"Nothing," as she told her mother, "had been said about writing, and,
therefore, she did not expect it." But the archdeacon was not quite
at his ease. "Keep Dumbello up to his p's and q's, you know," a
friend of his had whispered to him at his club. By heavens, yes. The
archdeacon was not a man to bear with indifference a wrong in such
a quarter. In spite of his clerical profession, few men were more
inclined to fight against personal wrongs--and few men more able.
"Can there be anything wrong, I wonder?" said he to his wife. "Is
it worth while that I should go up to London?" But Mrs. Grantly
attributed it all to the palace doctrine. What could be more natural,
looking at all the circumstances of the Tickler engagement? She
therefore gave her voice against any steps being taken by the
archdeacon. A day or two after that Mrs. Proudie met Mrs. Arabin in
the close and condoled with her openly on the termination of the
marriage treaty;--quite openly, for Mrs. Tickler--as she was to
be--was with her mother, and Mrs. Arabin was accompanied by her
sister-in-law, Mary Bold.
"It must be very grievous to Mrs. Grantly, very grievous indeed,"
said Mrs. Proudie, "and I sincerely feel for her. But, Mrs. Arabin,
all these lessons are sent to us for our eternal welfare.
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