She had not the slightest desire that Mr.Slope should be in love with herself.

But she desired the incense of Mr.Slope's spiritual and temporal services, and did not choose that they should be turned out of their course to such an object as Signora Neroni.
She considered also that Mr.Slope ought in duty to hate the signora, and it appeared from his manner that he was very far from hating her.
"Come, Mr.Slope," she said, sweeping by and looking all that she felt, "can't you make yourself useful?
Do pray take Mrs.Grantly down to supper." Mrs.Grantly heard and escaped.

The words were hardly out of Mrs.
Proudie's mouth before the intended victim had stuck her hand through the arm of one of her husband's curates and saved herself.

What would the archdeacon have said had he seen her walking downstairs with Mr.Slope?
Mr.Slope heard also, but was by no means so obedient as was expected.
Indeed, the period of Mr.Slope's obedience to Mrs.Proudie was drawing to a close.

He did not wish yet to break with her, nor to break with her at all, if it could be avoided.