The Warden, chapter 2

The scene in the bed somewhat speaks to me, after having lived in the world of the clergy for some time.  The position of the spouse of a clergymember--as well as whether the clergymember should be viewed as human--is a current and constant subject of discussion, perhaps much more so now, in a world with female clergy (and in other arrangements clergy with spouses that have their own careers), than it was in Trollope's time. 

Also, all of the hideously boring first chapter could have been encapsulated in four more sentences added to Mrs. Grantly's lines in chapter two.  I guess they hadn't invented "show, don't tell" yet then.