All this time things were going somewhat uneasily at the palace. The hint or two which Mr. Slope had given was by no means thrown away upon the bishop1. He had a feeling that if he ever meant to oppose the now almost unendurable despotism of his wife, he must lose no further time in doing so; that if he ever meant to be himself master in his own diocese, let alone his own house, he should begin at once. It would have been easier to have done so from the day of his consecration2 than now, but easier now than when Mrs. Proudie should have succeeded in thoroughly3 mastering the diocesan details. Then the proffered4 assistance of Mr. Slope was a great thing for him, a most unexpected and invaluable5 aid. Hitherto he had looked on the two as allied6 forces and had considered that, as allies, they were impregnable. He had begun to believe that his only chance of escape would be by the advancement7 of Mr. Slope to some distant and rich preferment. But now it seemed that one of his enemies, certainly the least potent8 of them, but nevertheless one very important, was willing to desert his own camp. Assisted by Mr. Slope what might he not do? He walked up and down his little study, almost thinking that the time might come when he would be able to appropriate to his own use the big room upstairs in which his predecessor9 had always sat.
As he revolved10 these things in his mind a note was brought to him from Archdeacon Grantly in which that divine begged his lordship to do him the honour of seeing him on the morrow — would his lordship have the kindness to name an hour? Dr. Grantly’s proposed visit would have reference to the reappointment of Mr. Harding to the wardenship12 of Barchester Hospital. The bishop having read his note was informed that the archdeacon’s servant was waiting for an answer.
Here at once a great opportunity offered itself to the bishop of acting14 on his own responsibility. He bethought himself however of his new ally and rang the bell for Mr. Slope. It turned out that Mr. Slope was not in the house, and then, greatly daring, the bishop with his own unassisted spirit wrote a note to the archdeacon saving that he would see him and naming an hour for doing so. Having watched from his study-window that the messenger got safely off from the premises15 with this dispatch, he began to turn over in his mind what step he should next take.
Tomorrow he would have to declare to the archdeacon either that Mr. Harding should have the appointment, or that he should not have it. The bishop felt that he could not honestly throw over the Quiverfuls without informing Mrs. Proudie, and he resolved at last to brave the lioness in her den13 and tell her that circumstances were such that it behoved him to reappoint Mr. Harding. He did not feel that he should at all derogate16 from his new courage by promising17 Mrs. Proudie that the very first piece of available preferment at his disposal should be given to Quiverful to atone18 for the injury done to him. If he could mollify the lioness with such a sop19, how happy would he think his first efforts to have been!
Not without many misgivings20 did he find himself in Mrs. Proudie’s boudoir. He had at first thought of sending for her. But it was not at all impossible that she might choose to take such a message amiss, and then also it might be some protection to him to have his daughters present at the interview. He found her sitting with her account-books before her nibbling21 the end of her pencil, evidently immersed in pecuniary22 difficulties, and harassed23 in mind by the multiplicity of palatial24 expenses and the heavy cost of episcopal grandeur25. Her daughters were around her. Olivia was reading a novel, Augusta was crossing a note to her bosom26 friend in Baker27 Street, and Netta was working diminutive28 coach wheels for the bottom of a petticoat. If the bishop could get the better of his wife in her present mood, he would be a man indeed. He might then consider the victory his own forever. After all, in such cases the matter between husband and wife stands much the same as it does between two boys at the same school, two cocks in the same yard, or two armies on the same continent. The conqueror29 once is generally the conqueror forever after. The prestige of victory is everything.
“Ahem — my dear,” began the bishop, “if you are disengaged, I wished to speak to you.” Mrs. Proudie put her pencil down carefully at the point to which she had totted her figures, marked down in her memory the sum she had arrived at, and then looked up, sourly enough, into her helpmate’s face. “If you are busy, another time will do as well,” continued the bishop, whose courage, like Bob Acres’, had oozed30 out now that he found himself on the ground of battle.
“What is it about, Bishop?” asked the lady.
“Well — it was about those Quiverfuls — but I see you are engaged. Another time will do just as well for me.”
“What about the Quiverfuls? It is quite understood, I believe, that they are to come to the hospital. There is to be no doubt about that, is there?” and as she spoke31 she kept her pencil sternly and vigorously fixed32 on the column of figures before her.
“Why, my dear, there is a difficulty,” said the bishop.
“A difficulty!” said Mrs. Proudie, “what difficulty? The place has been promised to Mr. Quiverful, and of course he must have it. He has made all his arrangements. He has written for a curate for Puddingdale, he has spoken to the auctioneer about selling his farm, horses, and cows, and in all respects considers the place as his own. Of course he must have it.”
Now, Bishop, look well to thyself and call up all the manhood that is in thee. Think how much is at stake. If now thou art not true to thy guns, no Slope can hereafter aid thee. How can he who deserts his own colours at the first smell of gunpowder33 expect faith in any ally? Thou thyself hast sought the battle-field: fight out the battle manfully now thou art there. Courage, Bishop, courage! Frowns cannot kill, nor can sharp words break any bones. After all, the apron34 is thine own. She can appoint no wardens11, give away no benefices, nominate no chaplains, an’ thou art but true to thyself. Up, man, and at her with a constant heart.
Some little monitor within the bishop’s breast so addressed him. But then there was another monitor there which advised him differently, and as follows. Remember, Bishop, she is a woman, and such a woman too as thou well knowest: a battle of words with such a woman is the very mischief35. Were it not better for thee to carry on this war, if it must be waged, from behind thine own table in thine own study? Does not every cock fight best on his own dunghill? Thy daughters also are here, the pledges of thy love, the fruits of thy loins: is it well that they should see thee in the hour of thy victory over their mother? Nay36, is it well that they should see thee in the possible hour of thy defeat? Besides, hast thou not chosen thy opportunity with wonderful little skill, indeed with no touch of that sagacity for which thou art famous? Will it not turn out that thou art wrong in this matter and thine enemy right; that thou hast actually pledged thyself in this matter of the hospital and that now thou wouldest turn upon thy wife because she requires from thee but the fulfilment of thy promise? Art thou not a Christian37 bishop, and is not thy word to be held sacred whatever be the result? Return, Bishop, to thy sanctum on the lower floor and postpone38 thy combative39 propensities40 for some occasion in which at least thou mayest fight the battle against odds41 less tremendously against thee.
All this passed within the bishop’s bosom while Mrs. Proudie still sat with her fixed pencil, and the figures of her sum still enduring on the tablets of her memory. “￡4 17s. 7d.” she said to herself. “Of course Mr. Quiverful must have the hospital,” she said out loud to her lord.
“Well, my dear, I merely wanted to suggest to you that Mr. Slope seems to think that if Mr. Harding be not appointed, public feeling in the matter would be against us, and that the press might perhaps take it up.”
“Mr. Slope seems to think!” said Mrs. Proudie in a tone of voice which plainly showed the bishop that he was right in looking for a breach42 in that quarter. “And what has Mr. Slope to do with it? I hope, my lord, you are not going to allow yourself to be governed by a chaplain.” And now in her eagerness the lady lost her place in her account.
“Certainly not, my dear. Nothing I can assure you is less probable. But still, Mr. Slope may be useful in finding how the wind blows, and I really thought that if we could give something else as good to the Quiverfuls —”
“Nonsense,” said Mrs. Proudie; “it would be years before you could give them anything else that could suit them half as well, and as for the press and the public and all that, remember there are two ways of telling a story. If Mr. Harding is fool enough to tell his tale, we can also tell ours. The place was offered to him, and he refused it. It has now been given to someone else, and there’s an end of it. At least I should think so.”
“Well, my dear, I rather believe you are right,” said the bishop, and sneaking43 out of the room, he went downstairs, troubled in his mind as to how he should receive the archdeacon on the morrow. He felt himself not very well just at present and began to consider that he might, not improbably, be detained in his room the next morning by an attack of bile. He was, unfortunately, very subject to bilious44 annoyances45.
“Mr. Slope, indeed! I’ll Slope him,” said the indignant matron to her listening progeny46. “I don’t know what has come to Mr. Slope. I believe he thinks he is to be Bishop of Barchester himself, because I’ve taken him by the hand and got your father to make him his domestic chaplain.”
“He was always full of impudence,” said Olivia; “I told you so once before, Mamma.” Olivia, however, had not thought him too impudent47 when once before he had proposed to make her Mrs. Slope.
“Well, Olivia, I always thought you liked him,” said Augusta, who at that moment had some grudge48 against her sister. “I always disliked the man, because I think him thoroughly vulgar.”
“There you’re wrong,” said Mrs. Proudie; “he’s not vulgar at all; and what is more, he is a soul-stirring, eloquent49 preacher; but he must be taught to know his place if he is to remain in this house.”
“He has the horridest eyes I ever saw in a man’s head,” said Netta; “and I tell you what, he’s terribly greedy; did you see all the currant pie he ate yesterday?”
When Mr. Slope got home he soon learnt from the bishop, as much from his manner as his words, that Mrs. Proudie’s behests in the matter of the hospital were to be obeyed. Dr. Proudie let fall something as to “this occasion only” and “keeping all affairs about patronage50 exclusively in his own hands.” But he was quite decided51 about Mr. Harding; and as Mr. Slope did not wish to have both the prelate and the prelatess against him, he did not at present see that he could do anything but yield.
He merely remarked that he would of course carry out the bishop’s views and that he was quite sure that if the bishop trusted to his own judgement things in the diocese would certainly be well ordered. Mr. Slope knew that if you hit a nail on the head often enough, it will penetrate52 at last.
He was sitting alone in his room on the same evening when a light knock was made on his door, and before he could answer it the door was opened, and his patroness appeared. He was all smiles in a moment, but so was not she also. She took, however, the chair that was offered to her and thus began her expostulation:
“Mr. Slope, I did not at all approve your conduct the other night with that Italian woman. Anyone would have thought that you were her lover.”
“Good gracious, my dear madam,” said Mr. Slope with a look of horror. “Why, she is a married woman.”
“That’s more than I know,” said Mrs. Proudie; “however she chooses to pass for such. But married or not married, such attention as you paid to her was improper53. I cannot believe that you would wish to give offence in my drawing-room, Mr. Slope, but I owe it to myself and my daughters to tell you that I disapprove54 of your conduct.”
Mr. Slope opened wide his huge protruding55 eyes and stared out of them with a look of well-feigned surprise. “Why, Mrs. Proudie,” said he, “I did but fetch her something to eat when she said she was hungry.”
“And you have called on her since, continued she, looking at the culprit with the stern look of a detective policeman in the act of declaring himself.
Mr. Slope turned over in his mind whether it would be well for him to tell this termagant at once that he should call on whom he liked and do what he liked, but he remembered that his footing in Barchester was not yet sufficiently56 firm and that it would be better for him to pacify57 her.
“I certainly called since at Dr. Stanhope’s house and certainly saw Madame Neroni.”
“Yes, and you saw her alone,” said the episcopal Argus.
“Undoubtedly, I did,” said Mr. Slope, “but that was because nobody else happened to be in the room. Surely it was no fault of mine if the rest of the family were out.”
“Perhaps not, but I assure you, Mr. Slope, you will fall greatly in nay estimation if I find that you allow yourself to be caught by the lures58 of that woman. I know women better than you do, Mr. Slope, and you may believe me that that signora, as she calls herself, is not a fitting companion for a strict evangelical unmarried young clergyman.”
How Mr. Slope would have liked to laugh at her, had he dared! But he did not dare. So he merely said, “I can assure you, Mrs. Proudie, the lady in question is nothing to me.”
“Well, I hope not, Mr. Slope. But I have considered it my duty to give you this caution. And now there is another thing I feel myself called on to speak about: it is your conduct to the bishop, Mr. Slope.”
“My conduct to the bishop,” said he, now truly surprised and ignorant what the lady alluded59 to.
“Yes, Mr. Slope, your conduct to the bishop. It is by no means what I would wish to see it.”
“Has the bishop said anything, Mrs. Proudie?”
“No, the bishop has said nothing. He probably thinks that any remarks on the matter will come better from me, who first introduced you to his lordship’s notice. The fact is, Mr. Slope, you are a little inclined to take too much upon yourself.”
An angry spot showed itself on Mr. Slope’s cheeks, and it was with difficulty that he controlled himself. But he did do so and sat quite silent while the lady went on.
“It is the fault of many young men in your position, and therefore the bishop is not inclined at present to resent it. You will, no doubt, soon learn what is required from you and what is not. If you will take my advice, however, you will be careful not to obtrude60 advice upon the bishop in any matter touching61 patronage. If his lordship wants advice, he knows where to look for it.” And then having added to her counsel a string of platitudes62 as to what was desirable and what not desirable in the conduct of a strictly63 evangelical unmarried young clergyman, Mrs. Proudie retreated, leaving the chaplain to his thoughts.
The upshot of his thoughts was this, that there certainly was not room in the diocese for the energies of both himself and Mrs. Proudie, and that it behoved him quickly to ascertain64 whether his energies or hers were to prevail.
收听单词发音 |
1
bishop
|
|
| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
2
consecration
|
|
| n.供献，奉献，献祭仪式 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
3
thoroughly
|
|
| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
4
proffered
|
|
| v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
5
invaluable
|
|
| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
6
allied
|
|
| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
7
advancement
|
|
| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
8
potent
|
|
| adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
9
predecessor
|
|
| n.前辈，前任 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
10
revolved
|
|
| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
11
wardens
|
|
| n.看守人( warden的名词复数 )；管理员；监察员；监察官 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
12
wardenship
|
|
| n.warden之职权（或职务） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
|
13
den
|
|
| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
14
acting
|
|
| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
15
premises
|
|
| n.建筑物，房屋 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
16
derogate
|
|
| v.贬低，诽谤 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
17
promising
|
|
| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
18
atone
|
|
| v.赎罪，补偿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
19
sop
|
|
| n.湿透的东西，懦夫；v.浸，泡，浸湿 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
20
misgivings
|
|
| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
21
nibbling
|
|
| v.啃，一点一点地咬（吃）( nibble的现在分词 )；啃出（洞），一点一点咬出（洞）；慢慢减少；小口咬 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
22
pecuniary
|
|
| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
23
harassed
|
|
| adj. 疲倦的，厌烦的 动词harass的过去式和过去分词 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
24
palatial
|
|
| adj.宫殿般的，宏伟的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
25
grandeur
|
|
| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
26
bosom
|
|
| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
27
baker
|
|
| n.面包师 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
28
diminutive
|
|
| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
29
conqueror
|
|
| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
30
oozed
|
|
| v.（浓液等）慢慢地冒出，渗出( ooze的过去式和过去分词 )；使（液体）缓缓流出；（浓液）渗出，慢慢流出 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
31
spoke
|
|
| 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 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
32
fixed
|
|
| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
33
gunpowder
|
|
| n.火药 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
34
apron
|
|
| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
35
mischief
|
|
| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
36
nay
|
|
| adv.不；n.反对票，投反对票者 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
37
Christian
|
|
| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
38
postpone
|
|
| v.延期，推迟 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
39
combative
|
|
| adj.好战的；好斗的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
40
propensities
|
|
| n.倾向，习性( propensity的名词复数 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
41
odds
|
|
| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
42
breach
|
|
| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
43
sneaking
|
|
| a.秘密的，不公开的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
44
bilious
|
|
| adj.胆汁过多的；易怒的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
45
annoyances
|
|
| n.恼怒( annoyance的名词复数 )；烦恼；打扰；使人烦恼的事 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
46
progeny
|
|
| n.后代，子孙；结果 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
47
impudent
|
|
| adj.鲁莽的，卑鄙的，厚颜无耻的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
48
grudge
|
|
| n.不满，怨恨，妒嫉；vt.勉强给，不情愿做 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
49
eloquent
|
|
| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
50
patronage
|
|
| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
51
decided
|
|
| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
52
penetrate
|
|
| v.透(渗)入；刺入，刺穿；洞察，了解 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
53
improper
|
|
| adj.不适当的，不合适的，不正确的，不合礼仪的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
54
disapprove
|
|
| v.不赞成，不同意，不批准 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
55
protruding
|
|
| v.（使某物）伸出，（使某物）突出( protrude的现在分词 )；凸 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
56
sufficiently
|
|
| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
57
pacify
|
|
| vt.使(某人)平静(或息怒)；抚慰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
58
lures
|
|
| 吸引力，魅力（lure的复数形式） | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
59
alluded
|
|
| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
60
obtrude
|
|
| v.闯入；侵入；打扰 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
61
touching
|
|
| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
62
platitudes
|
|
| n.平常的话，老生常谈，陈词滥调( platitude的名词复数 )；滥套子 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
63
strictly
|
|
| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
|
64
ascertain
|
|
| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
参考例句： |
|
|
|
| 欢迎访问英文小说网 |