Mrs.Proudie had frowned at him,--not with all the austerity of frowning which she could use when really angered, but simply with a frown which gave her some little time for thought, and would enable her to continue the rebuke if, after thinking, she should find that rebuke was needed.

But mature consideration showed her that Mr.Thumble's caution was not without reason.

Were the bishop energetic,--or even the bishop's managing chaplain as energetic as he should be, Mr.Crawley might, as Mrs.Proudie felt assured, be made in some way to pay for a conveyance for Mr.Thumble.
But the energy was lacking, and the price of the gig, if the gig were ordered, would certainly fall ultimately upon the bishop's shoulders.
This was very sad.

Mrs.Proudie had often grieved over the necessary expenditure of episcopal surveillance, and had been heard to declare her opinion that a liberal allowance for secret service should be made in every diocese.

What better could the Ecclesiastical Commissioners do with all those rich revenues which they had stolen from the bishops?
But there was no such liberal allowance at present, and, therefore, Mrs.Proudie, after having frowned at Mr.Thumble for some seconds, desired him to take the grey cob.