hard cash-第153章

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tions　offered　ye；　whem　he　levanted　on　his　wedding…day？〃　He　added　satirically；　〃And　couldn't　all　that　logic　keep　in　a　little　reason？〃

This　cynical　speech　struck　Julia　to　the　heart；　she　could　not　bear　it；　and　retired　to　her　own　room。

Then　Dr。　Sampson　saw　his　mistake；　and　said　to　Edward；　with　some　concern；　〃Maircy　on　us；　she　is　not　in　love　with　Him　still；　is　she？　I　thought　that　young　parson　was　the　man　now。〃

Edward　shook　his　head：　but　declined　to　go　much　into　a　topic　so　delicate　as　his　sister's　affections：　and　just　then　an　alarming　letter　was　delivered　from　Mrs。　Dodd。　She　wrote　to　the　effect　that　David；　favoured　by　the　wind；　had　run　into　Portsmouth　harbour　before　their　eyes；　and　had　disappeared；　hidden；　it　was　feared；　by　one　of　those　low　publicans；　who　provide　bad　ships　with　sailors；　receiving　a　commission。　On　this　an　earnest　conversation　between　Sampson　and　Edward。

It　was　interrupted　in　its　turn。

Julia　burst　suddenly　into　the　room；　pale　and　violently　excited；　clasping　her　hands　and　crying；　〃He　is　_there。_　His　voice　is　like　a　child's。　Oh；　Help　me！　He　is　hurt。　He　is　dying。〃



CHAPTER　XLVI

JULIA；　as　I　have　said；　went　to　her　own　room；　wounded　unintentionally　by　a　chance　speech：　she　sat　down　sick　at　heart；　and　presently　opened　her　window　and　looked　out　upon　the　starry　night；　and　wondered　where　Alfred　was　now；　that　Alfred　for　whom　nobody　else　had　a　Human　heart；　it　seemed。　〃Alfred！　my　poor　Alfred！〃　she　sighed；　and　half…expected　to　hear　him　reply。　Then　she　said　to　herself；　〃They　all　called　you　false　but　me；　yet　I　was　right：　and　now　they　all　call　you　mad；　but　not　I：　I　believe　nothing　against　you。　You　are　my　own　Alfred　still。　Where　have　the　wretches　driven　you　to？〃　At　this　her　feelings　carried　her　away；　and　she　cried　aloud　on　him　despairingly；　and　leaned　upon　the　window…sill；　and　the　tears　ran　fast　for　him。

Presently　out　of　the　silence　of　the　night　seemed　to　struggle　a　faint　but　clear　voice：

〃Julia。〃

She　started；　and　a　muffled　scream　came　from　her。　Then　she　listened；　all　trembling。　Again　the　voice　sighed；　faintly　but　clear；　〃Julia！〃

〃Alfred？〃　said　she；　quavering。

〃Yes。　Pray　be　cautious；　give　no　alarm。　The　house　is　watched；　bring　Edward。〃

She　flew　downstairs；　and　electrified　Edward　and　Sampson　with　the　news。　〃Oh；　promise　me　not　to　betray　him！〃　she　cried。

〃Hut！〃　said　the　doctor；　starting　to　his　feet；　〃what　should　we　betray　him　for？　I'll　cure　him　for　you。　I　can　cure　any　lunatic　that　has　lucid　intervals。　Where　is　he？〃

〃Follow　me；〃　gasped　Julia。　〃Stay。　I'll　get　rid　of　the　servants　first。　I'll　not　play　the　fool；　and　betray　him　to　his　enemies。〃　She　sent　Sarah　eastward；　and　Jane　westward；　and　then　led　the　way　through　the　kitchen　door　into　the　yard。

They　all　searched　about；　and　found　nothing。　Then　Julia　begged　them　to　be　silent。　She　whispered；　〃Alfred！〃　And　instantly　a　faint　voice　issued　from　the　top　of　a　waggon　laden　with　hay　and　covered　with　a　tarpaulin。　〃Julia。〃

They　all　stood　staring。

〃Who　are　those　with　you？〃　asked　Alfred　uneasily。

〃Only　friends；　dear！　Edward　and　Dr。　Sampson。〃

〃Ned；　old　fellow；〃　groaned　Alfred；　〃you　pulled　me　out　of　the　fire；　won't　you　help　me　out　of　this？　I　think　my　leg　is　broken。〃

At　this　Julia　wrung　her　hands；　and　Edward　ran　into　the　house　for　his　rope；　and　threw　it　over　the　waggon。　He　told　Julia　and　Sampson　to　hold　on　by　one　end；　and　seizing　the　other；　was　up　on　the　waggon　in　a　moment。　He　felt　about　till　he　came　to　a　protuberance；　and　that　was　Alfred　under　the　tarpaulin；　in　which　he　had　cut　breathing…holes　with　his　penknife。　Edward　sent　Julia　in　for　a　carving…knife；　and　soon　made　an　enormous　slit：　through　this　a　well…known　figure　emerged　into　the　moonlight；　and　seemed　wonderfully　tall　to　have　been　so　hidden。　His　hands　being　uninjured；　he　easily　descended　the　rope；　and　stood　on　one　leg；　holding　it。　Then　Sampson　and　Edward　put　each　an　arm　under　his；　and　helped　him　into　the　house。

After　the　body　the　mind。　That　is　the　rule　throughout　creation。　They　examined；　not　his　reason；　but　his　leg。　Julia　stood　by　with　clasped　hands；　and　a　face　beaming　with　pity　and　anxiety；　that　repaid　his　pain。　Sampson　announced　there　were　no　bones　broken；　but　a　bad　sprain；　and　the　limb　very　red　and　swollen。　〃Now；〃　inquired　he　briskly　of　the　company；　〃what　is　the　practice　in　sprains？　Why；　leeches　and　cold　water。〃

Edward　offered　at　once　to　run　and　get　them。

〃Are　you　mad？〃　was　the　reply。　〃Daun't　I　tell　ye　that　is　the　_practice？_　And　isn't　the　practice　sure　to　be　th'　opposite　of　the　remedy？　So　get　water　as　hot　as　he　can　bear　it；　and　no　leeches。〃

Julia　remonstrated　angrily。　〃Is　this　a　case　for　jesting？〃

〃Deevil　a　jest　in　it；〃　replied　the　doctor。　〃'Well　then；　if　ye　must　know；　th'　opera…dancers　apply　hot　water　to　sprains：　now　what　is　their　interest？　T'　expedite　the　cure：　and　the　faculty　apply　cold　water：　and　what　is　their　interest？　To　procrastinate　the　cure；　and　make　a　long　job　of　it。　So　just　hold　your　toungues；　and　ring　for　hot　water。〃

Julia　did　not　ring；　she　beckoned　Edward；　and　they　flew　out　and　soon　brought　a　foot…pan　of　hot　water。　Edward　them　removed　Alfred's　shoes　and　stockings；　and　Julia　bared　her　lovely　arms；　and　blushed　like　a　rose。

Alfred　divined　her　intention。　〃Dear　Julia；〃　he　said；　〃I　won't　let　you：　that　is　too　high　an　honour。　Sarah　can　do　that。〃

But　Julia's　blood　was　up。　〃Sarah？〃　said　she　contemptuously；　〃she　is　too　heavy　handed：　andhold　your　tongue；　I　don't　take　my　orders　from　you；〃　then　more　humbly　to　the　doctor；　〃I　am　a　district　visitor：　I　nurse　all　manner　of　strangers；　and　he　says　I　must　leave　his　poor　suffering　leg　to　the　servants。〃

〃Unnatural　young　monster；〃　said　the　doctor。　〃G'im　a　good　nip。〃

Julia　followed　this　advice　by　handling　Alfred's　swollen　ankle　with　a　tenderness　so　exquisite；　and　pressing　it　with　the　full　sponge　so　softly；　that　her　divine　touch　soothed　him　as　much　or　more　than　the　water。　After　nursing　him　into　the　skies　a　minute　or　two；　she　looked　up　blushing　in　his　face；　and　said　coaxingly；　〃Are　you　mad；　dear　Alfred？　Don't　be　afraid　to　tell　us　the　truth。　The　madder　you　are；　the　more　you　need　me　to　take　care　of　you；　you　know。〃

Alfred　smiled　at　this　sapient　discourse；　and　said　he　was　not　the　least　mad；　and　hoped　to　take　care　of　_her_　as　soon　as　his　ankle　was　well　enough。　This　closed　that　sweet　mouth　of　hers　exceeding　tight；　and　her　face　was　seen　no　more　for　a　while；　but　hid　by　bending　earnestly　over　her　work；　only　as　her　creamy　poll　turned　pink；　the　colour　of　that　hidden　face　was　not　hard　to　divine。

Then　Edward　asked　Alfred　how　in　the　world　he　had　escaped　and　got　into　that　waggon。　The　thing　was　incredible。　〃Mirawculous；〃　said　Dr。　Sampson　in　assent。

〃No；〃　said　Alfred；　〃it　looks　stranger　to　you　than　it　is。　The　moment　I　found　my　pistol　was　gone；　I　determined　to　run。　I　looked　down　and　saw　a　spout　with　a　great　ornamental　mouth；　almost　big　enough　to　sit　on；　and；　while　I　was　looking　greedily　at　it；　three　horses　came　into　the　yard　drawing　a　load　of　hay。　The　waggoner　was　busy　clearing　the　pavement　with　his　wheel；　and　the　waggon　almost　stopped　a　moment　right　under　me。　There　was　a　lot　of　loose　hay　on　the　top。　I　let　myself　down；　and　hung　by　the　spout　a　moment；　and　then　leaped　on　to　the　loose　hay。　Unfortunately　there　were　the　hard　trusses　beneath　it；　and　so　I　got　my　sprain。　Oh；　I　say；　didn't　it　hurt？　However；　I　crept　under　the　hay　and　hid　myself；　and　saw　Wolf's　men　come　into　the　yard。　By…and…by　a　few　drops　of　rain　fell；　and　some　fellows　chucked　down　a　tarpaulin　from　the　loft；　and　nearly　smothered　me：　so　I　cut　a　few　air…holes　with　my　penknife。　And　there　I　lay；　Heaven　knows　how　long：　it　seemed　two　days。　At　last　I　saw　an　angel　at　a　window　I　called　her　by　the　name　she　bears　on　earth：　to　my　joy　she　answered；　and　here　I　am；　as　happy　as　a　prince　among　you　all；　and　devilish　hungry。〃

〃What　a　muff　I　was　not　to　think　of　that；〃　said　Edward；　and　made　for　the　larder。

〃Dear　doctor；〃　said　Julia；　lifting　a　Madonna…like　face　with　swimming　eyes；　〃I　see　no　change　in　him：　he　is　very　brave；　and　daring；　and　saucy。　But　so　he　always　was。　To　be　sure　he　says　extravagant　things；　and　stares　one　out　of　countenance　with　his　eyes：　well；　and　so　he　always　didever　since　_I_　knew　him。〃

〃Mayn't　I　even　_look_　my　gratitude？〃　whined　Alfred。

〃Yes；　but　you　need　not　stare　it。〃