Page:A political romance (IA politicalromance00sterrich).pdf/22

 eyed with envy, stand for the Commissaryship of the Dean and Chapter that went to William Stables. The numerous semi-legal offices that Dr. Topham already held are symbolized, for example, in the "pindar's place," worth forty shillings a year, in the six shillings and eight pence that he receives for oiling and winding up the clock, in the six pounds a year paid him for catching the moles of the parish, and in the thirteen shillings and four pence given to his wife for washing and darning the church linen.

The old garments and worn pulpit decorations being divided up among the contestants, the parish fell back into its usual monotonous drone, and would have droned on forever had not the old parson left his flock for a better living and his place been supplied by a new incumbent. Then was struck up a lively tune. Trim at once hastens to the rectory to sell himself into servitude. He blacks the parson's shoes, greases his boots, runs to the town for eggs, catches his horse and rubs him down; and on one occasion, when the parson cuts his finger in paring an apple, goes half a mile to inquire of an old woman what is good to staunch blood, and returns with a cobweb in his breeches' pocket. All these incidents are a burlesque of Dr. Topham's endless visits to Bishopthorpe immediately after the new Archbishop had settled at the palace.