Barchester Towers

ut no one imagined that any choice was left to him-no one for a moment thought that he could appoint any other than Mr Harding. Mr Harding himself, when he heard

might probably be persuaded to return there with him. She had, indeed, all but promised to do so, though she still entertained an idea that the gre

should be sent among them who, they were aware, was not of their way of thinking; but Mr Harding himself was not a bigoted man on points of church doctrine, and he was quite prepared to welcome Dr Proudie to Bar

pany him, and Mr Harding was not sorry to have a companion, who would remove from his shoulders the burden of conversation in such an interview. In the affair of the consecration of Dr Gran

ms, or to forgive the preference shown to another. Dr Proudie was playing Venus to his Juno, and he was prepared to wa

e was well aware of all Dr Proudie's abominable opinions as regarded dissenters, church reform, the hebdomadal council, and such like; though he disliked

hey at once felt that they were strangers there. The furniture was for the most part the same, yet the place had been metamorphosed. A new sofa had been introduced, and horrid chintz affair, most unprelatical and almost irreligious; such a sofa as never yet stood in the study of any decent high church clergyman of the Church of England. The old curtains had a

ope standing on the hearthrug, persuasive and eager, just as the archdeacon used to stand; but on the sofa they also found

at pleasure in making himself acquainted with Dr Grantly; he had heard much of the archdeacon's good works in that part of the diocese in which his duties as archdeacon had been exercised (thus purposely ignoring the archdeacon's hitherto unlimited dominion over the diocese at large). He was aware that his lordship depended greatly on the assistance which Dr Grantly would be able to give him in that portion of the diocese. He then thrust out his hand, and grasping that of his new foe, bedewed it unmercifully. Dr Grantly in return bowed, looked stiff, contracted his eyebrows, and wiped his hand with his pocket-handkerchi

and trusted mainly to that-to that and to his title, both being facts which could not be overlooked. The archdeacon knew his subject, and really understood the business of bishoping, which the others did not; and this was his strong ground. Mrs Proudie had her sex to back her, and her habit of command, and was nothing

r, Dr Grantly?' asked the l

don; their horses were not immediately coming down, as the bishop would be obliged in a few days, to return to town. Dr Grantly was no doubt aware that the bishop was at present much called upon by the 'University Improvement Committee': indeed, the Committee could not well proceed without him, as their final report had now to be drawn up. The bishop had also to prepare a s

do herself the honour of calling at the palace on an early day. Mrs Proudie declared that she would be delighted: she

, without much feeling the loss; and had kept a separate pair of horses for the exclusive use of his wife since the day of their marriage; whereas Mrs Proudie had been

to the Sabbath-day schools generall

ion of surprise. 'Upon my word, I can't tell; it depends mainly

ism, and sees that they are clean and tidy for church, with their hands washed, and their shoes tied; and Grisel and Florinda, her daughters, carry thither a basket of large buns, baked on the Saturday afternoon, and distribute them to all the children not especially under di

ightly shrugged his shoulders. He was not, ho

e that there are three trains in and three trains out every Sabbath. Could nothing be done to induce th

aw the passengers, their company, I dare say, will withdraw the

r instance, in our position: surely we should do all that we can to control so grievous a sin. D

rds, breaksmen, pointsmen ought to have an opportuni

h. Surely that will not secure such an observance of the Sabbath as we

ith Mrs Proudie, nor yet with Mr Slope; so without much ceremony he turned his back upon the sofa,

re was much ground for complaint; the architect, perhaps, might have-but his double, Mr Slope, who

. His lordship asked me to step through the premises, and

g for a dozen horses

isitors, you know, often require so much accommodation. There are

uld be made, as far at least as the extent of the original stable bu

is really hardly any room for a second carriage in the large

alace should have been fitted through with pipes for gas, and hot water too. There is no hot water laid on anywhere above the groun

ot water. Hot water was very essential for the comfort of the pal

he coping on the garden wall

arge hole, evidently the work

f rats. There was nothing, he believed, in

s of the out-houses were very imperfect: he mi

nts' bedrooms were in an equally bad condition; indeed the loc

quite as much on the key. He had observed that the fault very ofte

ocesan architect, or rather his foreman, was the person to be addressed on such subjects; and that he, Dr Grantly, had inquired as to the comfort of the

given up her hold of Mr Harding, nor ceased from her cross-examination as the iniquity of Sabbatical amusements. Over and over ag

nce. But Mrs Proudie interrogated him, and then lectured. 'Neither thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man servant, nor thy maid servant,' said she, impressively, and more than once, as though Mr Harding had forgotten the words. Sh

rgyman so may years her senior; but he recoiled from the idea of scolding the bishop's wife, in the bishop's presence, on his first visit to the

'I hope you will not leave me to think that you approve of Sabbath t

on, who had completed his adieux on that side of the room. Mr Harding therefore got up also, and putting out his ha

ping from Mr Slope in the best manner each could. Mr Harding was again maltreated; but Dr Grantly swore deeply in the botto

road gravel sweep, from whence a small gate opens out into the street, very near the covered gateway leading to the close. The road f

panion's face that a tornado was to be expected, nor was he himself inclined to stop it. Though, by nature far less irritable than t