“Everybody in Barchester knows it, I believe,” said Mrs. Proudie.
—“and,” continued the archdeacon, “to request that that report may be contradicted.”
“Contradicted! Why, he has gone right away,—out of the country!”
“Never mind where he has gone to, Mrs. Proudie; I beg that the report may be contradicted.”
“You’ll have to go round to every house in Barchester then,” said she.
“By no means,” replied the archdeacon. “And perhaps it may be right that I should explain to the bishop that I came here because—”
“The bishop knows nothing about it,” said Mrs. Proudie.
“Nothing in the world,” said his lordship. “And I am sure I hope that the young lady may not be disappointed.”
—“because the matter was so distinctly mentioned to Mrs. Arabin by yourself yesterday.”
“Distinctly mentioned! Of course it was distinctly mentioned. There are some things which can’t be kept under a bushel, Dr. Grantly; and this seems to be one of them. Your going about in this way won’t make Lord Dumbello marry the young lady.”