hard cash-第15章

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Alfred　wandered　disconsolate　homewards。

In　the　middle　of　Buchanan　Street；　an　agitated　treble　called　after　him；　〃Mr。　Halfred！　hoh；　Mr。　Halfred！〃　He　looked　back　and　saw　Dick　Absalom；　a　promising　young　cricketer；　brandishing　a　document　and　imploring　aid。　〃Oh；　Master　Halfred；　dooce　please　come　here。　I　durstn't　leave　the　shop。〃

There　is　a　tie　between　cricketers　far　too　strong　for　social　distinctions　to　divide；　and；　though　Alfred　muttered　peevishly；　〃Whose　cat　is　dead　now？〃　he　obeyed　the　strange　summons。

The　distress　was　a　singular　one。　Master　Absalom；　I　must　premise；　was　the　youngest　of　two　lads　in　the　employ　of　Mr。　Jenner；　a　benevolent　old　chemist；　a　disciple　of　Malthus。　Jenner　taught　the　virtues　of　drugs　and　minerals　to　tender　youths；　at　the　expense　of　the　public。　Scarcely　ten　minutes　had　elapsed　since　a　pretty　servant　girl　came　into　the　shop；　and　laid　a　paper　on　the　counter；　saying；　〃Please　to　make　that　up；　young　man。〃　Now　at　fifteen　we　are　gratified　by　inaccuracies　of　this　kind　from　ripe　female　lips：　so　Master　Absalom　took　the　prescription　with　a　complacent　grin；　his　eye　glanced　over　it；　it　fell　to　shaking　in　his　hand；　chill　dismay　penetrated　his　heart；　and；　to　speak　with　oriental　strictness；　his　liver　turned　instantly　to　water。　However；　he　made　a　feeble　clutch　at　Mercantile　Mendacity；　and　stammered　out；　〃Here's　a　many　ingredients；　and　the　governor's　out　walking；　and　he's　been　and　locked　the　drawer　where　we　keeps　our　haulhoppy。　You　couldn't　come　again　in　half　an　hour；　Miss；　could　ye？〃　She　acquiesced　readily；　for　she　was　not　habitually　called　Miss；　and　she　had　a　follower；　a　languid　one；　living　hard　by；　and　belonged　to　a　class　which　thinks　it　consistent　to　come　after　its　followers。

Dicky　saw　her　safe　off；　and　groaned　at　his　ease。　Here　was　a　prescription　full　of　new　chemicals；　sovereign；　no　doubt；　_i。e。；_　deadly　when　applied　Jennerically；　and　the　very　directions　for　use　were　in　Latin　words　he　had　encountered　in　no　prescription　before。　A　year　ago　Dicky　would　have　counted　the　prescribed　ingredients　on　his　fingers；　and　then　taken　down　an　equal　number　of　little　articles；　solid　or　liquid；　mixed　them；　delivered　them；　and　so　to　cricket；　serene；　but　now；　his　mind；　to　apply　the　universal　cant；　was　〃in　a　transition　state。〃　A　year's　practice　had　chilled　the　youthful　valour　which　used　to　scatter　Epsom　salts　or　oxalic　acid；　magnesia　or　corrosive　sublimate。　An　experiment　or　two　by　himself　and　his　compeers；　with　comments　by　the　coroner；　had　enlightened　him　as　to　the　final　result　on　the　human　body　of　potent　chemicals　fearlessly　administered；　leaving　him　dark　as　to　their　distinctive　qualities　applied　remedially。　What　should　he　do？　Run　with　the　prescription　to　old　Taylor　in　the　next　street；　a　chemist　of　forty　years？　Alas！　at　his　tender　age　he　had　not　omitted　to　chaff　that　reverend　rival　persistently　and　publicly。　Humble　his　establishment　before　the　King　Street　one？　Sooner　perish　drugs；　and　come　eternal　cricket！　And　after　all；　why　not？　Drummer…boys；　and　powder…monkeys；　and　other　imps　of　his　age　that　dealt　destruction；　did　not　depopulate　gratis；　Mankind　acknowledged　their　services　in　cash：　but　old　Jenner；　taught　by　Philosophy　through　its　organ　the　newspapers　that　〃knowledge　is　riches；〃　was　above　diluting　with　a　few　shillings　a　week　the　wealth　a　boy　acquired　behind　his　counter；　so　his　apprentices　got　no　salary。　Then　why　not　shut　up　the　old　rogue's　shutters；　and　excite　a　little　sympathy　for　him；　to　be　followed　by　a　powerful　reaction　on　his　return　from　walking；　and　go　and　offer　his　own　services　on　the　cricket…ground　to　field　for　the　gentlemen　by　the　hour；　or　bowl　at　a　shilling　on　their　balls？

〃Bowling　is　the　lay　for　me；〃　said　he；　〃you　get　money　for　that；　and　you　only　bruise　the　gents　a　bit　and　break　their　thumbs：　you　can't　put　their　vital　sparks　out　as　you　can　at　this　work。〃

By　a　striking　coincidence　the　most　influential　member　of　the　cricket　club　passed　while　Dick　was　in　this　quandary。


〃Oh；　Mr。　Halfred；　you　was　always　very　good　to　me　on　the　groundyou　couldn't　have　me　hired　by　the　club；　could　ye？　For　I　am　sick　of　this　trade；　I　wants　to　bowl。〃

〃You　little　duffer！〃　said　Alfred；　〃cricket　is　a　recreation；　not　a　business。　Besides；　it　only　lasts　five　months。　Unless　you　adjourn　to　the　anitipodes。　Stick　to　the　shop　like　a　man；　and　make　your　fortune。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　Halfred；〃　said　Dick　sorrowfully；　〃how　can　I　find　fortune　here？　Jenner　don't　pay。　And　the　crowner　declares　he　will　not　have　it；　and　the　Barton　_Chronicle_　says　us　young　gents　ought　all　to　be　given　a　holiday　to　go　and　see　one　of　us　hanged　by　lot。　But　this　is　what　have　broke　this　camel's　back　at　last；　here's　a　dalled　thing　to　come　smiling　and　smirking　in　with；　and　put　it　across　a　counter　in　a　poor　boy's　hand。　Oh！　oh！　oh！〃

〃Dick；〃　said　Alfred；　〃if　you　blubber；　I'll　give　you　a　hiding。　You　have　stumbled　on　a　passage　you　can't　construe。　Well；　who　has　not？　But　we　don't　shed　the　briny　about　it。　Here；　let　me　have　a　go　at　it。〃

〃Ah！　I've　heard　you　are　a　scholard；〃　said　Dick；　〃but　you　won't　make　out　this；　there's　some　new　preparation　of　mercury；　and　there's　musk；　and　there's　horehound；　and　there's　a　neutral　salt：　and　dal　his　old　head　that　wrote　it！〃

〃Hold　your　jaw；　and　listen；　while　I　construe　it　to　you。　_'Die　Mercurii；_　on　Wednesday_decima　hora　vespertina；_　at　ten　o'clock　at　night_eat　in　Musca：'_　what　does　that　mean？　_'Eat　in　Musca？'_　I　see！　this　is　modern　Latin　with　a　vengeance。　'Let　him　go　in　a　fly　to　the　Towns…hall。　_Saltet；_　let　him　jump_cum　tredecim　caniculis；_　with　thirteen　little　dogs_praesertim　meo；_　especially　with　my　little　dog。'　Dicky；　this　prescription　emanates　from　Bedlam　direct。　_'Domum　reddita'_hallo！　it　is　a　woman；　then。　'Let　_her_　go　in　a　fly　to　theTown…hall；　eh？'　'Let　_her_　jump；　no；　dance；　with　thirteen　whelps；　especially　mine。'　Ha！　ha！　ha！　And　who　is　the　woman　that　is　to　do　all　this　I　wonder？〃

〃Woman；　indeed！〃　said　a　treble　at　the　door！　〃no　more　than　I　am；　it's　for　a　young　lady。　O　jiminy！〃

This　polite　ejaculation　was　drawn　out　by　the　speaker's　sudden　recognition　of　Alfred；　who　had　raised　his　head　at　her　remonstrance；　and　now　started　in　his　turn；　for　it　was　the　black…eyed　servant　of　Albion　Villa。　They　looked　at　one　another　in　expressive　silence。

〃Yes；　sir；　it　is　for　my　young　lady。　Is　it　ready；　young　man？〃

〃No；　it　ain't：　and　never　will；〃　squealed　Dick　angrily　〃It's　a　vile　'oax；　and　you　ought　to　be　ashamed　of　yourself　bringing　it　into　a　respectable　shop。〃

Alfred　silenced　him；　and　told　Sarah　he　thought　Miss　Dodd　ought　to　know　the　nature　of　this　prescription　before　it　went　round　the　chemists。

He　borrowed　paper　of　Dick　and　wrote：

〃Mr。　Alfred　Hardie　presents　his　compliments　to　Miss　Dodd；　and　begs　leave　to　inform　her　that　he　has；　by　the　merest　accident；　intercepted　the　enclosed　prescription。　As　it　seems　rather　a　sorry　jest；　and　tends　to　attract　attention　to　Miss　Dodd　and　her　movements；　he　has　ventured　with　some　misgivings　to　send　it　back　with　a　literal　translation；　on　reading　which　it　will　be　for　Miss　Dodd　to　decide　whether　it　is　to　circulate。

〃'On　Wednesday；　at　ten　P。M。；　let　her　go　in　a　fly　to　the　Town…hall；　and　dance　with　thirteen　little　｛little　dogs；　puppies；　whelps；｝　especially　with　mine：　return　home　at　six　A。M。　and　sleep　till　dinner；　and　repeat　the　folly　as　occasion　serves。'〃

〃Suppose　I　could　get　it　into　Miss's　hands　when　she's　alone？〃　whispered　Sarah。

〃You　would　earn　my　warmest　gratitude。〃

〃'Warmest　gratitude！'　Is　that　a　warm　gownd；　or　a　warm　clock；　I　wonder？〃

〃It　is　both；　when　the　man　is　a　gentleman；　and　a　pretty；　dark…　eyed　girl　pities　him　and　stands　his　friend。〃

Sarah　smiled；　and　whispered；　〃Give　it　me；　I'll　do　my　best。〃

Alfred　enclosed　the　prescription　and　his　note　in　one　cover；　handed　them　to　her；　and　slipped　a　sovereign　into　her　hand。　He　whispered；　〃Be　prudent。〃

〃I'm　dark；　sir；〃　said　she：　and　went　off　briskly　homewards；　and　Alfred　stood　rapt　in　dreamy　joy；　and　so　self…elated　that；　had　he　been　furnished　like　a　peacock；　he　would　have　instantly　become　a　〃thing　all　eyes；〃　and　choked　up　Jenner's　shop；　and　swept　his　counter。　He　had　made　a　step　towards　familiarity；　had　written　her　a　letter；　and　then；　if　this　prescription　came；　as　he　suspected；　from　Dr。　Sampson；　she　would　perhaps　be　at　the　ball。　This　opened　a　delightful　vista。　Meantime；　Mrs。　Dodd　had　communicated　Sampson's　opinion　to　Julia；　adding　that　there　was　a　prescription　besides；　gone　to　be　made　up。　〃However；　he　insists　on　your　going　to　this　ball。〃

Julia　begged　hard　to　be　excused：　said　she　was　in　no　humour　for　balls：　and　Mrs。　Dodd　objecting　that　the　tickets　had　actually　been　purchased；　she　asked　leave　to　send　them　to　the　Dartons。　〃They　will　be　a　treat　to　Rose　and　Alice；　they　seldom　go　out：　mamma；　I　do　so　fear　they　are　poorer　than　people　think。　May　I？〃

〃It　would　be　but　kind；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃Though　really　why　my　child　should　always　be　sacrificed　to　other　people's　children〃

〃Oh；　a　mighty　sacrifice！〃　said　Julia。　She　sat　down　and　enclosed　the　tickets　to　Rose　Darton；　with　a　little　sugared　note。　Sarah；　being　out；　Elizabeth　took　it。　Sarah　met　her　at　the　gate；　but　did　not　announce　her　return：　she　lurked　in　ambush　till　Julia　happened　to　go　to　her　own　room；　then　followed　her；　and　handed　Alfred's　missive；　and　watched　her　slily；　and　being　herself　expeditious　as　the　wind　in　matters　of　the　heart；　took　it　for　granted　the　enclosure　was　something　very　warm　indeed；　so　she　said　with　feigned　simplicity；　〃I　suppose　it　is　all　right　now；　miss？〃　and　retreated　swelling　with　a　secret；　and　tormented　her　fellow…servants　all　day　with　innuendoes　dark　as　Erebus。

Julia　read　the　note　again　and　again：　her　heart　beat　at　those　few　ceremonious　lines。　〃He　does　not　like　me　to　be　talked　of；〃　she　said　to　herself。　〃How　good　he　is！　What　trouble　he　takes　about　me！　Ah！　_he　will　be　there！_〃

She　divined　rightly；　on　Wednesday；　at　ten；　Alfred　Hardie　was　in　the　ball…room。　It　was　a　magnificent　room；　well　lighted；　and　at　present　not　half　filled；　though　dancing　had　commenced。　The　figure　Alfred　sought　was　not　there；　and　he　wondered　he　had　been　so　childish　as　to　hope　she　would　come　to　a　city　ball。　He　played　the　fine　gentleman；　would　not　dance。　He　got　near　the　door　with　another　Oxonian；　and　tried　to　avenge　himself　for　her　absence　on　the　townspeople　who　were　there　by　quizzing　them。

But　in　the　middle　of　this　amiable　occupation；　and　indeed　in　the　middle　of　a　sentence；　he　stopped　short；　and　his　heart　throbbed；　and　he　thrilled　from　head　to　foot；　for　two　ladies　glided　in　at　the　door；　and　passed　up　the　room　with　the　unpretending　composure　of　well…bred　people。　They　were　equally　remarkable；　but　Alfred　saw　only　the　radiant　young　creature　in　flowing　muslin；　with　the　narrowest　sash　in　the　room；　and　no　ornament　but　a　necklace　of　large　pearls　and　her　own　vivid　beauty。　She　had　altered　her　mind　about　coming；　with　apologies　for　her　vacillating　disposition　so　penitent　and　disproportionate　that　her　indulgent　and　unsuspecting　mother　was　really　quite　amused。　Alfred　was　not　so　happy　as　to　know　that　she　had　changed　her　mind　with　his　note。　Perhaps　even　this　knowledge　could　have　added　little　to　that　exquisite　moment；　when；　unhoped　for；　she　passed　close　to　him；　and　the　fragrant　air　from　her　brushed　his　cheek；　and　seemed　to　whisper；　〃Follow　me　and　be　my　slave。〃



CHAPTER　V

HE　did　follow　her；　and；　convinced　that　she　would　be　engaged　ten　d