The signora was sitting very comfortably up to her supper, and Mr.Slope was leaning over her and administering to her wants.

They had been discussing the merits of Sabbath-day schools, and the lady had suggested that as she could not possibly go to the children, she might be indulged in the wish of her heart by having the children brought to her.
"And when shall it be, Mr.Slope ?" said she.
Mr.Slope was saved the necessity of committing himself to a promise by the entry of Mrs.Proudie.She swept close up to the sofa so as to confront the guilty pair, stared full at them for a moment, and then said, as she passed on to the next room, "Mr.Slope, his lordship is especially desirous of your attendance below; you will greatly oblige me if you will join him." And so she stalked on.
Mr.Slope muttered something in reply, and prepared to go downstairs.
As for the bishop's wanting him, he knew his lady patroness well enough to take that assertion at what it was worth; but he did not wish to make himself the hero of a scene, or to become conspicuous for more gallantry than the occasion required.
"Is she always like this ?" said the signora.
"Yes--always--madam," said Mrs.Proudie, returning; "always the same--always equally adverse to impropriety of conduct of every description;" and she stalked back through the room again, following Mr.Slope out of the door.
The signora couldn't follow her, or she certainly would have done so.
But she laughed loud, and sent the sound of it ringing through the lobby and down the stairs after Mrs.Proudie's feet.

Had she been as active as Grimaldi, she could probably have taken no better revenge.
"Mr.Slope," said Mrs.Proudie, catching the delinquent at the door, "I am surprised you should leave my company to attend on such a painted Jezebel as that." "But she's lame, Mrs.Proudie, and cannot move.

Somebody must have waited upon her." "Lame," said Mrs.Proudie; "I'd lame her if she belonged to me.

What business had she here at all ?--such impertinence--such affectation." In the hall and adjacent rooms all manner of cloaking and shawling was going on, and the Barchester folk were getting themselves gone.
Mrs.Proudie did her best to smirk at each and every one as they made their adieux, but she was hardly successful.