Therewasanotherperiodofsilence，afterwhichthebishopasked，withadegreeofirritableenergyveryunusualwithhim，whetherthis’pestilentintruder’meaningJohnBoldhadanyfriendsinBarchester。
MrHardinghadfullymadeuphismindtotellthebishopeverything；tospeakofhisdaughter’slove，aswellashisowntroubles；totalkofJohnBoldinhisdoublecapacityoffutureson-in-lawandpresentenemy；andthoughhefeltittobesufficientlydisagreeable，nowwashistimetodoit。
’Heisveryintimateatmyownhouse，bishop。’Thebishopstared。Hewasnotsofargoneinorthodoxyandchurchmilitancyashisson，butstillhecouldnotbringhimselftounderstandhowsodeclaredanenemyoftheestablishmentcouldbeadmittedontermsofintimacyintothehouse，notonlyofsofirmapillarasMrHarding，butonesomuchinjuredasthewardenofthehospital。
’Indeed，IlikeMrBoldmuch，personally，’continuedthedisinterestedvictim；’andtotellyouthe“truth“’——hehesitatedashebroughtoutthedreadfultidings——’Ihavesometimesthoughtitnotimprobablethathewouldbemysecondson-in-law。’
Thebishopdidnotwhistle:webelievethattheylosethepowerofdoingsoonbeingconsecrated；andthatinthesedaysonemightaseasilymeetacorruptjudgeasawhistlingbishop；buthelookedasthoughhewouldhavedoneso，butforhisapron。