resent day, it is a place of very considerable pretension. There is an old forest, not altogether belonging to the property, but attached to it, cal

o be seen at intervals throughout the whole distance; but the larger remaining portion, consisting of aged hollow oaks, centuries old, and wide-spreading withered beeches, stands in the two parishes of Chaldicotes and Uffley. People still come from afar to see the oaks of Chaldicotes and to hear their feet rustle amo

y a heavy double flight of stone steps. In the front of the house a long, solemn, straight avenue through a double row of lime-trees, leads away to lodge-gates, which stand in the centre of the village of Chaldicotes; but to the rear the windows open upon four different vistas, which run down through the forest: four open green rides, wh

and silent as the grave through nine months of the year, was now alive in all its parts. There were lights in many of the windows, and a noise of voice

taking the parson's horse by the head, and touchin

thank you. All wel

life going on here now, sir. The bi

and they were to be here.

livia, I think they cal

w's Mr

Fothergill - that's the duke's man of business, you know -

hunting -

n Mr Robarts walked into the house, his por

by was one whose intimacy few young men would wish to reject. He was fifty, and had lived, perhaps, not the most salutary life; but he dressed young, and usually looked well. He was bald, with a good forehead, and sparkling moist eyes. He was a clever man, and a pleasant companion, and always good-humoured when it so suited him. He was a gentleman, too, of high breeding and good birth, whose ancestors had been known in that county - longer, the farmers around would boast, than those of any other landowner in it, unless it be the Thornes of Ullathorne, or perhaps the Greshams of Greshambury - much longer than the

r said to himself; even his own wife - good, and nice, and sensible, and intelligent as she was - even she did not understand that a man in the world must meet all sorts of men; and that in these days it did not do for a clergyman to be a hermit. 'Twas thus that Mark Robarts argued when he found himself called upon to defend himself before the bar of his own conscience for going to Chaldicotes and increasing his intimacy with Mr Sowerby. He did know that Mr

Harold Smith, with Mrs and Miss Proudie, and a lady whom he had n

difficulties? Well, we can promise you gratitude at any rate.' And then the vicar shook hands with Mrs Proudie, in that deferential manner which is due from a vicar to his bishop's wife; and Mrs Proudie returned the greeting with all that smiling condescension

ulties, Mrs Smith, in wh

g before breakfast, and they never come back - I was going to say - till af

, you know,' said the unk

shut up in the librar

re trying to break his neck like

th. 'But perhaps, Mr Robarts, you are as bad as th

roudie, in a tone denoting slig

won't be hunting, Mr Robarts; you'

said the lady wi

, while he is staying in the same house w

ouldn't he? Now, do tell me, sir, what wo

said Mr Robarts. 'If that were very stern, he migh

ne of the conversation; and Miss Proudie fixed her eyes vehemently on her book

w it. It's half-past six already.' And then Mr Robarts gave them to understand that no such catastrophe would be

of your diocese.' And then the bishop, feeling through the dark, made his way up to the vicar and shook him cordially by the hand. He was delighted to meet Mr Robarts at Chaldicotes, he said, quite delighted. Was he not going to preach on behalf of the Papuan Mission next Sunday? Ah! so he was, the bishop had heard. It was

ill extract the five-pound note out of your pocket next Sunday for these poor Papuans whom we are going to Christianize. That is, if Harold Smith does not finish the work out of hand at his Sunday lecture. And, Robarts, you have seen the bishop, of course:' this he said in a whisp

lady he would willingly have chatted during the dinner, only that everybody else at table seemed to be intent on doing the same thing. She was neither young, nor beautiful, nor peculiarly ladylike; yet she seemed to enjoy a popularity which must have excited

able, 'we have missed you all day! we hav

own that - But I really was engag

usiness of importance

u were married to Mr Harold Smith

my faith! But you are a man of business also, Mr Supplehouse; do

Harold Smith,' said he. 'But

business? How does he set about it? What are his tool

on his trade. A shoemaker b

Harold S

hould say; or else by unrolling a ball of red tape. Wel

bishop do? Can

, according to the state of his digestive organs. But Mrs Pro

elieve a word of it. The bishop manages his own affairs

ss Dun

s,

have not a wife to

have, for you don't know what you may

in that respect to which he might be subjected by the companionship of Miss Dunstable. But before

sh, and was rather surprised by the question. And he had not quite liked the tone in which she had seemed to speak of the bishop and his wo

have plenty of work, i

ee what a result they have. But many neglect it - and see what a result they have. I think it ought to be the

made him satisfied on all points. He had all these things of which Miss Dunstable spoke, and yet he had told his

ome at all. Is it not a scandal that an educated gentleman with a family should be made to work half his life, and perhaps the whole, for a pittance of seventy pounds a y

rdinary people. You must be paid from land and endowments, from tithe and church property. You can't bring yourself to work

subject, Mis

at means that I am not t

mean that

to keep those long subjects for your sermons, when no one can answer you. Now if I have a longing heart'

hat appetite would pall upon y

her attention was called away by some question from Mr Sowerby, and Mark Robarts found himself bound to address his co

Mr Sowerby said to him, as they sat round the fire over their wine after dinner. Mark

you will do for him. It'll be a terrible bore - the lecture, I mean, not the sermon.' And he spoke very low in his friend's ear. 'Fancy

t will be ver

have. But he's right to do it. It's his line of life; and when a man

heard from him; but he's

apes all the bore of going to lectures, and giving feeds to the neighb

does all th

than it's worth.' Lord Lufton had spoken to Mark about this sale and had explained to him that such a sacrifice was absolutely necessary, in consequence of certain pecuniary transactions between him, Lord Lufton and Mr Sowerby. But it was found impracticable to complete the business without

t islands under the sun,' sai

op, opening his eyes wide, and as

st intellig

' said th

uidance, encouragem

nity,' sugges

dignitary of the Church. It was well to humour such people, Mr Smith thought. But

asked Mr Supplehouse, the business of whos

e difficulty is to go on with them, after the money is all spent.

Supplehouse. 'But how do

lia and America? It is very easy to criticize; but in such m

'and they began to work for us. And as to America, we

e inhabitants of India,' s

ize them, as the bishop so properly

Smith nor to us - you are making him rehearse his lecture, which is

land,' said Harold Smith, 'or, at any rate, thinks that it does. But

are not leading,' said Mr Supplehouse.

-room. Meet him at the duke's!--the established enemy of Barsetshire mankind, as Lady Lufton regarded his grace! No idea

t. Indeed, I have no acq

terests,' added the bishop, remembering that the moral character of his bachelor grace was not the very best in the world. And then his lordship began to ask some questions about

the back of the sofa, on which his wife was sitting. 'Miss Dunstable thinks tha

ing low to the dominant lady of the day. For be it known to a

ay that she will take me in, with my

ite room for any of her suite,' said Mrs Pro

n of managing man on the Duke of Omnium's estate. He was not exactly his agent; that is to say, he did not receive his rents; but he 'managed' for him, saw people, went about the county, wrote letters, supported the electioneering interest, did popularity when

Duke of Omnium,' continued Mr Fothergill, 'to say how glad he will be if you will join his grace's party at Gatherum Castle next week. The bishop will be there, and indeed nearly all the whole set who are here now. The duke would have written when he heard that you were to be

nd his wife, and all that made him happy and respectable - looked upon the Duke of Omnium with horror and amazement; and now he had ab

ation. Mark, too, had risen in the world, as far as he had yet risen, by knowing great people; and he certainly had an ambition to rise higher; but he undoubtedly had a feeling that the paths most pleasant for a clergyman's feet were thos

we will talk it over with Sowerby and the bishop. It will be a thousand pities, Mr Robarts, if

but, nevertheless, he did feel that it was a pity that he should not do so.