’Shehasnotbeentoblameatall，’saidDalrymple。
’That’smyaffairandnotyours，’saidMrsVanSiever，verysharply。
’Butasyou’vebeenatallthistrouble，andhavenowchoppeditup，I
don’tmindpayingyouforyourtimeandpaints；onlyIshallbegladtoknowhowmuchitwillcometo？’
’Therewillbenothingtopay，MrsVanSiever。’
’Howlonghashebeenatit，Clara？’
’Mamma，indeedyouhadbetternotsayanythingaboutpayinghim。’
’IshallsaywhateverIplease，miss。Willtenpoundsdoit，sir？’
’Ifyouchoosetobuythepicture，thepricewillbesevenhundredandfifty，’saidDalrymplewithasmile，pointingtothefragments。
’Sevenhundredandfiftypounds？’saidtheoldwoman。
’ButIstronglyadviseyounottomakethepurchase，’saidDalrymple。
’Sevenhundredandfiftypounds！Icertainlyshallnotgiveyousevenhundredandfiftypounds。’
’Icertainlythinkyoucouldinvestyourmoneybetter，MrsVanSiever。
Butifthethingistobesoldatall，thatismyprice。I’vethoughtthattherewassomejusticeinyourdemandthatitshouldbedestroyed——andthereforeIhavedestroyedit。’
MrsVanSieverhadbeenstandingonthesamespoteversinceshehadenteredtheroom，andnowsheturnedroundtoleavetheroom。
’Ifyouhaveanydemandtomake，IbegthatyouwillsenditinyouraccountforworkdonetoMrMusselboro。Heismymanofbusiness。Clara，areyoureadytocomehome？Thecabiswaitingatthedoor——atsixpencethequarterofanhour，ifyouwillbepleasedtoremember。’
’MrsBroughton，’saidClara，thoughtfulofherraiment，andrememberingthatitmightnotbewellthatsheshouldreturnhome，eveninacab，dressedasJael，’ifyouwillallowme，Iwillgointoyourroomforaminuteortwo。’
’Certainly，Clara，’saidMrsBroughton，preparingtoaccompanyher。
’Butbeforeyougo，MrsBroughton，’saidMrsVanSiever，’itmaybeaswellthatIshouldtellyouthatmydaughterisgoingtobecomethewifeofMrMusselboro。Itmaysimplifymattersthatyoushouldknowthis。’
AndMrsVanSiever，asshespoke，lookedhardatConwayDalrymple。
’Mamma！’exclaimedClara。
’Mydear，’saidMrsVanSiever，’youhadbetterchangeyourdressandcomeawaywithme。’
’NottillIhaveprotestedagainstwhatyouhavesaid，mamma。’
’Youhadbetterleaveyourprotestingalone，Icantellyou。’
’MrsBroughton，’saidClara，’Imustbegyoutounderstandthatmammahasnottheslightestrightintheworldtotellyouwhatshejustnowsaidaboutme。NothingonearthwouldinducemetobecomethewifeofMrBroughton’spartner。’
TherewassomethingwhichmadeClaraunwillingeventonamethemanwhomhermotherhadpubliclyproposedasherfuturehusband。
’Heisn’tMrBroughton’spartner，’saidMrsVanSiever。’MrBroughtonhasnotgotapartner。MrMusselboroistheheadofthefirm。Andastoyourmarryinghim，ofcourse，Ican’tmakeyou。’
’No，mamma，youcannot。’
’MrsBroughtonunderstandsthat，nodoubt；——andso，probably，doesMrDalrymple。Icanonlytellthemwhataremyideas。Ifyouchoosetomarrythesweepatthecrossing，Ican’thelpit。OnlyIdon’tseewhatgoodyouwoulddothesweep，whenhewouldhavetosweepforhimselfandyoutoo。Atanyrate，Isupposeyoumeantogohomewithmenow？’ThenMrsBroughtonandClaralefttheroom，andMrsVanSieverwasleftwithConwayDalrymple。’MrDalrymple，’saidMrsVanSiever，’donotdeceiveyourself。WhatItoldyoujustnowwillcertainlycometopass。’
’Itseemstomethatthatmustdependontheyounglady，’saidDalrymple。
’I’lltellyouwhatcertainlywillnotdependontheyounglady，’saidMrsVanSiever，’andthatiswhetherthemanwhomarriesherwillhavemorewithherthantheclothesshestandsupin。Youwillunderstandthatargument，Isuppose？’
’I’mnotquitesurethatIdo，’saidDalrymple。
’Thenyou’dbettertrytounderstandit。Good—morning，sir。I’msorryyou’vehadtoslityourpicture。’Thenshecurtseyedlow，andwalkedoutontothelanding—place。’Clara，’shecried，’I’mwaitingforyou——sixpenceaquarterofanhour——rememberthat。’InaminuteortwoClaracameouttoher，andthenMrsVanSieverandMissVanSievertooktheirdeparture。
’Oh，Conway，whatamItodo？WhatamItodo？’saidMrsDobbsBroughton。Dalrymplestoodperplexedforafewminutes，andcouldnottellherwhatshewastodo。Shewasinsuchapositionthatitwasveryhardtotellherwhatshewastodo。’Doyoubelieve，Conway，thatheisreallyruined？’
’WhatamItosay？HowamItoknow？’
’Iseethatyoubelieveit，’saidthewretchedwoman。
’Icannotbutbelievethatthereissomethingoftruthinwhatthiswomansays。Whyelseshouldshecomeherewithsuchastory？’Thentherewasapause，duringwhichMrsBroughtonwasburyingherfaceonthearmofthesofa。’I’lltellyouwhatI’lldo，’continuedhe。’I’llgointotheCityandmakeinquiry。ItcanhardlybebutwhatIshalllearnthetruththere。’
Thentherewasanotherpause，attheendofwhichMrsBroughtongotupfromthesofa。
’Tellme，’saidshe：——’whatdoyoumeanaboutthatgirl？’
’Youheardmeaskhertobemywife？’
’Idid！Idid！’
’Isitnotwhatyouintended？’
’Donotaskme。Mymindisbewildered。Mybrainisonfire！Oh，Conway！’
’ShallIgointotheCityasIproposed？’saidDalrymple，whofeltthathemightatanyrateimprovethepositionofcircumstancesbyleavingthehouse。
’Yes；——yes；gointotheCity！Goanywhere。Go。Butstay！Oh，Conway！’Therewasasuddenchangeinhervoiceasshespoke。
’Hark——thereheis，assureaslife。’ThenConwaylistened，andheardafootsteponthestairs，astowhichhehadthenbutlittledoubtthatitwasthefootstepofDobbsBroughton。’Oheavens！Heistipsy！’exclaimedMrsBroughton；’andwhatshallwedo？’ThenDalrympletookherhandandpressedit；andlefttheroom，sothathemightmeetthehusbandonthestairs。Intheonemomentthathehadforreflectionhethoughtitwasbetterthatthereshouldbenoconcealment。
CHAPTERLXI
’IT’SDOGGEDASDOESIT’
Inaccordancewiththeresolutiontowhichtheclericalcommissionhadcomeonthefirstdayoftheirsitting，DrTempestwrotethefollowinglettertoMrCrawley：—
’RECTORY，SILVERBRIDGE，April，9，186—
’DEARSIR，’IhavebeengiventounderstandthatyouhavebeeninformedthattheBishopofBarchesterhasappointedacommissionofclergymenofthediocesetomakeinquiryrespectingcertainaccusationswhich，tothegreatregretofusall，havebeenmadeagainstyou，inrespectofachequefortwentypoundswhichwaspassedbyyoutoatradesmanofthetown。TheclergymenappointedtoformthiscommissionareMrOriel，therectorofGreshamsbury，MrRobarts，thevicarofFramley，MrQuiverful，thewardenofHiram’sHospitalatBarchester，andMrThumble，aclergymanestablishedinthatcity，andmyself。WeheldourfirstmeetingonlastMonday，andInowwritetoyouincompliancewitharesolutiontowhichwecame。BeforetakinganyotherstepswethoughtitbesttoaskyoutoattendushereonnextMonday，attwoo’clock，andIbegthatyouwillacceptthisletterasaninvitationtothateffect。
’Weare，ofcourse，awarethatyouareabouttostandyourtrialatthenextassizesfortheoffenceinquestion。IbegyoutounderstandthatIdonotexpressanyopinionastoyourguilt。ButIthinkitrighttopointouttoyouthatintheeventofajuryfindinganadverseverdict，thebishopwillbeplacedingreatdifficultyunlesshewerefortifiedwiththeopinionofacommissionformedfromyourfellowclericallabourersinthediocese。Shouldsuchadverseverdictunfortunatelybegiven，thebishopwouldhardlybejustifiedinallowingaclergymanplacedasyouthenwouldbeplaced，toreturntohiscureaftertheexpirationofsuchpunishmentasthejudgemightaward，withoutafurtherdecisionfromanecclesiasticalcourt。ThisdecisionhecouldonlyobtainbyproceedingagainstyouundertheActinreferencetoclericaloffences，whichempowershimasbishopofthediocesetobringyoubeforetheCourtofArches——unlessyouwouldthinkwelltosubmityourselfentirelytohisjudgment。Youwill，Ithink，understandwhatImean。Thejudgeatassizesmightfindithisdutytoimprisonaclergymanforamonth——regardingtatclergymansimplyashewouldregardanyotherpersonfoundguiltybyajuryandthusmadesubjecttohisjudgment——andmightdothisforanoffencewhichtheecclesiasticaljudgewouldfindhimselfoblig...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：