is not always easy for a bishop himself to know what he may do, and what he may not do.  He may certainly give advice to any clergyman in his diocese, and he may give it in such form that it will have in it something of authority.  Such advice coming from a dominant bishop to a clergyman with a submissive mind, has in it very much of authority.  But Bishop Proudie knew that Mr Crawley was not a clergyman with a submissive mind, and he feared that he himself, as regarded from Mr Crawley’s point of view, was not a dominant bishop.  And yet he could only act by advice.  ‘I will write to him,’ said the bishop ’and will explain to him that as he is circumstanced he should not appear in the reading-desk.’

’Of course he must not appear in the reading-desk.  That scandal must at any rate be inhibited.’  Now the bishop did not at all like the use of the word inhibited, understanding well that Mrs Proudie intended it to be understood as implying some episcopal command against which there should be no appeal;—­but he let it pass.

‘I will write to him, dear, tonight.’

‘And Mr Thumble can go over with the letter first thing in the morning.’

‘Will not the post be better?’

‘No, bishop; certainly not.’

‘He would get it sooner, if I write tonight, dear.’

’In either case he will get it tomorrow morning.  An hour or two will not signify, and if Mr Thumble takes it himself we shall know how it is received.  It will be well that Thumble should be there in person as he will want to look for lodgings in the parish.’

‘But, my dear—­’

‘Well, bishop?’

’About lodgings?  I hardly think Mr Thumble, if we decide that Mr Thumble should undertake the duty—­’

’We have decided that Mr Thumble should undertake the duty.  That is decided.’

’But I do not think he should trouble himself to look for lodgings at Hogglestock.  He can go over on the Sundays.’

’And who is to do the parish work?  Would you have that man, a convicted thief, to look after the schools, and visit the sick, and perhaps attend the dying?’

‘There will be a great difficulty; there will indeed,’ said the bishop, becoming very unhappy, and feeling that he was driven by circumstances either assert his own knowledge or teach his wife something of the law with reference to his position as a bishop.  ‘Who is to pay Mr Thumble?’

’The income of the parish must be sequestrated, and he must be paid out of that.  Of course he must have the income while he does the work.’

‘But, my dear, I cannot sequestrate the man’s income.’

’I don’t believe it, bishop.  If the bishop cannot sequestrate, who can?  But you are always timid in exercising the authority put into your hands for wise purposes.  Not sequestrate the income of a man who has been proved to be a thief!  You leave that to us, and we will manage it.’  The ‘us’ named comprised Mrs Proudie and the bishop’s managing chaplain.