登陆注册
5363100000053

第53章

'That provision is my care and need trouble no one else,' said Mr Crawley, in a loud voice. Then, before seating himself at his old desk, he stood awhile, pondering with his back turned to his visitor. 'I have to ask your pardon, sir,' said he, looking round for a moment, 'because by the reason of the extreme poverty of this house, my wife is unable to offer you any hospitality which is especially due from one clergyman to another.'

'Oh, don't mention it,' said Mr Thumble.

'If you will allow me, sir, I would prefer that it should be mentioned.'

Then he seated himself, and commenced his letter.

Mr Thumble felt himself to be awkwardly placed. Had there been no third person in the room he could have sat down in Mr Crawley's arm-chair, and waited patiently till the letter should be finished. But Mrs Crawley was there, and of course he was bound to speak to her. In what strain should he do so? Even he, as little as he was given to indulge in sentiment, had been touched by the man's appeal to his own poverty, and he felt, moreover, that Mrs Crawley must have been deeply moved by her husband's position with reference to the bishop's order. It was quite out of the question that he should speak of that, as Mr Crawley would, he was well aware, would immediately turn upon him. At last he thought of a subject, and spoke with a voice intended to be pleasant. 'That was the school-house I passed, probably, as I came here?' Mrs Crawley told him that it was the school-house. 'Ah, yes, I thought so. Have you a certified teacher there?' Mrs Crawley explained that no Government aid had ever reached Hogglestock. Besides themselves, they had only a young woman whom they themselves had instructed.

'Ah, that is a pity,' said Mr Thumble.

'I--I am the certified teacher,' said Mr Crawley, turning round upon him from his chair.

'Oh, ah, yes,' said Mr Thumble; and after that Mr Thumble asked no more questions about the Hogglestock school. Soon afterwards Mrs Crawley left the room, seeing the difficulty under which Mr Thumble was labouring, and feeling sure that her presence would not now be necessary. Mr Crawley's letter was written quickly, though every now and then he would sit for a moment with his pen poised in the air, searching his memory for a word. But the words came to him easily, and before an hour was over he had handed his letter to Mr Thumble. The letter was as follows:--'THE PARSONAGE, HOGGLESTOCK, December, 186-'RIGHT REVEREND LORD, 'I have received the letter of yesterday's date which your lordship has done me the honour of sending by the hands of the Reverend Mr Thumble, and I avail myself of that gentleman's kindness to return to you an answer by the same means, moved this to use his patience chiefly by the consideration that in this way my reply to your lordship's injunctions may be in your hands with less delay than would attend the course of the mail-post.

'It is with deep regret that I feel myself constrained to inform your lordship that I cannot obey the command which you have laid upon me with reference to the services of my church in this parish. I cannot permit Mr Thumble, or any other delegate from your lordship, to usurp my place in the pulpit. I would not have you think, if I can possibly dispel such thoughts from your mind, that I disregard your high office, or that I am deficient in that respectful obedience to the bishop set over me, which is due to the authority of the Crown as the head of the church in these realms; but in this, as in all questions of obedience, he who is required to obey must examine the extent of the authority exercised by him who demands obedience. Your lordship might possibly call upon me, using your voice as bishop of the diocese, to abandon altogether the freehold rights which are now mine in this perpetual curacy. The judge of assize, before whom I shall soon stand for my trial, might command me to retire to prison without a verdict given by a jury.

The magistrates who committed me so lately as yesterday, upon whose decision in that respect your lordship has taken action against me so quickly, might have equally strained their authority. But in no case, in this land, is he that is subject bound to obey, further than where the law gives authority and exacts obedience. It is not in the power of the Crown itself to inhibit me from the performance of my ordinary duties in this parish by any such missive as that sent to me by your lordship. If your lordship think right to stop my mouth as a clergyman in your diocese, you must proceed to do so in an ecclesiastical court in accordance with the laws, and will succeed in your object, of fail, in accordance with the evidences as to the ministerial fitness or unfitness, which may be produced respecting me before the proper tribunal.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 土塄上的孩子(高平作家丛书)

    土塄上的孩子(高平作家丛书)

    夯者脸上开心的笑容,幽默风趣的夯歌,瞎子富才与高平鼓书,心地善良的父亲母亲……作者用朴实的文笔,为我们描绘出了一幅幅充满乡土气息的温馨画面。使我们在感受人间真情的同时,也仿佛看到了,作者那颗善良、朴实的心灵。城市化的今天,乡村正远离我们而去。“我确信乡村会永远存在,而且会以一种稳定的姿态坚守着脚下的土地”。多么善良朴实的百灵啊!我深深地为她这份对土地对乡村的执着而感动着。
  • 完美少年进化论

    完美少年进化论

    每天名牌傍身,背景深不可测的奢侈品小姐伊原千,以她无所不通的天才成为时尚传奇,不料却被一个神秘美少年揭穿苦心经营的伪贵族“画皮”。发誓报复的她力挫无数高人,成为蔷薇庄园的首席家教,帮首富调教三个无比闪亮却无比腹黑的极品美男:高深莫测,却以败家为乐趣的花心大少纪寒城;出身高贵,审美却恶俗廉价,以成当红“男公关”为毕生目标的二少纪宸希;容貌绝美,却以“爱因斯坦”造型示人的废柴三少纪允灿。四个高智商“演技派”在相处中斗智斗勇,上演精彩纷呈的同居笑料。改造狼少年的家教生涯里,伊原千究竟是能成功驯服这三只狼,还是被狼吃干抹净,这是一个甜蜜而危险的问题……
  • 逍遥小书生

    逍遥小书生

    21世纪工科男,穿越古代成为一名穷书生。大脑里面居然装着一个图书馆,各种知识应有尽有!这辈子不说封侯拜相,怎么也得当个大官玩玩吧?迎着初升的朝阳,李易发下宏愿,勇敢的迈出了在这个世界的第一步。“站住!”高头大马之上,一绝色女子身着劲装,细细打量一番,素手轻挥:“绑了!”身后的凶恶山贼一涌而上……洞房花烛夜,看着推门进来的绝色女子……李易的宏愿发生了小小的改变。官居一品,算什么?封侯拜相,没意思!我可是要成为山贼王------的男人!书友群:686508501,欢迎大家加群!(郑重提醒:本书轻松使用,切勿较真!)
  • 章衣萍作品集(中国现代文学名家作品集)

    章衣萍作品集(中国现代文学名家作品集)

    “中国现代文学名家作品集”丛书实质是中国现代文学肇基和发展阶段的创作总集,收录了几乎当时所有知名作家,知名作品的全部。
  • 回到过去变成猫

    回到过去变成猫

    楚华大学东家属区大院门口,门卫大叔接了个电话之后,拉开窗子朝不远处的小树林中气十足一声吼:“黑炭,你妈叫你回家吃饭!”嗖——一只黑猫从小树林那边茂密的草丛里冲射而出,朝某栋楼跑去,眨眼间便消失在楼道口。在它之后,一个个猫头接连从草丛那边冒出来。饭点了,各回各家,各找各妈。……有人说,猫是这个世界上唯一一个整个种族都是神经病的动物,元芳你怎么看?------------------无修真,想看修真的可以点“X”了。——————新书《未来天王》已发。
  • 季末之末

    季末之末

    无论你怎么挣扎,你都在命运的漩涡中,无法自拔……
  • 末末修仙

    末末修仙

    (新书《我家师姐有点强》)这是一个无脑好学生,穿越成农家女后,从愚蠢好骗长歪到一路坑人的修仙故事。李末不爱美男,独爱灵石,凭着一尊山河鼎,练了无数的丹药,无聊了就去骗骗小兽:“乖,跟着姐姐走,有丹吃。”只要贡献出兽皮兽骨,和妖丹就可以了。她下骗灵兽,上骗大神,中间还骗了个异火,凭着不要脸不要良心的真本事,骗出了一座灵石山,骗出了一条修真大道。
  • 代嫁皇妃

    代嫁皇妃

    她是大周第一富商养女,十四岁代嫡姐入宫;他是重生帝王,本最讨厌她的倾城容颜,因色接近她,慢慢了解她,最后竟不知不觉爱入骨髓,宠成肋骨!
  • 有点痛,有点暖

    有点痛,有点暖

    《有点痛有点暖》是一本带有温度的随笔集,即“青春治愈”系列。作者笑以苛亦花亦如刀的文笔,或疯狂放肆、或冷静自持的态度,在字里行间记录下了青春历程与人生思考。作者感性回忆,记录了在维也纳、慕尼黑、苏梅岛等国外旅途与际遇,抒发了青春时代的自己对爱情、亲情以及当下舆论话题所引发的一系列生命感悟。阅读本书,跟随作者感受一场触及灵魂的旅行,一起来横扫诗意的“独”青春,从疼痛的现实中寻找温暖的自己。
  • 公主殿下饶命

    公主殿下饶命

    【【原创作者社团『未央』出品】街头小太妹与七名小弟在一场街斗中丧生,八人同时穿越,大姐花朵一越成了紫枫国三公主,七名小弟则为皇家侍卫,因不知穿越异世后的高贵身份,八人在街头连连抢劫,结果抢劫的第一人是南富国九殿下,第二人是紫枫国将军之子,至此,她的命运也与这二人紧紧相连。有了皇帝老爹当靠山,她要那害他游街、送她进官府的邪恶男人,一世为她奴仆!