hard cash-第22章

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ontact　with　the　well…to…do。　He　brooded　on　his　own　love；　and　his　own　unhappiness；　and　his　own　father's　cruelty。　His　nights　were　sleepless　and　his　days　leaden。　He　tried　hard　to　read　for　his　first　class；　but　for　once　even　ambition　failed：　it　ended　in　flinging　books　away　in　despair。　He　wandered　about　dreaming　and　moping　for　some　change；　and　bitterly　regretting　his　excessive　delicacy；　which　had　tied　his　own　hands　and　brought　him　to　a　stand…still。　He　lost　his　colour　and　what　little　flesh　he　had　to　lose；　for　such　young　spirits　as　this　are　never　plump。　In　a　word；　being　now　strait…jacketed　into　feminine　inactivity；　while　void　of　feminine　patience；　his　ardent　heart　was　pining　and　fretting　itself　out。　He　was　in　this　condition；　when　one　day　Peterson；　his　Oxonian　friend；　burst　in　on　him　open…mouthed　with　delight；　and；　as　usual　with　bright　spirits　of　this　calibre；　did　not　even　notice　his　friend's　sadness。　〃Cupid　had　clapped　him　on　the　shoulder；〃　as　Shakespeare　hath　it；　and　it　was　a　deal　nicer　than　the　bum…bailiff　rheumatism。

〃Oh；　such　a　divine　creature！　Met　her　twice；　you　know　her　by　sight；　her　name　is　Dodd。　But　I　don't　care；　it　shall　be　Peterson；　the　rose　by　any　other　name；　&c。〃　Then　followed　a　rapturous　description　of　the　lady's　person；　well　worth　omitting。　〃And　such　a　jolly　girl！　brightens　them　all　up　wherever　she　goes；　and　such　a　dancer；　did　the　cachouka　with　a　little　Spanish　bloke　Bosanquet　has　got　hold　of；　and　made　his　black　bolus　eyes　twinkle　like　midnight　cigars：　danced　it　with　castanets；　and　smiles；　and　such　a　what　d'ye　call　'em；　my　boy；　you　know；　such　a　'go。'〃

〃You　mean　such　an　'abandon；'〃　groaned　Alfred；　turning　sick　at　heart。

〃That's　the　word。　Twice　the　spirit　of　Duvernay；　and　ten　times　the　beauty。　But　just　you　hear　her　sing；　that　is　all；　Italian；　French；　German；　English　even。〃

〃Plaintive　songs？〃

〃Oh；　whatever　they　ask　for。　Make　you　laugh　or　make　you　cry　to　order；　never　says　no。　Just　smiles　and　sits　down　to　the　music…box。　Only　she　won't　sing　two　running：　they　have　to　stick　a　duffer　in　between。　I　shall　meet　her　again　next　week；　will　you　come？　Any　friend　of　mine　is　welcome。　Wish　me　joy；　old　fellow；　I'm　a　gone　coon。〃

This　news　put　Alfred　in　a　phrensy　of　indignation　and　fear。　Julia　dancing　the　cachouka！　Julia　a　jolly　girl！　Julia　singing　songs　pathetic　or　merry；　whichever　were　asked　for！　The　heartless　one！　He　called　to　mind　all　he　had　read　in　the　classics；　and　elsewhere；　about　the　fickleness　of　woman。　But　this　impression　did　not　last　long；　he　recalled　Julia's　character；　and　all　the　signs　of　a　love　tender　and　true　she　had　given　him。　He　read　her　by　himself；　and；　lover…like；　laid　all　the　blame　on　another。　It　was　all　her　cold…blooded　mother。　〃Fool　that　I　have　been。　I　see　it　all　now。　She　appeals　to　my　delicacy　to　keep　away；　then　she　goes　to　Julia　and　says；　'See；　he　deserts　you　at　a　word　from　his　father。　Be　proud；　be　gay！　He　never　loved　you；　marry　another。'　The　shallow　plotter　forgets　that　whoever　she　does　marry　I'll　kill。　How　many　unsuspicious　girls　have　these　double…faced　mothers　deluded　so？　They　do　it　in　half　the　novels；　especially　in　those　written　by　women；　and　why？　because　these　know　the　perfidy　and　mendacity　of　their　sex　better　than　we　do；　they　see　them　nearer；　and　with　their　souls　undrest。　War；　Mrs。　Dodd！　war　to　the　death！　From　this　moment　I　am　alone　in　the　world　with　her。　I　have　no　friend　but　Alfred　Hardie：　and　my　bitterest　enemies　are　my　cold…blooded　father　and　her　cold…blooded　mother。〃

The　above　sentences；　of　course；　were　never　uttered。　But　they　represent　his　thoughts　accurately；　though　in　a　condensed　form；　and　are；　as　it　were；　a　miniature　of　this　young　heart　boiling　over。

From　that　moment　he　lay　in　wait　for　her；　and　hovered　about　the　house　day　and　night；　determined　to　appeal　to　her　personally；　and　undeceive　her；　and　baffle　her　mother's　treachery。　But　at　this　game　he　was　soon　detected：　Mrs。　Dodd　lived　on　the　watch　now。　Julia；　dressed　to　go　out；　went　to　the　window　one　afternoon　to　look　at　the　weather；　but　retreated　somewhat　hastily　and　sat　down　on　the　sofa。

〃You　flutter；　darling；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃Ah！　he　is　there。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃You　had　better　take　off　your　things。〃

〃Oh；　yes。　I　tremble　at　the　thoughts　of　meeting　him。　Mamma；　he　is　changed；　sadly　changed。　Poor；　poor　Alfred！〃　She　went　to　her　own　room　and　prayed　for　him。　She　informed　the　Omniscient　that；　though　much　greater　and　better　in　other　respects　than　she　was；　he　had　not　Patience。　She　prayed；　with　tears；　that　he　might　have　Christian　patience　granted　Him　from　on　high。

〃Heart　of　stone！　she　shuns　me；〃　said　Alfred；　outside。　He　had　seen　her　in　her　bonnet。

Mrs。　Dodd　waited　several　days　to　see　whether　this　annoyance　would　not　die　of　itself：　waiting　was　her　plan　in　most　things。　Finding　he　was　not　to　be　tired　out；　she　sent　Sarah　out　to　him　with　a　note　carefully　sealed。


〃Mr。　Alfred　Hardie；Is　it　generous　to　confine　my　daughter　to　the　house？Yours　regretfully；

LUCY　DODD。〃


A　line　came　back　instantly　in　pencil。


〃Mrs。　Dodd；Is　all　the　generosity　and　all　the　good　faith　to　be　on　one　side？Yours　in　despair；

ALFRED　HARDIE。〃


Mrs。　Dodd　coloured　faintly：　the　reproach　pricked　her；　but　did　not　move　her。　She　sat　quietly　down　that　moment；　and　wrote　to　a　friend　in　London；　to　look　out　for　a　furnished　villa　in　a　healthy　part　of　the　suburbs；　with　immediate　possession。　〃Circumstances；〃　said　she；　〃making　it　desirable　we　should　leave　Barkington　immediately；　and　for　some　months。〃


The　Bosanquets　gave　a　large　party；　Mrs。　and　Miss　Dodd　were　there。　The　latter　was　playing　a　part　in　a　charade　to　the　admiration　of　all　present；　when　in　came　Mr。　Peterson；　introducing　his　friend；　Alfred　Hardie。

Julia　caught　the　name；　and　turned　a　look　of　alarm　on　her　mother；　but　went　on　acting。

Presently　she　caught　sight　of　him　at　some　distance。　He　looked　very　pale；　and　his　glittering　eye　was　fixed　on　her　with　a　sort　of　stern　wonder。

Such　a　glance　from　fiery　eyes；　that　had　always　dwelt　tenderly　on　her　till　then；　struck　her　like　a　weapon。　She　stopped　short；　and　turned　red　and　pale　by　turns。　〃There；　that　is　nonsense　enough；〃　said　she　bitterly；　and　went　and　sat　by　Mrs。　Dodd。　The　gentlemen　thronged　round　her　with　compliments；　and　begged　her　to　sing。　She　excused　herself。　Presently　she　heard　an　excited　voice；　towards　which　she　dared　not　look；　it　was　inquiring　whether　any　lady　could　sing　Aileen　Aroon。　With　every　desire　to　gratify　the　young　millionaire；　nobody　knew　Aileen　Aroon；　nor　had　ever　heard　of　it。

〃Oh；　impossible！〃　cried　Alfred。　〃Why；　it　is　in　praise　of　Constancy；　a　virtue　ladies　shine　in：　at　least；　they　take　credit　for　it。〃

〃Mamma；〃　whispered　Julia　terrified；　〃get　me　away；　or　there　will　be　a　scene。　He　is　reckless。〃

〃Be　calm；　love；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃there　shall　be　none。〃　She　rose　and　glided　up　to　Alfred　Hardie；　looked　coldly　in　his　face；　then　said　with　external　politeness　and　veiled　contempt；　〃I　will　attempt　the　song；　sir；　since　you　desire　it。〃　She　waved　her　hand；　and　he　followed　her　sulkily　to　the　piano。　She　sung　Aileen　Aroon；　not　with　her　daughter's　eloquence；　but　with　a　purity　and　mellowness　that　charmed　the　room：　they　had　never　heard　the　genius　sing　it。

As　spirits　are　said　to　overcome　the　man　at　whose　behest　they　rise；　so　this　sweet　air；　and　the　gush　of　reminiscence　it　awakened；　overpowered　him　who　had　evoked　them；　Alfred　put　his　Hand　unconsciously　to　his　swelling　heart；　cast　one　look　of　anguish　at　Julia；　and　hurried　away　half　choked。　Nobody　but　Julia　noticed。


A　fellow　in　a　rough　great…coat　and　tattered　white　hat　opened　the　fly　door　for　Mrs。　Dodd。　As　Julia　followed　her；　he　kissed　her　skirt　unseen　by　Mrs。　Dodd；　but　her　quick　ears　caught　a　heart…breaking　sigh。　She　looked　and　recognised　Alfred　in　that　disguise；　the　penitent　fit　had　succeeded　to　the　angry　one。　Had　Julia　observed？　To　ascertain　this　without　speaking　of　him；　Mrs。　Dodd　waited　till　they　had　got　some　little　distance；　then　quietly　put　out　her　hand　and　rested　it　for　a　moment　on　her　daughter's；　the　girl　was　trembling　violently　〃Little　wretch！〃　came　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　lips；　but　she　did　not　utter　it。　They　were　near　home　before　she　spoke　at　all；　and　then　she　only　said　very　kindly；　〃My　love；　you　will　not　be　subjected　again　to　these　trials：〃　a　remark　intended　quietly　to　cover　the　last　occurrence　as　well　as　Alfred's　open　persecution。

They　had　promised　to　go　out　the　very　next　day；　but　Mrs。　Dodd　went　alone；　and　made　excuses　for　Miss　Dodd。　On　her　return　she　found　Julia　sitting　up　for　her；　and　a　letter　come　from　her　friend　describing　a　pleasant　cottage；　now　vacant；　near　Maida　Vale。　Mrs。　Dodd　handed　the　open　letter　to　Julia；　she　read　it　without　comment。

〃We　will　go　up　to…morrow　and　take　it　for　three　months。　Then　the　Oxford　vacation　will　terminate。〃

〃Yes；　mamma。〃


I　am　now　about　to　relate　a　circumstance　by　no　means　without　parallels；　but　almost　impossible　to　account　for；　and；　as　nothing　is　more　common　and　contemptible　than　inadequate　solutions；　I　will　offer　none　at　all：　but　so　it　was；　that　Mrs。　Dodd　awoke　in　the　middle　of　that　very　night　in　a　mysterious　state　of　mental　tremor；　trouble；　veiled　in　obscurity；　seemed　to　sit　heavy　on　her　bosom。　So　strong；　though　vague；　was　this　new　and　mysterious　oppression；　that　she　started　up　in　bed　and　cried　aloud；　〃David！Julia！Oh；　what　is　the　matter？〃　The　sound　of　her　own　voice　dispelled　the　cloud　in　part；　but　not　entirely。　She　lay　awhile；　and　then　finding　herself　quite　averse　to　sleep；　rose　and　went　to　her　window；　and　eyed　the　weather　anxiously。　It　was　a　fine　night；　soft　fleecy　clouds　drifted　slowly　across　a　silver　moon。　The　sailor's　wife　was　reassured　on　her　husband's　behalf。　Her　next　desire　was　to　look　at　Julia　sleeping；　she　had　no　particular　object：　it　was　the　instinctive　impulse　of　an　anxious　mother　whom　something　had　terrified。　She　put　on　her　slippers　and　dressing…gown；　and；　lighting　a　candle　at　her　night…lamp；　opened　her　door　softly　and　stepped　into　the　little　corridor。　But　she　had　not　taken　two　steps　when　she　was　arrested　by　a　mysterious　sound。

It　came　from　Julia's　room。

What　was　it？

Mrs。　Dodd　glided　softly　nearer　and　nearer；　all　her　senses　on　the　stretch。

The　sound　came　again。　It　was　a　muffled　sob。


The　stifled　sound；　just　audible　in　the　dead　stillness　of　the　night；　went　through　and　through　her　who　stood　there　listening　aghast。　Her　bowels　yearned　over　her　child；　and　she　hurried　to　the　door；　but　recollected　herself；　and　knocked；　very　gently。　〃Don't　be　alarmed；　love；　it　is　only　me。　May　I　come　in？〃　She　did　not　wait　for　the　answer；　but　turned　the　handle　and　entered。　She　found　Julia　sitting　up　in　bed；　looking　wildly　at　her；　with　cheeks　flushed　and　wet。　She　sat　on　the　bed　and　clasped　her　to　her　breast　in　silence：　but　more　than　one　warm　tear　ran　down　upon　Julia's　bare　neck；　the　girl　felt　them　drop；　and　her　own　gushed　in　a　shower。

〃Oh；　what　have　I　done？〃　she　sobbed。　〃Am　I　to　make　you　wretched　too？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　did　not　immediately　reply。　She　was　there　to　console；　and　her　admirable　good　sense　told　her　that　to　do　that　she　must　be　calmer　than　her　patient；　so　even　while　she　kissed　and　wept　over　Julia；　she　managed　gradually　to　recover　her　composure。　〃Tell　me；　my　child；〃　said　she；　〃why　do　you　act　a　part　with　me？　Why　brave　it　out　under　my　eye；　and　spend　the　night　secretly　in　tears？　Are　you　still　afraid　to　trust　me？〃

〃Oh　no；　no；　but　I　thought　I　was　so　strong；　so　proud：