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 power, and a week must elapse before a cabinet was formed.
Would not vacancies be filled by the outgoing men during this week?
Dr.Grantly 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 yore, somewhat grayer, and the deep lines of age more marked; but, as far as he could judge, life might yet hang there for weeks to come.
Sir Lamda Mewnew and Sir Omicron Pie had thrice been wrong, and might yet be wrong thrice again.

The old bishop 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.