hard cash-第92章

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　useful；　like　a　grasshopper　skipping　off　a　grave　into　the　green　grass。　He　had　felt　keenly　about　David　while　there　was　anything　to　be　done：　but　now　his　poor　friend　was　in　a　madhouse；　thanks　to　the　lancet：　and　there　was　an　end　of　_him。_　Thinking　about　him　would　do　him　no　good。　The　present　only　is　irresistible；　past　and　future　ills　the　mind　can　bar　out　by　a　resolute　effort。　The　bride　will　very　likely　die　of　her　first　child！　Well　then；　forget　that　just　now。　Her　father　is　in　an　asylum！　Well　then；　don't　remember　him　at　the　wrong　time：　there　sit　female　beauty　and　virtue　ready　to　wed　manly　wit　and　comeliness；　seated　opposite；　see　their　sweet　stolen　glances；　a　few　hours　only　between　them　and　wedded　rapture：　and　I'm　here　to　give　the　lovely　virgin　away：　fill　the　bumper　high！　_dum　vivimus　vivamus。_　In　this　glorious　spirit　he　rattled　on；　and　soon　drew　the　young　people　out；　and　silvery　peals　of　laughter　rang　round　the　genial　board。

This　jarred　on　Mrs。　Dodd。　She　bore　it　in　silence　some　time；　but　with　the　grief　it　revived　and　sharpened　by　contrast；　and　the　polite　effort　to　hide　her　distress；　found　herself　becoming　hysterical：　then　she　made　the　usual　signal　to　Julia；　and　beat　an　early　retreat。　She　left　Julia　in　the　drawing…room；　and　went　and　locked　herself　in　her　own　room。　〃Oh；　how　can　they　be　so　cruel　as　to　laugh　and　giggle　in　my　David's　house！〃　She　wept　sadly；　and　for　the　first　time　felt　herself　quite　lonely　in　the　world：　for　what　companionship　between　the　gay　and　the　sad　hearted？　Poor　thing；　she　lived　to　reproach　herself　even　with　this；　the　nearest　approach　she　ever　made　to　selfishness。

Ere　long　she　crept　into　Julia's　room　and　humbly　busied　herself　packing　her　trunks　for　the　wedding　tour。　The　tears　fell　fast　on　her　white　hands。

She　would　not　have　been　left　alone　a　minute　if　Julia's　mind　had　not　been　occupied　just　then　with　an　affectionate　and　amiable　anxiety：　she　earnestly　desired　to　reconcile　her　Alfred　and　his　sister　before　the　wedding；　and　she　sat　in　the　drawing…room　thinking　whether　it　could　be　done；　and　how。

At　last　she　sat　down　blushing；　and　wrote　a　little　note；　and　rang　the　bell　for　Sarah；　and　sent　it　courageously　into　the　dining…room。

Sarah　very　prudently　listened　at　the　keyhole　before　entering；　for　she　said　to　herself；　〃If　they　are　talking　free；　I　shan't　go　in　till　it's　over。〃

The　persons　so　generously　suspected　were　discussing　a　parchment　Alfred　had　produced；　and　wanted　signed：　〃You　are　our　trustee；　my　boy；〃　said　he　to　Edward：　〃so　just　write　your　name　here；　and　mine　comes　here；　and　the　witness's　there：　the　Doctor　and　Sarah　will　do。　Send　for　a　pen。〃

〃Let's　read　it　first；　please。〃

〃Read　it！　What　for？〃

〃Catch　me　signing　a　paper　without　reading　it；　my　boy。〃

〃What；　can't　you　trust　me？　〃　inquired　Alfred；　hurt。

〃Oh　yes。　And　can't　you　trust　me？〃

〃There's　a　question：　why　I　have　appointed　you　my　Trusty　in　the　Deed；　he；　he。〃

〃Well　then　trust　me　without　my　signing；　and　I'll　trust　you　without　reading。〃

Sampson　laughed　at　this　retort；　and　Alfred　reddened；　he　did　not　want　the　Deed　read。　But　while　he　hesitated；　Sarah　came　in　with　Julia's　note；　asking　him　to　come　to　her　for　a　minute。　This　sweet　summons　made　him　indifferent　to　prosaic　things。　〃Well；　read　away；〃　said　he：　〃one　comfort；　you　will　be　no　wiser。〃

〃What；　is　it　in　Latin？〃　asked　Edward　with　a　wry　face。

〃No　such　luck。　Deeds　used　to　be　in　Latin；　but　Latin　could　not　be　made　obscure　enough。　So　now　Dark　Deeds　are　written　in　an　unknown　tongue　called　'Lawyerish；'　where　the　sense　is　'as　one　grain　of　wheat　in　two　bushels　of　chaff；'　pick　it　out　if　you　can。

〃Whatever　man　has　done　man　may　do；〃　said　Dr。　Sampson　stoutly。　〃You　have　rid　it；　and　yet　understood　it：　so　why　mayn't　we；　ye　monster　o'　conceit？〃

〃Read　it？〃　said　Alfred。　〃I　never　read　it：　would　not　read　it　for　a　great　deal　of　money。　The　moment　I　saw　what　a　senseless　rigmarole　it　was；　I　flung　it　down　and　insisted　on　the　battological　author　furnishing　me　with　an　English　translation。　He　complied：　the　crib　occupies　just　twenty　lines；　the　original　three　folio　pages；　as　you　see。　That　crib；　gentlemen；〃　added　he　severely；　〃is　now　in　my　waistcoat　pocket；　and　you　shall　never　see　it　for　your　impudence。　No；　seat　yourself　by　that　pool　of　parchment　（sedet　eternumque　sedebit；　&c。）　and　fish　for　Lawyer　Crawford's　ideas；　rari　nantes　in　gurgite　vasto。〃　And　with　this　he　flew　up…stairs　on　the　wings　of　love。　Julia　met　him　in　the　middle　of　the　room　all　in　a　flutter：　〃It　is　to　ask　you　a　favour。　I　am　unhappyabout　one　thing。〃

She　then　leaned　one　hand　softly　on　his　shoulder；　and　curving　her　lovely　supple　neck　looked　round　into　his　face　and　watched　it　as　she　preferred　her　petition：　〃It　is　about　Jane　and　you。　I　cannot　bear　to　part　you　two　in　this　way：　only　think　six　days　you　have　not　spoken；　and　I　am　the　cause。〃

〃Not　the　only　cause；　love。〃

〃I　don't　know；　darling。　But　it　is　very　cruel。　I　have　got　my　dear　mother　and　Edward；　you　have　nobodybut　Me。　Alfred；〃　said　she　with　gentle　impetuosity；　〃now　is　your　time；　your　papa　is　away。〃

〃Oh；　is　he？〃　said　Alfred　carelessly。

〃Yes。　Sarah　says　Betty　says　he　is　gone　to　Uncle　Thomas。　So　I　know　you　won't　refuse　me；　my　own　Alfred：　it　is　to　go　to　your　sister　this　minute　and　make　it　up。〃

〃What；　and　leave　you？〃　objected　Alfred　ruefully。

〃No；　no；　you　are　with　the　gentlemen；　you　know：　you　are　not　here；　_in　reality；_　till　tea。　Make　them　an　excuse：　say　the　truth；　say　it　is　Me；　and　come　back　to　me　with　good　news。〃

He　consented　on　these　terms。

Then　she　armed　him　with　advice：　〃You　go　to　make　peace；　it　is　our　last　chance；　now　remember；　you　must　be　very　generous；　very　sweet…tempered。　Guard　against　your　impetuosity。　Do　take　warning　by　me；　see　how　impetuous　I　am。　And　then；　you　know；　after　all；　she　is　only　a　lady；　and　a　great　creature　like　you　ought　not　to　be　ruffled　by　anything　so　small　as　a　lady's　tongue：　the　idea！　And；　dearest；　don't　go　trusting　to　your　logic；　but　_do_　descend　to　the　arts　of　persuasion；　because　they　are　far　more　convincing　somehow：　please　try　them。〃

〃Yes。　Enumerate　them。〃

〃Why；　kissing　and　coaxing；　anddon't　ask　_me。_〃

〃Will　you　bestow　a　specimen　of　those　arts　on　me　if　I　succeed？〃

〃Try　me；〃　said　she：　and　looked　him　earnestly　in　the　face；　but　lowered　her　long　lashes　slowly　and　shyly；　as　she　realised　to　what　her　Impetuosity　was　pledging　itself。

Alfred　got　his　hat　and　ran　to　Musgrove　Cottage。


A　man　stepped　out　of　the　shadow　of　a　hedge　opposite　Albion　Villa；　and　followed　him；　keeping　in　shadow　as　much　as　possible。

The　door　of　Musgrove　Cottage　was　opened　to　him　by　old　Betty　with　a　joyful　start！　〃Mr。　Alfred；　I　_de_clare！　Come　in；　there's　only　me　and　Miss。　Master　is　in　Yorkshire；　and　that　there　crocodile；　Peggy；　she　is　turned　awayfor　sauceand　a　good　riddance　of　bad　rubbish：　Miss　is　in　the　parlour。〃

She　ushered　him　triumphantly　in。　Jane　was　seated　reading：　she　dropped　her　book；　and　ran　and　kissed　him　with　a　cry　of　joy。　So　warm　a　reception　surprised　him　agreeably；　and　simplified　his　task。　He　told　her　he　was　come　to　try　and　make　it　up　with　her　before　the　wedding：　〃We　lose　your　presence；　dear　Jenny；〃　said　he；　〃and　that　is　a　great　grief　to　us；　valuing　you　as　we　do：　don't　refuse　us　your　good　wishes　to…morrow。〃

〃Dearest　Alfred；〃　said　she；　〃can　you　think　it？　I　pray　for　you　day　and　night。　And　I　have　begun　to　blame　myself　for　being　so　sure　you　were　in　the　wrong　and　poor　papa　faultless。　What　you　sent　me　half　in　jest；　I　take　in　earnest　'Judge　not　that　ye　be　not　judged。'〃

〃Why；　Jenny；〃　said　Alfred；　〃how　red　your　eyes　are。〃

At　this　observation　the　young　saint　laid　her　head　on　her　brother's　shoulder　and　had　a　good　cry　like　any　other　girl。　When　she　recovered　a　little　she　told　him；　yes；　she　had　been　very　unhappy：　that　he　had　always　been　a　dear　good　brother　to　her；　and　the　only　one　she　had；　and　that　it　cut　her　to　the　heart　not　to　be　at　his　wedding；　it　seemed　so　unkind。

Alfred　set　her　on　his　kneeshe　had　more　soul　than　bodyand　kissed　her　and　comforted　her：　and；　in　this　happy　revival　of　natural　affection；　his　heart　opened；　he　was　off　his　guard；　and　told　her　all：　gave　her　the　several　proofs　their　father　had　got　the　L。　14；000。　Jane；　arrested　by　the　skill　and　logical　clearness　with　which　he　marshalled　the　proofs；　listened　in　silence；　and　presently　a　keen　shudder　ran