"And that he should be a clergyman of the Church of England! Isn't it dreadful? What does the Bishop say? Has he heard all about it?"
"The Bishop has nothing to do with it. Mr. Peacocke never held a curacy in the diocese."
"But he has preached here very often,—and has taken her to church with him! I suppose the Bishop has been told?"
"You may be sure that he knows it as well as you."
"We are so anxious, you know, about dear little Gus." Dear little Gus was Augustus Momson, the lady's nephew, who was supposed to be the worst-behaved, and certainly the stupidest boy in the school.
"Augustus will not be hurt, I should say."
"Perhaps not directly. But my sister has, I know, very strong opinions on such subjects. Now, I want to ask you one thing. Is it true that—she—remains here?"
"She is still living in the school-house."
"Is that prudent, Mrs. Wortle?"
"If you want to have an opinion on that subject, Lady Margaret, I would recommend you to ask the Doctor." By which she meant to assert that Lady Margaret would not, for the life of her, dare to ask the Doctor such a question. "He has done what he has thought best."