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Chapter 6 War

Word Count: 4672    |    Released on: 11/11/2017

one hand, passed the other somewhat violently over his now grizzled locks; smoke issued forth from the uplifted beaver as it were a clo

of all collective authority and rule, and therefore Dr. Grantly would stand up for the full power of convocation and the renewal of all its ancient privileges.It was true that he could not himself intone the service, but he could procure the co-operation of any number of gentlemanlike curates well trained in the mystery of doing so. He-would not willingly alter his own fashion of dress, but he could people Barchester with young clergymen dressed in the longest frocks and in the highest-breasted silk waistcoats. He certainly was not prepared to cross himself, or to advocate the real presence, but without going this length there were various observances, by adopting which he could plainly show his antipathy to such men as Dr. Proudie and Mr. Slope.All these things passed through his mind as he paced up and down the close with Mr. Harding. War, war, internecine war was in his heart. He felt that, as regarded himself and Mr. Slope, one of the two must be annihilated as far as the city of Barchester was concerned, and he did not intend to give way until there was not left to him an inch of ground on which he could stand. He still flattered himself that he could make Barchester too hot to hold Mr. Slope, and he had no weakness of spirit to prevent his bringing about such a consummation if it were in his power.“I suppose Susan must call at the palace,” said Mr. Harding.“Yes, she shall call there, but it shall be once and once only. I dare say ‘the horses’ won’t find it convenient to come out to Plumstead very soon, and when that once is done the matter may drop.”“I don’t suppose Eleanor need call. I don’t think Eleanor would get on at all well with Mrs. Proudie.”“Not the least necessity in life,” replied the archdeacon, not without the reflexion that a ceremony which was necessary for his wife might not be at all binding on the widow of John Bold. “Not the slightest reason on earth why she should do so, if she doesn’t like it. For myself, I don’t think that any decent young woman should be subjected to the nuisance of being in the same room with that man.”And so the two clergymen parted, Mr. Harding going to his daughter’s house and the archdeacon seeking the seclusion of his brougham.The new inhabitants of the palace did not express any higher opinion of their visitors than their visitors had expressed of them. Though they did not use quite such strong language as Dr. Grantly had done, they felt as much personal aversion and were quite as well aware as he was that there would be a battle to be fought, that there was hardly room for Proudieism in Barchester as long as Grantlyism was predominant.Indeed, it may be doubted whether Mr. Slope had not already within his breast a better prepared system of strategy, a more accurately defined line of hostile conduct than the archdeacon. Dr. Grantly was going to fight because he found that he hated the man. Mr. Slope had predetermined to hate the man because he foresaw the necessity of fighting him. When he had first reviewed the carte du pays previous to his entry into Barchester, the idea had occurred to him of conciliating the archdeacon, of cajoling and flattering him into submission, and of obtaining the upper hand by cunning instead of courage. A little inquiry, however, sufficed to convince him that all his cunning would fail to win over such a man as Dr. Grantly to such a mode of action as that to be adopted by Mr. Slope, and then he determined to fall back upon his courage. He at once saw that open battle against Dr. Grantly and all Dr. Grantly’s adherents was a necessity of his position, and he deliberately planned the most expedient methods of giving offence.Soon after his arrival the bishop had intimated to the dean that, with the permission of the canon then in residence, his chaplain would preach in the cathedral on the next Sunday. The canon in residence happened to be the Hon. and Rev. Dr. Vesey Stanhope, who at this time was very busy on the shores of the Lake of Como, adding to that unique collection of butterflies for which he is so famous. Or rather, he would have been in residence but for the butterflies and other such summer-day considerations; and the vicar-choral, who was to take his place in the pulpit, by no means objected to having his work done for him by Mr. Slope.Mr. Slope accordingly preached, and if a preacher can have satisfaction in being listened to, Mr. Slope ought to have been gratified. I have reason to think that he was gratified and that he left the pulpit with the conviction that he had done what he intended to do when he entered it.On this occasion the new bishop took his seat for the first time in the throne alloted to him. New scarlet cushions and drapery had been prepared, with new gilt binding and new fringe. The old carved oak-wood of the throne, ascending with its numerous grotesque pinnacles half-way up to the roof of the choir, had been washed, and dusted, and rubbed, and it all looked very smart. Ah! how often sitting there, in happy early days, on those lowly benches in front of the altar, have I whiled away the tedium of a sermon in considering how best I might thread my way up amidst those wooden towers and climb safely to the topmost pinnacle!All Barchester went to hear Mr. Slope; either for that or to gaze at the new bishop. All the best bonnets of the city were there, and moreover all the best glossy clerical hats. Not a stall but had its fitting occupant, for though some of the prebendaries might be away in Italy or elsewhere, their places were filled by brethren who flocked into Barchester on the occasion. The dean was there, a heavy old man, now too old, indeed, to attend frequently in his place, and so was the archdeacon. So also were the chancellor, the treasurer, the precentor, sundry canons and minor canons, and every lay member of the choir, prepared to sing the new bishop in with due melody and harmonious expression of sacred welcome.The service was certainly very well performed. Such was always the case at Barchester, as the musical education of the choir had been good, and the voices had been carefully selected. The psalms were beautifully chanted; the Te Deum was magnificently sung; and the litany was given in a manner which is still to be found at Barchester but, if my taste be correct, is to be found nowhere else. The litany in Barchester cathedral has long been the special task to which Mr. Harding’s skill and voice have been devoted. Crowded audiences generally make good performers, and though Mr. Harding was not aware of any extraordinary exertion on his part, yet probably he rather exceeded his usual mark. Others were doing their best, and it was natural that he should emulate his brethren. So the service went on, and at last Mr. Slope got into the pulpit.He chose for his text a verse from the precepts addressed by St. Paul to Timothy, as to the conduct necessary in a spiritual pastor and guide, and it was immediately evident that the good clergy of Barchester were to have a lesson.“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” These were the words of his text, and with such a subject in such a place, it may be supposed that such a preacher would be listened to by such an audience. He was listened to with breathless attention and not without considerable surprise. Whatever opinion of Mr. Slope might have been held in Barchester before he commenced his discourse, none of his hearers, when it was over, could mistake him either for a fool or a coward.It would not be becoming were I to travesty a sermon, or even to repeat the language of it in the pages of a novel. In endeavouring to depict the characters of the persons of whom I write, I am to a certain extent forced to speak of sacred things. I trust, however, that I shall not be thought to scoff at the pulpit, though some may imagine that I do not feel all the reverence that is due to the cloth. I may question the infallibility of the teachers, but I hope that I shall not therefore be accused of doubt as to the thing to be taught.Mr. Slope, in commencing his sermon, showed no slight tact in his ambiguous manner of hinting that, humble as he was himself, he stood there as the mouth-piece of the illustrious divine who sat opposite to him; and having premised so much, he gave forth a very accurate definition of the conduct which that prelate would re

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Contents

Chapter 1 Who Will Be the New Bishop Chapter 2 Hiram's Hospital According to Act of Parliament Chapter 3 Dr. and Mrs. Proudie Chapter 4 The Bishop's Chaplain Chapter 5 A Morning Visit Chapter 6 War Chapter 7 The Dean and Chapter Take Counsel Chapter 8 The Ex-warden Rejoices in His Probable Return to th Chapter 9 The Stanhope Family Chapter 10 Mrs. Proudie's Reception - Commenced Chapter 11 Mrs. Proudie's Reception - Concluded
Chapter 12 Slope Versus Harding
Chapter 13 The Rubbish Cart
Chapter 14 The New Champion
Chapter 15 The Widow's Suitors
Chapter 16 Baby Worship
Chapter 17 Who Shall be Cock of the Walk
Chapter 18 The Widow's Persecution
Chapter 19 Barchester by Moonlight
Chapter 20 Mr. Arabin
Chapter 21 St. Ewold's Parsonage
Chapter 22 The Thornes of Ullathorne
Chapter 23 Mr. Arabin Reads Himself in at St. Ewold's
Chapter 24 Mr. Slope Manages Matters very Cleverly at Pudding
Chapter 25 Fourteen Arguments in Favour of Mr. Quiverful's
Chapter 26 Mrs. Proudie Wrestles and Gets a Fall
Chapter 27 A Love Scene
Chapter 28 Mrs. Bold is Entertained by Dr. and Mrs. Grantly a
Chapter 29 A Serious Interview
Chapter 30 Another Love Scene
Chapter 31 The Bishop's Library
Chapter 32 A New Candidate for Ecclesiastical Honours
Chapter 33 Mrs. Proudie Victrix
Chapter 34 Oxford - The Master and Tutor of Lazarus
Chapter 35 Miss Thorne's Fête Champêtre
Chapter 36 Ullathorne Sports - Act I
Chapter 37 The Signora Neroni, the Countess De Courcy, and Mr
Chapter 38 The Bishop Breakfasts, and the Dean Dies
Chapter 39 The Lookalofts and the Greenacres
Chapter 40 Ullathorne Sports - Act II
Chapter 41 Mrs. Bold Confides Her Sorrow to Her Friend Miss S
Chapter 42 Ullathorne Sports - Act III
Chapter 43 Mr. and Mrs. Quiverful Are Made Happy Mr. Slope is
Chapter 44 Mrs. Bold at Home
Chapter 45 The Stanhopes at Home
Chapter 49 Mr. Slope's Parting Interview with the Signora
Chapter 42 The Dean Elect
Chapter 43 Miss Thorne Shows Her Talent at Match-Making
Chapter 49 The Beelzebub Colt
Chapter 50 The Archdeacon is Satisfied with the State of Affa
Chapter 51 Mr. Slope Bids Farewell to the Palace and Its Inha
Chapter 52 The New Dean Takes Possession of the Deanery, and
Chapter 53 Conclusion
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