the man between(夹在中间的人)-第30章
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our dance。 The young like such things。〃
〃To be sure they do。 John Thomas wouldn't give me a moment's rest
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till I came here。 I didn't want to come。 I thought John Thomas should
come himself; and I told him plainly that I was ready to do anyone a favor
if I could; but if he wanted me to come because he was afraid to come
himself; I was just as ready to shirk the journey。 And he laughed and said
he was not feared for any woman living; but he did want to make his first
appearance in his best clothesand that was natural; wasn't it? So I came
for the two lads。〃 Then she looked at the girls with a smile; and said in a
comfortable kind of way: 〃You'll find them very nice lads; indeed。 I can
speak for John Thomas; I have taken his measure long since; and as far as
I can judge his friend; Nature went about some full work when she made a
man of him。 He's got a sweet temper; and a strong mind; and a straight
judgment; if I know anything about menwhich Nicholas sometimes
makes me think I don't。 But Nicholas isn't an ordinary man; he's what you
call ‘an exception。'〃 Then shaking her head at Ethel; she continued
reprovingly: 〃You were neither of you in church Sunday。 I know some
young women who went to the parish churchMethodists they are
specially to see your new hats。 There's some talk about them; I can tell you;
and the village milliner is pestered to copy them。 She keeps her eyes open
for you。 You disappointed a lot of people。 You ought to go to church in the
country。 It's the most respectable thing you can do。〃
〃We were both very tired;〃 said Ruth; 〃and the sun was hot; and we
had a good Sabbath at home。 Ethel read the Psalms; Epistle and Gospel for
the day; and the Squire gave us some of the grandest organ music I ever
heard。〃
〃Well; well! Everyone knows the Squire is a grand player。 I don't
suppose there is another to match him in the whole world; and the old
feeling about church…going is getting slack among the young people。 They
serve God now very much at their ease。〃
〃Is not that better than serving Him on compulsion?〃 asked Ruth。
〃I dare say。 I'm no bigot。 I was brought up an Independent; and went to
their chapel until I married Nicholas Rawdon。 My fa… ther was a broad…
thinking man。 He never taught me to locate God in any building; and I'm
sure I don't believe our parish church is His dwelling…place。 If it is; they
ought to mend the roof and put a new carpet down and make things
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cleaner and more respectable。 Well; Squire; you have silver enough to
tempt all the rogues in Yorkshire; and there's a lot of them。 But now I've
seen it; I'll go home with these bits of paper。 I shall be a very important
woman to…night。 Them two lads won't know how to fleech and flatter me
enough。 I'll be waited on hand and foot。 And Nicholas will get a bit of a
set…down。 He was bragging about Miss Ethel bringing his invitation to his
hand and promising to dance with him。 I wouldn't do it if I were Miss
Ethel。 She'll find out; if she does; what it means to dance with a man that
weighs twenty stone; and who has never turned hand nor foot to anything
but money…making for thirty years。〃
She went away with a sweep and a rustle of her shimmering silk skirt;
and left behind her such an atmosphere of hearty good…nature as made the
last rush and crowd of preparations easily ordered and quickly
accomplished。 Before her arrival there had been some doubt as to the
weather。 She brought the shining sun with her; and when he set; he left
them with the promise of a splendid to…morrowa promise amply
redeemed when the next day dawned。 Indeed; the sunshine was so brilliant;
the garden so gay and sweet; the lawn so green and firm; the avenues so
shady and full of wandering songs; that it was resolved to hold the
preliminary reception out of doors。 Ethel and Ruth were to receive on the
lawn; and at the open hall door the Squire would wait to welcome his
guests。
Soon after five o'clock there was a brilliant crowd wandering and
resting in the pleasant spaces; and Ethel; wearing a diaphanously white
robe and carrying a rush basket full of white carnations; was moving
among them distributing the flowers。 She was thus the center of a little
laughing; bantering group when the Nicholas Rawdon party arrived。
Nicholas remained with the Squire; Mrs。 Rawdon and the young men went
toward Ethel。 Mrs。 Rawdon made a very handsome appearance〃an
aristocratic Britannia in white liberty silk and old lace;〃 whispered Ruth;
and Ethel looked up quickly; to meet her merry eyes full of some
unexplained triumph。 In truth; the proud mother was anticipating a great
pleasure; not only in the presentation of her adored son; but also in the
curiosity and astonishment she felt sure would be evoked by his friend。 So;
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with the boldness of one who brings happy tidings; she pressed forward。
Ethel saw her approach; and went to meet her。 Suddenly her steps were
arrested。 An extraordinary thing was going to happen。 The Apollo of her
dreams; the singer of the Holland House pavement; was at Mrs。 Rawdon's
side; was talking to her; was evidently a familiar friend。 She was going to
meet him; to speak to him at last。 She would hear his name in a few
moments; all that she had hoped and believed was coming true。 And the
clear; resonant voice of Lydia Rawdon was like music in her ears as she
said; with an air of triumph she could not hide:
〃Miss Rawdon; I want you to know my son; Mr。 John Thomas Rawdon;
and also John Thomas's cousin; Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon; of the United States。〃
Then Mr。 Tyrrel Rawdon looked into Ethel's face; and in that marvelous
meeting of their eyes; swift as the firing of a gun; their pupils dilated and
flashed with recognition; and the blood rushed crimson over both faces。
She gave the gentlemen flowers; and listened to Mrs。 Rawdon's chatter;
and said in reply she knew not what。 A swift and exquisite excitement had
followed her surprise。 Feelings she could not voice were beating at her lips;
and yet she knew that without her conscious will she had expressed her
astonishment and pleasure。 It was; indeed; doubtful whether any after
speech or explanation would as clearly satisfy both hearts as did that
momentary flash from soul to soul of mutual remembrance and interest。
〃I thought I'd give you a surprise;〃 said Mrs。 Rawdon delightedly。
〃You didn't know the Tyrrel…Rawdons had a branch in America; did you?
We are a bit proud of them; I can tell you that。〃
And; indeed; the motherly lady had some reason。 John Thomas was a
handsome youth of symmetrical bone and flesh and well…developed
muscle。 He had clear; steady; humorous