hard cash-第17章

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〃Oh；　now　I　am　sure　it　is　time　to　join　mamma；〃　said　she　in　the　driest；　drollest　way。　_〃Valsons。_〃

They　waltzed　down　to　Mrs。　Dodd；　exchanging　hearts　at　every　turn；　and　they　took　a　good　many　in　the　space　of　a　round　table；　for　in　truth　both　were　equally　loth　to　part。


At　two　o'clock　Mrs。　Dodd　resumed　common…place　views　of　a　daughter's　health；　and　rose　to　go。

Her　fly　had　played　her　false；　and；　being　our　island　home；　it　rained　buckets。　Alfred　ran；　before　they　could　stop　him；　and　caught　a　fly。　He　was　dripping。　Mrs。　Dodd　expressed　her　regrets；　he　told　her　it　did　not　matter；　for　him　the　ball　was　now　over；　the　flowers　faded；　and　the　lights　darkness　visible。

〃The　extravagance　of　these　children！〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　to　Julia；　with　a　smile；　as　soon　as　he　was　out　of　hearing。　Julia　made　no　reply。

Next　day　she　was　at　evening　church：　the　congregation　was　very　sparse。　The　first　glance　revealed　Alfred　Hardie　standing　in　the　very　next　pew。　He　wore　a　calm　front　of　conscious　rectitude；　under　which　peeped　sheep…faced　misgivings　as　to　the　result　of　this　advance；　for；　like　all　true　lovers；　he　was　half　impudence；　half　timidity；　and　both　on　the　grand　scale。

Now　Julia　in　a　ball…room　was　one　creature；　another　in　church。　After　the　first　surprise；　which　sent　the　blood　for　a　moment　to　her　cheek；　she　found　he　had　come　without　a　prayer…book。　She　looked　sadly　and　half　reproachfully　at　him；　then　put　her　white　hand　calmly　over　the　wooden　partition；　and　made　him　read　with　her　out　of　her　book。　She　shared　her　hymn…book　with　him；　too；　and　sang　her　Maker's　praise　modestly　and　soberly；　but　earnestly；　and　quite　undisturbed　by　her　lover's　presence。　It　seemed　as　if　this　pure　creature　was　drawing　him　to　heaven　holding　by　that　good　book；　and　by　her　touching　voice。　He　felt　good　all　over。　To　be　like　her；　be　tried　to　bend　his　whole　mind　on　the　prayers　of　the　church；　and　for　the　first　time　realised　how　beautiful　they　are。

After　service　he　followed　her　to　the　door。　Island　home　again；　by　the　pailful；　and　she　had　a　thick　shawl　but　no　umbrella。　He　had　brought　a　large　one　on　the　chance；　he　would　see　her　home。

〃Quite　unnecessary；　it　is　so　near。〃

He　insisted；　she　persisted；　and；　persisting；　yielded。　They　said　but　little；　yet　they　seemed　to　interchange　volumes；　and；　at　each　gaslight　they　passed；　they　stole　a　look　and　treasured　it　to　feed　on。

That　night　was　one　broad　step　more　towards　the　great　happiness；　or　great　misery；　which　awaits　a　noble　love。　Such　loves；　somewhat　rare　in　Nature；　have　lately　become　so　very　rare　in　Fiction　that　I　have　ventured；　with　many　misgivings；　to　detail　the　peculiarities　of　its　rise　and　progress。　But　now　for　a　time　it　advanced　on　beaten　tracks。　Alfred　had　the　right　to　call　at　Albion　Villa；　and　he　came　twice；　once　when　Mrs。　Dodd　was　out。　This　was　the　time　he　stayed　the　two　hours。　A　Mrs。　James　invited　Jane　and　him　to　tea　and　exposition。　There　he　met　Julia　and　Edward；　who　had　just　returned。　Edward　was　taken　with　Jane　Hardie's　face　and　dovelike　eyes；　eyes　that　dwelt　with　a　soft　and　chastened　admiration　on　his　masculine　face　and　his　model　form；　and　their　owner　felt　she　had　received　〃a　call〃　to　watch　over　his　spiritual　weal。　So　they　paired　off。

Julia's　fluctuating　spirits　settled　now　into　a　calm；　demure；　complacency。　Her　mother；　finding　this　strange　remedial　virtue　in　youthful　society；　gave　young　parties；　inviting　Jane　and　Alfred　in　their　turn。　Jane　hesitated；　but；　as　she　could　no　longer　keep　Julia　from　knowing　her　worldly　brother；　and　hoped　a　way　might　be　opened　for　her　to　rescue　Edward；　she　relaxed　her　general　rule；　which　was　to　go　into　no　company　unless　some　religious　service　formed　part　of　the　entertainment。　Yet　her　conscience　was　ill　at　ease；　and；　to　set　them　an　example；　she　took　care；　when　she　asked　the　Dodds　in　return；　to　have　a　clergyman　there　of　her　own　party；　who　could　pray　and　expound　with　unction。

Mrs。　Dodd；　not　to　throw　cold　water　on　what　seemed　to　gratify　her　children；　accepted　Miss　Hardie's　invitation；　but　she　never　intended　to　go；　and　at　the　last　moment　wrote　to　say　she　was　slightly　indisposed。　The　nature　of　her　_indisposition_　she　revealed　to　Julia　alone。　〃That　young　lady　keeps　me　on　thorns。　I　never　feel　secure　she　will　not　say　or　do　something　extravagant　or　unusual：　she　seems　to　suspect　sobriety　and　good　taste　of　being　in　league　with　impiety。　Here　I　succeed　in　bridling　her　a　little；　but　encounter　a　female　enthusiast　in　her　own　house？　_merci！_　After　all；　there　must　be　something　good　in　her；　since　she　is　your　friend；　and　you　are　hers。　But　I　have　something　more　serious　to　say　before　you　go　there：　it　is　about　her　brother。　He　is　a　flirt：　in　fact；　a　notorious　one；　more　than　one　lady　tells　me。〃

Julia　was　silent；　but　began　to　be　very　uneasy；　they　were　sitting　and　talking　after　sunset；　yet　without　candles。　She　profited　for　once　by　that　prodigious　gap　in　the　intelligence　of　〃the　sex。〃

〃I　hear　he　pays　you　compliments；　and　I　have　seen　a　disposition　to　single　you　out。　Now；　my　love；　you　have　the　good　sense　to　know　that；　whatever　a　young　gentleman　of　that　age　says　to　you；　he　says　to　many　other　ladies；　but　your　experience　is　not　equal　to　your　sense；　so　profit　by　mine。　A　girl　of　your　age　must　never　be　talked　of　with　a　person　of　the　other　sex：　it　is　fatal；　fatal！　but　if　you　permit　yourself　to　be　singled　out；　you　will　be　talked　of；　and　distress　those　who　love　you。　It　is　easy　to　avoid　injudicious　duets　in　society；　oblige　me　by　doing　so　to…night。〃　To　show　how　much　she　was　in　earnest；　Mrs。　Dodd　hinted　that；　were　her　admonition　neglected；　she　should　regret　for　once　having　kept　clear　of　an　enthusiast。

Julia　had　no　alternative；　she　assented　in　a　faint　voice。　After　a　pause　she　faltered　out；　〃And　suppose　he　should　esteem　me　seriously？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　replied　quickly；　〃Then　that　would　be　much　worse。　But；〃　said　she；　〃I　have　no　apprehensions　on　that　score；　you　are　a　child；　and　he　is　a　precocious　boy；　and　rather　a　flirt。　But　forewarned　is　forearmed。　So　now　run　away　and　dress；　sweet　one：　my　lecture　is　quite　ended。〃

The　sensitive　girl　went　up　to　her　room　with　a　heavy　heart。　All　the　fears　she　had　lulled　of　late　revived。　She　saw　plainly　now　that　Mrs。　Dodd　only　accepted　Alfred　as　a　pleasant　acquaintance：　as　a　son…in…law　he　was　out　of　the　question。　〃Oh；　what　will　she　say　when　she　knows　all？〃　thought　Julia。

Next　day；　sitting　near　the　window；　she　saw　him　coming　up　the　road。　After　the　first　movement　of　pleasure　at　the　bare　sight　of　him；　she　was　sorry　he　had　come。　Mamma's　suspicions　awake　at　last；　and　here　he　was　again；　the　third　call　in　one　fortnight！　She　dared　not　risk　an　interview　with　him；　ardent　and　unguarded；　under　that　penetrating　eye；　which　she　felt　would　now　be　on　the　watch。　She　rose　hurriedly；　said　as　carelessly　as　she　could；　〃I　am　going　to　the　school；〃　and　tying　her　bonnet　on　all　in　a　flurry；　whipped　out　at　the　back…door　with　her　shawl　in　her　hand　just　as　Sarah　opened　the　front　door　to　Alfred。　She　then　shuffled　on　her　shawl；　and　whisked　through　the　little　shrubbery　into　the　open　field；　and　reached　a　path　that　led　to　the　school；　and　so　gratified　was　she　at　her　dexterity　in　evading　her　favourite；　that　she　hung　her　head；　and　went　murmuring；　〃Cruel；　cruel；　cruel！〃

Alfred　entered　the　drawing…room　gaily；　with　a　good…sized　card　and　a　prepared　speech。　His　was　not　the　visit　of　a　friend；　but　a　functionary；　the　treasurer　of　the　cricket…ground　come　to　book　two　of　his　eighteen　to　play　against　the　All…England　Eleven　next　month。　〃As　for　you；　my　worthy　sir　（turning　to　Edward）；　I　shall　just　put　you　down　without　ceremony。　But　I　must　ask　leave　to　book　Captain　Dodd。　Mrs。　Dodd；　I　come　at　the　universal　desire　of　the　club；　they　say　it　is　sure　to　be　a　dull　match　without　Captain　Dodd。　Besides；　he　is　a　capital　player。〃

〃Mamma；　don't　you　be　caught　by　his　chaff；〃　said　Edward；　quietly。　〃Papa　is　no　player　at　all。　Anything　more　unlike　cricket　than　his　way　of　making　runs！〃

〃But　he　makes　them；　old　fellow；　now　you　and　I；　at　Lord's　the　other　day；　played　in　first…rate　form；　left　shoulder　well　up；　and　achievedwith　neatness；　precision；　dexterity；　and　despatchthe　British　duck's…egg。

_〃Misericorde！_　What　is　that？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Dodd。

Why；　a　round　O；〃　said　the　other　Oxonian；　coming　to　his　friend's　aid。

〃And　what　is　that；　pray？〃

Alfred　told　her　〃the　round　O；〃　which　had　yielded　to　〃the　duck's　egg；〃　and　was　becoming　obsolete；　meant　the　cypher　set　by　the　scorer　against　a　player's　name　who　is　out　without　making　a　run。

〃I　see；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃The　jargon　of　the　day　penetrates　to　your　very　sports　and　games。　And　why　British？〃

〃Oh；　'British'　is　redundant：　thrown　in　by　the　universities。〃

〃But　what　does　it　mean？〃

〃It　means　nothing。　That　is　the　beauty　of　it。　British　is　inserted　in　imitation　of　our　idols；　the　Greeks；　they　adored　redundancy。〃

In　short；　poor　Alfred；　though　not　an　M。　P。；　was　talking　to　put　off　time；　till　Julia　should　come　in：　so　he　now　favoured　Mrs。　Dodd；　of　all　people；　with　a　flowery　description　of　her　husband's　play；　which　I；　who　have　not　his　motive　for　volubility；　suppress。　However；　he　wound　up　with　the　captains　〃moral　influence。〃　〃Last　match；〃　said　he；　〃Barkington　did　not　do　itself　justice。　Several；　that　could　have　made　a　stand；　were　frightened　out；　rather　than　bowled；　by　the　London　professionals。　Then　Captain　Dodd　went　in；　and　treated　those　artists　with　the　same　good…humoured　contempt　he　would　a　parish　bowler；　and；　in　particular；　sent　Mynne's　over…tossed　balls　flying　over　his　head　for　five；　or　to　square　leg　for　four；　and；　on　his　retiring　with　twenty…five；　scored　in　eight　minutes；　the　remaining　Barkingtonians　were　less　funky；　and　made　some　fair　scores。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　smiled　a　little　ironically　at　this　tirade；　but　said　she　thought　she　might　venture　to　promise　Mr。　Dodd's　co…operation；　should　he　reach　home　in　time。　Then；　to　get　rid　of　Alfred　before　Julia's　return；　the　amiable　worldling　turned　to　Edward。　〃Your　sister　will　not　be　back；　so　you　may　as　well　ring　the　bell　for　luncheon　at　once。　Perhaps　Mr。　Hardie　will　join　us。〃

Alfred　declined；　and　took　his　leave　with　far　less　alacrity　than　he　had　entered；　Edward　went　down…stairs　with　him。

〃Miss　Dodd　gone　on　a　visit？〃　asked　Alfred；　affecting　carelessness。

〃Only　to　the　school。　By…the…bye；　I　will　go　and　fetch　her。〃

〃No；　don't　do　that；　call　on　my　sister　instead；　and　then　you　will　pull　me　out　of　a　scrape。　I　promised　to　bring　her　here；　but　her　saintship　was　so　long　adorning　'the　poor　perishable　body；'　that　I　came　alone。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　said　Edward。　〃I　am　not　the　attraction　here；　it　is　Julia。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？　When　a　young　lady　interests　herself　in　an　undergraduate's　soul；　it　is　a　pretty　sure　sign　she　likes　the　looks　of　him。　But　perhaps　you　don't　want　to　be　converted；　if　so；　keep　clear　of　_her。_　'Bar　the　fell　dragon's　blighting　way；　but　shun　that　lovely　snare。'〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　said　Edward　calmly；　〃　I　only　wish　she　could　make　me　as　good　as　she　is；　or　half　as　good。〃

〃Give　her　the　chance；　old　fellow；　and　then　it　won't　be　your　fault　if　she　makes　a　mess　of　it。　Call　at　two；　and　Jenny　will　receive　you　very　kindly；　and　will　show　you　you　are　in　the　'gall　of　bitterness　and　the　bond　of　iniquity。'　Now；　won't　that　be　nice？〃

〃I　will　go；〃　said　Edward　gravely。

They　parted。　Where　Alfred　went　the　reader　can　perhaps　guess；　Edward　to　luncheon。

〃Mamma；〃　said　he；　with　that　tranquillity