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巴彻斯特教堂尖塔|Barchester Towers

5. 斯洛普先生发动袭击|5. Mr Slope on the attack

属类: 双语小说 【分类】双语小说 -[作者: 安东尼-特洛勒] 阅读:[4989]
油嘴滑舌的野心家,玩弄权术的悍妇;为情所困的牧师,终获真爱的寡妇……各色人等,纷纭人生。在巴彻斯特教堂这圣洁之地,上演着丑恶的权力之争。《巴彻斯特教堂尖塔》由著名英国作家安东尼·特洛勒的同名经典文学名著改编,更适合国内英语学习者阅读。本书讲述了巴彻斯特教堂内部争夺权力的斗争和寡妇埃莉诺与牛津代牧阿拉宾有情人终成眷属的故事
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接下来两个星期,在普拉姆斯特德的日子过得十分愉快。埃莉诺是个讨人喜欢的客人,格兰特利博士夫妇则似乎已经忘记了她对斯洛普先生的孽情。哈丁先生在花园里散步,弹钢琴,小约翰尼的牙也不疼了。阿拉宾先生在圣埃沃兹履新后,公务缠身,却也总会抽出时间,每晚都在普拉姆斯特德度过。

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接下来,斯坦诺普家也办了一场晚宴,邀请了博尔德太太和阿拉宾先生。跟之前的那些男人一样,阿拉宾先生也无法抗拒内罗尼太太的魅力,整晚都守在她的沙发旁。

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“我从没受过这么大的折磨,跟这样一个美若天仙、冰雪聪明的人相处。”坐执事长的马车回家的时候,他对埃莉诺说。

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埃莉诺绝不想听到这样的赞美之词。不过,她要是为此生阿拉宾先生的气就太不公平,因为她自己也和伯蒂·斯坦诺普度过了十分愉快的一个夜晚,伯蒂对她寸步不离。她并没有爱上阿拉宾先生,尽管他俩在同一个屋檐下生活了三个星期,还曾多次愉快地长谈。可是,如果哪个女人的朋友或同伴似乎觉得别的女人更有魅力,这个女人自然会气恼,不一定非要爱上了这个朋友或同伴。“我还以为他不至于那么肤浅呢。”回到家后,她坐下来看自己熟睡的孩子,心里说,“说到底,还是斯坦诺普先生比阿拉宾先生更招人喜欢。”

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阿拉宾先生也没有爱上谁。伯蒂·斯坦诺普也是,尽管他打算示爱。只不过,埃莉诺头上戴的寡妇帽子让他打了退堂鼓,他怕别人认为,一个寡妇这么快就又接受一次求婚。

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还好,埃莉诺对阿拉宾先生没有生太久闷气,没多久他俩又成了好朋友。要是他足够尊重她的头脑,能像两人第一次真正交谈的时候那样,跟她讨论严肃的问题,那他俩的关系还会更进一步。跟她在一起的时候,他总是既温和又风趣。要是他跟她分享内心最深处的想法和担忧,那她倒有可能爱上他。

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普拉姆斯特德的生活还在继续。然而,院长职位的问题仍然没有定论。执事长遵守对哈丁先生的诺言,一直在找机会跟主教私下聊聊这件事,只是还没能见到他。

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幸运的是,还有一位朋友在帮哈丁先生争取,而且是一位权力比执事长还大的朋友——斯洛普先生。这位特遣牧师认为,相关的证据与日俱增,足以让他相信寡妇会接受他的求婚。他觉得,如果把院长一职给哈丁先生,他斯洛普就更有可能以女婿的身份得到认可。除此以外,他这么做还有一个更有力的理由。他想娶妻室,也想要滚滚钱财,可他更渴望权力。他已经意识到,自己必须对付普劳蒂太太,否则永远无法平步青云。院长职位便是一个绝佳的开战理由。

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主教遵从妻命,已经公开宣称新任院长由奎沃夫先生担任。于是,斯洛普先生决定立即骑马前往帕丁戴尔,跟这位代牧当面谈谈。

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总体上说,奎沃夫先生是个好心、善良、兢兢业业的人,然而,生活的艰辛侵蚀了他的精神和荣誉感。他正在努力把十四个孩子培养成绅士淑女,可收入几乎供不上他们吃饭穿衣。他急于填饱一家人的肚子,急于付清账单,但不像富人那样,急于得到身边所有人的尊重。那样的奢侈他消费不起。近些日子他有一种感觉,自从他表示愿意追随斯洛普先生之后,相识二十年的兄弟神职人员开始对他冷眼相看。等到传言说他将担任新任院长,他还看到了更加冰冷的目光。他痛苦不堪,可是,想到自己可怜的妻儿,想到一家子都能在巴彻斯特的院长住所享受快乐舒坦的日子,他觉得自己别无选择。

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对于神职人员的横眉冷对,奎沃夫太太毫不在意。她一心所想,就是丈夫和孩子们衣食无忧——对她来说,生活的目的仅此而已。因此,她对自己的丈夫很不满意,因为丈夫说,除非他确信哈丁先生已拒绝担任院长,否则不会接受这个职位。幸运的是,如今他们已经得到了百分之百的保证,这个职位会花落他家,而且说这话的不光是斯洛普先生,还有普劳蒂太太。然而,要是这一切都落了空呢?就眼下来说,奎沃夫太太很快乐,可是,一想到家人所处的险境,她就觉得喘不过气来。

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因此,看到了不起的斯洛普先生大驾光临,她便揣着一颗怦怦乱跳的心匆匆躲进厨房,把两个男人单独留在会客厅里。

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斯洛普先生经验如此老到,自然可以轻而易举地达到目的。他字斟句酌,成功地收回了先前对奎沃夫的承诺。想到职位不保,奎沃夫心中十分恐惧,可他也只能表达自己的失望之情而已。没过多久,斯洛普先生就骑马回巴彻斯特了。他相信他现在能够说服主教,把这个职位授予哈丁先生。

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客人一走,前门一关,奎沃夫太太就迫不及待地冲到丈夫身边。

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“唉,亲爱的,我们得不到那个职位了。”奎沃夫先生转头对她说,面容苍白,表情痛苦。

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“什么!”她大喊一声,声音里充满了愤怒和深深的绝望,就像是一个失去孩子的母亲。“什么!谁说的?”

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他说话时她坐在那里,像死人一样,一声不吭。“这么说,你已经放弃你的职位了?”她终于开口了。

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“我根本没机会接受这个职位。”他难过地回答,“我只能等着别的职位,就这么简单。”

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“等着!我们等着能喂饱孩子们吗?”

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“我们别无他法,亲爱的。我失望更多是为了你,并不是为我自己。”

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奎沃夫太太看见一滴小小的热泪涌出丈夫的眼眶,沿着他疲惫的脸庞滚落。她那副柔软的女人心肠可受不了这个,她跑到他身边,把他抱在怀里。

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“你太软弱了!”她抽泣道,“不过你得赶紧跑一趟,去见见主教!他还蒙在鼓里呢!普劳蒂太太才是巴彻斯特的主教,斯洛普先生是她的奴才,这不是尽人皆知吗?不知道是什么原因,那个女人今天把他给派来了——为的就是把她说出口的承诺收回去!”

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然而她没法说服丈夫采取任何行动,她很快就意识到自己必须亲自出马。她心里想:“说到底,万一普劳蒂太太根本不知道斯洛普先生来这儿的事情呢?”她决定马上去拜见主教的妻子。

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换作平时,去主教的宅邸会让她万分紧张——毕竟她不过是一个乡下代牧的妻子——然而这一次,她因为家里不得已的缘故,斗志昂扬,满怀自信。她安排一个当地的农夫赶车送她去巴彻斯特,然后再等着送她回来。最后,她把仅存的一枚半克朗硬币从平时存钱的盒子里拿了出来。她得拿这个买通那些仆人,让他们放她进去见宅邸的女主人。

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她来到宅邸门口,被告知普劳蒂太太不在家。“我一定要见她。”奎沃夫太太坚决地说,把那块半克朗硬币塞到了仆人手里。两分钟之后,她已经进了普劳蒂太太的会客厅,开始给太太讲自己的伤心事了。

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普劳蒂太太心情不错,因为她刚刚在另一场斗争中大获全胜。这之前,主教收到了一封请柬,请他去大主教那里盘桓几日,而他也很想接受邀约。然而,请柬当中只字未提普劳蒂太太,主教要去的话,就只能一个人去。这就造成了极大的困难。他没法叫人替他备好行李,然后只带上一个仆人出发,漫不经心地告诉心爱的太太,自己星期六回来。世上倒真有些男人——多半是坏透了的男人——会这么做,也真有些女人——像奴隶一样的女人——会容忍他们。不过,普劳蒂博士可不是这样的男人,普劳蒂太太也不是这样的女人。

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因此,尽管主教跟妻子提了这事,却只是简单说了几句。结了婚的人都容易理解,这样的斗争是如何拼出了输赢。没结过婚的人只有亲身经历才能理解。以防万一,普劳蒂太太亲眼看着写好的回信装进了信封,才离开她的主教大人。

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所以,此刻她满脸堆笑地问候奎沃夫太太。不过,一听说斯洛普先生的所作所为,她的表情立刻变得既冰冷又严厉。她让奎沃夫太太等着她,然后大步流星地走出了房间。她对丈夫火冒三丈,因为照她的理解,丈夫已经明明白白地答应了她养老院的事,现在却赖了账。她打定了主意,要再斗赢他一次。

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她连门都没敲,就快步走进了主教的书房。她看见主教坐在书房里,对面坐着斯洛普先生。普劳蒂博士手上拿着他当着她的面写给大主教的那封信——信已经拆了封!没错,他居然胆大包天地拆开了她亲自批准的封印。很显然,这两个罪人正在商量请柬的事情,哪怕这事情已经由她拍了板!斯洛普先生站起身来,向她微微鞠了一躬。他和普劳蒂太太四目相对,两人心里都明白自己面对着一个敌人。

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“主教,奎沃夫先生那边是怎么回事?”她问。

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没容主教回答,斯洛普先生就说:“今天早上,我在帕丁戴尔见到了奎沃夫先生,太太。他已经放弃了养老院院长一职,所以我强烈建议主教大人,任命哈丁先生为院长。”

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“奎沃夫先生什么也没放弃。”太太不屑地说,“主教大人答应过他的。”

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主教一言不发。他很想在这场斗争中打败自己的宿敌,但没那个勇气。

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“兴许我不该插手,”斯洛普先生说,“但是——”

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“你确实不该插手。”太太气冲冲地说。

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“但是,”斯洛普先生心平气和地继续说,“我觉得我有责任提醒主教,不让哈丁先生当院长,他将不得民心。当然,哈丁先生为人如此高尚,又是如此出色的一位神职人员,主教肯定愿意予以嘉奖。很明显,上次跟哈丁先生会面的时候,我对他有误会——”

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“同样明显的是,你也误会了奎沃夫先生。”她说,已经快要气炸了,“你去见他们到底有何居心?谁让你今天早上去帕丁戴尔的?你能回答我吗,先生?”

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屋子里一片死寂。斯洛普先生站着,一只手扶着椅背,一脸严肃,还带着浓重的威胁意味。普劳蒂太太站在桌子的一头,一边说话,一边像男人那样用力拍桌子。主教坐在扶手椅上,随着交锋双方轮流上阵,一会儿看看妻子,一会儿又看看自己的特遣牧师。要是他俩能决出胜负,一方能彻底摧垮另一方,好让他这个主教,知道该听命于谁,那有多舒心啊!

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“你能回答我吗,先生?”她重复了一遍,“谁让你今天早上去见奎沃夫先生的?”

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“在我看来,普劳蒂太太,”斯洛普先生用低沉而平静的语气说,“无论如何,这样的问题我都是不答为妙。”

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“是有人派你去的吗,先生?”

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“普劳蒂太太,”斯洛普先生说,“我知道自己欠了您多大的恩情,但是,在这件事情上我只能对主教大人负责。除了他以外,恕我无法接受其他人的质问。他已经对我的行动表示了赞同,如果我说我不需要其他人的批准,请谅解。”

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在普劳蒂太太听来,这样的话多么刺耳!显而易见,主教这是在跟她造反,因此她必须迅速行动,重新控制局面。

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“斯洛普先生,”她慢悠悠、不慌不忙地说,“麻烦你,请你离开这个房间。我想跟我的主教大人单独谈谈。”

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斯洛普先生也已经意识到,一切都取决于眼前这场谈话。如果主教输了,自己就永远摆脱不了奴仆的地位。决定胜负的关键时刻到了!

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“主教大人叫我到这儿来跟他商议教堂里的要事。”他回答,希望普劳蒂博士能给他点支持。“要我在这个时候离开,恐怕我做不到。”

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“忘恩负义!”普劳蒂太太喊道,“我的主教大人,请您让斯洛普先生离开这个房间,可以吗?”

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主教大人挠了挠头,却什么也没说。不过,斯洛普先生本来也没指望更大的支持。

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“我的主教大人,”太太说,“是斯洛普先生离开这个房间呢,还是我走?”这步棋她算是走错了,因为她不该主动提出撤离战场这个可能性。面对这样的一个问题,主教自然开始在心里琢磨,既然这两个人当中总得有一个走,或许还是自己的太太离开为好。不过,他还是一声不吭。

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普劳蒂太太气得七窍生烟。她没有对手那种控制情绪的本事,于是败下阵来。

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“我的主教大人,”她说,“您要不要给我个答复?”

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终于,主教打破了他深深的沉默,宣布自己属于斯洛普的阵营。“咳,亲爱的,”他说,“我跟斯洛普先生还忙得很呢。”

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这一句就够了,用不着再说什么。他投入了战斗,顶住了战场上的热浪和尘土,直面了敌人,取得了胜利。成功原来可以如此简单!

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斯洛普先生立刻看到了自己的战果,还得意扬扬地看了普劳蒂太太一眼。他不该这么做。他应该谦逊地看她一眼,还应该明白这场胜利维持不了多久。他既不可能安排主教跟妻子离婚,也不可能成天守在这里,更不可能在主教太太在卧房里想“跟我的主教大人单独谈谈”的时候破门而入。

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不过,他暂时算是大获全胜,普劳蒂太太走出了房间。现在,特遣牧师不再耍花腔,告诉主教,从今往后,再不能让他的妻子指手画脚。稍作迟疑之后,普劳蒂博士表示了同意。跟表现好的孩子一样,主教立刻得到了奖赏——在特遣牧师的指导下,他重新给大主教写了一封信,这一次是接受邀约。斯洛普先生比普劳蒂太太还要小心,把回信稳妥地装进了自己的口袋。他还劝服主教去见见哈丁先生,把院长一职委任于他。这之后,斯洛普先生志得意满地离开了主教的宅邸,亲手把回信寄了出去。

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普劳蒂太太不情不愿地回到了自己的会客厅,奎沃夫太太还在那里焦急地等她。

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“你丈夫真是太软弱,太愚蠢。”普劳蒂太太厉声说,“我发现,这件事情我是帮不了他了。”

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“哦,普劳蒂太太!想想我那十四个孩子吧!”奎沃夫太太对自己只字不提,眼泪却止不住地往下掉。

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普劳蒂太太惊讶地发现,自己的铁石心肠居然被打动了。于是她承诺,一定会竭力为奎沃夫先生争取院长一职。奎沃夫太太返回了帕丁戴尔,虽说不是满怀希望,心里却不无欣慰,因为自己已经尽了力。

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The next two weeks passed very pleasantly at Plumstead. Eleanor was a delightful house-guest, and Dr and Mrs Grantly seemed to have forgotten her wicked feelings for Mr Slope. Mr Harding walked in the garden and played the piano, and little Johnny had no more trouble with his teeth. And although Mr Arabin was busy with his new duties at St Ewold’s, he made sure he spent every evening at Plumstead.

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There had also been a dinner party at the Stanhopes’, to which Mrs Bold and Mr Arabin were invited. He, like every other man before him, could not resist the charming signora, and spent the whole evening beside her sofa.

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I have never met so much suffering, joined to such perfect beauty and such a clever mind,’ he told Eleanor as they drove home in the archdeacon’s carriage.

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Eleanor by no means liked to hear this praise. It was, however, extremely unjust of her to be angry with Mr Arabin, as she had herself spent a very pleasant evening with Bertie Stanhope, who had not left her side for one moment. She was not in love with Mr Arabin, although she had spent three weeks in the same house as him and they had enjoyed lengthy conversations together. But a woman does not need to be in love to be irritated when a friend or companion appears to find another woman more attractive. ’I thought he had more wisdom than that,’ she told herself, as she sat watching her sleeping child, after they had arrived home. ’After all, I believe Mr Stanhope is the pleasanter man of the two.’

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Mr Arabin was not in love, either. Nor was Bertie Stanhope, although he was ready to say so. Only the widow’s cap which Eleanor still wore prevented him, in case it was thought too soon for a widow to be receiving another proposal of marriage.

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Fortunately, Eleanor’s annoyance with Mr Arabin did not last long, and soon they were good friends again. They could have been more, if he had respected her intelligence enough to discuss serious matters with her, as he had done in their first real conversation together. With her he was always gently playful. If he had allowed her to share his deepest thoughts and concerns, she might have learnt to love him.

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So things went on at Plumstead. However, the matter of the wardenship was still not decided. Following his promise to Mr Harding, the archdeacon had tried to speak privately to the bishop about it, but had not been able to see him.

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Luckily, Mr Harding had another friend fighting his battle for him, a friend even more powerful than the archdeacon, and this was Mr Slope. The chaplain thought he had more and more evidence every day to make him believe the widow would accept his marriage proposal. He felt that giving Mr Harding the wardenship would make him, Slope, more likely to be welcomed as a son-in-law. And he had an even stronger reason for his actions. He wanted a wife, and he wanted money, but he wanted power more than either. He had realized he must fight Mrs Proudie, otherwise he would never be able to rise to a higher position. The wardenship was an excellent reason for war.

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The bishop, following his wife’s orders, had declared Mr Quiverful should be the new warden. So Mr Slope decided to ride over to Puddingdale and interview the vicar at once.

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Mr Quiverful was, on the whole, a good, honest, hardworking man, but the difficulties of his daily life had had a bad effect on his spirit and his sense of honour. He was attempting to bring up fourteen children as ladies and gentlemen, on an income which was hardly enough to provide them with food and clothes. He was anxious for bread and meat and anxious to pay his bills, but not as anxious as a richer man might be, to be well respected by all around him. He could not afford such a luxury. Recently he had felt that his brother clergymen, men he had known for twenty years, looked coldly on him since he had shown himself willing to sit at the feet of Mr Slope. He had seen their looks grow colder still, when it was said he was to become the new warden. This was painful to him, but when he thought of his poor wife and children, and the happy, comfortable life they would all have in the warden’s house in Barchester, he felt he had no choice.

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Mrs Quiverful cared nothing for the frowns of the clergy. In her heart she had no other ambition than that of seeing her husband and children properly fed and dressed – life for her had no other purpose. So she had no patience with her husband when he had spoken of not wishing to accept the post until he was sure Mr Harding had refused it. Fortunately, they had now received a full promise that the post was theirs, not only from Mr Slope, but also from Mrs Proudie. But what if all had been lost? Mrs Quiverful was a happy woman at present, but it took her breath away when she thought of the danger they had been in.

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So when she saw the great Mr Slope arrive, she hurried into the kitchen with an anxious, beating heart, and left the two men alone in the sitting room.

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It was easy for a man as experienced as Mr Slope to achieve his purpose. By choosing his words carefully, he was able to withdraw the promise he had made to Quiverful, who, although horrified at the thought of losing the post, could do nothing but express his disappointment. Soon Mr Slope was riding back to Barchester, confident that he could now persuade the bishop to give the post to Mr Harding.

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As soon as the front door closed behind the visitor, Mrs Quiverful rushed eagerly back to her husband.

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Well, my dear, we are not to have it,’ he said, turning a pale, miserable face towards her.

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What!’ she cried, with all the anger and deep despair of a mother who has lost a child. ’What! Who says so?’

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She sat as silent as death while he told his story. ’And so you have resigned your post?’ said she, at last.

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I had no opportunity of accepting it,’ he replied sadly. ’I must wait for another post, that’s all.’

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Wait! Shall we feed the children by waiting?’

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It’s all we can do, my dear. I feel the disappointment more for your sake than my own.’

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Mrs Quiverful saw a small hot tear appear in her husband’s eye and roll down his tired face. This was too much for her woman’s heart. She ran to him and seized him in her arms.

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You are too soft!’ she sobbed. ’But you must go at once and see the bishop! He knows nothing of this! Doesn’t all the world know that Mrs Proudie is Bishop of Barchester, and Mr Slope is her slave? For some reason that woman sent him here today – to break her promise to us!’

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But she could not persuade her husband to take any action at all, and soon she realized she must do something herself. ’What if, after all, Mrs Proudie knows nothing of Mr Slope’s visit?’ she thought. She decided to call on the bishop’s wife immediately.

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Normally, a visit to the bishop’s palace would make her very nervous – she was only a country vicar’s wife – but this time, strengthened by her family’s needs, she felt confident. She arranged for a local farmer to drive her into Barchester and wait for her, to bring her back. Finally, she took her last half-crown coin from the box where she kept her savings; she would need it to bribe the servants to let her see the lady of the house.

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She arrived at the palace door, and was told Mrs Proudie was not at home. ’I must see her,’ said Mrs Quiverful firmly, and pressed her half-crown into the servant’s hand. In two minutes she was in Mrs Proudie’s sitting room, telling her sad story.

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Mrs Proudie was in an excellent mood, having just triumphed in another battle. The bishop had received an invitation to spend a couple of days with the archbishop, and greatly desired to accept it. However, not a word in the invitation mentioned Mrs Proudie, so if the bishop went at all, he must go alone. This presented an enormous difficulty. He could not order his bags to be packed, and then simply set off with a servant, casually telling the lady of his heart that he would be back on Saturday. There are men – probably very wicked men – who do such things, and there are women – more like slaves – who put up with them. But Dr and Mrs Proudie were not among them.

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So the bishop had spoken to his wife, but it was a short discussion. Those who are married will understand very well how the battle was lost and won; those who are single will never understand it until they learn the lesson which experience alone can give. Mrs Proudie made sure that before she left her lord, she had seen the answer to the invitation written and sealed.

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Now, therefore, she was all smiles as she greeted Mrs Quiverful. But her expression became cold and stern when she heard what Mr Slope had done. Asking Mrs Quiverful to wait for her, she marched out of the room. She was extremely angry with her husband, who, as she thought, had broken the promise he had so clearly given her about the hospital, and she was determined to win the battle against him all over again.

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Without knocking at the door, she walked quickly into the bishop’s study. She found him seated there, with Mr Slope opposite him. Between Dr Proudie’s fingers was the very note which he had written to the archbishop in her presence – and it was open! Yes, he had dared to break open the seal which she herself had approved. It was only too clear that the two guilty men were discussing the invitation, even after the matter had already been decided by her! Mr Slope rose from his chair and bowed slightly. He and Mrs Proudie looked each other full in the face, and knew each was face to face with an enemy.

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What is this, bishop, about Mr Quiverful?’ said she.

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Mr Slope did not allow the bishop to answer, but replied himself. ’I saw Mr Quiverful at Puddingdale this morning, madam. He has abandoned his claim to the hospital, so I have strongly advised his lordship to appoint Mr Harding.’

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Mr Quiverful has not abandoned anything,’ said the lady scornfully. ’His lordship has given his word.’

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The bishop remained silent. He was eager to win the battle over his old enemy, and yet his courage failed him.

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Perhaps I ought not to interfere,’ said Mr Slope, ’but –’

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Certainly you ought not,’ said the lady angrily.

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But,’ continued Mr Slope smoothly, ’I considered it my duty to advise the bishop that he will not be popular in Barchester if he fails to appoint Mr Harding. And of course the bishop wishes to reward such an honourable man and such a good clergyman as Mr Harding. It is clear that, in the interview I had with Mr Harding, I misunderstood him –’

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And it is equally clear that you have misunderstood Mr Quiverful,’ said she, now at the height of her anger. ’What business have you at all with these interviews? Who desired you to go to Puddingdale this morning? Will you answer me, sir?’

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There was dead silence in the room. Mr Slope was standing with his hand on the back of a chair, looking very serious and very threatening. Mrs Proudie was standing at the end of the table, and as she spoke she struck her hand on it with an almost manly strength. The bishop was sitting in his armchair, turning his eyes now to his wife, and now to his chaplain, as each went on the attack in turn. How comfortable it would be if they could fight it out between them, so that one should destroy the other, and then he, the bishop, would know whom to obey!

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Will you answer me, sir?’ she repeated. ’Who instructed you to call on Mr Quiverful this morning?’

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I think, Mrs Proudie,’ said Mr Slope in a low, calm voice, ’that, under all the circumstances, it would be better for me not to answer such a question.’

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Did anyone send you, sir?’

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Mrs Proudie,’ said Mr Slope, ’I am aware how much I owe to your kindness, but my duty in this matter is to his lordship, and I can accept no questioning except from him. He has approved of what I have done, and you will excuse me if I say I need no other person’s approval.’

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What dreadful words these were to Mrs Proudie’s ears! It was evident that the bishop was rebelling against her, and she must move speedily to regain control.

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Mr Slope,’ she said, slowly and deliberately, ’I will trouble you, if you please, to leave the room. I wish to speak to my lord alone.’

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Mr Slope also felt that everything depended on the present interview. If the bishop lost this battle, he would remain a slave for ever. Now was the moment for victory or defeat!

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His lordship asked me here to discuss important cathedral business,’ he replied, hoping for support from Dr Proudie. ’My leaving him at the moment is, I fear, impossible.’

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Ungrateful man!’ cried Mrs Proudie. ’My lord, will you kindly beg Mr Slope to leave the room?’

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My lord scratched his head, but said nothing. This was as much support as Mr Slope had expected.

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The bishop scratched his head, but said nothing.

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My lord,’ said the lady, ’is Mr Slope to leave this room, or am I?’ Here Mrs Proudie made a false step. She should not have mentioned the possibility of withdrawing from the battlefield. In answer to such a question, the bishop naturally said to himself that, as it was necessary for one of them to leave the room, perhaps it might as well be Mrs Proudie. But he still said nothing.

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Mrs Proudie’s anger was boiling over. She could not keep her temper as her enemy did, and so she was defeated.

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My lord,’ said she, ’am I to receive an answer or not?’

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At last he broke his deep silence and declared himself a member of the Slope party. ’Why, my dear,’ said he, ’Mr Slope and I are very busy.’

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That was all. No more was necessary. He had gone into battle, put up with the heat and dust of the day, met his enemy, and won the victory. How easy success can be!

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Mr Slope saw at once how much he had gained, and turned a triumphant look on the lady. Here he was wrong. He should have looked humbly at her, and remembered that this victory would not last long. He could not arrange to divorce the bishop from his wife, he could not be present every moment of the day, he could not interfere in the privacy of the bedroom, when the wife wished ’to speak to my lord alone’.

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But for the moment his triumph was complete, and Mrs Proudie left the room. Now the chaplain told the bishop, in plain words, that he must not let his wife interfere in future, and Dr Proudie, after some hesitation, agreed. Like a good child, the bishop received an immediate reward – he was instructed to write another note to the archbishop, this time accepting the invitation. Mr Slope, more careful than the lady, put the note safely in his pocket. He also persuaded the bishop to see Mr Harding, with the intention of offering him the wardenship. And so Mr Slope, far from disappointed with his achievements, left the palace and posted the note with his own hands.

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Mrs Proudie returned unwillingly to her sitting room, where Mrs Quiverful was waiting anxiously for her.

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Your husband has been most weak and foolish,’ Mrs Proudie said sternly. ’I find I can do little for him in this matter.’

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Oh, Mrs Proudie! Think of my fourteen children!’ Not a word did Mrs Quiverful say about herself, but the tears fell fast.

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Mrs Proudie was surprised to find that her hard heart was touched, and she promised to do everything in her power to insist on Mr Quiverful’s appointment as warden. Mrs Quiverful returned to Puddingdale, not very hopeful, but satisfied that she had done her best.

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序号 英文/音标 中文解释 更多操作

Eleanor

[ˈelɪnə]

埃莉诺(女子名)

Johnny

[’dʒɒnɪ]

n.男人;家伙

carriage

[’kærɪdʒ]

n.四轮马车

unjust

[ˌʌn’dʒʌst]

adj.不公平的

conversation

[ˌkɒnvə’seɪʃn]

n.谈话;会话

irritate

[’ɪrɪteɪt]

v.激怒;使疼痛或发炎

fortunate

[’fɔːtʃənət]

adj.幸运的;侥幸的;带来幸运的

playful

[’pleɪfl]

adj.爱玩耍的;嬉戏的;开玩笑的

felted

[’feltɪd]

v. 把 ... 制成毡(使 ... 粘结)

vicar

[’vɪkə(r)]

n.(教区或教堂)牧师;代理人

honour

[ˈɒnə]

n.光荣;

clergyman

[’klɜːdʒimən]

n.牧师;教士;神职人员

clergy

[’klɜːdʒi]

n.【总称】牧师;神职人员

horrifyingly

[’hɒrɪfaɪ]

v.使恐惧;使惊骇;使反感

miserable

[’mɪzrəbl]

adj.痛苦的;悲惨的;贫乏的;狼狈的

despair

[dɪ’speə(r)]

n.绝望;失望

told

[təʊld]

v.告诉;吩咐;讲述

sob

[sɒb]

v.抽泣;呜咽

bribe

[braɪb]

n.贿赂;贿赂物

archbishop

[ˌɑːtʃ’bɪʃəp]

n.大主教;总教主

sealed

[siːld]

adj.封口的;密封的,

stern

[stɜːn]

adj.严厉的;严峻的;苛刻的;坚决的

marches

[mɑːtʃ]

1. n. (尤指英格兰与苏格兰或威尔士的)边界地区, 2.动词march的第三人称单数形式

lordship

[’lɔːdʃɪp]

n.阁下;贵族权力

angrily

[’æŋɡrəli]

adv.气愤地

honorable

[’ɒnərəbl]

adj.光荣的;可敬的;体面的.

misunderstood

[ˌmɪsʌndə’stʊd]

adj.误解的;误会的

armchair

[’ɑːmtʃeə(r)]

n.扶手椅;单人沙发;安乐椅

obey

[ə’beɪ]

v.服从;遵守;顺从;听从

speedily

[ˈspiːdɪlɪ]

adv.迅速地

deliberate

[dɪ’lɪbərət]

adj.深思熟虑的;故意的;从容不迫的

cathedral

[kə’θiːdrəl]

n.大教堂

Ungrateful

[ʌn’ɡreɪtfl]

adj.忘恩负义的;不领情的

kindly

[’kaɪndli]

adj.和蔼的;温和的;爽快的

battlefield

[’bætlfiːld]

n.战场;斗争;争论点

boiling

[’bɔɪlɪŋ]

adj.沸腾的

humbly

[’hʌmbli]

adv.恭顺地;谦卑地

wardenship

[’wɔːdnʃɪp]

n.1. 看守人(或保管人等)之职权(或身份、任期)

unwilling

[ʌn’wɪlɪŋ]

adj.不愿意的

hopeful

[’həʊpfl]

adj.有希望的

warden

[’wɔːdn]

n.看守人

简典