Anthony Trollope: Barchester Towers

46. CHAPTER XLVI: MR SLOPE'S PARTING INTERVIEW WITH THE SIGNORA (continued)

'Indeed, signora,' said Mr Slope, 'we all know nothing about it. I can assure you I myself--'

'He is to be the new dean--there is no manner of doubt of it, Mr Thorne.'

'Hum,' said Mr Thorne.

'Passing over the heads of old men like my father and Archdeacon Grantly--'

'Oh--oh!' said Mr Slope.

'The archdeacon would not accept it,' said Mr Arabin; whereupon Mr Slope smiled abominably, and said, as plainly as a look could speak, that the grapes were sour.

'Going over all our heads,' continued the signora; 'for, of course, I consider myself one of the chapter.'

'If I am ever dean,' said Mr Slope--'that is, were I ever to become so, I should glory in such a canoness.'

'Oh, Mr Slope, stop; I haven't half done. There is another canoness for you to glory in. Mr Slope is not only to have the deanery, but a wife to put in it.'

Mr Slope again looked disconcerted.

'A wife with a large fortune, too. It never rains but it pours, does it Mr Thorne?'

'No, never,' said Mr Thorne, who did not quite relish talking about Mr Slope and his affairs.

'When will it be, Mr Slope?'

'When will what be?' said he.

'Oh! we know when the affair of the dean will be: a week will settle that. The new hat, I have no doubt, has already been ordered. But when will the marriage come off?'

'Do you mean mine or Mr Arabin's,' said he, striving to be facetious.