It occurred to me, Mr.Crawley, that your first letter might have been written in haste." "It was written in haste, my lord; your messenger was waiting." "Yes;--just so.

Well; so I sent him again, hoping that he might be accepted as a messenger of peace.

It was a most disagreeable mission for any gentleman, Mr.Crawley." "Most disagreeable, my lord." "And you refused him permission to obey the instructions which I had given him! You would not let him read from your desk, or preach from your pulpit." "Had I been Mr.Thumble," said Mrs.Proudie, "I would have read from that desk and I would have preached from that pulpit." Mr.Crawley waited a moment, thinking that the bishop might perhaps speak again; but as he did not, but sat expectant as though he had finished his discourse, and now expected a reply, Mr.Crawley got up from his seat and drew near to the table.

"My lord," he began, "it has all been just as you have said.

I did answer your first letter in haste." "The more shame for you," said Mrs.Proudie.
"And therefore, for aught I know, my letter to your lordship may be so worded as to need some apology." "Of course it needs an apology," said Mrs.Proudie.
"But for the matter of it, my lord, no apology can be made, nor is any needed.