FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30  
31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   >>   >|  
to lose perhaps everything for the pretence of a foolish sentiment. But how was he to act while his father-in-law stood there holding his hand? How, without appearing unfeeling, was he to forget his father in the bishop--to overlook what he had lost, and think only of what he might possibly gain? "No, I suppose not," said he, at last, in answer to Mr. Harding. "We have all expected it so long." Mr. Harding took him by the arm and led him from the room. "We will see him again to-morrow morning," said he; "we had better leave the room now to the women." And so they went downstairs. It was already evening and nearly dark. It was most important that the prime minister should know that night that the diocese was vacant. Everything might depend on it; and so, in answer to Mr. Harding's further consolation, the archdeacon suggested that a telegraph message should be immediately sent off to London. Mr. Harding, who had really been somewhat surprised to find Dr. Grantly, as he thought, so much affected, was rather taken aback, but he made no objection. He knew that the archdeacon had some hope of succeeding to his father's place, though he by no means knew how highly raised that hope had been. "Yes," said Dr. Grantly, collecting himself and shaking off his weakness, "we must send a message at once; we don't know what might be the consequence of delay. Will you do it?' "I! Oh, yes; certainly. I'll do anything, only I don't know exactly what it is you want." Dr. Grantly sat down before a writing-table and, taking pen and ink, wrote on a slip of paper as follows:-- By Electric Telegraph. For the Earl of ----, Downing Street, or elsewhere. The Bishop of Barchester is dead. Message sent by the Rev. Septimus Harding. "There," said he. "Just take that to the telegraph office at the railway station and give it in as it is; they'll probably make you copy it on to one of their own slips; that's all you'll have to do; then you'll have to pay them half a crown." And the archdeacon put his hand in his pocket and pulled out the necessary sum. Mr. Harding felt very much like an errand-boy, and also felt that he was called on to perform his duties as such at rather an unseemly time, but he said nothing, and took the slip of paper and the proffered coin. "But you've put my name into it, Archdeacon." "Yes," said the other, "there should be the name of some clergyman, you know, and what name so proper
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   6   7   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30  
31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Harding
 

archdeacon

 

father

 

Grantly

 
telegraph
 
message
 

answer

 
Bishop
 

railway

 

Downing


Street

 

Barchester

 
Septimus
 

Message

 
office
 
Telegraph
 

writing

 

bishop

 
taking
 

Electric


station

 

unfeeling

 

forget

 
perform
 

duties

 
unseemly
 

called

 

errand

 

Archdeacon

 

clergyman


proper

 

proffered

 
pulled
 

appearing

 

pocket

 

diocese

 
vacant
 
expected
 

minister

 

important


pretence

 

Everything

 

depend

 

London

 
immediately
 

suggested

 
consolation
 

morrow

 
morning
 

evening