donal grant-第98章
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enjoyed the idea of stealing a march on society； and seeing the sons
he had left at such a disadvantage behind him； ruffling it； in spite
of absurd law； with the foolish best。 From the grave he would so
have his foot on the neck of his enemy Law！he was one of the many
who can rejoice in even a stolen victory。 Nor would he ever have
been the fool to let the truth fly； except under the reaction of
evil drugs； and the rush of fierce wrath at the threatened ruin of
his cherished scheme。
Arctura thenceforth avoided her cousin as much as she couldonly
remembering that the house was hers； and she must not make him feel
he was not welcome to use it。 They met at meals； and she tried to
behave as if nothing unpleasant had happened and things were as
before he went away。
〃You are very cruel； Arctura；〃 he said one morning he met her in the
terrace avenue。
〃Cruel？〃 returned Arctura coldly； 〃I am not cruel。 I would not
willingly hurt anyone。〃
〃You hurt me much； you give me not a morsel； not a crumb of your
society！〃
〃Percy；〃 said Arctura； 〃if you will be content to be my cousin； we
shall get on well enough； but if you are set on what cannot beonce
for all； believe me； it is of no use。 You care for none of the
things I live for！ I feel as if we belonged to different worlds； so
little have we in common。 You may think me hard； but it is better we
should understand each other。 If you imagine that； because I have
the property； you have a claim on me； be sure I will never
acknowledge it。 I would a thousand times rather you had the property
and I were in my grave！〃
〃I will be anything； do anything； learn anything you please！〃 cried
Forgue； his heart aching with disappointment。
〃I know what such submission is worth！〃 said Arctura。 〃I should be
everything till we were married； and then nothing！ You dissemble；
you hide even from yourself； but you are not hard to read。〃
Perhaps she would not have spoken just so severely； had she not been
that morning unusually annoyed with his behaviour to Donal； and at
the same time specially pleased with the calm； unconsciously
dignified way in which Donal took it； casting it from him as the
rock throws aside the sea…wave： it did not concern him！ The dull
world has got the wrong phrase： it is he who resents an affront who
pockets it！ he who takes no notice； lets it lie in the dirt。
CHAPTER LXVIII。
LARKIE。
It was a lovely day in spring。
〃Please； Mr。 Grant；〃 said Davie； 〃may I have a holiday？〃
Donal looked at him with a little wonder： the boy had never before
made such a request！ But he answered him at once。
〃Yes； certainly； Davie。 But I should like to know what you want it
for。〃
〃Arkie wants very much to have a ride to…day。 She says LarkieI
gave him his name； to rime with Arkieshe says Larkie will forget
her； and she does not wish to go out with Forgue； so she wants me to
go with her on my pony。〃
〃You will take good care of her； Davie？〃
〃I will take care of her； but you need not be anxious about us； Mr。
Grant。 Arkie is a splendid rider； and much pluckier than she used to
be！〃
Donal did； howeverhe could not have said whyfeel a little
anxiety。 He repressed it as unfaithfulness； but it kept returning。
He could not go with themthere was no horse for him； and to go on
foot； would； he feared； spoil their ride。 He was so much afraid also
of presuming on lady Arctura's regard for him； that he would have
shrunk from offering had it been more feasible。 He got a book； and
strolled into the park； not even going to see them off： Forgue might
be about the stable； and make things unpleasant！
Had Forgue been about the stable； he would； I think； have somehow
managed to prevent the ride； for Larkie； though much better； was not
yet cured of his lameness。 Arctura did not know he had been lame； or
that he had therefore been very little exercised； and was now rather
wild； with a pastern…joint far from equal to his spirit。 There was
but a boy about the stable； who either did not understand； or was
afraid to speak： she rode in a danger of which she knew nothing。 The
consequence was that； jumping the merest little ditch in a field
outside the park； they had a fall。 The horse got up and trotted
limping to the stable； his mistress lay where she fell。 Davie； wild
with misery； galloped home。 From the height of the park Donal saw
him tearing along； and knew something was amiss。 He ran； got over
the wall； found the pony's track； and following it； came where
Arctura lay。
There was a little clear water in the ditch： he wet his
handkerchief； and bathed her face。 She came to herself； opened her
eyes with a faint smile； and tried to raise herself； but fell back
helpless； and closed her eyes again。
〃I believe I am hurt！〃 she murmurmed。 〃I think Larkie must have
fallen！〃
Donal would have carried her； but she moaned so； that he gave up the
idea at once。 Davie was gone for help； it would be better to wait！
He pulled off his coat and laid it over her； then kneeling； raised
her head a little from the damp ground upon his arm。 She let him do
as he pleased； but did not open her eyes。
They had not long to wait。 Several came running； among them lord
Forgue。 He fell beside his cousin on his knees； and took her hand in
his。 She neither moved nor spoke。 As instead of doing anything he
merely persisted in claiming her attention； Donal saw it was for him
to give orders。
〃My lady is much hurt；〃 he said： 〃one of you go at once for the
doctor； the others bring a hand…barrowI know there is one about
the place。 Lay the squab of a sofa on it； and make haste。 Let
mistress Brookes know。〃
〃Mind your own business；〃 said Forgue。
〃Do as Mr。 Grant tells you；〃 said lady Arctura； without opening her
eyes。
The men departed running。 Forgue rose from his knees； and walked
slowly to a little distance； where he stood gnawing his lip。
〃My lord；〃 said Donal； 〃please run and fetch a little brandy for her
ladyship。 She has fainted。〃
What could Forgue do but obey！ He started at once； and with
tolerable speed。 Then Arctura opened her eyes； and smiled。
〃Are you suffering much； my lady？〃 asked Donal。
〃A good deal；〃 she answered； 〃but I don't mind it。Thank you for
not leaving me。It is no more than I can bear； only bad when I try
to move。〃
〃They will not be long now；〃 he said。
Again she closed her eyes； and was silent。 Donal watched the sweet
face； which a cloud of suffering would every now and then cross； and
lifted up his heart to the saviour of men。
He saw them coming with the extemporized litter； behind them
mistress Brookes； with Forgue and one of the maids。
When she came up； she addressed herself in silence to Donal。 He told
her he feared her ladyship's spine was hurt； After his direction she
put her hands under her and the maid took her feet； while he；
placing his other arm under her shoulders； and gently rising； raised
her body。 Being all strong and gentle； they managed the moving well；
and laid her slowly on the litter。 Except a moan or two； and a
gathering of the brows； she gave no sign of suffering； nothing to be
called a cry escaped her。
Donal at the head and a groom at the foot； lifted the litter； and
with ordered step； started for the house。 Once or twice she opened
her eyes and looked up at Donal； then； as if satisfied； closed them
again。 Before they reach the house the doctor met them； for they had
to walk slowly。
Forgue came behind in a devilish humour。 He knew that first his ill
usage of Larkie； and then his preventing anything being said about
it； must have been the cause of the accident； but he felt with some
satisfactionfor self simply makes devils of usthat if she had
not refused to go out with him； it would not have happened； he would
not have allowed her to mount Larkie。 〃Served her right！〃 he caught
himself saying once； and was ashamedbut presently said it again。
Self is as full of worms as it can hold； God deliver us from it！
CHAPTER LXIX。
THE SICK…CHAMBER。
She was carried to her room and laid on her bed。 The doctor
requested Mrs。 Brookes and Donal to remain； and dismissed the rest；
then proceeded to examine her。 There were no bones broken； he said；
