It was now April, and the judges were to come into Barchester before the end of the month. What then could be the use of this ecclesiastical inquiry exactly at the same time? Men and women declared that it was a double prosecution12, and that a double prosecution for the same offence was a course of action opposed to the feelings and traditions of the country. Miss Anne Prettyman went so far as to say that it was unconstitutional, and Mary Walker declared that no human being except Mrs. Proudie would ever have been guilty of such cruelty. "Don't tell me about the bishop, John," she said; "the bishop is a cypher." "You may be sure Dr. Tempest would not have a hand in it if it were not right," said John Walker. "My dear Mr. John," said Miss Anne Prettyman, "Dr. Tempest is as hard as a bar of iron, and always was. But I am surprised that Mr. Robarts should take a part in it."
In the meantime, at the palace, Mrs. Proudie had been reduced to learn what was going on from Mr. Thumble. The bishop had never spoken a word to her respecting Mr. Crawley since that terrible day on which Dr. Tempest had witnessed his imbecility,—having absolutely declined to answer when his wife had mentioned the subject. "You won't speak to me about it, my dear?" she had said to him, when he had thus declined, remonstrating15 more in sorrow than in anger. "No; I won't," the bishop had replied; "there has been a great deal too much talking about it. It has broken my heart already, I know." These were very bad days in the palace. Mrs. Proudie affected16 to be satisfied with what was being done. She talked to Mr. Thumble about Mr. Crawley and the cheque, as though everything were arranged quite to her satisfaction,—as though everything, indeed, had been arranged by herself. But everybody about the house could see that the manner of the woman was altogether altered. She was milder than usual with the servants and was almost too gentle in her usage of her husband. It seemed as though something had happened to frighten her and break her spirit, and it was whispered about through the palace that she was afraid that the bishop was dying. As for him, he hardly left his own sitting-room18 in these days, except when he joined the family at breakfast and at dinner. And in his study he did little or nothing. He would smile when his chaplain went to him, and give some trifling19 verbal directions; but for days he scarcely ever took a pen in his hands, and though he took up many books he read hardly a page. How often he told his wife in those days that he was broken-hearted, no one but his wife ever knew.
"What has happened that you should speak like that?" she said to him once. "What has broken your heart?"
"You," he replied. "You; you have done it."
"Oh, Tom," she said, going back into the memory of very far distant days in her nomenclature, "how can you speak to me so cruelly as that! That it should come to that between you and me, after all!"
"Why did you not go away and leave me that day when I told you?"
"Did you ever know a woman who liked to be turned out of a room in her own house?" said Mrs. Proudie. When Mrs. Proudie had condescended20 so far as this, it must be admitted that in those days there was great trouble in the palace.
Mr. Thumble, on the day before he went to Silverbridge, asked for an audience with the bishop in order that he might receive instructions. He had been strictly21 desired to do this by Mrs. Proudie, and had not dared to disobey her injunctions,—thinking, however, himself, that his doing so was inexpedient. "I have got nothing to say to you about it; not a word," said the bishop crossly. "I thought that perhaps you might like to see me before I started," pleaded Mr. Thumble very humbly22. "I don't want to see you at all," said the bishop; "you are going there to exercise your own judgment,—if you have got any; and you ought not to come to me." After that Mr. Thumble began to think that Mrs. Proudie was right, and that the bishop was near his dissolution.
Mr. Thumble and Mr. Quiverful went over to Silverbridge together in a gig, hired from the "Dragon of Wantly"—as to the cost of which there arose among them a not unnatural23 apprehension24 which amounted at last almost to dismay. "I don't mind it so much for once," said Mr. Quiverful, "but if many such meetings are necessary, I for one can't afford it, and I won't do it. A man with my family can't allow himself to be money out of pocket in that way." "It is hard," said Mr. Thumble. "She ought to pay it herself, out of her own pocket," said Mr. Quiverful. He had had concerns with the palace when Mrs. Proudie was in the full swing of her dominion25, and had not as yet begun to suspect that there might possibly be a change.
Mr. Oriel and Mr. Robarts were already sitting with Dr. Tempest when the other two clergymen were shown into the room. When the first greetings were over luncheon26 was announced, and while they were eating not a word was said about Mr. Crawley. The ladies of the family were not present, and the five clergymen sat round the table alone. It would have been difficult to have got together five gentlemen less likely to act with one mind and one spirit;—and perhaps it was all the better for Mr. Crawley that it should be so. Dr. Tempest himself was a man peculiarly capable of exercising the functions of a judge in such a matter, had he sat alone as a judge; but he was one who would be almost sure to differ from others who sat as equal assessors with him. Mr. Oriel was a gentleman at all points; but he was very shy, very reticent27, and altogether uninstructed in the ordinary daily intercourse28 of man with man. Any one knowing him might have predicted of him that he would be sure on such an occasion as this to be found floundering in a sea of doubts. Mr. Quiverful was the father of a large family, whose whole life had been devoted29 to fighting a cruel world on behalf of his wife and children. That fight he had fought bravely; but it had left him no energy for any other business. Mr. Thumble was a poor creature,—so poor a creature that, in spite of a small restless ambition to be doing something, he was almost cowed by the hard lines of Dr. Tempest's brow. The Rev30. Mark Robarts was a man of the world, and a clever fellow, and did not stand in awe31 of anybody,—unless it might be, in a very moderate degree, of his patrons the Luftons, whom he was bound to respect; but his cleverness was not the cleverness needed by a judge. He was essentially32 a partisan33, and would be sure to vote against the bishop in such a matter as this now before him. There was a palace faction17 in the diocese, and an anti-palace faction. Mr. Thumble and Mr. Quiverful belonged to one, and Mr. Oriel and Mr. Robarts to the other. Mr. Thumble was too weak to stick to his faction against the strength of such a man as Dr. Tempest. Mr. Quiverful would be too indifferent to do so,—unless his interest were concerned. Mr. Oriel would be too conscientious34 to regard his own side on such an occasion as this. But Mark Robarts would be sure to support his friends and oppose his enemies, let the case be what it might. "Now, gentlemen, if you please, we will go into the other room," said Dr. Tempest. They went into the other room, and there they found five chairs arranged for them round the table. Not a word had as yet been said about Mr. Crawley, and no one of the four strangers knew whether Mr. Crawley was to appear before them on that day or not.
"Gentlemen," said Dr. Tempest, seating himself at once in an arm-chair placed at the middle of the table, "I think it will be well to explain to you at first what, as I regard the matter, is the extent of the work which we are called upon to perform. It is of its nature very disagreeable. It cannot but be so, let it be ever so limited. Here is a brother clergyman and a gentleman, living among us, and doing his duty, as we are told, in a most exemplary manner; and suddenly we hear that he is accused of a theft. The matter is brought before the magistrates35, of whom I myself was one, and he was committed for trial. There is therefore prima facie evidence of his guilt14. But I do not think that we need go into the question of his guilt at all." When he said this, the other four all looked up at him in astonishment36. "I thought that we had been summoned here for that purpose," said Mr. Robarts. "Not at all, as I take it," said the doctor. "Were we to commence any such inquiry, the jury would have given their verdict before we could come to any conclusion; and it would be impossible for us to oppose that verdict, whether it declares this unfortunate gentleman to be innocent or to be guilty. If the jury shall say that he is innocent, there is an end of the matter altogether. He would go back to his parish amidst the sympathy and congratulations of his friends. That is what we should all wish."
"Of course it is," said Mr. Robarts. They all declared that was their desire, as a matter of course; and Mr. Thumble said it louder than any one else.
"But if he be found guilty, then will come that difficulty to the bishop, in which we are bound to give him any assistance within our power."
"Of course we are," said Mr. Thumble, who, having heard his own voice once, and having liked the sound, thought that he might creep into a little importance by using it on any occasion that opened itself for him.
"If you will allow me, sir, I will venture to state my views as shortly as I can," said Dr. Tempest. "That may perhaps be the most expeditious37 course for us all in the end."
"Oh, certainly," said Mr. Thumble. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
"In the case of his being found guilty," continued the doctor, "there will arise the question whether the punishment awarded to him by the judge should suffice for ecclesiastical purposes. Suppose, for instance, that he should be imprisoned38 for two months, should he be allowed to return to his living at the expiration39 of that term?"
"I think he ought," said Mr. Robarts;—"considering all things."
"I don't see why he shouldn't," said Mr. Quiverful.
Mr. Oriel sat listening patiently, and Mr. Thumble looked up to the doctor, expecting to hear some opinion expressed by him with which he might coincide.
"There certainly are reasons why he should not," said Dr. Tempest; "though I by no means say that those reasons are conclusive40 in the present case. In the first place, a man who has stolen money can hardly be a fitting person to teach others not to steal."
"You must look to the circumstances," said Robarts.
"Yes, that is true; but just bear with me a moment. It cannot, at any rate, be thought that a clergyman should come out of prison and go to his living without any notice from his bishop, simply because he has already been punished under the common law. If this were so, a clergyman might be fined ten days running for being drunk in the street,—five shillings each time,—and at the end of that time might set his bishop at defiance41. When a clergyman has shown himself to be utterly42 unfit for clerical duties, he must not be held to be protected from ecclesiastical censure43 or from deprivation44 by the action of the common law."
"But Mr. Crawley has not shown himself to be unfit," said Robarts.
"That is begging the question, Robarts," said the doctor.
"Just so," said Mr. Thumble. Then Mr. Robarts gave a look at Mr. Thumble, and Mr. Thumble retired45 into his shoes.
"That is the question as to which we are called upon to advise the bishop," continued Dr. Tempest. "And I must say that I think the bishop is right. If he were to allow the matter to pass by without notice,—that is to say, in the event of Mr. Crawley being pronounced to be guilty by a jury,—he would, I think, neglect his duty. Now, I have been informed that the bishop has recommended Mr. Crawley to desist from his duties till the trial be over, and that Mr. Crawley has declined to take the bishop's advice."
"That is true," said Mr. Thumble. "He altogether disregarded the bishop."
"I cannot say that I think he was wrong," said Dr. Tempest.
"I think he was quite right," said Mr. Robarts.
"A bishop in almost all cases is entitled to the obedience46 of his clergy1," said Mr. Oriel.
"I must say that I agree with you, sir," said Mr. Thumble.
"The income is not large, and I suppose that it would have gone with the duties," said Mr. Quiverful. "It is very hard for a man with a family to live when his income has been stopped."
"Be that as it may," continued the doctor, "the bishop feels that it may be his duty to oppose the return of Mr. Crawley to his pulpit, and that he can oppose it in no other way than by proceeding5 against Mr. Crawley under the Clerical Offences Act. I propose, therefore, that we should invite Mr. Crawley to attend here—"
"Mr. Crawley is not coming here to-day, then?" said Mr. Robarts.
"I thought it useless to ask for his attendance until we had settled on our course of action," said Dr. Tempest. "If we are all agreed, I will beg him to come here on this day week, when we will meet again. And we will then ask him whether he will submit himself to the bishop's decision, in the event of the jury finding him guilty. If he should decline to do so, we can only then form our opinion as to what will be the bishop's duty by reference to the facts as they are elicited47 at the trial. If Mr. Crawley should choose to make to us any statement as to his own case, of course we shall be willing to receive it. That is my idea of what had better be done; and now, if any gentleman has any other proposition to make, of course we shall be pleased to hear him." Dr. Tempest, as he said this, looked round upon his companions, as though his pleasure, under the circumstances suggested by himself, would be very doubtful.
"I don't suppose we can do anything better," said Mr. Robarts. "I think it a pity, however, that any steps should have been taken by the bishop before the trial."
"The bishop has been placed in a very delicate position," said Mr. Thumble, pleading for his patron.
"I don't know the meaning of the word 'delicate,'" said Robarts. "I think his duty was very clear, to avoid interference whilst the matter is, so to say, before the judge."
"Nobody has anything else to propose?" said Dr. Tempest. "Then I will write to Mr. Crawley, and you, gentlemen, will perhaps do me the honour of meeting me here at one o'clock on this day week." Then the meeting was over, and the four clergymen having shaken hands with Dr. Tempest in the hall, all promised that they would return on that day week. So far, Dr. Tempest had carried his point exactly as he might have done had the four gentlemen been represented by the chairs on which they had sat.
"I shan't come again, all the same, unless I know where I'm to get my expenses," said Mr. Quiverful, as he got into the gig.
"I shall come," said Mr. Thumble, "because I think it a duty. Of course it is a hardship." Mr. Thumble liked the idea of being joined with such men as Dr. Tempest, and Mr. Oriel, and Mr. Robarts, and would any day have paid the expense of a gig from Barchester to Silverbridge out of his own pocket, for the sake of sitting with such benchfellows on any clerical inquiry.
"One's first duty is to one's own wife and family," said Mr. Quiverful.
"Well, yes; in a way, of course, that is quite true, Mr. Quiverful; and when we know how very inadequate48 are the incomes of the working clergy, we cannot but feel ourselves to be, if I may so say, put upon, when we have to defray the expenses incidental to special duties out of our own pockets. I think, you know,—I don't mind saying this to you,—that the palace should have provided us with a chaise and pair." This was ungrateful on the part of Mr. Thumble, who had been permitted to ride miles upon miles to various outlying clerical duties upon the bishop's worn-out cob. "You see," continued Mr. Thumble, "you and I go specially49 to represent the palace, and the palace ought to remember that. I think there ought to have been a chaise and pair; I do indeed."
"I don't care much what the conveyance50 is," said Mr. Quiverful; "but I certainly shall pay nothing more out of my own pocket;—certainly I shall not."
"The result will be that the palace will be thrown over if they don't take care," said Mr. Thumble. "Tempest, however, seems to be pretty steady. Tempest, I think, is steady. You see he is getting tired of parish work, and would like to go into the close. That's what he is looking out for. Did you ever see such a fellow as that Robarts,—just look at him;—quite indecent, wasn't he? He thinks he can have his own way in everything, just because his sister married a lord. I do hate to see all that meanness."
Mark Robarts and Caleb Oriel left Silverbridge in another gig by the same road, and soon passed their brethren, as Mr. Robarts was in the habit of driving a large, quick-stepping horse. The last remarks were being made as the dust from the vicar of Framley's wheels saluted51 the faces of the two slower clergymen. Mr. Oriel had promised to dine and sleep at Framley, and therefore returned in Mr. Robarts' gig.
"Quite unnecessary, all this fuss; don't you think so?" said Mr. Robarts.
"I am not quite sure," said Mr. Oriel. "I can understand that the bishop may have found a difficulty."
"The bishop, indeed! The bishop doesn't care two straws about it. It's Mrs. Proudie! She has put her finger on the poor man's neck because he has not put his neck beneath her feet; and now she thinks she can crush him,—as she would crush you or me, if it were in her power. That's about the long and the short of the bishop's solicitude52."
"You are very hard on him," said Mr. Oriel.
"I know him;—and am not at all hard on him. She is hard upon him if you like. Tempest is fair. He is very fair, and as long as no one meddles53 with him he won't do amiss. I can't hold my tongue always, but I often know that it is better that I should."
Dr. Tempest said not a word to any one on the subject, not even in his own defence. And yet he was sorely tempted54. On the very day of the meeting he dined at Mr. Walker's in Silverbridge, and there submitted to be talked at by all the ladies and most of the gentlemen present, without saying a word in his own defence. And yet a word or two would have been so easy and so conclusive.
"Oh, Dr. Tempest," said Mary Walker, "I am so sorry that you have joined the bishop."
"Are you, my dear?" said he. "It is generally thought well that a parish clergyman should agree with his bishop."
"But you know, Dr. Tempest, that you don't agree with your bishop generally."
"Then it is the more fortunate that I shall be able to agree with him on this occasion."
Major Grantly was present at the dinner, and ventured to ask the doctor in the course of the evening what he thought would be done. "I should not venture to ask such a question, Dr. Tempest," he said, "unless I had the strongest possible reason to justify55 my anxiety."
"I don't know that I can tell you anything, Major Grantly," said the doctor. "We did not even see Mr. Crawley to-day. But the real truth is that he must stand or fall as the jury shall find him guilty or not guilty. It would be the same in any profession. Could a captain in the army hold up his head in his regiment56 after he had been tried and found guilty of stealing twenty pounds?"
"I don't think he could," said the major.
"Neither can a clergyman," said the doctor. "The bishop can neither make him nor mar13 him. It is the jury that must do it."
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1
clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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incumbent
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| adj.成为责任的，有义务的；现任的，在职的 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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prudent
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| adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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prosecution
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| n.起诉，告发，检举，执行，经营 | |
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mar
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| vt.破坏，毁坏，弄糟 | |
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guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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remonstrating
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| v.抗议( remonstrate的现在分词 )；告诫 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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faction
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| n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争 | |
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sitting-room
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| n.（BrE）客厅，起居室 | |
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trifling
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| adj.微不足道的；没什么价值的 | |
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condescended
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| 屈尊，俯就( condescend的过去式和过去分词 )； 故意表示和蔼可亲 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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intercourse
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| n.性交；交流，交往，交际 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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partisan
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| adj.党派性的；游击队的；n.游击队员；党徒 | |
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conscientious
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| adj.审慎正直的，认真的，本着良心的 | |
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magistrates
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| 地方法官，治安官( magistrate的名词复数 ) | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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expeditious
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| adj.迅速的，敏捷的 | |
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imprisoned
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| 下狱，监禁( imprison的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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expiration
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| n.终结，期满，呼气，呼出物 | |
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conclusive
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| adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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censure
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| v./n.责备；非难；责难 | |
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deprivation
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| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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obedience
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| n.服从，顺从 | |
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elicited
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| 引出，探出( elicit的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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inadequate
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| adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的 | |
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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50
conveyance
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| n.(不动产等的)转让，让与；转让证书；传送；运送；表达；（正）运输工具 | |
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51
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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solicitude
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| n.焦虑 | |
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meddles
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的第三人称单数 ) | |
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54
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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55
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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56
regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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