Nevertheless the Stanhopes were pledged to take Mr Slope with them to Ullathorne. An arrangement was therefore necessarily made, which was very disagreeable to Eleanor. Dr Stanhope, with herself, Charlotte, and Mr Slope, were to go together, and Bertie was to follow with his sister Madeline. It was clearly visible to Eleanor’s face that this assortment was very disagreeable to her; and Charlotte, who was much encouraged thereby in her own little plan, made a thousand apologies.

‘I see you don’t like it, dear,’ said she, ‘but we could not manage it otherwise. Bertie would give his eyes to go with you, but Madeline cannot possibly go without him. Nor could we possibly put Mr Slope and Madeline in the same carriage without anyone else. They’d both be ruined for ever, you know, and not admitted inside Ullathorne gates, I should imagine, after such an impropriety.’

‘Of course that wouldn’t do,’ said Eleanor; ‘but couldn’t I go in the carriage with the signora and your brother?’

‘Impossible!’ said Charlotte. ‘When she is there, there is only room for two.’ The signora, in truth, did not care to do her travelling in the presence of strangers.

‘Well, then,’ said Eleanor, ‘you are all so kind, Charlotte, and so good to me, that I am sure you won’t be offended; but I think I shall not go at all.’

‘Not go at all!—what nonsense!—indeed you shall.’ it had been absolutely determined in family council that Bertie should propose on that very occasion.

‘Or I can take a fly,’ said Eleanor. ‘You know that I am not embarrassed by so many difficulties as you young ladies. I can go alone.’

‘Nonsense, my dear. Don’t think of such a thing; after all it is only for an hour or so, and to tell the truth, I don’t know what it is you dislike so. I thought you and Mr Slope were great friends. What is it you dislike?’

‘Oh; nothing particular,’ said Eleanor; ‘only I thought it would be a family party.’

‘Of course it would be much nicer, much more snug, if Bertie would go with us. It is he that is badly treated. I can assure you he is much more afraid of Mr Slope than you are. But you see Madeline cannot go without him,—and she, poor creature, goes out so seldom! I am sure you don’t begrudge her this, though her vagary does knock about our own party a little.’

Of course Eleanor made a thousand protestations, a uttered a thousand hopes that Madeline would enjoy herself. And of course she had to give way, and undertake to go in the carriage with Mr Slope. In fact, she was driven either to so this, or to explain why she would not do so. Now she could not bring herself to explain to Charlotte Stanhope all that had passed at Plumstead.

But it was to her a sore necessity. She thought of a thousand little schemes for avoiding it; she would plead illness, and not go at all; she would persuade Mary Bold to go although not asked, and then make a necessity of having a carriage of her own to take her sister–in–law; anything, in fact, she could do rather than be seen in the same carriage with Mr Slope. However, when the momentous morning came she had no scheme matured, and then Mr Slope handed her into Dr Stanhope’s carriage, and following her steps, sat opposite to her.

The bishop returned on the eve of the Ullathorne party, and was received at home with radiant smiles by the partner of all his cares. On his arrival he crept up to his dressing–room with somewhat of a palpitating heart; he had overstayed his allotted time by three days, and was not without fear of penalties. Nothing, however, could be more affectionately cordial than the greeting he received; the girls came out and kissed him in a manner that was quite soothing to his spirit; and Mrs Proudie, arms, and almost in words called him her dear, darling, good, pet, little bishop. All this was a very pleasant surprise.


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