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書蟲6級《巴徹斯特教堂尖塔》5. 斯洛普先生發(fā)動襲擊

所屬教程:書蟲6級 巴徹斯特教堂尖塔

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2022年07月24日

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5. Mr Slope on the attack

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.

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.

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.

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.'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Wait! Shall we feed the children by waiting?'

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

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.

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!'

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.'

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

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

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

Certainly you ought not,' said the lady angrily.

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 –'

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?'

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!

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

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.'

Did anyone send you, sir?'

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.'

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.

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.'

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!

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.'

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

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

The bishop scratched his head, but said nothing.

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.

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

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

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.'

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!

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'.

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.

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

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

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

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.

* * *

house-guest n. a friend or relative who is staying in your house for a short time 暫住客人

irritate v. to make someone feel annoyed or impatient 激怒

proposal of marriage a formal suggestion made when you ask someone to marry you 求婚

luxury n. very great comfort and pleasure 奢華,奢侈

resign v. to officially announce that you have decided to leave your job or an organization 辭(職),放棄(職位)

crown n. an old British coin, a quarter of a pound (英國舊幣的)四分之一英鎊硬幣,克朗

bribe v. to pay money to someone to persuade them to help you or to do something dishonest 賄賂

archbishop n. a priest of the highest rank, who is in charge of all the churches in a particular area 大主教

enormous adj. very big in size or in amount (尺寸、數(shù)量)巨大的,龐大的

abandon v. to stop doing something because there are too many problems and it is impossible to continue 放棄,中止

fight out to argue or fight until a disagreement is settled (通過爭論或斗爭)解決(不和)

question v. to have or express doubts about something, especially about a crime 質問,盤問

deliberately adv. done or said in a slow, careful way (做事、說話)不慌不忙、謹慎地

scratch v. to rub your skin with your nails because it feels uncomfortable (用指甲)撓

triumphant adj. showing pleasure and pride because of a victory or a success 得意揚揚的,耀武揚威的

5. 斯洛普先生發(fā)動襲擊

接下來兩個星期,在普拉姆斯特德的日子過得十分愉快。埃莉諾是個討人喜歡的客人,格蘭特利博士夫婦則似乎已經忘記了她對斯洛普先生的孽情。哈丁先生在花園里散步,彈鋼琴,小約翰尼的牙也不疼了。阿拉賓先生在圣埃沃茲履新后,公務纏身,卻也總會抽出時間,每晚都在普拉姆斯特德度過。

接下來,斯坦諾普家也辦了一場晚宴,邀請了博爾德太太和阿拉賓先生。跟之前的那些男人一樣,阿拉賓先生也無法抗拒內羅尼太太的魅力,整晚都守在她的沙發(fā)旁。

“我從沒受過這么大的折磨,跟這樣一個美若天仙、冰雪聰明的人相處?!弊鴪?zhí)事長的馬車回家的時候,他對埃莉諾說。

埃莉諾絕不想聽到這樣的贊美之詞。不過,她要是為此生阿拉賓先生的氣就太不公平,因為她自己也和伯蒂·斯坦諾普度過了十分愉快的一個夜晚,伯蒂對她寸步不離。她并沒有愛上阿拉賓先生,盡管他倆在同一個屋檐下生活了三個星期,還曾多次愉快地長談??墒?,如果哪個女人的朋友或同伴似乎覺得別的女人更有魅力,這個女人自然會氣惱,不一定非要愛上了這個朋友或同伴。“我還以為他不至于那么膚淺呢?!被氐郊液?,她坐下來看自己熟睡的孩子,心里說,“說到底,還是斯坦諾普先生比阿拉賓先生更招人喜歡?!?/p>

阿拉賓先生也沒有愛上誰。伯蒂·斯坦諾普也是,盡管他打算示愛。只不過,埃莉諾頭上戴的寡婦帽子讓他打了退堂鼓,他怕別人認為,一個寡婦這么快就又接受一次求婚。

還好,埃莉諾對阿拉賓先生沒有生太久悶氣,沒多久他倆又成了好朋友。要是他足夠尊重她的頭腦,能像兩人第一次真正交談的時候那樣,跟她討論嚴肅的問題,那他倆的關系還會更進一步。跟她在一起的時候,他總是既溫和又風趣。要是他跟她分享內心最深處的想法和擔憂,那她倒有可能愛上他。

普拉姆斯特德的生活還在繼續(xù)。然而,院長職位的問題仍然沒有定論。執(zhí)事長遵守對哈丁先生的諾言,一直在找機會跟主教私下聊聊這件事,只是還沒能見到他。

幸運的是,還有一位朋友在幫哈丁先生爭取,而且是一位權力比執(zhí)事長還大的朋友——斯洛普先生。這位特遣牧師認為,相關的證據(jù)與日俱增,足以讓他相信寡婦會接受他的求婚。他覺得,如果把院長一職給哈丁先生,他斯洛普就更有可能以女婿的身份得到認可。除此以外,他這么做還有一個更有力的理由。他想娶妻室,也想要滾滾錢財,可他更渴望權力。他已經意識到,自己必須對付普勞蒂太太,否則永遠無法平步青云。院長職位便是一個絕佳的開戰(zhàn)理由。

主教遵從妻命,已經公開宣稱新任院長由奎沃夫先生擔任。于是,斯洛普先生決定立即騎馬前往帕丁戴爾,跟這位代牧當面談談。

總體上說,奎沃夫先生是個好心、善良、兢兢業(yè)業(yè)的人,然而,生活的艱辛侵蝕了他的精神和榮譽感。他正在努力把十四個孩子培養(yǎng)成紳士淑女,可收入幾乎供不上他們吃飯穿衣。他急于填飽一家人的肚子,急于付清賬單,但不像富人那樣,急于得到身邊所有人的尊重。那樣的奢侈他消費不起。近些日子他有一種感覺,自從他表示愿意追隨斯洛普先生之后,相識二十年的兄弟神職人員開始對他冷眼相看。等到傳言說他將擔任新任院長,他還看到了更加冰冷的目光。他痛苦不堪,可是,想到自己可憐的妻兒,想到一家子都能在巴徹斯特的院長住所享受快樂舒坦的日子,他覺得自己別無選擇。

對于神職人員的橫眉冷對,奎沃夫太太毫不在意。她一心所想,就是丈夫和孩子們衣食無憂——對她來說,生活的目的僅此而已。因此,她對自己的丈夫很不滿意,因為丈夫說,除非他確信哈丁先生已拒絕擔任院長,否則不會接受這個職位。幸運的是,如今他們已經得到了百分之百的保證,這個職位會花落他家,而且說這話的不光是斯洛普先生,還有普勞蒂太太。然而,要是這一切都落了空呢?就眼下來說,奎沃夫太太很快樂,可是,一想到家人所處的險境,她就覺得喘不過氣來。

因此,看到了不起的斯洛普先生大駕光臨,她便揣著一顆怦怦亂跳的心匆匆躲進廚房,把兩個男人單獨留在會客廳里。

斯洛普先生經驗如此老到,自然可以輕而易舉地達到目的。他字斟句酌,成功地收回了先前對奎沃夫的承諾。想到職位不保,奎沃夫心中十分恐懼,可他也只能表達自己的失望之情而已。沒過多久,斯洛普先生就騎馬回巴徹斯特了。他相信他現(xiàn)在能夠說服主教,把這個職位授予哈丁先生。

客人一走,前門一關,奎沃夫太太就迫不及待地沖到丈夫身邊。

“唉,親愛的,我們得不到那個職位了?!笨址蛳壬D頭對她說,面容蒼白,表情痛苦。

“什么!”她大喊一聲,聲音里充滿了憤怒和深深的絕望,就像是一個失去孩子的母親?!笆裁?!誰說的?”

他說話時她坐在那里,像死人一樣,一聲不吭?!斑@么說,你已經放棄你的職位了?”她終于開口了。

“我根本沒機會接受這個職位?!彼y過地回答,“我只能等著別的職位,就這么簡單?!?/p>

“等著!我們等著能喂飽孩子們嗎?”

“我們別無他法,親愛的。我失望更多是為了你,并不是為我自己。”

奎沃夫太太看見一滴小小的熱淚涌出丈夫的眼眶,沿著他疲憊的臉龐滾落。她那副柔軟的女人心腸可受不了這個,她跑到他身邊,把他抱在懷里。

“你太軟弱了!”她抽泣道,“不過你得趕緊跑一趟,去見見主教!他還蒙在鼓里呢!普勞蒂太太才是巴徹斯特的主教,斯洛普先生是她的奴才,這不是盡人皆知嗎?不知道是什么原因,那個女人今天把他給派來了——為的就是把她說出口的承諾收回去!”

然而她沒法說服丈夫采取任何行動,她很快就意識到自己必須親自出馬。她心里想:“說到底,萬一普勞蒂太太根本不知道斯洛普先生來這兒的事情呢?”她決定馬上去拜見主教的妻子。

換作平時,去主教的宅邸會讓她萬分緊張——畢竟她不過是一個鄉(xiāng)下代牧的妻子——然而這一次,她因為家里不得已的緣故,斗志昂揚,滿懷自信。她安排一個當?shù)氐霓r夫趕車送她去巴徹斯特,然后再等著送她回來。最后,她把僅存的一枚半克朗硬幣從平時存錢的盒子里拿了出來。她得拿這個買通那些仆人,讓他們放她進去見宅邸的女主人。

她來到宅邸門口,被告知普勞蒂太太不在家。“我一定要見她?!笨址蛱珗詻Q地說,把那塊半克朗硬幣塞到了仆人手里。兩分鐘之后,她已經進了普勞蒂太太的會客廳,開始給太太講自己的傷心事了。

普勞蒂太太心情不錯,因為她剛剛在另一場斗爭中大獲全勝。這之前,主教收到了一封請柬,請他去大主教那里盤桓幾日,而他也很想接受邀約。然而,請柬當中只字未提普勞蒂太太,主教要去的話,就只能一個人去。這就造成了極大的困難。他沒法叫人替他備好行李,然后只帶上一個仆人出發(fā),漫不經心地告訴心愛的太太,自己星期六回來。世上倒真有些男人——多半是壞透了的男人——會這么做,也真有些女人——像奴隸一樣的女人——會容忍他們。不過,普勞蒂博士可不是這樣的男人,普勞蒂太太也不是這樣的女人。

因此,盡管主教跟妻子提了這事,卻只是簡單說了幾句。結了婚的人都容易理解,這樣的斗爭是如何拼出了輸贏。沒結過婚的人只有親身經歷才能理解。以防萬一,普勞蒂太太親眼看著寫好的回信裝進了信封,才離開她的主教大人。

所以,此刻她滿臉堆笑地問候奎沃夫太太。不過,一聽說斯洛普先生的所作所為,她的表情立刻變得既冰冷又嚴厲。她讓奎沃夫太太等著她,然后大步流星地走出了房間。她對丈夫火冒三丈,因為照她的理解,丈夫已經明明白白地答應了她養(yǎng)老院的事,現(xiàn)在卻賴了賬。她打定了主意,要再斗贏他一次。

她連門都沒敲,就快步走進了主教的書房。她看見主教坐在書房里,對面坐著斯洛普先生。普勞蒂博士手上拿著他當著她的面寫給大主教的那封信——信已經拆了封!沒錯,他居然膽大包天地拆開了她親自批準的封印。很顯然,這兩個罪人正在商量請柬的事情,哪怕這事情已經由她拍了板!斯洛普先生站起身來,向她微微鞠了一躬。他和普勞蒂太太四目相對,兩人心里都明白自己面對著一個敵人。

“主教,奎沃夫先生那邊是怎么回事?”她問。

沒容主教回答,斯洛普先生就說:“今天早上,我在帕丁戴爾見到了奎沃夫先生,太太。他已經放棄了養(yǎng)老院院長一職,所以我強烈建議主教大人,任命哈丁先生為院長?!?/p>

“奎沃夫先生什么也沒放棄?!碧恍嫉卣f,“主教大人答應過他的。”

主教一言不發(fā)。他很想在這場斗爭中打敗自己的宿敵,但沒那個勇氣。

“興許我不該插手,”斯洛普先生說,“但是——”

“你確實不該插手?!碧珰鉀_沖地說。

“但是,”斯洛普先生心平氣和地繼續(xù)說,“我覺得我有責任提醒主教,不讓哈丁先生當院長,他將不得民心。當然,哈丁先生為人如此高尚,又是如此出色的一位神職人員,主教肯定愿意予以嘉獎。很明顯,上次跟哈丁先生會面的時候,我對他有誤會——”

“同樣明顯的是,你也誤會了奎沃夫先生?!彼f,已經快要氣炸了,“你去見他們到底有何居心?誰讓你今天早上去帕丁戴爾的?你能回答我嗎,先生?”

屋子里一片死寂。斯洛普先生站著,一只手扶著椅背,一臉嚴肅,還帶著濃重的威脅意味。普勞蒂太太站在桌子的一頭,一邊說話,一邊像男人那樣用力拍桌子。主教坐在扶手椅上,隨著交鋒雙方輪流上陣,一會兒看看妻子,一會兒又看看自己的特遣牧師。要是他倆能決出勝負,一方能徹底摧垮另一方,好讓他這個主教,知道該聽命于誰,那有多舒心??!

“你能回答我嗎,先生?”她重復了一遍,“誰讓你今天早上去見奎沃夫先生的?”

“在我看來,普勞蒂太太,”斯洛普先生用低沉而平靜的語氣說,“無論如何,這樣的問題我都是不答為妙?!?/p>

“是有人派你去的嗎,先生?”

“普勞蒂太太,”斯洛普先生說,“我知道自己欠了您多大的恩情,但是,在這件事情上我只能對主教大人負責。除了他以外,恕我無法接受其他人的質問。他已經對我的行動表示了贊同,如果我說我不需要其他人的批準,請諒解?!?/p>

在普勞蒂太太聽來,這樣的話多么刺耳!顯而易見,主教這是在跟她造反,因此她必須迅速行動,重新控制局面。

“斯洛普先生,”她慢悠悠、不慌不忙地說,“麻煩你,請你離開這個房間。我想跟我的主教大人單獨談談?!?/p>

斯洛普先生也已經意識到,一切都取決于眼前這場談話。如果主教輸了,自己就永遠擺脫不了奴仆的地位。決定勝負的關鍵時刻到了!

“主教大人叫我到這兒來跟他商議教堂里的要事。”他回答,希望普勞蒂博士能給他點支持?!耙以谶@個時候離開,恐怕我做不到?!?/p>

“忘恩負義!”普勞蒂太太喊道,“我的主教大人,請您讓斯洛普先生離開這個房間,可以嗎?”

主教大人撓了撓頭,卻什么也沒說。不過,斯洛普先生本來也沒指望更大的支持。

“我的主教大人,”太太說,“是斯洛普先生離開這個房間呢,還是我走?”這步棋她算是走錯了,因為她不該主動提出撤離戰(zhàn)場這個可能性。面對這樣的一個問題,主教自然開始在心里琢磨,既然這兩個人當中總得有一個走,或許還是自己的太太離開為好。不過,他還是一聲不吭。

普勞蒂太太氣得七竅生煙。她沒有對手那種控制情緒的本事,于是敗下陣來。

“我的主教大人,”她說,“您要不要給我個答復?”

終于,主教打破了他深深的沉默,宣布自己屬于斯洛普的陣營?!翱?,親愛的,”他說,“我跟斯洛普先生還忙得很呢?!?/p>

這一句就夠了,用不著再說什么。他投入了戰(zhàn)斗,頂住了戰(zhàn)場上的熱浪和塵土,直面了敵人,取得了勝利。成功原來可以如此簡單!

斯洛普先生立刻看到了自己的戰(zhàn)果,還得意揚揚地看了普勞蒂太太一眼。他不該這么做。他應該謙遜地看她一眼,還應該明白這場勝利維持不了多久。他既不可能安排主教跟妻子離婚,也不可能成天守在這里,更不可能在主教太太在臥房里想“跟我的主教大人單獨談談”的時候破門而入。

不過,他暫時算是大獲全勝,普勞蒂太太走出了房間?,F(xiàn)在,特遣牧師不再?;ㄇ唬嬖V主教,從今往后,再不能讓他的妻子指手畫腳。稍作遲疑之后,普勞蒂博士表示了同意。跟表現(xiàn)好的孩子一樣,主教立刻得到了獎賞——在特遣牧師的指導下,他重新給大主教寫了一封信,這一次是接受邀約。斯洛普先生比普勞蒂太太還要小心,把回信穩(wěn)妥地裝進了自己的口袋。他還勸服主教去見見哈丁先生,把院長一職委任于他。這之后,斯洛普先生志得意滿地離開了主教的宅邸,親手把回信寄了出去。

普勞蒂太太不情不愿地回到了自己的會客廳,奎沃夫太太還在那里焦急地等她。

“你丈夫真是太軟弱,太愚蠢?!逼談诘偬珔柭曊f,“我發(fā)現(xiàn),這件事情我是幫不了他了?!?/p>

“哦,普勞蒂太太!想想我那十四個孩子吧!”奎沃夫太太對自己只字不提,眼淚卻止不住地往下掉。

普勞蒂太太驚訝地發(fā)現(xiàn),自己的鐵石心腸居然被打動了。于是她承諾,一定會竭力為奎沃夫先生爭取院長一職??址蛱祷亓伺炼〈鳡?,雖說不是滿懷希望,心里卻不無欣慰,因為自己已經盡了力。

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