hard cash-第23章

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in　tears？　Are　you　still　afraid　to　trust　me？〃

〃Oh　no；　no；　but　I　thought　I　was　so　strong；　so　proud：　I　undertook　miracles。　I　soon　found　my　pride　was　a　molehill　and　my　love　a　mountain。　I　could　not　hold　out　by　day　if　I　did　not　ease　my　breaking　heart　at　night。　How　unfortunate！　I　kept　my　head　under　the　bed…clothes；　too；　but　you　have　such　ears。　I　thought　I　would　stifle　my　grief；　or　else　perhaps　you　would　be　as　wretched　as　I　am：　forgive　me　pray　forgive　me！〃

〃On　one　condition；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　struggling　with　the　emotion　these　simple　words　caused　her。

〃Anything　to　be　forgiven；〃　cried　Julia；　impetuously。　〃I'll　go　to　London。　I'll　go　to　Botany　Bay。　I　deserve　to　be　hanged。〃

〃Then；　from　this　hour；　no　half…confidences　between　us。　Dear　me；　you　carry　in　your　own　bosom　a　much　harsher　judge；　a　much　less　indulgent　friend；　than　I　am。　Come！　trust　me　with　your　heart。　Do　you　love　him　very　much？　Does　your　happiness　depend　on　him？〃

At　this　point…blank　question　Julia　put　her　head　over　Mrs。　Dodd's　shoulder；　not　to　be　seen；　and；　clasping　her　tight；　murmured　scarce　above　a　whisper；　〃I　don't　know　how　much　I　love　him。　When　he　came　in　at　that　party　I　felt　his　slavehis　unfaithful　adoring　slave；　if　he　had　ordered　me　to　sing　Aileen　Aroon；　I　should　have　obeyed；　if　he　had　commanded　me　to　take　his　hand　and　leave　the　room；　I　think　I　should　have　obeyed。　His　face　is　always　before　me　as　plain　as　life；　it　used　to　come　to　me　bright　and　loving；　now　it　is　pale；　and　stern；　and　sad。　I　was　not　so　wretched　till　I　saw　he　was　pining　for　me；　and　thinks　me　inconstantoh；　mamma；　so　pale！　so　shrunk　I　so　reckless！　He　was　sorry　for　misbehaving　that　night：　he　changed　clothes　with　a　beggar　to　kiss　my　dress；　poor　thing！　poor　thing！　Who　ever　loved　as　he　does　me！　I　am　dying　for　him；　I　am　dying。〃

〃There！　there！〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　soothingly。　〃You　have　said　enough。　This　must　be　love。　I　am　on　your　Alfred's　side　from　this　hour。〃

Julia　opened　her　eyes；　and　was　a　good　deal　agitated　as　well　as　surprised。　〃Pray　do　not　raise　my　hopes；〃　she　gasped。　〃We　are　parted　for　ever。　His　father　refuses。　Even　you　seemed　averse；　or　have　I　been　dreaming？〃

〃Me；　dearest？　How　can　I　be　averse　to　anything　lawful　on　which　I　find　your　heart　is　really　set；　and　your　happiness　at　stake？　Of　course　I　have　stopped　the　actual　intercourse；　under　existing　circumstances；　but　these　circumstances　are　not　unalterable：　your　only　obstacle　is　Mr。　Richard　Hardie。〃

But　what　an　obstacle！〃　sighed　Julia。　〃His　father！　a　man　of　iron！　so　everybody　says；　for　I　have　made　inquiriesoh！〃　And　she　was　abashed。　She　resumed　hastily；　〃And　that　letter；　so　cold；　so　cruel！　I　feel　it　was　written　by　one　not　open　to　gentle　influences。　He　does　not　think　me　worthy　of　his　son　so　accomplished；　so　distinguished　at　the　very　university　where　our　poor　Edwardhasyou　know〃

〃Little　simpleton！〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　and　kissed　her　tenderly；　〃your　iron　man　is　the　commonest　clay；　sordid；　pliable；　and　your　stem　heroic　Brutus　is　a　shopkeeper：　he　is　open　to　the　gentle　influences　which　sway　the　kindred　souls　of　the　men　you　and　I　buy　our　shoes；　our　tea；　our　gloves；　our　fish…kettles　of：　and　these　influences　I　think　I　command；　and　am　prepared　to　use　them　to　the　utmost。〃

Julia　lay　silent；　and　wondering　what　she　could　mean。

But　Mrs。　Dodd　hesitated　now：　it　pained　and　revolted　her　to　show　her　enthusiastic　girl　the　world　as　it　is。　She　said　as　much；　and　added　〃I　seem　to　be　going　to　aid　all　these　people　to　take　the　bloom　from　my　own　child's　innocence。　Heaven　help　me！〃

〃Oh；　never　mind　that；〃　cried　Julia　in　her　ardent　way；　〃give　me　Truth　before　Error；　however　pleasing。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　replied　only　by　a　sigh：　grand　general　sentiments　like　that　never　penetrated　her　mind：　they　glided　off　like　water　from　a　duck's　back。　〃We　will　begin　with　this　mercantile　Brutus；　then；〃　said　she；　with　such　a　curl　of　the　lip。　Brutus　had　rejected　her　daughter。

〃Mr。　Richard　Hardie　was　born　and　bred　in　a　bank；　one　where　no　wild　thyme　blows；　my　poor　enthusiast；　nor　cowslips　nor　the　nodding　violet　grows；　but　gold　and　silver　chink；　and　Things　are　discounted；　and　men　grow　rich；　slowly　but　surely；　by　lawful　use　of　other　people's　money。　Breathed　upon　by　these　'gentle　influences；'　he　was；　from　his　youth；　a　remarkable　man　measured　by　Trade's　standard。　At　five…and…twenty　divine　what　he　did！　He　saved　the　bank。　You　have　read　of　bubbles：　the　Mississippi　Bubble　and　the　South　Sea　Bubble。　Well；　in　the　year　1825；　it　was　not　one　bubble　but　a　thousand；　mines　by　the　score；　and　in　distant　lands；　companies　by　the　hundred；　loans　to　every　nation　or　tribe；　down　to　Guatemala；　Patagonia；　and　Greece；　two　hundred　new　ships　were　laid　on　the　stocks　in　one　year；　for　your　dear　papa　told　me；　in　short；　a　fever　of　speculation；　and　the　whole　nation　raging　with　it：　my　dear；　Princes；　Dukes；　Duchesses；　Bishops；　Poets；　Lawyers；　Physicians；　were　seen　struggling　with　their　own　footmen　for　a　place　in　the　Exchange：　and；　at　last；　good；　steady；　old　Mr。　Hardie；　Alfred's　grandfather；　was　drawn　into　the　vortex。　Now；　to　excuse　him　and　appreciate　the　precocious　Richard；　you　must　try　and　realise　that　these　bubbles；　when　they　rise；　are　as　alluring　and　reasonable　as　they　are　ridiculous　and　incredible　when　one　looks　back　on　them；　even　soap　bubbles；　you　know；　have　rainbow　hues　till　they　burst：　and；　indeed；　the　blind　avarice　of　men　does　but　resemble　the　blind　vanity　of　women：　look　at　our　grandmothers'　hoops；　and　our　mothers'　short　waists　and　monstrous　heads！　Yet　in　their　day　what　woman　did　not　glory　in　these　insanities？　Well　then；　Mr。　Richard　Hardie；　at　twenty…five；　was　the　one　to　foresee　the　end　of　all　these　bubbles；　he　came　down　from　London　and　brought　his　people　to　their　senses　by　sober　reason　and　'sound　commercial　principles'that　means；　I　believe；　'get　other　people's　money；　but　do　not　risk　your　own。'　His　superiority　was　so　clear；　that　his　father　resigned　the　helm　to　him；　and；　thanks　to　his　ability；　the　bank　weathered　the　storm；　while　all　the　other　ones　in　the　town　broke　or　suspended　their　trade。　Now；　you　know；　youth　is　naturally　ardent　and　speculative；　but　Richard　Hardie's　was　colder　and　wiser　than　other　people's　old　age：　and　that　is　one　trait。　Some　years　later；　in　the　height　of　his　prosperityI　reveal　this　only　for　your　comfort；　and　on　your　sacred　promise　as　a　person　of　delicacy；　never　to　repeat　it　to　a　soulRichard　Hardie　was　a　suitor　for　my　hand。〃

〃Mamma！〃

〃Do　not　ejaculate；　sweetest。　It　discomposes　me。　'Nothing　is　extraordinary；'　as　that　good　creature　Dr。　Sampson　says。　He　must　have　thought　it　would　_answer；_　in　one　way　or　another；　to　have　a　gentlewoman　at　the　head　of　his　table；　and　I　was　not　penniless；　_bien　entendu。_　Failing　in　this；　he　found　a　plain　little　Thing；　with　a　gloomy　temper；　and　no　accomplishments　nor　graces；　but　her　father　could　settle　twenty　thousand　pounds。　He　married　her　directly：　and　that　is　a　trait。　He　sold　his　father's　and　grandfather's　house　and　place　of　business；　in　spite　of　all　their　associations；　and　obtained　a　lease　of　his　present　place　from　my　uncle　Fountain：　it　seemed　a　more　money…making　situation。　A　trait。　He　gives　me　no　reason　for　rejecting　my　daughter。　Why？　because　he　is　not　proud　of　his　reasons：　this　walking　Avarice　has　intelligence：　a　trait。　Now　put　all　this　together；　and　who　more　transparent　than　the　profound　Mr。　Hardie？　He　has　declined　our　alliance　because　he　takes　for　granted　we　are　poor。　When　I　undeceive　him　on　that　head　he　will　reopen　_negotiations_　in　a　letterNo。　2　of　the　correspondence；　copied　by　one　of　his　clerksit　will　be　calm；　plausible；　flattering：　in　short；　it　will　be　done　like　a　gentleman：　though　he　is　nothing　of　the　kind。　And　this　brings　me　to　what　I　ought　to　have　begun　with：　your　dear　father　and　I　have　always　lived　with　our　income　for　our　children's　sake；　he　is　bringing　home　the　bulk　of　our　savings　this　very　voyage；　and　it　amounts　to　fourteen　thousand　pounds。〃

〃Oh；　what　an　enormous　sum！〃

〃No；　dearest；　it　is　not　a　fortune　in　itself。　But　it　is　a　considerable　sum　to　possess；　independent　of　one's　settlement　and　one's　income。　It　is　loose　cash；　to　speak　_a　la_　Hardie；　that　means　I　can　do　what　I　choose　with　it　and　of　course　I　chooseto　make　you　happy。　How　I　shall　work　on　what　you　call　Iron　and　I　venture　to　call　Clay　must　be　guided　by　circumstances。　I　think　of　depositing　three　or　four　thousand　pounds　every　month　with　Mr。　Hardie；　he　is　our　banker；　you　know。　He　will　most　likely　open　his　eyes；　and　make　some　move　before　the　whole　sum　is　in　his　hands。　If　he　does　not；　I　shall　perhaps　call　at　his　bank；　and　draw　a　cheque　for　fourteen　thousand　pounds。　The　wealthiest　provincial　banker　does　not　keep　such　a　sum　floating　in　his　shop…tills。　His　commercial　honour；　the　one　semi…chivalrous　sentiment　in　his　soul；　would　be　in　peril。　He　would　yield；　and　with　grace：　none　the　less　readily　that　his　house　and　his　bank；　which　have　been　long　heavily　mortgaged　to　our　trustees；　were　made　virtually　theirs　by　agreement　yesterday　（I　set　this　on　foot　with　twelve　hours　of　Mr。　Iron's　impertinent　letter）；　and　he　will　say　to　himself；　'She　canpost　me；　I　think　these　people　call　itthis　afternoon　for　not　cashing　her　cheque；；　and　she　can　turn　me　and　my　bank　into　the　street　to…morrow：'　and　then；　of　course；　he　shall　see　by　my　manner　the　velvet　paw　is　offered　as　well　as　the　claw。　He　is　pretty　sure　to　ask　himself　which　will　suit　the　_ledger_　bestthis　cat's　friendship　and　her　fourteen　thousand　pounds；　oran　insulted　mother's　enmity？〃　And　Mrs。　Placid's　teeth　made　a　little　click　just　audible　in　the　silent　night

〃Oh；　mamma！　my　heart　is　sick。　Am　I　to　be　bought　and　sold　like　this？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　sighed；　but　said　calmly；　〃You　must　pay　the　penalty　for　loving　a　_parvenu's_　son。　Come；　Julia；　no　peevishness；　no　more　romance；　no　more　vacillation。　You　have　tried　Pride　and　failed　pitiably：　now　I　insist　on　your　trying　Love！　Child；　it　is　the　bane　of　our　sex　to　carry　nothing　out：　from　that　weakness　I　will　preserve　you。　And；　by…the…bye；　we　are　not　going　to　marry　Mr。　Richard　Hardie；　but　Mr。　Alfred。　Now；　Mr。　Alfred；　with　all　his　faults　and　defects〃

〃Mamma！　what　faults？　what　defects？〃

〃Is　a　gentleman；　thanks　to　Oxford；　and　Harrow；　and　nature。　My　darling；　pray　to　Heaven　night　and　day　for　your　dear　father's　safe　return；　for　on　him；　and　him　alone；　your　happiness　depends：　as　mine　does。〃

〃Mamma！〃　cried　Julia；　embracing　her；　〃what　do　poor　girls　do　who　have　lost　their　mother？〃

〃Look　abroad　and　see；〃　was　the　grave　reply。

Mrs。　Dodd　then　begged　her　to　go　to　sleep；　like　a　good　child；　for　her　health's　sake；　all　would　be　well；　and　with　this　was　about　to　return　to　her　own　room；　but　a　white　hand　and　arm　darted　out　of　the　bed　and　caught　her。　〃What！　Hope　has　come　to　me　by　night　in　the　form　of　an　angel；　and　shall　I　let　her　go　back　to　her　own　room？　Never！　never！　never！　never！　never！〃　And　she　patted　the　bed　expressively；　and　with　the　prettiest　impatience。

〃Well；　let　Hope　take　off　her　earrings　first；〃　suggested　Mrs。　Dodd。

〃No；　no；　come　here　directly；　earrings　and　all。〃

〃No；　thank　you；　or　I　shall　have　_them_　wounding　you　next。〃

Mrs。　Hope　quietly　removed　her　earrings；　and　the　tender　pair　passed　the　rest　of　the　night　in　one　another's　arms。　The　young　girl's　tears　were　dried；　and　hope　revived；　and　life　bloomed　again：　only；　henceforth　her　longing　eyes　looked　out　to　sea　for　her　father；　homeward　bound。

Next　day；　as　they　were　seated　together　in　the　drawing…room；　Julia　cam