hard cash-第101章

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　and　thoughtful；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　Soon　after；　she　kissed　Mrs。　Archbold；　and　pressed　a　valuable　brooch　upon　her：　and　then　took　leave。　However；　at　the　gate　she　remembered　her　parasol。　Mrs。　Archbold　said　she　would　go　back　for　it。　Mrs。　Dodd　would　not　hear　of　that：　Mrs。　Archbold　insisted；　and　settled　the　question　by　going。　She　was　no　sooner　in　the　house；　than　young　Frank　Beverley　came　running　to　Mrs。　Dodd；　and　put　the　missing　parasol　officiously　into　her　hand。　〃Oh；　thank　you；　sir；〃　said　she；　〃will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　tell　Mrs。　Archbold　I　have　it。〃　And　with　this　they　parted；　and　the　porter　opened　the　gate　to　her；　and　she　got　into　her　hired　cab。　She　leaned　her　head　back；　and；　as　usual　was　lost　in　the　sorrowful　thoughts　of　what　had　been；　and　what　now　was。　Poor　wife；　each　visit　to　Drayton　House　opened　her　wound　afresh。　On　reaching　the　stones；　there　was　a　turnpike　This　roused　her　up；　she　took　out　her　purse　and　paid　it。　As　she　drew　back　to　her　seat；　she　saw　out　of　the　tail　of　her　feminine　eye　the　edge　of　something　white　under　her　parasol。　She　took　up　the　parasol；　and　found　a　written　paper　pinned　on　to　it：　she　detached　this　paper；　and　examined　it　all　over　with　considerable　curiosity。　It　consisted　of　a　long　slip　about　an　inch　and　a　quarter　broad；　rolled　like　tape；　and　tied　with　packthread。　She　could　not　see　the　inside；　of　course；　but　she　read　the　superscription：　it　was　firmly　but　clearly　written；　in　red　ink　apparently。

Of　the　words　I　shall　only　say　at　present　that　they　were　strong　and　simple；　and　that　their　effect　on　the　swift　intelligence　and　tender　heart　of　Mrs。　Dodd　was　overpowering。　They　knocked　at　her　heart；　they　drew　from　her　an　audible　cry　of　pity　more　eloquent　than　a　thousand　speeches：　and　the　next　moment　she　felt　a　little　faint；　for　she　knew　now　the　appeal　was　not　in　red　ink；　but　in　something　very　fit　to　pass　between　the　heart　of　woe　and　the　heart　of　pity。　She　smelt　at　her　salts；　and　soon　recovered　that　weakness：　and　next　her　womanly　bosom　swelled　so　with　the　milk　of　human　kindness　that　her　breath　came　short。　After　a　little　struggle　she　gushed　out　aloud；　〃Ah；　that　I　will；　poor　soul；　this　very　moment。〃

Now；　by　this　time　she　was　close　to　her　own　house。

She　stopped　the　cab　at　her　door；　and　asked　the　driver　if　his　horse　was　fresh　enough　to　carry　her　to　the　Board　of　Lunacy：　〃It　is　at　Whitehall；　sir；〃　said　she。　〃Lord　bless　you；　ma'am；〃　said　the　cabman；　〃Whitehall？　Why；　my　mare　would　take　you　to　Whitechapel　and　back　in　an　hour；　let　alone　Whitehall。〃

Reassured　on　that　point　Mrs。　Dodd　went　in　just　to　give　the　servant　an　order：　but　as　she　stood　in　the　passage；　she　heard　her　children's　voices　and　also　a　friend's；　the　genial；　angry　tones　of　Alexander　Sampson；　M。　D。

She　thought；　〃Oh；　I　_must_　just　show　them　all　the　paper；　before　I　go　with　it；〃　and　so　after　a　little　buzz　about　dinner　and　things　with　Sarah；　mounted　the　stairs；　and　arrived　among　them　singularly　_apropos；_　as　it　happened。


Men　like　Sampson；　who　make　many　foes；　do　also　make　stauncher　friends　than　ever　the　Hare　does；　and　are　faithful　friends　themselves。　The　boisterous　doctor　had　stuck　to　the　Dodds　in　all　their　distresses；　and　if　they　were　ever　short　of　money；　it　certainly　was　not　his　fault：　for　almost　his　first　word；　when　he　found　them　in　a　lodging；　was；　〃Now；　ye'll　be　wanting　a　Chick。　Gimme　pen　and　ink；　and　I'll　just　draw　ye　one；　for　a　hundre。〃　This　being　declined　politely　by　Mrs。　Dodd；　he　expostulated。　〃MaidearMadam；　how　on　airth　can　ye　go　on　in　such　a　place　as　London　without　a　Chick？〃

He　returned　to　the　charge　at　his　next　visit　and　scolded　her　well　for　her　pride。　〃Who　iver　hard　of　refusing　a　Chick？　a　small　inoffensive　chick；　from　an　old　friend　like　me？　Come　now；　behave！　Just　a　wee　chick；　I'll　let　y'　off　for　fifty。〃

〃Give　us　your　company　and　your　friendship；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃we　value　them　above　gold：　we　will　not　rob　your　dear　children；　while　we　have　as　many　fingers　on　our　hands　as　other　people。〃


On　the　present　occasion　Dr。　Sampson；　whose　affectionate　respect　for　the　leading　London　physicians　has　already　displayed　itself；　was　inveighing　specially　against　certain　specialists；　whom；　in　the　rapidity　of　his　lusty　eloquence；　he　called　the　Mad　Ox。　He　favoured　Julia　and　Edward　with　a　full　account　of　the　maniform　enormities　he　had　detected　them　in　during　thirty　years'　practice；　and　so　descended　to　his　present　grievance。　A　lady；　an　old　friend　of　his；　was　being　kept　in　a　certain　asylum　month　after　month　because　she　had　got　money　and　relations；　and　had　once　been　delirious。　〃And　why　was　she　delirious？　because　she　had　a　brain　fever；　she　got　well　in　a　fortnight。〃　This　lady　had　thrown　a　letter　over　the　wall　addressed　to　him；　somebody　had　posted　it：　he　had　asked　the　Commissioners　to　let　him　visit　her；　they　had　declined　for　the　present。　〃Yon　Board　always　sides　with　the　strong　against　the　weak；〃　said　he。　So　now　he　had　bribed　the　gardener；　and　made　a　midnight　assignation　with　the　patient；　and　was　going　to　it　with　six　stout　fellows　to　carry　her　off　by　force。　〃That　is　my　recipe　for　alleged　Insanity；〃　said　he。　〃The　business　will　be　more　like　a　mejaeval　knight　carrying　off　a　namorous　nun　out　of　a　convint；　than　a　good　physician　saving　a　pashint　from　the　Mad　Ox。　However；　Mrs。　Saampson's　in　the　secret；　I　daunt　say　sh'　approves　it；　for　she　doesn't。　She　says；　'Go　quietly　to　the　Board　o'　Commissioners。'　Sis　I；　'My　dear；　Boards　are　a　sort　of　cattle　that　go　too　slow　for　Saampson；　and　no　match　at　all　for　the　Mad　Ox。'〃

At　this　conjuncture；　or　soon　after；　Mrs。　Dodd　came　in　with　her　paper　in　her　hand；　a　little　flurried　for　once；　and　after　a　hasty　curtsey；　said

〃Oh；　Doctor　Sampson；　oh；　my　dears；　what　wickedness　there　is　in　the　world！　I'm　going　to　Whitehall　this　moment；　only　look　at　what　was　pinned　on　my　parasol　at　Drayton　House。〃

The　writing　passed　from　hand　to　hand；　and　left　the　readers　looking　very　gravely　at　one　another。　Julia　was　quite　pale　and　horror…stricken。　All　were　too　deeply　moved；　and　even　shocked；　to　make　any　commonplace　comment；　for　it　looked　and　read　like　a　cry　from　heart　to　hearts。


　　　_〃If　you　are　a　Christian；　if　　　　　　you　are　human；　pity　a　sane　　　　　　man　here　confined　in；　fraud；　　　　　　and　take　this　to　the　Board　of　　　　　　Lunacy　at　Whitehall。　Torn　　　　　　by　treachery　from　her　I　love；　　　　　　my　letters　all　intercepted；　pens　　　　　　and　paper　kept　from　me；　I　　　　　　write　this　with　a　toothpick　　　　　　and　my　blood　on　a　rim　of　　　　　　'The　Times。'　Oh　God；　direct　　　　　　it　to　some　one　who　has　suf…　　　　　　fered；　and　can　feel　for　an…　　　　　　other's　agony。_〃


Dr。　Sampson　was　the　first　to　speak。　〃There；〃　said　he；　under　his　breath：　〃didn't　I　tell　you？　This　man　is　sane。　There's　sanity　in　every　line。〃

〃Well；　but；〃　said　Edward；　〃do　you　mean　to　say　that　in　the　present　day〃

〃Maidearrsirr。　Mankind　niver　changes。　Whativer　the　muscles　of　man　_can_　do　in　the　light；　the　mind　and　conscience　of　man　will　consent　to　do　in　the　dark。〃

Julia　said　never　a　word。

Mrs。　Dodd；　too；　was　for　action　not　for　talk。　She　bade　them　all　a　hasty　adieu；　and　went　on　her　good　work。

Ere　she　got　to　the　street　door；　she　heard　a　swift　rustle　behind　her；　and　it　was　Julia　flying　down　to　her；　all　glowing　and　sparkling　with　her　old　impetuosity；　that　had　seemed　dead　for　ever。　〃No；　no；〃　she　cried；　panting　with　generous　emotion；　〃it　is　to　me　it　was　sent。　_I_　am　torn　from　him　I　love；　and　by　some　treachery　I　dare　say：　and　_I_　have　sufferedoh　you　shall　never　know　what　I　have　suffered。　Give　it　_me；_　oh　pray；　pray；　pray　give　it　_me。　I'll_　take　it　to　Whitehall〃



CHAPTER　XLIII

IF　we　could　always　know　at　the　time　what　we　are　doing。

Two　ladies　carried　a　paper　to　Whitehall　out　of　charity　to　a　stranger。

Therein　the　elder　was　a　benefactress　to　a　man　she　had　never　spoken　of　but　as　〃the　Wretch；〃　the　younger　held　her　truant　bridegroom's　heart；　I　may　say；　in　her　hand　all　the　road　and　was　his　protectress。　Neither　recognised　the　hand…writing；　for　no　man　can　write　his　own　hand　with　a　toothpick。

They　reached　Whitehall；　and　were　conducted　upstairs　to　a　gentleman　of　pleasant　aspect　but　powerful　brow；　seated　in　a　wilderness　of　letters。

He　waved　his　hand；　and　a　clerk　set　them　chairs：　he　soon　after　laid　down　his　pen；　and　leaned　gravely　forward　to　hear　their　business。　They　saw　they　must　waste　no　time；　Julia　looked　at　her　mother；　rose；　and　took　Alfred's　missive　to　his　desk；　and　handed　it　him　with　one　of　her　eloquent　looks；　grave　and　pitiful。　He　seemed　struck　by　her　beauty　and　her　manner。

〃It　was　pinned　on　my　parasol；　sir；　by　a　poor　prisoner　at　Drayton　House；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。

〃Oh；　indeed；〃　said　the　gentleman；　and　began　to　read　the　superscription　with　a　cold　and　wary　look。　But　thawed　visibly　as　he　read。　He　opened　the　missive　and　ran　his　eye　over　it。　The　perusal　moved　him　not　a　little：　a　generous　flush　mounted　to　his　brow；　he　rang　the　bell　sharply。　A　clerk　answered　it；　the　gentleman　wrote　on　a　slip　of　paper；　and　said　earnestly；　〃Bring　me　every　letter　that　is　signed　with　that　name；　and　all　our　correspondence　about　him。〃

He　then　turned　to　Mrs。　Dodd；　and　put　to　her　a　few　questions；　which　drew　out　the　main　facts　I　have　just　related。　The　papers　were　now　brought　in。　〃Excuse　me　a　moment；〃　said　he；　and　ran　over　them。　〃I　believe　the　man　is　sane；〃　said　he；　〃and　that　you　will　have　enabled　us　to　baffle　a　conspiracy；　a　heartless　conspiracy。〃

〃We　do　hope　he　will　be　set　free；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　piteously。

He　shall；　madam；　if　it　is　as　I　suspect。　I　will　stay　here　all　night　but　I　will　master　this　case；　and　lay　it　before　the　Board　myself　without　delay。〃

Julia　looked　at　her　mother；　and　then　asked　if　it　would　be　wrong　to　inquire　〃the　poor　gentleman's　name？〃

〃Humph！〃　said　the　official；　〃I　ought　not　to　reveal　that　without　his　consent。　But　stay！　he　will　owe　you　much；　and　it　really　seems　a　pity　he　should　not　have　an　opportunity　of　expressing　his　gratitude。　Perhaps　you　will　favour　me　with　your　address：　and　trust　to　my　discretion。　Of　course；　if　he　does　not　turn　out　as　sane　as　he　seems；　I　shall　never　let　him　know　it。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　then　gave　her　address；　and　she　and　Julia　went　home　with　a　glow　about　the　heart　selfish　people；　thank　Heaven；　never　know。

Unconsciously　these　two　had　dealt　their　enemy　and　Alfred's　a　heavy　blow；　had　set　the　train　to　a　mine。　Their　friend　at　the　office　was　a　man　of　another　stamp　than　Alfred　had　fallen　in　with。


Meantime　Alfred　was　subjected　to　hourly　mortifications　and　irritations。　He　guessed　the　motive；　and　tried　to　baffle　it　by　calm　self…possession：　but　this　was　far　more　difficult　than　heretofore；　because　his　temper　was　now　exacerbated　and　his　fibre　irritated　by　broken　sleep　（of　this　poor　David　was　a　great　cause）；　and　his　heart　inflamed　and　poisoned　by　that　cruel；　that　corroding　passion　jealousy。

To　think；　that　while　he　was　in　prison；　a　rival　was　ever　at　his　Julia's　ear；　making　more　and　more　progress　in　her　heart！　This　corroder　was　his　bitter　companion　day　and　night；　and　perhaps　of　all　the　maddeners　human　cunning　could　have　invented　this　was　the　worst。　It　made　his　temples　beat　and　his　blood　run　boiling　poison。　Indeed；　there　were　times　when　he　was　so　distempered　by　passion　that　homicide　seemed　but　an　act　of　justice；　and　suicide　a　legitimate　relief。　For　who　could　go　on　for　ever　carrying　Hell　in　his　bosom　up　and　down　a　prison　yard？　He　began　to　go　alone！　to　turn　impatiently　from　the　petty　troubles　and　fathomless　egotism　o