‘I only speak, my lord, for your own comfort,’ said Slope; ‘for your own comfort and dignity in the diocese. I can have no other motive. As far as personal feelings go, Mrs Proudie is the best friend I have. I must always remember that. But still, in my present position, my first duty is to your lordship.’

‘I am sure of that, Mr Slope, I am quite sure of that;’ said the bishop mollified: ‘and I really think that Mr Harding should have the hospital.’

‘Upon my word, I am inclined to think so. I am quite prepared to take upon myself the blame of first suggesting Mr Quiverful’s name. But since doing so, I have found that there is so strong a feeling in the diocese in favour of Mr Harding, that I think your lordship should give way. I hear also that Mr Harding has modified his objections he first felt to your lordship’s propositions. And as to what has passed between Mrs Proudie and Mrs Quiverful, the circumstance may be a little inconvenient, but I really do not think that that should weigh in a matter of so much moment.’

And thus the poor bishop was left in a dreadfully undecided state as to what he should do. His mind, however, slightly inclined itself to the appointment of Mr Harding, seeing that by such a step, he should have the assistance of Mr Slope in opposing Mrs Proudie.

Such was the state of affairs at the palace, when Mr Slope called at Mrs Bold’s house, and found her playing with her baby. When she ran out of the room, Mr Slope began praising the weather to Mary Bold, then he praised the baby and kissed him, and then he praised the mother, and then he praised Miss Bold herself. Mrs Bold, however, was not long before she came back.

‘I have to apologise for calling at so very early an hour,’ began Mr Slope, ‘but I was really so anxious to speak to you that I hope you and Miss Bold will excuse me.’

Eleanor muttered something in which the words ‘certainly’, and ‘of course’, and ‘not early at all’, were just audible, and then apologised for her own appearance, declaring with a smile, that her baby was becoming such a big boy that he was quite unmanageable.

‘He’s a great bit naughty boy,’ said she to the child; ‘and we must sent him away to a great big rough romping school, where they have great big rods, and do terrible things to naughty boys who don’t do what their own mammas tell them;’ and she then commenced another course of kissing, being actuated thereto by the terrible idea of sending her child away which her own imagination had depicted.

‘And where the masters don’t have such beautiful long hair to be dishevelled,’ said Mr Slope, taking up the joke and paying a compliment at the same time.

Eleanor thought he might as well have left the compliment alone; but she said nothing and looked nothing, being occupied as she was with the baby.

‘Let me take him,’ said Mary. ‘His clothes are nearly off his back with his romping,’ and so saying she left the room with the child. Miss Bold had heard Mr Slope say he had something pressing to say to Eleanor, and thinking that she might be de trop, took the opportunity of getting herself out of the room.

‘Don’t be long, Mary,’ said Eleanor, as Miss Bold shut the door.

‘I am glad, Mrs Bold, to have the opportunity of having ten minutes’ conversation with you alone,’ began Mr Slope. ‘Will you let me openly ask you a plain question?’

‘Certainly,’ said she.

‘And I am sure you will give me a plain and open answer.’

‘Either that or none at all,’ said she, laughing.