stable too, that we could manage to make room, at any rate, for them. But they will not leave the other ladies; so they go to the hotel for that night. But, Mr. Robarts, the bishop will never allow you to stay at the inn, so of course you will take a bed at the palace."
It immediately occurred to Mark that as the lecture was to be given on Saturday evening, the next morning would be Sunday, and on that Sunday he would have to preach at Chaldicotes. "I thought they were all going to return the same night," said he.
"Well, they did intend it; but you see Mrs. Smith is afraid."
"I should have to get back here on the Sunday morning, Mrs. Proudie."
"Ah! yes, that is bad—very bad indeed. No one dislikes any interference with the Sabbath more than I do. Indeed, if I am particular about any thing, it is about that. But some works are works of necessity, Mr. Robarts; are they not? Now you must necessarily be back at Chaldicotes on Sunday morning!" and so the matter was settled. Mrs. Proudie was very firm in general in the matter of Sabbath-day observances; but when she had to deal with such persons as Mrs. Harold Smith, it was expedient that she should give way a little. "You can start as soon as it's daylight, you know, if you like it, Mr. Robarts," said Mrs. Proudie.
There was not much to boast of as to the hunting, but it was a very pleasant day for the ladies. The men rode up and down the grass roads through the chase, sometimes in the greatest possible hurry, as though they never could go quick enough; and then the coachmen would drive very fast also, though they did not know why, for a fast pace of movement is another of those contagious diseases. And then again the sportsmen would move at an undertaker's pace, when the fox had traversed and the hounds would be at a loss to know which was the hunt and which was the heel; and then the carriage also would go slowly, and the ladies would stand up and talk. And then the time for lunch came; and altogether the day went by pleasantly enough.
"And so that's hunting, is it?" said Miss Dunstable.
"Yes, that's hunting," said Mr. Sowerby.
"I did not see any gentleman do any thing that I could
