dark-green morning coat, seemed to me more imposing than ever. He swung
a stick in his hand, upon which a grey parrot was sitting, which, while
it strove to maintain its balance, screamed with all its might after the
Bishop, 'Adieu to thee! adieu to thee!'

"The sunshine which was diffused over the expressive countenance of his
Excellency as he came out of his room, vanished the moment he saw me (I
had already informed him by letter of the use I had made of his
goodness), and a severe repulsive glance was the only greeting which I
received. When the Bishop at length, accompanied by the parting
salutations of the parrot, had left, his Excellency motioned the
servants out, and riveted upon me his strong, bright, grey eyes, and
with an actually oppressive look inquired short and sharp, 'What want
you, Sir?'

"I had never seen him behave thus to me before, and whilst I endeavoured
to overcome a really choking sensation, I answered, 'I would thank your
Excellency for the goodness which--'

"'Which you have thrown away as if it were a very trifle,' interrupted
his Excellency. 'You must have a confounded many livings at command, I
think. You can, perhaps, throw such away on all sides.'

"He spoke these words in a hard, ironical tone. I conjured him to hear
me, and laid before him shortly, but with the utmost clearness, the
reasons which had compelled me to give up the good fortune which his
favour had procured for me. I concluded by saying, that the only
consolation which I had for my loss, and the danger of having displeased
my benefactor, was the feeling that I had done my duty, and acted
according to my conscience, and the persuasion that I had acted right.

"'You have acted like a fool!' interrupted his Excellency, with
violence, 'like a regular bedlamite have you behaved yourself! Things
like this, Sir, may do in novels, but in actual life they serve to no
other purpose than to make their actors and all that belong to them
beggars. But you have unpardonably compromised me! The thousand! you
should have thought over all these things and these feelings before you
had obtained my recommendation! Can I know of all supplicants with
poverty, merits, and nine children? On your account in this business I
have written letters, given dinners, made fine speeches, paid
compliments, in order to silence other claimants. I obtained for you
that living, one of the best in the whole bishoprick, and now you have
given it away as if i