Who Shall Be Cock of the Walk?
All this time things were going somewhat uneasily at the palace.

The hint or two which Mr.Slope had given was by no means thrown away upon the bishop.

He had a feeling that if he ever meant to oppose the now almost unendurable despotism of his wife, he must lose no further time in doing so; that if he ever meant to be himself master in his own diocese, let alone his own house, he should begin at once.

It would have been easier to have done so from the day of his consecration than now, but easier now than when Mrs.Proudie should have succeeded in thoroughly mastering the diocesan details.

Then the proffered assistance of Mr.Slope was a great thing for him, a most unexpected and invaluable aid.