barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第229章
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leave this subject for another—not so far removed from it as it
might； at first sight； seem to be。 Sir； you still love my niece； and
she is still attached to you。’
‘I have that assurance from her own lips；’ said Edward； ‘and
you know—I am sure you know—that I would not exchange it for
any blessing life could yield me。’
‘You are frank； honourable； and disinterested；’ said Mr
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Haredale； ‘you have forced the conviction that you are so； even on
my once…jaundiced mind； and I believe you。 Wait here till I come
back。’
He left the room as he spoke； but soon returned with his niece。
‘On that first and only time；’ he said； looking from the one to the
other； ‘when we three stood together under her father’s roof； I told
you to quit it； and charged you never to return。’
‘It is the only circumstance arising out of our love；’ observed
Edward； ‘that I have forgotten。’
‘You own a name；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘I had deep reason to
remember。 I was moved and goaded by recollections of personal
wrong and injury； I know； but； even now I cannot charge myself
with having； then； or ever； lost sight of a heartfelt desire for her
true happiness； or with having acted—however much I was
mistaken—with any other impulse than the one pure； single；
earnest wish to be to her； as far as in my inferior nature lay； the
father she had lost。’
‘Dear uncle；’ cried Emma； ‘I have known no parent but you。 I
have loved the memory of others； but I have loved you all my life。
Never was father kinder to his child than you have been to me；
without the interval of one harsh hour； since I can first remember。’
‘You speak too fondly；’ he answered； ‘and yet I cannot wish you
were less partial； for I have a pleasure in hearing those words； and
shall have in calling them to mind when we are far asunder； which
nothing else could give me。 Bear with me for a moment longer；
Edward； for she and I have been together many years； and
although I believe that in resigning her to you I put the seal upon
her future happiness； I find it needs an effort。’
He pressed her tenderly to his bosom； and after a minute’s
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pause； resumed：
‘I have done you wrong； sir； and I ask your forgiveness—in no
common phrase； or show of sorrow； but with earnestness and
sincerity。 In the same spirit； I acknowledge to you both that the
time has been when I connived at treachery and falsehood—which
if I did not perpetrate myself； I still permitted—to rend you two
asunder。’
‘You judge yourself too harshly；’ said Edward。 ‘Let these things
rest。’
‘They rise in judgment against me when I look back； and not
now for the first time；’ he answered。 ‘I cannot part from you
without your full forgiveness； for busy life and I have little left in
common now； and I have regrets enough to carry into solitude；
without addition to the stock。’
‘You bear a blessing from us both；’ said Emma。 ‘Never mingle
thoughts of me—of me who owe you so much love and duty—with
anything but undying affection and gratitude for the past； and
bright hopes for the future。’
‘The future；’ returned her uncle； with a melancholy smile； ‘is a
bright word for you； and its image should be wreathed with
cheerful hopes。 Mine is of another kind； but it will be one of peace；
and free； I trust； from care or passion。 When you quit England I
shall leave it too。 There are cloisters abroad； and now that the two
great objects of my life are set at rest； I know no better home。 You
droop at that； forgetting that I am growing old； and that my course
is nearly run。 Well； we will speak of it again—not once or twice；
but many times； and you shall give me cheerful counsel； Emma。’
‘And you will take it？’ asked his niece。
‘I’ll listen to it；’ he answered； with a kiss； ‘and it will have its
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weight； be certain。 What have I left to say？ You have； of late； been
much together。 It is better and more fitting that the circumstances
attendant on the past； which wrought your separation； and sowed
between you suspicion and distrust； should not be entered on by
me。’
‘Much； much better；’ whispered Emma。
‘I avow my share in them；’ said Mr Haredale； ‘though I held it；
at the time； in detestation。 Let no man turn aside； ever so slightly；
from the broad path of honour； on the plausible pretence that he is
justified by the goodness of his end。 All good ends can he worked
out by good means。 Those that cannot； are bad； and may be
counted so at once； and left alone。’
He looked from her to Edward； and said in a gentler tone：
‘In goods and fortune you are now nearly equal。 I have been her
faithful steward； and to that remnant of a richer property which
my brother left her； I desire to add； in token of my love； a poor
pittance； scarcely worth the mention； for which I have no longer
any need。 I am glad you go abroad。 Let our ill…fated house remain
the ruin it is。 When you return； after a few thriving years； you will
command a better； and a more fortunate one。 We are friends？’
Edward took his extended hand； and grasped it heartily。
‘You are neither slow nor cold in your response；’ said Mr
Haredale； doing the like by him； ‘and when I look upon you now；
and know you； I feel that I would choose you for her husband。 Her
father had a generous nature； and you would have pleased him
well。 I give her to you in his name； and with his blessing。 If the
world and I part in this act； we part on happier terms than we
have lived for many a day。’
He placed her in his arms； and would have left the room； but
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that he was stopped in his passage to the door by a great noise at a
distance； which made them start and pause。
It was a loud shouting； mingled with boisterous acclamations；
that rent the very air。 It drew nearer and nearer every moment；
and approached so rapidly； that； even while they listened； it burst
into a deafening confusion of sounds at the street corner。
‘This must be stopped—quieted；’ said Mr Haredale； hastily。 ‘We
should have foreseen this； and provided against it。 I will go out to
them at once。’
But； before he could reach the door； and before Edward could
catch up his hat and follow him； t
