gentleman's manor

The dance party that night was very lively, and the young boys surrounded Miss Bonnie like stars, but to my surprise, Miss Bonnie, who had always been polite to me, suddenly smiled at me.

Mrs. Hall helped me out of my confusion. She said sourly: "You are really proud of yourself. The Earl of Fairmont came to praise you that day, and then praised Bonnie, saying that you are very suitable. My family Sister-in-law seems to be interested in you."

I panicked and said, "Don't make fun of me. I planned to serve the Holy Lord all my life. If I want to keep my body and mind pure, how can I get married?"

"Really? I don't believe what you guys say." Mrs. Hall said: "Let's just talk about my husband. Before marriage, he was like a dog. Everyone said he was handsome and decent, but after marriage Still raising mistresses outside."

I was embarrassed by the topic she was talking about, and I didn't know how to continue, but Mrs. Hall continued to say to herself: "And you still know one of his mistresses."

"I know?"

"It's the older sister of your illegitimate daughter. It seems to be Elizabeth."

I was taken aback by Mrs. Hall's words, Elizabeth?Didn't Carlos look down on her before?Could it be that they actually have something to do with each other? Carlos just refused her because he didn't like her dowry.

Mrs. Hall looked at me and said: "Don't you believe it, since you inherited the Quint Manor, they are down and out, almost penniless. The lady went to her fiancé and was driven out It was embarrassing to come out. Later she hooked up with my husband, but her vision is really bad, if I had no choice, I would not have chosen to marry him. "

In any case, she is my father's daughter. She has been a noble lady for more than ten years, but she never thought that she would become a mistress in a downturn.As expected, she is worthy of being a daughter brought up by her mistress. The old hen can never become a phoenix, and in the end she still has to follow her mother's old path.

"They have nothing to do with me," I said.

"It doesn't matter. They couldn't afford to eat poorly before, so they didn't have time to bother. Now that my husband is raising them, those two wives slandered you everywhere, saying that you were despicable and shameless. On the streets."

"Let them say it, all my property comes clearly, no one will believe them."

Mrs. Hall nodded and said: "That's true, but they are just a few low-class people who are trying to slander a gentleman. You should go to the sheriff to clean them up, let them know how bad they are, and help me vent my anger. "

During the ball, Lord Hall came to chat with me.

"Nephew, have the affairs of the manor been handled properly recently?" He asked with a smile.

"Yes, TOEFL." I said.

"It's finally consummated now. Your father was too stubborn in the past and had trouble with his son." He said, "I heard that the marriage he told you fell through?"

"Yes, my father insists on letting me get married, but I don't actually plan to get married at all." I said.

"How can you succeed if you don't get married?" Baron Hall shook his head and said: "If that lady fails, you can find another one, and there will be a suitable person to accompany you through life. Young people, listen to me, get married early Go ahead, otherwise when you get old, you will be very lonely with empty space under your knees."

"No, thank you for your kindness. At that time, I couldn't go against my father's wishes, so I had no choice but to agree to get married. In fact, I swore to remain chaste and serve the Lord for the rest of my life, so I couldn't go against the oath." I used God as a shield against my will, In fact, every sentence is a lie.

"What a pity..." Baron Hall sighed, but he stopped trying to persuade me.

When I got home that day, I didn't tell Edward what happened at the ball, but I felt more and more depressed.I knelt before the bed and prayed all night, and then went to church to confess the next day. I recited the "Confession" over and over again, but fear kept coming to my heart.What is the use of reading more "Confessions"?I am doing blasphemous things, violating morality and human ethics, and using God as an excuse to cover up the sins I have committed.

But Edward found out about Mrs. Jenny's mother and daughter going around to tarnish my reputation, and he notified the Public Security Bureau directly without any discussion.Mrs. Jenny, who has lost her identity and property, has no money at all. They are inferior people, and I am a gentleman. The difference in status creates a tilt in power. We can even easily send them to prison with just one sentence.

They ended up not going to jail because Mr. Carlos paid them to get the sheriff out of the way.And they seemed to have finally realized the world of difference between us, so they never dared to say a word outside again.

Originally, they were still a bit dependent, after all, Joseph was still in college, as long as he graduated from college and found a decent job, he would still be a gentleman, and they would become relatives of the gentleman.But who knows that Joseph was dismissed by the university half a month ago, and the reason is to blame them for biting dogs.

It turned out that after Catherine's labor was over, she found that the whole family had moved away.He didn't leave her a penny, and he left her a letter announcing that they had severed their relationship and told her not to go home again.Catherine, who was pregnant and desperate, had to find the father of the child, but what is the use of her now penniless?Joseph would not marry her at all, and Lady Jenny and Elizabeth expected him to marry a lady with a rich dowry after he became a gentleman.

Catherine was kicked out and lived on the street, and when people saw her again, she had become a courtesan in a high-end club, and she didn't even have a child in her belly.It was said that the night she was kicked out, she was caught and raped by some homeless men, and the child in her stomach disappeared like this.

Perhaps because she hated Joseph's relationship, Catherine deliberately hooked up with a dean of Cambridge University. In order to please the young and beautiful courtesan, the old gentleman suggested that the people below made a small mistake and fired Joseph.Now he has nothing to do at home, and he doesn't go out to look for a job. After all, jobs are done by inferior people. It is impossible for the young master who has been pampered since he was a child to look down and go out to look for a job.So the three of them lived in an apartment building in London, relying on Mr. Carlos to support Elizabeth.It is no longer necessary to continue to suppress them, because they are destined to be unable to stand up.

This year's autumn is a bumper harvest season. The wheat fields in Quint Manor have harvested a lot, and the orchards are also full of fruits, and the branches are all weighed down.Because of my work as a pastor, I often ride horses to and from nearby villages. The children in the village are very happy, sitting and rolling and playing in the lush grass that has not yet experienced frost, enjoying the warm sunshine in autumn.I don't know if it was my illusion, but I felt that the pastors in the village respected me even more, and Mr. Laurent, who had broken the engagement, didn't even dare to come to see me.Maybe it's because I have become a manor owner, my status has improved substantially, and I am no longer a middle-class person, so people have changed their eyes on me.

Edward had always said that he would travel with me, but a business matter suddenly fell on him. He said goodbye to me in a hurry, and then set off for Scotland.

But soon after his departure I received my appointment from London Cathedral.

I was elected Bishop of Kent.

This news almost knocked me out, how is this possible?I have no such qualifications at all!

When I came to the London Cathedral to confirm, a bishop there told me that because of my preaching in India and the charity I had done in the past few years, I was exceptionally elected.

"It's all thanks to Pastor Cole and Sister Maria." I explained hastily.

"Pastor Constantine, you know that several big figures recommended you together." The bishop winked at me and said, "So although bishops need to be elected, you are the only candidate. And you are Honorable owner of the manor, the title of bishop is also given to you to match your current status, so don’t refuse. Most importantly, I heard that you have sworn to remain celibate, never marry for life, and dedicate yourself to God. Isn’t this your lifelong pursuit for the clergy? When you succeed as bishop, you can come directly to the capital to serve.”

I don't know who the big figures who elected me as bishop are, but my succession ceremony cannot be violated. This is the title of bishop conferred by the archbishop himself, and there is no room for rejection.

On the day of the succession ceremony, in the middle of the cathedral sanctuary, I knelt at the feet of the archbishop.

Holy praises echoed in the church, countless white candles were lit, held by young priests and stood on both sides of the main hall.

The archbishop wore a white cassock, sprinkled a few drops of water for consecration on me, and prayed loudly: "May the love of the Father, the grace of Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit be with you. May the Father and the Holy Spirit be with you. Christ, give you grace and peace, may God have mercy."

Countless priests wearing black robes on both sides chanted in unison: "Lord, please have mercy."

The archbishop poured holy water on me, and then put a hat on my head. He drew three crosses on his chest, and then bowed his head and said silently: "On behalf of the Holy Lord, I grant you the theocracy to forgive sinners and save the world. The voice of the believers is conveyed in front of the Father, calling sinners and saving the world on behalf of the Father, may the Lord be with you, Amen."

After the coronation ceremony, many young priests came up to me and bowed and kissed my hand.

"Congratulations, Lord Constantine." A young pastor bowed his head and kissed the corner of my clothes, and said to me with a look of longing: "You are a role model for my generation, we must follow your example, devote ourselves to praise, and pursue your lifelong pursuit. Glory to you, my lord."

This incident happened so suddenly that I completed the coronation ceremony and became a bishop when I was almost in a daze, and even changed the style of the cassock I was wearing.Then I got lots and lots of letters of congratulations, people praising me, wishing me well, saying I deserved it.

It was many days before I saw Edward again.

It was early in the morning, and I stood in the middle of the church, praying for the believers who came to pray. Edward stood at the gate of the church. The morning sun shone on him, as if he was standing in a golden light, and even his outline was blurred. up.

He and I looked at each other for a long time, and finally, I looked away first.

He sat down somewhere in the back row of the church and stared at me for a whole day.It wasn't until night fell and the door of the church closed slowly that I walked through the path in the backyard of the church and came to the carriage where he was waiting.

We sat in the dark compartment, only the sound of the wheels 'rumble' in our ears.

I opened my mouth and didn't know where to start, but Edward spoke first: "My father did it."

I looked at him for a while, lowered my eyes: "Really?"

"He's always been like that, and he's absolutely amazing at what he does," he said.

There was a silence among us, and for a long, long time, no one spoke first, until at last Edward broke the silence and asked me, "Don't you have anything to say?"

"What do you want me to say? Thank your father and several adults for electing me to be a bishop?"

"Adam, don't do this, it's all my fault." Edward said anxiously.

"No! It's not your fault! How could it be your fault? It's my fault. I shouldn't have gone to India to find you at all, and I shouldn't have been with you at all."

Edward was stunned, and begged in a low voice: "I'm sorry, it's all my fault, you can get angry at me, just don't say such things, please."

"Edward, we can't be together anymore," I heard myself say.

After my words fell, there was a sudden 'bang', and Edward slammed his fist into the carriage: "Shut up! It doesn't matter if you want to blame me or curse me, but I won't let you say this! How can you say it? !"

"Of course I can say it, and I have to say it!" I said loudly, "I am a bishop now! Bishop, do you understand! This is a lifelong theocracy, and my every move lives under the noses of people, Once our affairs are exposed, I will die hard to atone for my sin. Do you understand!"