hard cash-第6章

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teful　though　refractory　patient；　an　authority　in　their　eyes；　indeed　all　but　a　river…god；　stood　poised　in　air；　and　in　excited　whispers　interpreted　each　distant　and　unintelligible　feature　down　to　them：

〃Cambridge　was　off　quickest。〃

〃But　not　much。〃


〃Anybody's　race　at　present；　madam。〃


〃If　this　lasts　long　we　may　win。　None　of　them　can　stay　like　us。〃

〃Come；　the　favourite　is　not　so　very　dangerous。〃

〃Cambridge　looks　best。〃

〃I　wouldn't　change　with　either；　so　far。〃


〃Now；　in　forty　seconds　more；　I　shall　be　able　to　pick　out　the　winner。〃

Julia　went　up　this　ladder　of　thrills　to　a　high　state　of　excitement；　and；　indeed；　they　were　all　so　tuned　to　racing　pitch；　that　some　metal　nerve　or　other　seemed　to　jar　inside　all　three；　when　the　piercing；　grating　voice　of　Kennet　broke　in　suddenly　with

〃How　do　you　construe　＇Greek　text＇？〃

The　wretch　had　burrowed　in　the　intellectual　ruins　of　Greece　the　moment　the　pistol　went　off；　and　college　chat　ceased。　Hardie　raised　his　opera…glass；　and　his　first　impulse　was　to　brain　the　judicious　Kennet；　gazing　up　to　him　for　an　answer；　with　spectacles　goggling　like　supernatural　eyes　of　dead　sophists　in　the　sun。

〃How　do　you　construe　_'Hoc　age'_？　you　incongruous　dog。　Hold　your　tongue；　and　mind　the　race。〃


〃There；　I　thought　so。　Where's　your　three　to　one；　now？　The　Cockneys　are　out　of　this　event；　any　way。　Go　on；　Universities；　and　order　their　suppers！〃

〃But　which　is　first；　sir？〃　asked　Julia　imploringly。　〃Oh；　which　is　first　of　all？〃

〃Neither。　Never　mind；　it　looks　well。　London　is　pumped；　and　if　Cambridge　can't　lead　him　before　this　turn　in　the　river；　the　race　will　be　ours。　Now；　look　out！　By　Jove；　we　are　_ahead！_〃

The　leading　boats　came　on；　Oxford　pulling　a　long；　lofty；　sturdy　stroke；　that　seemed　as　if　it　never　could　compete　with　the　quick　action　of　its　competitor。　Yet　it　was　undeniably　ahead；　and　gaining　at　every　swing。

Young　Hardie　writhed　on　his　perch。　He　screeched　at　them　across　the　Thames；　〃Well　pulled；　Stroke！　Well　pulled　all！　Splendidly　pulled；　Dodd！　You　are　walking　away　from　them　altogether。　Hurrah；　Oxford　for　ever；　hurrah！〃　The　gun　went　off　over　the　heads　of　the　Oxford　crew　in　advance；　and　even　Mrs。　Dodd　and　Julia　could　see　the　race　was　theirs。

〃We　have　won　at　last；〃　cried　Julia；　all　on　fire；　〃and　fairly；　only　think　of　that！〃

Hardie　turned　round；　grateful　to　beauty　for　siding　with　his　university。　〃Yes；　and　the　fools　may　thank　me；　or　rather　my　man；　Dodd。　Dodd　for　ever！　Hurrah！〃

At　this　climax　even　Mrs。　Dodd　took　a　gentle　share　in　the　youthful　enthusiasm　that　was　boiling　around　her；　and　her　soft　eyes　sparkled；　and　she　returned　the　fervid　pressure　of　her　daughter's　hand；　and　both　their　faces　were　flushed　with　gratified　pride　and　affection。

〃Dodd！〃　broke　in　〃the　incongruous　dog；〃　with　a　voice　just　like　a　saw's。　〃Dodd？　Ah；　that's　the　man　who　is　just　ploughed　for　smalls。〃


Ice　has　its　thunderbolts。


CHAPTER　II

WINNING　boat…races　was　all　very　fine；　but　a　hundred　such　victories　could　not　compensate　Mr。　Kennet's　female　hearers　for　one　such　defeat　as　he　had　announceda　defeat　that；　to　their　minds；　carried　disgrace。　Their　Edward　plucked！　At　first　they　were　benumbed；　and　sat　chilled；　with　red　cheeks；　bewildered　between　present　triumph　and　mortification　at　hand。　Then　the　colour　ebbed　out　of　their　faces；　and　they　encouraged　each　other　feebly　in　whispers；　〃Might　it　not　be　a　mistake？〃

But　unconscious　Kennet　robbed　them　of　this　timid　hope。　He　was　now　in　his　element；　knew　all　about　it；　rushed　into　details；　and　sawed　away　all　doubt　from　their　minds。　The　sum　was　this。　Dodd's　general　performance　was　mediocre；　but　passable；　he　was　plucked　for　his　Logic。　Hardie　said　he　was　very　sorry　for　it。　〃What　does　it　matter？〃　answered　Kennet；　〃he　is　a　boating…man。

〃Well；　and　I　am　a　boating…man。　Why；　you　told　me　yourself；　the　other　day；　poor　Dodd　was　anxious　about　it　on　account　of　his　friends。　And；　by…the…bye；　that　reminds　me　they　say　he　has　got　two　pretty　sisters　here。〃

Says　Kennet　briskly；　〃I'll　go　and　tell　him；　I　know　him　just　to　speak　to。〃

〃What！　doesn't　he　know？〃

〃How　can　he　know　？〃　said　Kennet　jealously；　〃the　testamumrs　were　only　just　out　as　I　came　away。〃　And　within　this　line　started　on　his　congenial　errand。

Hardie　took　two　or　three　of　his　long　strides；　and　fairly　collared　him。　〃You　will　do　nothing　of　the　kind。〃

〃What；　not　tell　a　man　when　he's　ploughed？　That　is　a　good　joke。〃

〃No。　There's　time　enough。　Tell　him　after　chapel　to…morrow；　or　in　chapel　if　you　must；　but　why　poison　his　triumphal　cup？　And　his　sisters；　too；　why　spoil　their　pleasure？　Hang　it　all；　not　a　word　about　'ploughing'　to　any　living　soul　to…day。

To　his　surprise；　Kennet's　face　expressed　no　sympathy；　nor　even　bare　assent。　At　this　Hardie　lost　patience；　and　burst　out　impetuously；　〃Take　care　how　you　refuse　me；　take　care　how　you　thwart　me　in　this。　He　is　the　best…natured　fellow　in　college。　It　doesn't　matter　to　you；　and　it　does　to　him；　and　if　you　_do；_　then　take　my　name　off　the　list　of　your　acquaintance；　for　I'll　never　speak　a　word　to　you　again　in　this　world；　no；　not　on　my　death…bed；　by　Heaven！〃

The　threat　was　extravagant；　but　Youth's　glowing　cheek　and　eye；　and　imperious　lip；　and　simple　generosity；　made　it　almost　beautiful。

Kennet　whined；　〃Oh；　if　you　talk　like　that；　there　is　an　end　to　fair　argument。〃

〃End　it　then；　and　promise　me；　upon　your　honour！〃

〃Why　not？　What　bosh！　There；　I　promise。　Now；　how　do　you　construe　＇Greek　text＇？〃

The　incongruous　dog　（〃I　thank　thee；　Taff；　for　teaching　me　that　word〃）　put　this　query　with　the　severity　of　an　inquisitor　bringing　back　a　garrulous　prisoner　to　the　point。　Hardie　replied　gaily；　〃Any　way　you　like；　now　you　are　a　good　fellow　again。〃

〃Come；　that　is　evasive。　My　tutor　says　it　cannot　be　rendered　by　any　one　English　word；　no　more　can　＇Greek　text＇。〃

〃Why；　what　on　earth　can　he　know　about　English？　＇Greek　text＇　is　a　Cormorant：　＇Greek　text＇　is　a　Skinflint；　and　your　tutor　is　a　Duffer。　Hush！　keep　dark　now！　here　he　comes。〃　And　he　went　hastily　to　meet　Edward　Dodd：　and　by　that　means　intercepted　him　on　his　way　to　the　carriage。　〃Give　me　your　hand；　Dodd；〃　he　cried；　〃you　have　saved　the　university。　You　must　be　stroke　of　the　eight…oar　after　me。　Let　me　see　more　of　you　than　I　have；　old　fellow。〃

〃Within　all　my　heart；〃　replied　Edward　calmly；　but　taking　the　offered　hand　cordially；　though　he　rather　wanted　to　get　away　to　his　mother　and　sister。　〃We　will　pull　together；　and　read　together　into　the　bargain；〃　continued　Hardie。

〃Read　together？　You　and　I？　What　do　you　mean？〃

〃Well；　you　see　I　am　pretty　well　up　in　the　Imigliner　books；　what　I　have　got　to　rub　up　is　my　Divinity　and　my　Logicespecially　my　Logic。　Will　you　grind　Logic　with　me？　Say　'Yes；'　for　I　know　you　will　keep　your　word。〃

〃It　is　too　good　an　offer　to　refuse；　Hardie；　but　now　I　look　at　you；　you　are　excited：　wonderfully　excited：　within　the　race；　eh？　Now；　justyouwaitquietlytill　next　week；　and　then；　if　you　are　so　soft　as　to　ask　me　in　cool　blood〃

〃Wait　a　week？〃　cried　the　impetuous　youth。　〃No；　not　a　minute。　It　is　settled。　There；　we　cram　Logic　together　next　term。〃

And　he　shook　Edward's　hand　again　with　glistening　eyes　and　an　emotion　that　was　quite　unintelligible　to　Edward；　but　not　to　the　quick；　sensitive　spirits；　who　sat　but　fifteen　yards　off。

〃You　really　must　excuse　me　just　now；〃　said　Edward；　and　ran　to　the　carriage；　and　put　out　both　hands　to　the　fair　occupants。　They　kissed　him　eagerly；　with　little　tender　sighs；　and　it　cost　them　no　slight　effort　not　to　cry　publicly　over　〃the　beloved；〃　〃the　victorious；〃　〃the　ploughed。〃

Young　Hardie　stood　petrified。　What？　These　ladies　Dodd's　sisters。　Why；　one　of　them　had　called　the　other　mamma。　Good　heavens！　all　his　talk　in　their　hearing　had　been　of　Dodd；　and　Kennet　and　he　between　them　had　let　out　the　very　thing　he　wanted　to　conceal；　especially　from　Dodd's　relations。　He　gazed　at　them；　and　turned　hot　to　the　very　forehead。　Then；　not　knowing　what　to　do　or　say；　and　being　after　all　but　a　clever　boy；　not　a　cool；　〃never　unready〃　man　of　the　world；　he　slipped　away；　blushing。　Kennet　followed；　goggling。


Left　to　herself；　Mrs。　Dodd　would　have　broken　the　bad　news　to　Edward　at　once；　and　taken　the　line　of　consoling　him　under　her　own　vexation：　it　would　not　have　been　the　first　time　that　she　had　played　that　card。　But　young　Mr。　Hardie　had　said　it　would　be　unkind　to　poison　Edward's　day：　and　it　is　sweet　woman's　nature　to　follow　suit；　so　she　and　Julia　put　bright　faces　on；　and　Edward　passed　a　right　jocund　afternoon　with　them。　He　was　not　allowed　to　surprise　one　of　the　looks　they　interchanged　to　relieve　their　secret　mortification。　But；　after　dinner；　as　the　time　drew　near　for　him　to　go　back　to　Oxford；　Mrs。　Dodd　became　silent；　and　a　little　_distraite；_　and　at　last　drew　her　chair　away　to　a　small　table；　and　wrote　a　letter。

In　directing　it　she　turned　it　purposely；　so　that　Julia　could　catch　the　address：　_〃Edward　Dodd；　Esq。；　Exeter　College；　Oxford。_〃

Julia　was　naturally　startled　at　first；　and　her　eye　roved　almost　comically　to　and　fro　the　letter　and　its　Destination；　seated　calm　and　unconscious　of　woman's　beneficent　wiles。　But　her　heart　soon　divined　the　mystery：　it　was　to　reach　him　the　first　thing　in　the　morning；　and　spare　him　the　pain　of　writing　the　news　to　them；　and；　doubtless；　so　worded　as　not　to　leave　him　a　day　in　doubt　of　their　forgiveness　and　sympathy。

Julia　took　the　missive　unobserved　by　the　Destination；　and　glided　out　of　the　room　to　get　it　quietly　posted。

The　servant…girl　was　waiting　on　the　second…floor　lodgers；　and　told　her　so；　with　a　significant　addition；　viz。；　that　the　post　was　in　this　street；　and　only　a　few　doors　off。　Julia　was　a　little　surprised　at　her　coolness；　but　took　the　hint　with　perfect　good　temper；　and　just　put　on　her　shawl　and　bonnet；　and　went　with　it　herself。　The　post…office　was　not　quite　so　near　as　represented；　but　she　was　soon　there；　for　she　was　eager　till　she　had　posted　it。　But　she　came　back　slowly　and　thoughtfully；　here　in　the　street；　lighted　only　by　the　moon；　and　an　occasional　gaslight；　there　was　no　need　for　self…restraint；　and　soon　her　mortification　betrayed　itself　in　her　speaking　countenance。　And　to　think　that　her　mother；　on　whom　she　doted；　should　have　to　write　to　her　son；　there　present；　and　post　the　letter！　This　made　her　eyes　fill；　and　before　she　reached　the　door　of　the　lodging；　they　were　brimming　over。

As　shine　put　her　foot　on　the　step；　a　timid　voice　addressed　her　in　a　low　tone　of　supplication。　〃May　I　venture　to　speak　one　word　to　you；　Miss　Dodd？one　single　word？〃

She　looked　up　surprised；　and　it　was　young　Mr。　Hardie。

His　tall　figure　was　bending　towards　her　submissively；　and　his　face；　as　well　as　his　utterance；　betrayed　considerable　agitation。


And　what　led　to　so　unusual　a　rencontre　between　a　young　gentleman　and　lady　who　had　never　been　introduced？

〃The　Tender　Passion；〃　says　a　reader　of　many　novels。

Why；　yes；　the　tenderest　in　all　our　nature：

Wounded　Vanity。

Naturally　proud　and　sensitive；　and　inflated　by　success　and　flattery；　Alfred　Hardie　had　been　torturing　himself　ever　since　he　fled　Edward's　female　relations。　He　was　mortified　to　the　core。　He　confounded　〃the　fools〃　（his　favourite　synonym　for　his　acquaintance）　for　going　and　calling　Dodd's　mother　an　elder　sister；　and　so　not　giving　him　a　chance　to　divine　her。　And　then　that　he；　who　prided　himself　on　his　discrimination；