hard cash-第178章
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d been devouring him at third and fourth hand； Frank had two interviews with the Chancellor himself： a learned； grave； upright gentleman； who questioned him kindly and shrewdly and finding him to be a young man of small intellectual grasp； but not the least idiotic or mad； superseded his commission in defiance of his greedy kinsfolk； and handed him his property。 He married Edith Archbold； and she made him as happy as the day was long。 For the first year or two she treated his adoration with good…natured contempt； but； as years rolled on； she became more loving； and he more knowing！ They are now a happy pair； and all between her first honest love； and this her last； seems to her a dream。
So you see a female rake can be ameliorated by a loving husband； as well as a male rake by a loving wife。
It sounds absurd； and will offend my female readers and their unchristian prejudices； but that black…browed jade is like to be one of the best wives and mothers in England。 But then； mind you； she had alwaysBrains。
I do not exactly know why Horace puts together those two epithets； 〃just〃 and 〃tenacious of purpose。〃 Perhaps he had observed they go together。 To be honest； I am not clear whether this is so on the grand scale。 But certainly the two features did meet remarkably in one of my charactersAlfred Hardie。 The day the bank broke； he had said he would pay the creditors。 He now set to work to do it by degrees。 He got the names and addresses； lived on half his income； and paid half away to those creditors： he even asked Julia to try and find Maxley out； and do something for him。 〃But don't let me see him；〃 said he； trembling； 〃for I could not answer for myself。〃 Maxley was known to be cranky； but harmless； and wandering about the country。 Julia wrote to Mr。 Green about him：
Alfred's was an uphill game； but fortune favours the obstinate as well as the bold。 One day； about four years after his marriage with Julia； being in London； he found a stately figure at the corner of a street； holding out his hand for alms； too dignified to ask it except by that mute and touching gesture。
It was his father。
Then； as truly noble natures must forgive the fallen； Alfred was touched to the heart； and thought of the days of his childhood； before temptation came。 〃Father；〃 said he； 〃have you come to this？〃
〃Yes； Alfred；〃 said Richard composedly： 〃I undertook too many speculations； especially in land and houses； they seemed profitable at first； too； but now I am entirely hampered： if you would but relieve me of them； and give me a guinea a week to live on； I would forgive all your disobedient conduct。〃
Alfred bit his lip； had a wrestle with the old Adam； and said gently； 〃Come home with me； sir。〃
He took him to Barkington； bag and baggage； and his good Christian wife received the old man with delight； she had prayed day and night for this reconciliation。 Finding his son so warm； and being himself as cool； Richard Hardie entrapped Alfred into an agreement； to board and lodge him； and pay him a guinea every Saturday at noon； in return for this Alfred was to manage Richard's property； and pocket the profits； if any。 Alfred assented： the old man chuckled at his son's simplicity； and made him sign a formal agreement to that effect。
This done he used so sit brooding and miserable nearly all the week till guinea time came； and then brightened up a bit。 One day Alfred sent for an accountant to look after his father's papers； and see if matters were really desperate。
The accountant was not long at work； and told Alfred the accounts were perfectly clear； and kept in the most； admirable order。 〃The cash balance is L。 60；000；〃 said he； 〃and many of the rents are due。 It is an agent you want； not an accountant。〃
〃What are you talking about？ A balance of L。 60；000？〃 Alfred was stupefied。
The accountant； however； soon convinced him by the figures it was so。
Alfred went with the good news to his father。
His father went into a passion。 〃That is one side of the account； ye fool；〃 said he； 〃think of the rates； the taxes； the outgoings。 You want to go from your bargain； and turn me on the world； but I have got you in black and white； tight； tight。〃
Then Alfred saw the truth； and wondered at his past obtuseness。
His father was a monomaniac。
He consulted Sampson； and Sampson told him to increase the old man's comforts on the sly； and pay him his guinea a week。 〃It's all you can do for him。〃
Then Alfred employed an agent； and received a large income from his father's land and houses； and another from his consols。 The old gentleman had purchased westward of Hyde Park Square； and had bought with excellent judgment till his mind gave way。 Alfred never spent a farthing of it on himself： but he took some for his father's creditors。 〃All justice is good；〃 said he； 〃even wild justice。〃 Some of these unhappy creditors he found in the workhouse； the Misses Lunley that survived were there； alas！ He paid them their four thousand pounds； and restored them to society。 The name of Hardie began to rise again from the dust。
Now； while Richard Hardie sat brooding and miserable； expecting utter ruin； and only brightening up on guinea day； Julia had a protege with equally false views but more cheerful ones。 It was an old man with a silver beard； and a machine with which he stamped leather into round pieces of silver； in his opinion。 Nothing could have shaken that notion out of his mind。 Julia confirmed it。 She let it be known that she would always cash five pieces of round leather from Mr。 Matthews' mint per day； and ten on Friday； when working men are poorest。
She contrived this with diabolical； no； angelical cunning； to save the old man from ridicule； and to do his soul much good。 All souls were dear to her。 What was the consequence？ He went about with his mint； and relieved poor people； and gratified his mania at the same time。 His face began to beam with benevolence and innocent self…satisfaction。 On Richard Hardie's all was cordage： and deep gloom sat on his ever…knitted brow。
Of these two men which was the rich man； he who had nothing； yet thought he possessed enough for himself and his neighbours： or he who rolled in wealth； but writhed under imaginary poverty？
One reflection more。 Do not look to see Providence dash the cup of prosperity from every dishonest hand； or you will often be disappointed。 Yet this； if you look closer； you shall often see： such a man holds the glittering cup tight； and nectar to the brim； but into that cup a shadowy hand squeezes some subtle ingredient； which turns that nectar to wormwood。
Richard Hardie died； his end being hastened by fear of poverty coming like an armed man； and his guinea a week going。 Matthews met with an accident； and； being impervious to pain； but subject to death； was laid beside his poor mistress in St。 Anne's churchyard。 Julia buried him； and had a headstone put to his grave； and； when this was done； she took her husband to see it。 On that stone was fresh carved the true name of the deceased； James Maxley。
〃I have done what you told me；〃 said Julia； her sweet voice trembling a little。 Even she did not quite know how her husband would take it； or bear it。
〃I _know it；_〃 said Alfred softly。 〃I saw who your Matthews was； but I could not speak of him； even to you。〃 He looked at the grave in silence。
Julia's arms were round his neck in a moment； and her wet cheek consoling his。
〃You have done right； my good Christian wife。 I wish I was like you。 My poor little Jenny！〃
Richard Hardie's papers were found in perfect order； and among them an old will leaving L。 14；000 to Edward Dodd。
On this being announced to Edward； he suggested that it was a fraud： Alfred had been at him for a long time with offers of money； and failing there； and being a fine impetuous fellow； had lost his temper and forged a will； in his； Edward's； favour。
This scandalous defence broke down。 The document was indisputable； and the magic sum was forced down Master Edward's throat； nilly willy。 Thus rose the Hard Cash a second time from the grave。
All this enabled the tenacious Alfred to carry out a deeply…cherished design。 Hardie's late bank had been made into a shop； but it belonged to Mrs。 D
