登陆注册
5429600000092

第92章

Mr Slope was all smiles as he shook his brother clergyman's hand, and said that he had ridden over because he thought it right at once to put Mr Quiverful in possession of the facts of the matter regarding the wardenship of the hospital. As he spoke, the poor expectant husband and father saw at a glance that his brilliant hopes were to be dashed to the ground, and that his visitor was now there for the purpose of unsaying what on his former visit he had said. There was something in the tone of the voice, something in the glance of the eye, which told the tale. Mr Quiverful knew it all at once. He maintained his self-possession, however, smiled with a slight unmeaning smile, and merely said that he was obliged to Mr Slope for the trouble he was taking.

'It has been a troublesome matter from first to last,' said Mr Slope; 'and the bishop has hardly known how to act. Between ourselves--but mind this of course must go no farther, Mr Quiverful.'

Mr Quiverful said of course that it should not. 'The truth is, that poor Mr Harding has hardly known his own mind. You remember our last conversation, no doubt.'

Mr Quiverful assured him that he remembered it very well indeed.

'You will remember that I told you that Mr Harding had refused to return to the hospital.'

Mr Quiverful declared that nothing could be more distinct in his memory.

'And acting on this refusal I suggested that you should take the hospital,' continued Mr Slope.

'I understood you to say that the bishop had authorised you to offer it to me.'

'Did I? Did I go so far as that? Well, perhaps it may be, that in my anxiety on your behalf I did commit myself further than I should have done. So far as my own memory serves me, I don't think I did go quite so far as that. But I own I was very anxious that you should get it; and I may have said more than was quite prudent.'

'But,' said Mr Quiverful, in his deep anxiety to prove his case, 'my wife received as distinct a promise from Mrs Proudie as one human being could give to another.'

Mr Slope smiled, and gently shook his head. He meant that smile for a pleasant smile, but it was diabolical in the eyes of the man he was speaking to. 'Mrs Proudie!' he said. 'If we are to go to what passes between the ladies in these matters, we shall really be in a nest of troubles from which we shall never extricate ourselves. Mrs Proudie is a most excellent lady, kind-hearted, charitable, pious, and in every way estimable. But, my dear Mr Quiverful, the patronage of the diocese is not in her hands.'

Mr Quiverful for a moment sat panic-stricken and silent. 'Am I to understand, then, that I have received no promise?' he said, as soon as he had sufficiently collected his thoughts.

'If you will allow me, I will tell you exactly how the matter rests. You certainly did receive a promise conditional on Mr Harding's refusal. I am sure you will do me the justice to remember that you yourself declared that you could accept the appointment on no other condition than the knowledge that Mr Harding had declined it.'

'Yes,' said Mr Quiverful; 'I did say that, certainly.'

'Well; it now appears that he did not refuse it.'

同类推荐
  • 佛说文殊尸利行经

    佛说文殊尸利行经

    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。
  • 佛说尼拘陀梵志经

    佛说尼拘陀梵志经

    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。
  • 净土资粮全集

    净土资粮全集

    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。
  • 重刻宝王三昧念佛直指

    重刻宝王三昧念佛直指

    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。
  • Westward Ho

    Westward Ho

    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
  • 我不是哈士奇

    我不是哈士奇

    我,为了救一只狗狗,一不小心就给死了!我的灵魂被大风无情的吹走,它无视我的拼命挣扎,竟然直接将我吹晕了!当我醒来时,看到镜子里的自己,我惊呆了!随后,我哭了!最后!我又笑了!悲催的人生已经断片儿,崭新的狗生已然现世!作为一只帅气的哈士奇,我没有理由不活出这一世的精彩!
  • 赞禅门诗

    赞禅门诗

    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。
  • 豪门99天:你情我愿

    豪门99天:你情我愿

    做女人不易,做秦二的妻更不易,要打得小三,K得坏人,装得幸福。漫漫婚姻路,新婚数月,她成了A市众所丈夫抛弃婆婆嫌弃众所皆知的妒妇,只是……为何,在三儿与心上人挨了揍找上门告状时,他立即回身问媳妇“手可打疼了?”
  • 高层领导枕边书

    高层领导枕边书

    本书介绍了高职位领导应具备的各方面素质,共四部分,内容包括:创造业绩——夯实底气;上下周旋——进退自如;硬权力管人 ——软实力服人;摆正心态——学会休闲。
  • 听话是一种病(财蜜eMook)

    听话是一种病(财蜜eMook)

    大学毕业参加一个NGO去云南支教,老爸的第一反应是:“你这么不听话叫我们怎么活啊!”老妈的反应是:“四年大学白费了,我们下半辈子的幸福都毁了!”街坊的讨论是:“这孩子这么不听话,疯了吧?” 哇,原来选一条不那么寻常的路就叫“不听话”,后果是父母活不了、幸福皆毁掉,还有被送进精神病院的风险。 可是作为一个一直坚持“我觉醒——我选择——我承担——我快乐”的女同学,我怎么能在选择之后就卡壳呢?经过各种艰苦的沟通(细节我就不在这里多说了),我总算得偿所愿。后来老爸还去了一趟云南,仔细考察了有没有发生泥石流的危险;我住的小窝会不会被地震震塌;我的小朋友会不会欺负我,然后放心地走了。
  • 总裁的瘾婚娇妻

    总裁的瘾婚娇妻

    命中注定我爱你,没有你,我不知道怎么活下去,我爱你,透过生命去爱你…我就想一直牵着你的手,白头到老。给我一个爱你机会吧,不要逃离我……我怕再也找不到你。既然无法摆脱,那就在一起吧!
  • 续红楼梦

    续红楼梦

    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。
  • 玩遍欧美就这么Easy!用汉语拼音说畅行无阻的英语

    玩遍欧美就这么Easy!用汉语拼音说畅行无阻的英语

    本书分为11章,共72个话题。分别为:和英美人交流、在英美乘坐交通工具、在英美体验生活、在英美工作、在英美学习、在英美就餐、在英美购物、在英美就医、在英美住宿、在英美旅行、在英美恋爱。内容丰富,涉及日常生活中的方方面面,且对每一章的话题都进行了细分,方便学习者针对具体的场景自由学习。
  • 防火与安全常识手册(校园安全常识手册)

    防火与安全常识手册(校园安全常识手册)

    防火与安全常识手册是校园安全常识手册系列之一:校园本应是一个幽雅、舒适、宁静、安全的教育场所。但是意外事故、校园暴力、两性问题、偷窃等问题却层出不穷地发生在各个校园角落中,这些问题不得不让我们去深思、探讨。《校园安全常识手册》通过简单易懂的图解,使《校园安全常识手册》更加通俗易懂,增加了趣味性,是《校园安全常识手册》更加生动形象。
  • 三国斩将

    三国斩将

    新书《别动我的三国》已经发布东汉末年,董卓乱朝纲,幽州一村中少年刘策,走出村子,在这乱世之中,由一个兵卒开始,一步一步,成为一方诸侯的故事。三国这个历史上最为璀璨的时代,一群英雄应时而起,他们在这个时代留下了他们的印记,刘策见证了改变时代的笔墨,也留下刘策一笔。(非穿越,非金手指)