“But, Mark, what do you want of any government?” “Well, Fanny, of course I am bound to say that I want nothing; neither in one sense do I; but nevertheless, I shall go and meet the Harold Smiths.” “Could you not be back before Sunday?” “I have promised to preach at Chaldicotes. Harold Smith is going to lecture at Barchester, about the Australasian archipelago, and I am to preach a charity sermon on the same subject. They want to send out more missionaries.” “A charity sermon at Chaldicotes!” “And why not? The house will be quite full, you know; and I dare say the Arabins will be there.” “I think not; Mrs. Arabin may get on with Mrs. Harold Smith, though I doubt that; but I’m sure she’s not fond of Mrs. Smith’s brother. I don’t think she would stay at Chaldicotes.” “And the bishop will probably be there for a day or two.” “That is much more likely, Mark. If the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Proudie is taking you to Chaldicotes, I have not a word more to say.” “I am not a bit more fond of Mrs. Proudie than you are, Fanny,” said the vicar, with something like vexation in the tone of his voice, for he thought that his wife was hard upon him. “But it is generally thought that a parish clergyman does well to meet his bishop now and then. And as I was invited there, especially to preach while all these people are staying at the place, I could not well refuse.” And then he got up, and taking his candlestick, escaped to his dressing-room. “But what am I to say to Lady Lufton?” his wife said to him, in the course of the evening. “Just write her a note, and tell her that you find I had promised to preach at Chaldicotes next Sunday. You’ll go, of course?” “Yes: but I know she’ll be annoyed. You were away the last time she had people there.” “It can’t be helped. She must put it down against Sarah Thompson. She ought not to expect to win always.” “I should not have minded it, if she had lost, as you call it, about Sarah Thompson. That was a case in which you ought to have had your own way.” “And this other is a case in which I shall have it. It’s a pity that there should be such a difference; isn’t it?” Then the wife perceived that, vexed as she was, it would be better that she should say nothing further; and before she went to bed, she wrote the note to Lady Lufton, as her husband recommended. CHAPTER II. THE FRAMLEY SET, AND THE CHALDICOTES SET. It will be necessary that I should say a word or two of some of the people named in the few preceding pages, and also of the localities in which they lived.