The Last Chronicle of Barset [93]
so in a very particular way. I do not wish to remind you what might be your condition now, but for the interposition of private friends.'
'I should be in the condition of a man not guilty before the law; --guiltless as far as the law goes--but kept in durance, nor for the faults of his own, but because otherwise, by reason of laches in the police, his presence at the assizes might not be ensured. In such a position a man's reputation is made to hang for a while on the trust which some friends or neighbours may have in it. I do not say the test is a good one.'
'You would have been put in prison, Mr Crawley, because the magistrates were of the opinion that you had taken Mr Soames's cheque,' said Mrs Proudie. On this occasion he did look at her. He turned one glance upon her from under his eyebrows, but he did not speak.
'With all that I have nothing to do,' said the bishop.
'Nothing whatever, my lord,' said Mr Crawley.
'But, bishop, I think you have,' said Mrs Proudie. 'The judgment formed by the magistrates as to the conduct of one of your clergymen makes it imperative upon you to act in the matter.'
'Yes, my dear, yes; I am coming to that. What Mrs Proudie says is perfectly true. I have been constrained most unwillingly to take action in the matter. It is undoubtedly the fact that you must at the next assizes surrender yourself at the court-house yonder, to be tried for this offence against the laws.'
'That is true. If I be alive, and have strength sufficient, I shall be there.'
'You must be there,' said Mrs Proudie. 'The police will look to that, Mr Crawley.' She was becoming very angry in that the man would not answer her a word. On this occasion he did not even look at her.
'Yes; you will be there,' said the bishop. 'Now that is, to say the least of it, an unseemly position for a beneficed clergyman.'
'You said before, my lord, that it was an unfortunate position, and the word, methinks, was better chosen.'
'It is very unseemly, very unseemly indeed,' said Mrs Proudie; 'nothing could possibly be more unseemly. The bishop might very properly have used a much stronger word.'
'Under these circumstances,' continued the bishop, 'looking to the welfare of your parish, to the welfare of the diocese, and allow me to say, Mr Crawley, to the welfare of yourself also--'
'And especially the souls of the people,' said Mrs Proudie.
The bishop shook his head. It is hard to be impressively eloquent when one is interrupted at every best turning period, even by a supporting voice. 'Yes;--and looking of course to the religious interests of your people, Mr Crawley, I came to the conclusion that it would be expedient that you should cease your ministrations for a while.' The bishop paused, and Mr Crawley bowed his head. 'I, therefore, sent over to you a gentleman with whom I am well acquainted, Mr Thumble, with a letter from myself, in which I endeavoured to impress upon you, without the use of any severe language, what my convictions were.'
'Severe words are often the best mercy,' said Mrs Proudie. Mr Crawley had raised his hand, with his finger out, preparatory to answering the bishop. But as Mrs Proudie had spoken he dropped his finger and was silent.
'Mr Thumble brought me back your written reply,' continued the bishop, 'by which I was grieved to find that you were not willing to submit yourself to my counsel in the matter.'
'I was most unwilling, my lord. Submission to authority is at time a duty;--and at times opposition to authority is a duty also.'
'Opposition to just authority cannot be a duty, Mr Crawley.'
'Opposition to usurped authority is an imperative duty,' said Mr Crawley.
'And who is to be the judge?' demanded Mrs Proudie. Then there was silence for a while; when, as Mr Crawley made no reply, the lady repeated her question. 'Will you be pleased to answer my question, sir? Who, in such case, is to be the judge?' But Mr Crawley did not please to answer the question. 'The man is obstinate,' said Mrs Proudie.
'I had better proceed,' said the bishop. 'Mr
'I should be in the condition of a man not guilty before the law; --guiltless as far as the law goes--but kept in durance, nor for the faults of his own, but because otherwise, by reason of laches in the police, his presence at the assizes might not be ensured. In such a position a man's reputation is made to hang for a while on the trust which some friends or neighbours may have in it. I do not say the test is a good one.'
'You would have been put in prison, Mr Crawley, because the magistrates were of the opinion that you had taken Mr Soames's cheque,' said Mrs Proudie. On this occasion he did look at her. He turned one glance upon her from under his eyebrows, but he did not speak.
'With all that I have nothing to do,' said the bishop.
'Nothing whatever, my lord,' said Mr Crawley.
'But, bishop, I think you have,' said Mrs Proudie. 'The judgment formed by the magistrates as to the conduct of one of your clergymen makes it imperative upon you to act in the matter.'
'Yes, my dear, yes; I am coming to that. What Mrs Proudie says is perfectly true. I have been constrained most unwillingly to take action in the matter. It is undoubtedly the fact that you must at the next assizes surrender yourself at the court-house yonder, to be tried for this offence against the laws.'
'That is true. If I be alive, and have strength sufficient, I shall be there.'
'You must be there,' said Mrs Proudie. 'The police will look to that, Mr Crawley.' She was becoming very angry in that the man would not answer her a word. On this occasion he did not even look at her.
'Yes; you will be there,' said the bishop. 'Now that is, to say the least of it, an unseemly position for a beneficed clergyman.'
'You said before, my lord, that it was an unfortunate position, and the word, methinks, was better chosen.'
'It is very unseemly, very unseemly indeed,' said Mrs Proudie; 'nothing could possibly be more unseemly. The bishop might very properly have used a much stronger word.'
'Under these circumstances,' continued the bishop, 'looking to the welfare of your parish, to the welfare of the diocese, and allow me to say, Mr Crawley, to the welfare of yourself also--'
'And especially the souls of the people,' said Mrs Proudie.
The bishop shook his head. It is hard to be impressively eloquent when one is interrupted at every best turning period, even by a supporting voice. 'Yes;--and looking of course to the religious interests of your people, Mr Crawley, I came to the conclusion that it would be expedient that you should cease your ministrations for a while.' The bishop paused, and Mr Crawley bowed his head. 'I, therefore, sent over to you a gentleman with whom I am well acquainted, Mr Thumble, with a letter from myself, in which I endeavoured to impress upon you, without the use of any severe language, what my convictions were.'
'Severe words are often the best mercy,' said Mrs Proudie. Mr Crawley had raised his hand, with his finger out, preparatory to answering the bishop. But as Mrs Proudie had spoken he dropped his finger and was silent.
'Mr Thumble brought me back your written reply,' continued the bishop, 'by which I was grieved to find that you were not willing to submit yourself to my counsel in the matter.'
'I was most unwilling, my lord. Submission to authority is at time a duty;--and at times opposition to authority is a duty also.'
'Opposition to just authority cannot be a duty, Mr Crawley.'
'Opposition to usurped authority is an imperative duty,' said Mr Crawley.
'And who is to be the judge?' demanded Mrs Proudie. Then there was silence for a while; when, as Mr Crawley made no reply, the lady repeated her question. 'Will you be pleased to answer my question, sir? Who, in such case, is to be the judge?' But Mr Crawley did not please to answer the question. 'The man is obstinate,' said Mrs Proudie.
'I had better proceed,' said the bishop. 'Mr