Classic Audiobook Collection - Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope ~ Full Audiobook [comedy]

Starting point is 00:00:00 barchester towers by anthony trolop chapter i who will be the new bishop in the latter days of july in the year eighteen fifteen something a most important question was for ten days hourly asked in the cathedral city of barchester and answered every hour in various ways who was to be the new bishop the death of old dr grantly who had for many years filled that chair with meek authority, took place exactly as the Ministry of Lord X was going to give place to that of Lord Y. The illness of the good old man was long and lingering, and it became at last a matter of intense interest to those concerned whether the new appointment should be made by a conservative or a liberal government. It was pretty well understood that the outgoing Premier had made his selection, and that if the question rested with him, the mitre would descend on the head of Archdeacon Grantley, the old Bishop's son.

Starting point is 00:01:06 The Archdeacon had long managed the affairs of the diocese, and for some months previous to the demise of his father, rumour had confidently assigned to him the reversion of his father's honours. Bishop Grantley died as he had lived, peaceably, slowly, without pain, and without excitement. The breath ebbed from him almost imperceptibly, and for a month before his death it was a question whether he were alive or dead.

Starting point is 00:01:36 A trying time was this for the archdeacon, for whom was designed the reversion of his father's sea by those who then had the giving away of Episcopal thrones. I would not be understood to say that the Prime Minister had, in so many words, promised the bishopric to Dr. Grantley. He was too discreet a man for that. There is a proverb with reference to the killing of cat.

Starting point is 00:01:59 and those who know anything either of high or low-government places will be well aware that a promise may be made without positive words, and that an expectant may be put into the highest state of encouragement, though the great man on whose breath he hangs may have done no more than whisper that, Mr. So-and-so is certainly a rising man. Such a whisper had been made, and was known by those who heard it, to signify that the cures of the Diocese of Barchester should not be taken. out of the hands of the Archdeacon. The then Prime Minister was all in all at Oxford, and had lately passed a night at the House of the Master of Lazarus. Now the Master of Lazarus, which is, by the way, in many respects, were most comfortable, as well as the richest college at Oxford, was the Archdeacon's most intimate friend and most trusted counsellor.

Starting point is 00:02:52 On the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit, Dr. Grantley was of course present, and the meeting was very gracious. On the following morning, Dr. Gwynne, the master, told the archdeacon that in his opinion the thing was settled. At this time the bishop was quite on his last legs, but the ministry also were tottering. Dr. Grantley returned from Oxford, happy and elated, to resume his place in the palace,

Starting point is 00:03:19 and to continue to perform for the father the last duties of a son, which, to give him his due, he performed with more tender care than, was to be expected from his usual, somewhat worldly manners. A month since, the physicians had named four weeks as the outside period during which breath could be supported within the body of the dying man. At the end of the month the physicians wondered, and named another fortnight. The old man lived on wine alone, but at the end of the fortnight he still lived,

Starting point is 00:03:50 and the tidings of the fall of the ministry became more frequent. Sir Lambda Muni, and Sir Omicron Pai. the two great London doctors, now came down for the fifth time, and declared, shaking their learned heads, that another week of life was impossible. And as they sat down to lunch in the Episcopal dining-room, whispered to the archdeacon their own private knowledge that the ministry must fall within five days.

Starting point is 00:04:17 The son returned to his father's room, and after administering with his own hands, the sustaining modicum of Madeira, sat down by the bedside to count. his chances. The Ministry were to be out within five days. His father was to be dead within— No, he rejected that view of the subject. The Ministry were to be out, and the diocese might probably be vacant at the same period. There was much doubt as to the names of the men who were to succeed to par, and a week must elapse before a cabinet was formed. Would not vacancies be filled

Starting point is 00:04:52 by the outgoing men during this week? Dr. Grantley had a kind of idea. that such would be the case, but did not know, and then he wondered at his own ignorance on such a question. He tried to keep his mind away from the subject, but he could not. The race was so very close, and the stakes were so very high. He then looked at the dying man's impassive, placid face. There was no sign there of death or disease. It was something thinner than of your, somewhat greyer, and the deep lines of age more marked. But as for the first of the same, far as he could judge. Life might yet hang there for weeks to come. Sir Lambda, Mu knew, and Sir O Micron Pie, had thrice been wrong, and might yet be wrong thrice again. The old bishop

Starting point is 00:05:40 slept during twenty of the twenty-four hours, but during the short periods of his waking moments, he knew both his son and his dear old friend, Mr. Harding, the Archdeacon's father-in-law, and would thank them tenderly for their care and love. Now he lay sleeping-like. He knew, like a baby, resting easily on his back, his mouth just open, and his few grey hairs straggling from beneath his cap. His breath was perfectly noiseless, and his thin one hand which lay above the cover-lid never moved. Nothing could be easier than the old man's passage from this world into the next. But by no means easy were the emotions of him who sat there watching. He knew it must be now or never. He was already over fifty, and there was little chance that his friends who

Starting point is 00:06:30 were now leaving office would soon return to it. No probable British Prime Minister, but he who was now in, he who was so soon to be out, would think of making Bishop of Dr. Grantley. Thus he thought long, and sadly, in deep silence, and then gazed at that still living face, and then, at last, dared to ask himself whether he really longed for his father's death. The effort was a salutary one, and the question was answered in a moment. The proud, wishful, worldly man sank on his knees by the bedside, and taking the bishop's hand within his own, prayed eagerly that his sins might be forgiven him. His face was still buried in the clothes, when the door of the bedroom opened noiselessly,

Starting point is 00:07:17 and Mr. Harding entered, with a velvet step. Mr. Harding's attendance at that bedside had been nearly as constant. as that as the Archdeacon, and his ingress and egress was as much a matter of course as that of his son-in-law. He was standing close beside the Archdeacon before he was perceived, and would also have knelt in prayer had he not feared that his doing so might have caused some sudden start, and have disturbed the dying man. Dr. Grantley, however, instantly perceived him, and rose from his knees. As he did so, Mr. Harding took both his hands and pressed them warmly. There was more fellowship between them at that moment than there had ever been before,

Starting point is 00:08:00 and it so happened that after circumstances greatly preserved the feeling. As they stood there pressing each other's hands, the tears rolled freely down their cheeks. "'God bless you, my dears,' said the bishop, with feeble voice as he woke. "'God bless you! May God bless you both! My dear children!' and so he died there was no loud rattle in the throat no dreadful struggle no palpable signs of death

Classic Audiobook Collection - Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope ~ Full Audiobook [comedy]

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