Lady Corisande was exactly the guide the girls required. They sat on each side of her, each holding her hand, which they frequently pressed to their lips. As her form was slight, though of perfect grace and symmetry, the contrast between herself and her worshippers was rather startling; but her noble brow, full of thought and purpose, the firmness of her chiselled36 lip, and the rich fire of her glance vindicated37 her post as the leading spirit.
They breakfasted in a room which opened on a gallery, and at the other end of the gallery was an apartment similar to the breakfast-room, which was the male morning-room, and where the world could find the newspapers, or join in half an hour’s talk over the intended arrangements of the day. When the breakfast-party broke up, the bishop approached Lothair, and looked at him earnestly.
“I am at your lordship’s service,” said Lothair, and they quitted the breakfast-room together. Half-way down the gallery they met Monsignore Catesby, who had in his hand a number, just arrived, of a newspaper which was esteemed38 an Ultramontane organ. He bowed as he passed them, with an air of some exultation39, and the bishop and himself exchanged significant smiles, which, however, meant different things. Quitting the gallery, Lothair led the way to his private apartments; and, opening the door, ushered40 in the bishop.
Now, what was contained in the Ultramontane organ which apparently occasioned so much satisfaction to Monsignore Catesby? A deftly41 drawn-up announcement of some important arrangements which had been deeply planned. The announcement would be repeated In all the daily papers, which were hourly expected. The world was informed that his eminence42, Cardinal Grandison, now on a visit at Muriel Towers to his ward, Lothair, would celebrate high mass on the ensuing Sunday in the city which was the episcopal capital of the bishop’s see, and afterward43 preach on the present state of the Church of Christ. As the bishop must be absent from his cathedral that day, and had promised to preach in the chapel44 at Muriel, there was something dexterous45 in thus turning his lordship’s flank, and desolating46 his diocese when he was not present to guard it from the fiery dragon. It was also remarked that there would be an unusual gathering47 of the Catholic aristocracy for the occasion. The rate of lodgings48 in the city had risen in consequence. At the end of the paragraph it was distinctly contradicted that Lothair had entered the Catholic Church. Such a statement was declared to be “premature49,” as his guardian50, the cardinal, would never sanction his taking such a step until he was the master of his own actions; the general impression left by the whole paragraph being, that the world was not to be astonished if the first stop of Lothair, on accomplishing his majority, was to pursue the very course which was now daintily described as premature.
At luncheon51 the whole party were again assembled. The newspapers had arrived in the interval52, and had been digested. Every one was aware of the popish plot, as Hugo Bohun called it. The bishop, however, looked serene53, and, if not as elate as in the morning, calm and content. He sat by the duchess, and spoke54 to her in a low voice, and with seriousness. The monsignore watched every expression.
When the duchess rose, the bishop accompanied her into the recess55 of a window, and she said: “You may depend upon me; I cannot answer for the duke. It is not the early rising; he always rises early in the country, but he likes to read his letters before he dresses, and that sort of thing. I think you had better speak to Lady Corisande yourself.”
What had taken place at the interview of the bishop with Lothair, and what had elicited from the duchess an assurance that the prelate might depend upon her, generally transpired56, in consequence of some confidential57 communications, in the course of the afternoon. It appeared that the right reverend lord had impressed, and successfully, on Lothair, the paramount58 duty of commencing the day of his majority by assisting in an early celebration of the most sacred rite59 of the Church. This, in the estimation of the bishop, though he had not directly alluded60 to the subject in the interview, but had urged the act on higher grounds, would be a triumphant61 answer to the insidious62 and calumnious63 paragraphs which had circulated during the last six months, and an authentic64 testimony65 that Lothair was not going to quit the Church of his fathers.
This announcement, however, produced consternation66 in the opposite camp. It seemed to more than neutralize67 the anticipated effect of the programme, and the deftly-conceived paragraph. Monsignore Catesby went about whispering that he feared Lothair was going to overdo68 it; and considering what he had to go through on Monday, if it were only for considerations of health, an early celebration was inexpedient. He tried the duchess—about whom he was beginning to hover69 a good deal—as he fancied she was of an impressible disposition70, and gave some promise of results; but here the ground had been too forcibly preoccupied71: then he flew to Lady St. Aldegonde, but he had the mortification72 of learning, from her lips, that she herself contemplated73 being a communicant at the same time. Lady Corisande had been before him. All the energies of that young lady were put forth74 in order that Lothair should be countenanced75 on this solemn occasion. She conveyed to the bishop before dinner the results of her exertions76.
“You may count on Alberta St. Aldegonde and Victoria Montairy, and, I think, Lord Montairy also, if she presses him, which she has promised to do. Bertram must kneel by his friend at such a time. I think Lord Carisbrooke may: Duke of Brecon, I can say nothing about at present.”
“Lord St. Aldegonde?” said the bishop.
Lady Corisande shook her head.
There had been a conclave77 in the bishop’s room before dinner, in which the interview of the morning was discussed.
“It was successful; scarcely satisfactory,” said the bishop. “He is a very clever fellow, and knows a great deal. They have got hold of him, and he has all the arguments at his fingers’ ends. When I came to the point, he began to demur78; I saw what was passing through his mind, and I said at once: ‘Your views are high: so are mine: so are those of the Church. It is a sacrifice, undoubtedly79, in a certain sense. No sound theologian would maintain the simplicity80 of the elements; but that does not involve the coarse interpretation81 of the dark ages.’”
“Good, good,” said the archdeacon; “and what is it your lordship did not exactly like?”
“He fenced too much; and he said more than once, and in a manner I did not like, that, whatever were his views as to the Church, he thought he could on the whole conscientiously82 partake of this rite as administered by the Church of England.”
“Every thing depends on this celebration,” said the chaplain; “after that his doubts and difficulties will dispel83.”
“We must do our best that he is well supported,” said the archdeacon.
“No fear of that,” said the bishop. “I have spoken to some of our friends. We may depend on the duchess and her daughters—all admirable women; and they will do what they can with others. It will be a busy day, but I have expressed my hope that the heads of the household may be able to attend. But the county notables arrive today, and I shall make it a point with them, especially the lord-lieutenant.”
“It should be known,” said the chaplain. “I will send a memorandum84 to the Guardian.”
“And John Bull,” said the bishop.
The lord-lieutenant and Lady Agramont, and their daughter, Lady Ida Alice, arrived today; and the high-sheriff, a manufacturer, a great liberal who delighted in peers, but whose otherwise perfect felicity today was a little marred85 and lessened86 by the haunting and restless fear that Lothair was not duly aware that he took precedence of the lord-lieutenant. Then there were Sir Hamlet Clotworthy, the master of the hounds, and a capital man of business; and the Honorable Lady Clotworthy, a haughty87 dame88 who ruled her circle with tremendous airs and graces, but who was a little subdued89 in the empyrean of Muriel Towers. The other county member, Mr. Ardenne, was a refined gentleman, and loved the arts. He had an ancient pedigree, and knew everybody else’s, which was not always pleasant. What he most prided himself on was being the hereditary90 owner of a real deer—park the only one, he asserted, in the county. Other persons had parks which had deer in them, but that was quite a different thing. His wife was a pretty woman, and the inspiring genius of archeological societies, who loved their annual luncheon in her Tudor Halls, and illustrated91 by their researches the deeds and dwellings92 of her husband’s ancient race.
The clergy93 of the various parishes on the estate all dined at the Towers today, in order to pay their respects to their bishop. “Lothair’s oecumenical council,” said Hugo Bohun, as he entered the crowded room, and looked around him with an air of not ungraceful impertinence. Among the clergy was Mr. Smylie, the brother of Apollonia.
A few years ago, Mr. Putney Giles had not unreasonably94 availed himself of the position which he so usefully and so honorably filled, to recommend this gentleman to the guardians95 of Lothair to fill a vacant benefice. The Reverend Dionysius Smylie had distinguished96 himself at Trinity College, Dublin, and had gained a Hebrew scholarship there; after that he had written a work on the Revelations, which clearly settled the long-controverted point whether Rome in the great apocalypse was signified by Babylon. The bishop shrugged98 his shoulders when he received Mr. Smylie’s papers, the examining chaplain sighed, and the archdeacon groaned100. But man is proverbially short-sighted. The doctrine101 of evolution affords no instances so striking as those of sacerdotal development. Placed under the favoring conditions of clime and soil, the real character of the Reverend Dionysius Smylie gradually, but powerfully, developed itself. Where he now ministered, he was attended by acolytes102, and incensed103 by thurifers. The shoulders of a fellow countryman were alone equal to the burden of the enormous cross which preceded him; while his ecclesiastical wardrobe furnished him with many colored garments, suited to every season of the year, and every festival of the Church.
At first there was indignation, and rumors104 or prophecies that we should soon have another case of perversion105, and that Mr. Smylie was going over to Rome; but these superficial commentators106 misapprehended the vigorous vanity of the man. “Rome may come to me,” said Mr. Smylie, “and it is perhaps the best thing it could do. This is the real Church without Romish error.”
The bishop and his reverend stuff, who were at first so much annoyed at the preferment of Mr. Smylie, had now, with respect to him, only one duty, and that was to restrain his exuberant107 priestliness; but they fulfilled that duty in a kindly108 and charitable spirit; and, when the Reverend Dionysius Smylie was appointed chaplain to Lothair, the bishop did not shrug97 his shoulders, the chaplain did not sigh, nor the archdeacon groan99.
The party was so considerable today that they dined in the great hall. When it was announced to Lothair that his lordship’s dinner was served, and he offered his arm to his destined109 companion, he looked around, and, then in an audible voice, and with a stateliness becoming such an incident, called upon the high-sheriff to lead the duchess to the table. Although that eminent110 personage had been thinking of nothing else for days, and during the last half-hour had felt as a man feels, and can only feel, who knows that some public function is momentarily about to fall to his perilous111 discharge, he was taken quite aback, changed color, and lost his head. But the band of Lothair, who were waiting at the door of the apartment to precede the procession to the hall, striking up at this moment “The Roast Beef of Old England,” reanimated his heart; and, following Lothair, and preceding all the other guests down the gallery, and through many chambers112, he experienced the proudest moment of a life of struggle, ingenuity113, vicissitude114, and success.
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1
bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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mundane
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| adj.平凡的；尘世的；宇宙的 | |
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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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cardinal
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| n.(天主教的)红衣主教；adj.首要的，基本的 | |
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relentless
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| adj.残酷的，不留情的，无怜悯心的 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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devout
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| adj.虔诚的，虔敬的，衷心的 (n.devoutness) | |
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votaries
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| n.信徒( votary的名词复数 )；追随者；（天主教）修士；修女 | |
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flora
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| n.(某一地区的)植物群 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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complexions
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| 肤色( complexion的名词复数 )； 面色； 局面； 性质 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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attained
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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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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adoration
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| n.爱慕，崇拜 | |
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agitates
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| 搅动( agitate的第三人称单数 )； 激怒； 使焦虑不安； （尤指为法律、社会状况的改变而）激烈争论 | |
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austere
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| adj.艰苦的；朴素的，朴实无华的；严峻的 | |
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fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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votary
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| n.崇拜者；爱好者；adj.誓约的，立誓任圣职的 | |
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covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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accurately
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| adv.准确地，精确地 | |
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ignominiously
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| adv.耻辱地，屈辱地，丢脸地 | |
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meekness
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| n.温顺，柔和 | |
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tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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resolute
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| adj.坚决的，果敢的 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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raved
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| v.胡言乱语( rave的过去式和过去分词 )；愤怒地说；咆哮；痴心地说 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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taunts
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| 嘲弄的言语，嘲笑，奚落( taunt的名词复数 ) | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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chiselled
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| adj.凿过的，凿光的； （文章等）精心雕琢的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 ) | |
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vindicated
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| v.澄清（某人/某事物）受到的责难或嫌疑( vindicate的过去式和过去分词 )；表明或证明（所争辩的事物）属实、正当、有效等；维护 | |
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esteemed
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| adj.受人尊敬的v.尊敬( esteem的过去式和过去分词 )；敬重；认为；以为 | |
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exultation
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| n.狂喜，得意 | |
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ushered
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| v.引，领，陪同( usher的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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dexterous
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| adj.灵敏的；灵巧的 | |
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desolating
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| 毁坏( desolate的现在分词 )； 极大地破坏； 使沮丧； 使痛苦 | |
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gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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lodgings
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| n. 出租的房舍, 寄宿舍 | |
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premature
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| adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的 | |
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guardian
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| n.监护人；守卫者，保护者 | |
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luncheon
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| n.午宴，午餐，便宴 | |
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interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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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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recess
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| n.短期休息，壁凹（墙上装架子，柜子等凹处） | |
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transpired
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| （事实，秘密等）被人知道( transpire的过去式和过去分词 )； 泄露； 显露； 发生 | |
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confidential
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| adj.秘（机）密的，表示信任的，担任机密工作的 | |
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paramount
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| a.最重要的，最高权力的 | |
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rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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insidious
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| adj.阴险的，隐匿的，暗中为害的，（疾病）不知不觉之间加剧 | |
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calumnious
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| adj.毁谤的，中伤的 | |
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authentic
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| a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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consternation
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| n.大为吃惊，惊骇 | |
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neutralize
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| v.使失效、抵消，使中和 | |
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overdo
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| vt.把...做得过头，演得过火 | |
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hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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preoccupied
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| adj.全神贯注的，入神的；被抢先占有的；心事重重的v.占据（某人）思想，使对…全神贯注，使专心于( preoccupy的过去式) | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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countenanced
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| v.支持，赞同，批准( countenance的过去式 ) | |
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exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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conclave
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| n.秘密会议，红衣主教团 | |
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demur
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| v．表示异议，反对 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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interpretation
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| n.解释，说明，描述；艺术处理 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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83
dispel
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| vt.驱走，驱散，消除 | |
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84
memorandum
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| n.备忘录，便笺 | |
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85
marred
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| adj. 被损毁, 污损的 | |
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86
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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87
haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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88
dame
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| n.女士 | |
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89
subdued
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| adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词 | |
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hereditary
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| adj.遗传的，遗传性的，可继承的，世袭的 | |
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illustrated
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| adj. 有插图的，列举的 动词illustrate的过去式和过去分词 | |
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dwellings
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| n.住处，处所( dwelling的名词复数 ) | |
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clergy
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| n.[总称]牧师，神职人员 | |
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94
unreasonably
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| adv. 不合理地 | |
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95
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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97
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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98
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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99
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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100
groaned
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| v.呻吟( groan的过去式和过去分词 )；发牢骚；抱怨；受苦 | |
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101
doctrine
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| n.教义；主义；学说 | |
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102
acolytes
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| n.助手( acolyte的名词复数 )；随从；新手；（天主教）侍祭 | |
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103
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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104
rumors
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| n.传闻( rumor的名词复数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷v.传闻( rumor的第三人称单数 )；[古]名誉；咕哝；[古]喧嚷 | |
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105
perversion
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| n.曲解；堕落；反常 | |
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106
commentators
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| n.评论员( commentator的名词复数 )；时事评论员；注释者；实况广播员 | |
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107
exuberant
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| adj.充满活力的；（植物）繁茂的 | |
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108
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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109
destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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110
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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111
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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112
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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113
ingenuity
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| n.别出心裁；善于发明创造 | |
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114
vicissitude
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| n.变化，变迁，荣枯，盛衰 | |
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