酷兔英语
    当前位置:
  1. 首页
  2. 文章
  3. 娱乐英语
  4. 原版小说
  5. 正文

The Warden-Part4_Antony Trollope(1815-1882)_English Literature(文学名著)-第2页

0 收藏 0 分享 0 赞

章节正文
文章总共2页


halcyon moments, by prolonging them till they were disagreeable.

Mr Bunce, as may be imagined, was most strongly opposed



to innovation. Not even Dr Grantly had a more holy horror

of those who would interfere in the affairs of the hospital; he



was every inch a churchman, and though he was not very fond

of Dr Grantly personally, that arose from there not being room



in the hospital for two people so much alike as the doctor and

himself, rather than from any dissimilarity in feeling. Mr



Bunce was inclined to think that the warden and himself could

manage the hospital without further assistance; and that,



though the bishop was the constitutionalvisitor, and as such

entitled to special reverence from all connected with John



Hiram's will, John Hiram never intended that his affairs

should be interfered with by an archdeacon.



At the present moment, however, these cares were off his

mind, and he was looking at his warden, as though he thought



the music heavenly, and the musician hardly less so.

As Bold walked silently over the lawn, Mr Harding did not



at first perceive him, and continued to draw his bow slowly

across the plaintive wires; but he soon found from his audience



that some stranger was there, and looking up, began to

welcome his young friend with frank hospitality.



'Pray, Mr Harding--pray don't let me disturb you,' said

Bold; 'you know how fond I am of sacred music.'



'Oh! it's nothing,' said the precentor, shutting up the book

and then opening it again as he saw the delightfully imploring



look of his old friend Bunce. Oh, Bunce, Bunce, Bunce, I fear

that after all thou art but a flatterer. 'Well, I'll just finish it



then; it's a favourite little bit of Bishop's; and then, Mr Bold,

we'll have a stroll and a chat till Eleanor comes in and gives



us tea.' And so Bold sat down on the soft turf to listen, or

rather to think how, after such sweet harmony, he might best



introduce a theme of so much discord, to disturb the peace of

him who was so ready to welcome him kindly.



Bold thought that the performance was soon over, for he

felt that he had a somewhat difficult task, and he almost



regretted the final leave-taking of the last of the old men, slow

as they were in going through their adieux.



Bold's heart was in his mouth, as the precentor made some

ordinary but kind remark as to the friendliness of the visit.



'One evening call,' said he, 'is worth ten in the morning.

It's all formality in the morning; real social talk never begins



till after dinner. That's why I dine early so as to get as much

as I can of it.'



'Quite true, Mr Harding,' said the other; 'but I fear I've

reversed the order of things, and I owe you much apology for



troubling you on business at such an hour; but it is on business

that I have called just now.'



Mr Harding looked blank and annoyed; there was something

in the tone of the young man's voice which told him that



the interview was intended to be disagreeable, and he shrank

back at finding his kindly greeting so repulsed.



'I wish to speak to you about the hospital,' continued Bold.

'Well, well, anything I can tell you I shall be most happy--'



'It's about the accounts.'

'Then, my dear fellow, I can tell you nothing, for I'm as



ignorant as a child. All I know is, that they pay me #800 a year.

Go to Chadwick, he knows all about the accounts; and now tell



me, will poor Mary Jones ever get the use of her limb again?'

'Well, I think she will, if she's careful; but, Mr Harding,



I hope you won't object to discuss with me what I have to say

about the hospital.'



Mr Harding gave a deep, long-drawn sigh. He did object,

very strongly object, to discuss any such subject with John



Bold; but he had not the business tact of Mr Chadwick, and

did not know how to relieve himself from the coming evil; he



sighed sadly, but made no answer.

'I have the greatest regard for you, Mr Harding,' continued



Bold; 'the truest respect, the most sincere--'

'Thank ye, thank ye, Mr Bold,' interjaculated the precentor



somewhat impatiently; 'I'm much obliged, but never mind

that; I'm as likely to be in the wrong as another man--quite



as likely.'




文章总共2页
文章标签:名著  

章节正文
Copyright © 2023 Qeto All rights reserved.
商务合作 | 联系我们 | 关于我们 | 版权声明 | 隐私条款 | 如果智培

京ICP备05059198号-1 京公网安备 11011202003401号