At last the carriage returned with the three Italian servants, and La
Signora Madeline Vesey Neroni was carried out, as she had been carried
in.

The lady of the palace retired to her chamber by no means contented
with the result of her first grand party at Barchester.




CHAPTER XII

Slope versus Harding


Two or three days after the party, Mr. Harding received a note
begging him to call on Mr. Slope, at the palace, at an early hour on
the following morning. There was nothing uncivil in the communication,
and yet the tone of it was thoroughly displeasing. It was as follows:


MY DEAR MR. HARDING,

Will you favour me by calling on me at the palace to-morrow
morning at 9:30 A.M. The bishop wishes me to speak to you
touching the hospital. I hope you will excuse my naming so
early an hour. I do so as my time is greatly occupied. If,
however, it is positively inconvenient to you, I will change
it to 10. You will, perhaps, be kind enough to let me have a
note in reply.