, thinking that she might perhaps say a word now; but Mrs Proudie knew her part better and was silent.  Angry as she was, she contrived to hold her peace.  Let the debate once begin and she would be able to creep into it, and then to lead it—­and so she would hold her own.  But she had met a foe as wary as herself.  ‘My lord,’ said the doctor, ’it will perhaps be well that you should communicate your wishes to me in writing.  If it be possible for me to comply with them I will do so.’

’Yes;—­exactly; no doubt;—­but I thought that perhaps we might better understand each other if we had a few words of quiet conversation upon the subject.  I believe you know the steps that I have—­’

But here the bishop was interrupted.  Dr Tempest rose from his chair, and advancing to the table put both hands upon it.  ‘My lord,’ he said, ’I feel myself compelled to say that which I would very much rather leave unsaid, were it possible.  I feel the difficulty, and I may say delicacy, of my position; but I should be untrue to my conscience and to my feeling of what is right in such matters, if I were take any part on a discussion on this matter in the presence of—­a lady.’