Mr Slope turned over in his mind whether it would be well for him to tell this termagant at once that he should call on whom he liked, and do what he liked; but he remembered that his footing in Barchester was not yet sufficiently firm, and that it would be better for him to pacify her.

‘I certainly called since at Dr Stanhope’s house, and certainly saw Madame Neroni.’

‘Yes, and you saw her alone,’ said the episcopal Argus.

‘Undoubtedly I did,’ said Mr Slope, ‘but that was because nobody else happened to be in the room. Surely it was no fault of mine if the rest of the family were out.’

‘Perhaps not; but I assure you, Mr Slope, you will fall greatly in my estimation if I find that you allow yourself to be caught by the lures of that woman. I know women better than you do, Slope, and you may believe me that that signora, as she calls herself, is not a fitting companion for a strict evangelical, unmarried young clergyman.’

How Mr Slope would have liked to laugh at her, had he dared! But he did not dare. So he merely said, ‘I can assure you, Mrs Proudie, the lady in question is nothing to me.’

‘Well, I hope not, Mr Slope. But I have considered it my duty to give you this caution; and now there is another thing I feel myself called upon to speak about; it is your conduct to the bishop, Mr Slope.’

‘My conduct to the bishop,’ said he, now truly surprised and ignorant what the lady alluded to.

‘Yes, Mr Slope; your conduct to the bishop. It is by no means what I would wish to see it.’

‘Has the bishop said anything, Mrs Proudie?’

‘No, the bishop has said nothing. He probably thinks that any remarks on the matter will come better from me, who first introduced you to his lordship’s notice. The fact is, Mr Slope, you are a little inclined to take too much upon yourself.’

An angry spot showed itself upon Mr Slope’s cheeks, and it was with difficulty that he controlled himself. But he did do so, and sat quite silent while the lady went on.

‘It is the fault of many young men in your position, and therefore the bishop is not inclined at present to resent it. You will, no doubt, soon learn what is required from you, and what is not. If you will take my advice, however, you will be careful not to obtrude advice upon the bishop in any matter concerning patronage. If his lordship wants advice, he knows where to look for it.’ And then having added to her counsel a string of platitudes as to what was desirable and what not desirable in the conduct of a strictly evangelical, unmarried young clergyman, Mrs Proudie retreated, leaving the chaplain to his thoughts.

The upshot of his thoughts was this, that there certainly was not room in the diocese for the energies of both himself and Mrs Proudie, and that it behoved him quickly to ascertain whether his energies or hers would prevail.


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