登陆注册
5429600000123

第123章

A NEW CANDIDATE FOR ECCLESIASTICAL HONOURSThe dean's illness occasioned much mental turmoil in other places besides the deanery and adjoining library, and the idea which occurred to the meagre little prebendary about Mr Slope did not occur to him alone.

The bishop was sitting listlessly in his study when the news reached him of the dean's illness. It was brought to him by Mr Slope, who of course was not the last person in Barchester to hear it. It was also not slow in finding its way to Mrs Proudie's ears.

It may be presumed that there was not just much friendly intercourse between these two rival claimants for his lordship's obedience. Indeed, though living in the same house, they had not met since the stormy interview between them in the bishop's study on the preceding day.

On that occasion, Mrs Proudie had been defeated. That from her standards was a subject of great sorrow to that militant lady; but though defeated, she was not overcome. She felt that she might yet recover her lost ground, that she might yet hurl Mr Slope down to the dust from which she had picked him, and force her sinning lord to sue for pardon in sackcloth and ashes.

On that memorable day, memorable for his mutiny and rebellion against her high behests, he had carried his way with a high hand, and had really begun to think it possible that the days of his slavery were counted. He had begun to hope that he was now about to enter into a free land, a land delicious with milk which he himself might quaff, and honey which would not tantalise him by being only honey to the eye. When Mrs Proudie banged the door, as she left his room, he felt himself every inch a bishop. To be sure his spirit had been a little cowed by his chaplain's subsequent lecture; but on the whole he was highly pleased with himself, and flattered himself that the worst was over. 'Ce n'est que le premier pas qui coute', he reflected; and now that his first step had been so magnanimously taken, all the rest would follow easily.

He met his wife as a matter of course at dinner, where little or nothing was said that could ruffle the bishop's happiness. His daughters and the servants were present and protected him.

He made one or two trifling remarks on the subject of his projected visit to the archbishop, in order to show to all concerned that he intended to have his own way; and the very servants perceiving the change transferred a little of their reverence from their mistress to their master. All which the master perceived; and so also did the mistress. But Mrs Proudie bided her time.

After dinner he returned to his study where Mr Slope soon found him, and there they had tea together and planned many things. For some few minutes the bishop was really happy; but as the clock on the chimney piece warned him that the stilly hours of night were drawing on, as he looked at his chamber candlestick and knew that he must use it, his heart sank within him again. He was as a ghost, all whose power of wandering free through these upper regions ceases at cock-crow; or rather he was the opposite of the ghost, for till cock-crow he must again be a serf. And would that be all?

Could he trust himself to come down to breakfast a free man in the morning?

He was nearly an hour later than usual, when he betook himself to his rest. Rest! What rest? However, he took a couple of glasses of sherry, and mounted the stairs. Far be it from us to follow him thither. There are some things which no novelist, no historian, should attempt; some few scenes in life's drama which even no poet should dare to paint. Let that which passed between Dr Proudie and his wife on this night be understood to be among them.

He came down the following morning a sad and thoughtful man. He was attenuated in appearance; one might almost say emaciated. I doubt whether his now grizzled looks had not palpably become more grey than on the preceding evening. At any rate he had aged materially.

Years do not make a man old gradually and at an even pace. Look through the world and see if this is not so always, except in those rare cases in which the human being lives and dies without joys and without sorrows, like a vegetable. A man shall be possessed of florid youthful blooming health till it matters not what age.

Thirty--forty--fifty, then comes some nipping frost, some period of agony, that robs the fibres of the body of their succulence, and the hale and hearty man is counted among the old.

He came down and breakfasted alone; Mrs Proudie being indisposed took her coffee in her bed-room, and her daughters waited upon her there. He ate his breakfast alone, and then, hardly knowing what he did, he betook himself to his usual seat in his study. He tried to solace himself with his coming visit to the archbishop. That effort of his own free will at any rate remained to him as an enduring triumph. But somehow, now that he had achieved it, he did not seem to care so much about it. It was his ambition that had prompted him to take his place at the arch-episcopal table, and his ambition was now quite dead within him.

He was thus seated when Mr Slope made his appearance with breathless impatience.

'My lord, the dean is dead.'

'Good heavens,' exclaimed the bishop, startled out of his apathy by an announcement so sad and so sudden.

'He is either dead or now dying. He has had an apoplectic fit, and I am told that there is not the slightest hope; indeed, I do not doubt that by this time he is no more.'

Bells were rung, and servants were immediately sent to inquire. In the course of the morning, the bishop, leaning on his chaplain's arm, himself called at the deanery door. Mrs Proudie sent to Miss Trefoil all manner of offers of assistance. The Miss Proudies sent also, and there was immense sympathy between the palace and the deanery. The answer to all inquiries was unvaried. The dean was just the same; and Sir Omicron Pie was expected there by the 9.15pm train.

同类推荐
  • 曹溪大师别传

    曹溪大师别传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 滹南遗老集引

    滹南遗老集引

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天门街西观荣王聘妃

    天门街西观荣王聘妃

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 顺宗实录

    顺宗实录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Valet's Tragedy and Other Stories

    The Valet's Tragedy and Other Stories

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 当爱已成魔

    当爱已成魔

    紫薇是一个漂亮的女孩,并且十分开朗随和,因此追求她的人非常多,在众多的追求者中,她最终选择了同事长荣作为自己一生的依靠,在谈了一年恋爱后,他们结婚了,并且在婚后生了一个男孩。长荣从事的是市场销售工作,因此经常出入一些娱乐场所,但是公司里却很少出现他的流言,所以紫薇对他很相信,从来不干涉他的工作,但这表面上的和睦却因为一次偶然被打破了……
  • 生鱿水蛭与章鱼之幻奇杀人事件

    生鱿水蛭与章鱼之幻奇杀人事件

    此刻,被巨大的痛苦笼罩着,然后,又渐渐变成为了对人间的悲悯。活着的意义,真相,以及在水蛭黏膜包裹下城市的一隅,野性之口,一点儿也不相信。在这样的世界,找到哪怕只有一个,他或她,人间合格,也无可能。接着地壳震动,扭曲,裂开,有东西出来了。水蛭——这个世界,一点都不美丽。每一个人都该去死。眼前涌起的是对人间深切的恨意。
  • 爱来过,别错过

    爱来过,别错过

    他们相爱十年,到头来却是亲妹妹上位。她是他最心爱的女人,却变成了他们感情的第三者。“你欠了我三年,我要你用一辈子来偿还!”
  • 熊孩子调教指南

    熊孩子调教指南

    被自己亲手带大的熊孩子表白是一种什么样的体验?根正苗红的莫语老师一激动穿进了游戏里,哪知道熊孩子也一起穿了进来,还说什么她男他弯,她女他直,就算她在游戏里是男的,他也要与她携手共游这仙途漫漫。莫语穿了,穿进了游戏里。她此时正坐在自己无比熟悉的仙山前,对着溪水看自己的模样,萌爪、白毛、九尾,正是她在游戏里的身份——陌玉修成人身前的模样。可是这到底是怎么一回事呢?她努力回忆了很久,才回忆起自己穿进游戏之前的事情。
  • 金钥匙 银钥匙

    金钥匙 银钥匙

    浓浓的、带着黏性的液体底部,空洞的瞳孔凝望着虚空。烛光在天井上投射出复杂的影子。没有窗户、黑暗的房间。被血染湿的石台。融合在阴冷空气中的油脂的味道浓烈得呛鼻。地下室的角落里,一座巨大的石棺,灌满了橄榄油。石棺底部,沉着无数的尸体——被切割过的尸体——这里是医院的解剖室。解剖台上,放置着一具老年男人的尸体。从打开的胸部,露出颜色已变得非常可怖的器官。一个身材修长的男子,正俯身观察着这散发着腐臭的尸体。晃动不已的蜡烛的火焰,映照出他端正的侧影。男子手中拿着纸和碳笔,在深夜寂静无人的解剖室中,他正在给尸体画素描。
  • 提高孩子竞争力的36个好方法

    提高孩子竞争力的36个好方法

    “有些父母总是给孩子提出各种要求,命召孩子只能这样而不能那样,但就是不以身作则,这样的父母不可能教育出好孩子。没有想象力的人做一切事都以实际为准则,常带被陷于各种条条框框的束缚之中。这样的人,没有开柘创新的勇气和能力,干什么都缩手缩脚,不可能有什么作为,只能成为—个平庸之人。”
  • 她是渣男他妹

    她是渣男他妹

    一觉醒来,她穿越进了一篇言情小说里,她不是女主,而是成了文中渣男他妹。小说中渣男的作用:衬托男主的各种强大;渣男他妹:配角中的配角,炮灰中的炮灰。为了改变自己在小说里家破人亡的炮灰命,乖乖女奋起,首先改造渣男哥哥,坚决要把渣男变好男。想挖主角墙角者,不死即伤!珍爱生命,赶紧远离女主和男主。本文所提作品为作者虚构。
  • 回到大明当才子

    回到大明当才子

    总之一句话,张大少爷确实是一位非常非常难得的好人,谦谦君子,绝对算得上大明朝的道德楷模!当然了,不遭人妒是庸才,张大少爷兼张大探花再是好人,总有一批心胸狭窄、心理变态、居心叵测、缺乏教养的宵小鼠辈对他是百般诋毁、万般污蔑——至少建奴们和包衣奴才们就没一个能看张大少爷顺眼的。为什么呢?因为咱们的张大少爷活生生的毁了大清天朝入主中原!赤果果的毁了康乾盛世!恶狠狠的毁了被包衣奴才无比吹捧大清十二帝啊!
  • 志丹县军事志

    志丹县军事志

    志丹,历史悠久,人杰地灵,军事文化源远流长,辉煌灿烂,积淀深厚。自古以来,形成了志丹民众崇勇尚武、不畏强暴的英雄气概和忠勇爱国、敢于反抗的革命精神。
  • 亲子教育万事通

    亲子教育万事通

    亲子教育是20世纪末期兴起的一种新的教育模式。亲子关系主要是父母亲与孩子之间的关系。亲子教育是一种双向的教育,父母及孩子两方面。亲子教育给人的感觉亲切、温和,它强调父母、孩子在平等的、情感沟通的基础上双方互动,而且亲子教育涵盖了父母教育和子女教育两方面。它是通过对父母的培训和提升而达到的对亲子关系的调适,从而更好地促进儿童身心健康、和谐地发展。