‘That is nothing to you.’

She came up to him and put her hand upon his shoulder, and spoke to him very gently.  ‘Tom,’ she said, ’is that the way in which you speak to your wife?’

’Yes, it is.  You have driven me to it.  Why have you taken upon yourself to send that man to Hogglestock?’

’Because it was right to do so.  I came to you for instructions, and you would give none.’

’I should have given what instructions I pleased in proper time.  Thumble shall not go to Hogglestock next Sunday.’

‘Who shall go, then?’

’Never mind.  Nobody.  It does not matter to you.  If you will leave me now I shall be obliged to you.  There will be an end of all this very soon—­very soon.’

Mrs Proudie stood for a while thinking what she would say; but she left the room without uttering another word.  As she looked at him a hundred different thoughts came into her mind.  She had loved him dearly, and she loved him still; but she knew now—­at this moment felt absolutely sure—­that by him she was hated!  In spite of all her roughness and temper, Mrs Proudie was in this like other women—­that she would fain have been loved had it been possible.  She had always meant to serve him.  She was conscious of that; conscious also in a way that, although she had been industrious, although she had been faithful, although she was clever, yet she had failed.  At the bottom of her heart she knew that she had been a bad wife.  And yet she had meant to be a pattern wife!  She had meant to be a good Christian; but she had so exercised her Christianity that not a soul in the world loved her, or would endure her presence if it could be avoided!  She had sufficient insight to the minds and feelings of those around her to be aware of this.  And now her husband had told her that her tyranny to him was so overbearing that he must throw up his great position, and retire to an obscurity that would be exceptionally disgraceful to them both, because he could no longer endure the public disgrace which her conduct brought upon him in his high place before the world!  Her heart was too full for speech; and she left him, very quietly closing the door behind her.

She was preparing to go up to her chamber, with her hand on the banisters and with her foot upon the stairs, when she saw the servant who had answered the bishop’s bell.  ‘John,’ she said, ’when Mr Thumble comes to the palace, let me see him before he goes to my lord.’

‘Yes, ma’am,’ said John, who well understood the nature of those quarrels between his master and his mistress.  But the commands of the mistress were still paramount among the servants, and John proceeded on his mission with the view of accomplishing Mrs Proudie’s behests.  Then Mrs Proudie went upstairs to her chamber, and locked her door.