'No—not long,' said the bishop, and tried again to make his way between the back of the sofa and a heavy rector, who was staring over it at the grimaces of the signora.
'You weren't a bishop before, were you?'
Dr Proudie explained that this was the first diocese he had held.
'Ah—I thought so,' said Bertie; 'but you are changed about sometimes, a'nt you?'
'Translations are occasionally made,' said Dr Proudie; 'but not so frequently as in former days.
'They've cut them all down to pretty nearly the same figure, haven't they?' said Bertie.
To this the bishop could not bring himself to make any answer, but again tried to move the rector.
'But the work, I suppose, is different?' continued Bertie. 'Is there much to do here at Barchester?' This was said exactly in the tone that a young Admiralty clerk might use in asking the same question of a brother acolyte in the Treasury.
'The work of a bishop of the Church of England,' said Dr Proudie, with considerable dignity, 'is not easy. The responsibility which he has to bear is very great indeed.'
'Is it?' said Bertie, opening wide his wonderful blue eyes. 'Well; I never was afraid of responsibility. I once thought of being a bishop myself.'