Langthwaite was in a state of excitement; its morals were perturbed,
and its ideas confused; its old landmarks were being swept away,
and it did not approve of its new landmarks. Langthwaite notions
were being assaulted, and Langthwaite’s morality was put to shame.
Madame Floriani, the Italian widow, had dared to defy the authority
and disturb the influence of Mr. Bentley, the young incumbent. Was
Langthwaite to be ruled over by a strange woman who introduced foreign
customs, and upset the existing institutions, or was its government to
be a virtuous hierarchy as before? Was the cousin of a dean, or the
widow of an Italian count, to be considered the first personage of the
vale? This grave question was what Langthwaite was called on to decide;
and the quiet valley in the heart of the mountains lashed itself into a
state of perturbation, strongly suggestive of the famous tempest that
was brewed in a teapot.