hard cash-第94章

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loves　on　the　bed；　Mrs。　Dodd　was　summoned　downstairs。　She　came　down　with　Julia's　white　gloves　in　her　hand；　and　a　needle　and　thread；　the　button　sewed　on　by　trade's　fair　hand　having　flown　at　the　first　strain。　Edward　met　her　on　the　stairs：　〃What　had　we　better　do；　mother？〃　said　he；　_sotto　voce：_　〃there　must　be　some　mistake。　Can　you　remember？　Wasn't　he　to　call　for　me　on　the　way　to　the　church？〃

〃I　really　do　not　know；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃Is　he　at　the　church；　do　you　think？〃

〃No；　no；　either　he　was　to　call　for　me　here；　or　I　for　him。　I'll　go　to　the　church；　though：　it　is　only　a　step。〃

He　ran　off；　and　in　a　little　more　than　five　minutes　came　into　the　drawing…room。

〃No；　he　is　not　there。　I　must　go　to　his　lodgings。　Confound　him；　he　has　got　reading　Aristotle；　I　suppose。〃

This　passed　before　the　whole　party；　Julia　excepted。

Sampson　looked　at　his　watch；　and　said　he　could　conduct　the　ladies　to　the　church　while　Edward　went　for　Alfred。　〃Division　of　labour；〃　said　he　gallantly；　〃and　mine　the　delightful　half。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　demurred　to　the　plan。　She　was　for　waiting　quietly　in　one　place。

〃Well；　but〃　said　Edward；　〃we　may　overdo　that；　here　it　is　a　quarter…past　eleven；　and　you　know　they　can't　be　married　after　twelve。　No；　I　really　think　you　had　better　all　go　with　the　doctor。　I　dare　say　we　shall　be　there　as　soon　as　you　will。〃

This　was　agreed　on　after　some　discussion。　Edward；　however；　to　provide　against　all　contingencies；　begged　Sampson　not　to　wait　for　him　should　Alfred　reach　the　church　by　some　other　road：　〃I'm　only　groomsman；　you　know；〃　said　he。　He　ran　off　at　a　racing　pace。　The　bride　was　then　summoned；　admired；　and　handed　into　one　carriage　with　her　two　bridesmaids；　Miss　Bosanquet　and　Miss　Darton。　Sampson　and　Mrs。　Dodd　went　in　the　other；　and　by　half…past　eleven　they　were　all　safe　in　the　church。

A　good　many　people；　high　and　low；　were　about　the　door　and　in　the　pews；　waiting　to　see　the　beautiful　Miss　Dodd　married　to　the　son　of　a　personage　once　so　popular　as　Mr。　Hardie：　it　had　even　transpired　that　Mr。　Hardie　disapproved　the　match。　They　had　been　waiting　a　long　time；　and　were　beginning　to　wonder　what　was　the　matter；　when；　at　last　the　bride's　party　walked　up　the　aisle　with　a　bright　April　sun　shining　on　them　through　the　broad　old　windows。　The　bride's　rare　beauty；　and　stag…like　carriage　of　her　head；　imperial　in　its　loveliness　and　orange　wreath；　drew　a　hum　of　admiration。

The　party　stood　a　minute　or　two　at　the　east　end　of　the　church；　and　then　the　clergyman　came　out　and　invited　them　into　the　vestry。

Their　reappearance　was　eagerly　expected；　in　silence　at　first；　but　presently　in　loud　and　multitudinous　whispers。

At　this　moment　a　young　lady；　with　almost　perfect　features　and　sylph…like　figure；　modestly　dressed　in　dove…coloured　silk；　but　with　a　new　chip　bonnet　and　white　gloves；　entered　a　pew　near　the　west　door；　and　said　a　little　prayer；　then　proceeded　up　the　aisle；　and　exchanged　a　word　with　the　clerk；　then　into　the　vestry。

〃Cheep！　cheep！　cheep！〃　went　fifty　female　tongues；　and　the　arrival　of　the　bridegroom's　sister　became　public　news。

The　bride　welcomed　her　in　the　vestry　with　a　sweet　guttural　of　surprise　and　delight；　and　they　kissed　one　another　like　little　tigers。

〃Oh；　my　darling　Jane；　how　kind　of　you！　have　I　got　you　back　to　make　my　happiness　complete？〃

Now　none　of　her　own　party　had　thought　it　wise　to　tell　Julia　there　was　any　hitch：　but　Miss　Hardie　blurted　out　naturally　enough；　〃But　where's　Alfred？〃

〃I　don't　know；　dear；〃　said　Julia　innocently。　〃Are　not　he　and　Edward　in　another　part　of　the　church？　I　thought　we　were　waiting　till　twelve　o'clock；　perhaps。　Mamma　dear；　you　know　everything；　I　suppose　this　is　all　right？〃

Then；　looking　round　at　her　friends'　faces；　she　saw　in　a　moment　that　it　was　all　wrong。　Sampson's；　in　particular；　was　burning　with　manly　indignation；　and　even　her　mother's　discomposed；　and　trying　to　smile。

When　the　innocent　saw　this；　she　suspected　her　beloved　was　treating　her　cavalierly；　and　her　poor　little　mouth　began　to　work；　and　she　had　much　ado　not　to　whimper。

Mrs。　Dodd；　to　encourage　her；　told　her　not　to　be　put　out：　it　had　been　arranged　all　along　that　Edward　should　go　for　him：　〃Unfortunately　we　had　an　impression　it　was　the　other　way：　but　now　Edward　is　gone　to　his　lodgings。〃

〃No；　mamma；〃　said　Julia；　〃Alfred　was　to　call　for　Edward；　because　our　house　was　on　the　way。〃

〃Are　you　sure；　my　child？〃　asked　Mrs。　Dodd　very　gravely。

〃Oh　yes；　mamma；〃　said　Julia；　beginning　to　tremble；　〃at　a　quarter　before　eleven：　I　heard　them　settle　it。〃

The　matter　was　terribly　serious　now；　indeed；　it　began　to　look　hopeless。　Weather　overclouded：　rain…drops　falling；　and　hard　upon　twelve　o'clock。

They　all　looked　at　one　another　in　despair。

Suddenly　there　was　a　loud；　long　buzzing　heard　outside；　and　the　house　of　God　turned　into　a　gossiping　fair。　〃Talk　of　money　changers；〃　said　Satan　that　day；　〃give　_me_　the　exchangers　of　small　talk。〃

〃Thank　Heaven　they　are　come；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　But；　having　thus　relieved　her　mind；　she　drew　herself　up　and　prepared　a　freezing　reception　for　the　defaulter。

A　whisper　reached　their　excited　ears：　〃It　is　young　Mr。　Dodd〃　and　next　moment　Edward　came　into　the　vestryalone：　the　sight　of　him　was　enough；　his　brow　wet　with　perspiration；　his　face　black　and　white　with　bitter　wrath。

〃Come　home；　_my_　people；〃　he　said　sternly：　〃there　will　be　no　wedding　here　to…day！〃

The　bridesmaids　cackled　questions　at　him；　he　turned　his　back　on　them。

Mrs。　Dodd　knew　her　son's　face　too　well　to　waste　inquiries。　〃Give　me　my　child！〃　she　cried；　in　such　a　burst　of　mother's　anguish　long　restrained；　that　even　the　insult　to　the　bride　was　forgotten　for　one　moment；　till　she　was　seen　tottering　into　her　mother's　arms　and　cringing　and　trying　to　hide　bodily　in　her：　〃Oh；　throw　a　shawl　over　me；〃　she　moaned；　〃hide　all　this。〃

Well；　they　all　did　what　they　could。　Jane　hung　round　her　neck　and　sobbed；　and　said；　〃I've　a　sister　now；　and　no　brother。〃　The　bridesmaids　cried。　The　young　curate　ran　and　got　the　fly　to　the　vestry…door：　〃Get　into　it；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　will　at　least　escape　the　curious　crowd。〃

〃God　bless　you；　Mr。　Hurd；〃　said　Edward；　half　choked。　He　hurried　the　insulted　bride　and　her　mother　in；　Julia　huddled　and　shrank　into　a　corner　under　Mrs。　Dodd's　shawl：　Mrs。　Dodd　had　all　the　blinds　down　in　a　moment；　and　they　went　home　as　from　a　funeral。

Ay；　and　a　funeral　it　was；　for　the　sweetest　girl　in　England　buried　her　hopes；　her　laugh；　her　May　of　youth；　in　that　church　that　day。

When　she　got　to　Albion　Villa；　she　cast　a　wild　look　all　around　for　fear　she　should　be　seen　in　her　wedding　clothes；　and　darted　moaning　into　the　house。

Sarah　met　her　in　the　hall；　smirking；　and　saying；　〃Wish　you　j〃

The　poor　bride　screamed　fearfully　at　the　mocking　words；　and　cut　the　conventional　phrase　in　two　as　with　a　razor；　then　fled　to　her　own　room　and　tore　off　her　wreath；　her　veil；　her　pearls；　and　had　already　strewed　the　room；　when　Mrs。　Dodd；　with　a　foot　quickened　by　affection；　burst　in　and　caught　her　half　fainting；　and　laid　her　weary　as　old　age；　and　cold　as　a　stone；　upon　her　mother's　bosom；　and　rocked　her　as　in　the　days　of　happy　childhood　never　to　return；　and　bedewed　the　pale　face　with　her　own　tears。

Sampson　took　the　bridesmaids　each　to　her　residence；　on　purpose　to　leave　Edward　free。　He　came　home；　washed　his　face；　and；　sick　at　heart；　but　more　master　of　himself；　knocked　timidly　at　Julia's　door。

〃Come　in；　_my　son；_〃　said　a　broken　voice。

He　crept　in；　and　saw　a　sorry　sight。　The　travelling　dress　and　bonnet　were　waiting　still　on　the　bed；　the　bridal　wreath　and　veil　lay　on　the　floor；　and　so　did　half　the　necklace；　and　the　rest　of　the　pearls　all　about　the　floor；　and　Julia；　with　all　her　hair　loose　and　hanging　below　her　waist；　lay　faintly　quivering　in　her　mother's　arms。

Edward　stood　and　looked；　and　groaned。

Mrs。　Dodd　whispered　to　him　over　Julia：　〃Not　a　tear！　not　a　tear！〃

〃Dead；　or　false？〃　moaned　the　girl：　〃dead；　or　false？　Oh　that　I　could　believe　he　was　false；　no；　no；　he　is　dead；　dead。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　whispered　again　over　her　girl。

〃Tell　her　something：　give　us　tearsthe　world　for　one　tear！〃

〃What　shall　I　say？〃　gasped　Edward。

〃Tell　her　the　truth；　and　trust　to　God；　whose　child　she　is。〃　Edward　knelt　on　the　floor　and　took　her　hand

〃My　poor　little　Ju；〃　he　sa