hard cash-第69章

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Mrs。　Dodd；　to　encourage　her；　told　her　not　to　be　put　out：　it　had　been　arranged　all　along　that　Edward　should　go　for　him：　〃Unfortunately　we　had　an　impression　it　was　the　other　way：　but　now　Edward　is　gone　to　his　lodgings。〃

〃No；　mamma；〃　said　Julia；　〃Alfred　was　to　call　for　Edward；　because　our　house　was　on　the　way。〃

〃Are　you　sure；　my　child？〃　asked　Mrs。　Dodd　very　gravely。

〃Oh　yes；　mamma；〃　said　Julia；　beginning　to　tremble；　〃at　a　quarter　before　eleven：　I　heard　them　settle　it。〃

The　matter　was　terribly　serious　now；　indeed；　it　began　to　look　hopeless。　Weather　overclouded：　rain…drops　falling；　and　hard　upon　twelve　o'clock。

They　all　looked　at　one　another　in　despair。

Suddenly　there　was　a　loud；　long　buzzing　heard　outside；　and　the　house　of　God　turned　into　a　gossiping　fair。　〃Talk　of　money　changers；〃　said　Satan　that　day；　〃give　_me_　the　exchangers　of　small　talk。〃

〃Thank　Heaven　they　are　come；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　But；　having　thus　relieved　her　mind；　she　drew　herself　up　and　prepared　a　freezing　reception　for　the　defaulter。

A　whisper　reached　their　excited　ears：　〃It　is　young　Mr。　Dodd〃　and　next　moment　Edward　came　into　the　vestryalone：　the　sight　of　him　was　enough；　his　brow　wet　with　perspiration；　his　face　black　and　white　with　bitter　wrath。

〃Come　home；　_my_　people；〃　he　said　sternly：　〃there　will　be　no　wedding　here　to…day！〃

The　bridesmaids　cackled　questions　at　him；　he　turned　his　back　on　them。

Mrs。　Dodd　knew　her　son's　face　too　well　to　waste　inquiries。　〃Give　me　my　child！〃　she　cried；　in　such　a　burst　of　mother's　anguish　long　restrained；　that　even　the　insult　to　the　bride　was　forgotten　for　one　moment；　till　she　was　seen　tottering　into　her　mother's　arms　and　cringing　and　trying　to　hide　bodily　in　her：　〃Oh；　throw　a　shawl　over　me；〃　she　moaned；　〃hide　all　this。〃

Well；　they　all　did　what　they　could。　Jane　hung　round　her　neck　and　sobbed；　and　said；　〃I've　a　sister　now；　and　no　brother。〃　The　bridesmaids　cried。　The　young　curate　ran　and　got　the　fly　to　the　vestry…door：　〃Get　into　it；〃　he　said；　〃and　you　will　at　least　escape　the　curious　crowd。〃

〃God　bless　you；　Mr。　Hurd；〃　said　Edward；　half　choked。　He　hurried　the　insulted　bride　and　her　mother　in；　Julia　huddled　and　shrank　into　a　corner　under　Mrs。　Dodd's　shawl：　Mrs。　Dodd　had　all　the　blinds　down　in　a　moment；　and　they　went　home　as　from　a　funeral。

Ay；　and　a　funeral　it　was；　for　the　sweetest　girl　in　England　buried　her　hopes；　her　laugh；　her　May　of　youth；　in　that　church　that　day。

When　she　got　to　Albion　Villa；　she　cast　a　wild　look　all　around　for　fear　she　should　be　seen　in　her　wedding　clothes；　and　darted　moaning　into　the　house。

Sarah　met　her　in　the　hall；　smirking；　and　saying；　〃Wish　you　j〃

The　poor　bride　screamed　fearfully　at　the　mocking　words；　and　cut　the　conventional　phrase　in　two　as　with　a　razor；　then　fled　to　her　own　room　and　tore　off　her　wreath；　her　veil；　her　pearls；　and　had　already　strewed　the　room；　when　Mrs。　Dodd；　with　a　foot　quickened　by　affection；　burst　in　and　caught　her　half　fainting；　and　laid　her　weary　as　old　age；　and　cold　as　a　stone；　upon　her　mother's　bosom；　and　rocked　her　as　in　the　days　of　happy　childhood　never　to　return；　and　bedewed　the　pale　face　with　her　own　tears。

Sampson　took　the　bridesmaids　each　to　her　residence；　on　purpose　to　leave　Edward　free。　He　came　home；　washed　his　face；　and；　sick　at　heart；　but　more　master　of　himself；　knocked　timidly　at　Julia's　door。

〃Come　in；　_my　son；_〃　said　a　broken　voice。

He　crept　in；　and　saw　a　sorry　sight。　The　travelling　dress　and　bonnet　were　waiting　still　on　the　bed；　the　bridal　wreath　and　veil　lay　on　the　floor；　and　so　did　half　the　necklace；　and　the　rest　of　the　pearls　all　about　the　floor；　and　Julia；　with　all　her　hair　loose　and　hanging　below　her　waist；　lay　faintly　quivering　in　her　mother's　arms。

Edward　stood　and　looked；　and　groaned。

Mrs。　Dodd　whispered　to　him　over　Julia：　〃Not　a　tear！　not　a　tear！〃

〃Dead；　or　false？〃　moaned　the　girl：　〃dead；　or　false？　Oh　that　I　could　believe　he　was　false；　no；　no；　he　is　dead；　dead。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　whispered　again　over　her　girl。

〃Tell　her　something：　give　us　tearsthe　world　for　one　tear！〃

〃What　shall　I　say？〃　gasped　Edward。

〃Tell　her　the　truth；　and　trust　to　God；　whose　child　she　is。〃　Edward　knelt　on　the　floor　and　took　her　hand

〃My　poor　little　Ju；〃　he　said；　in　a　voice　broken　with　pity　and　emotion；　〃would　you　rather　have　him　dead；　or　false　to　you？〃

〃'Why　false；　a　thousand　times。　It's　Edward。　Bless　your　sweet　face；　my　own；　own　brother；　tell　me　he　is　false；　and　not　come　to　deadly　harm。〃

〃You　shall　judge　for　yourself；〃　he　groaned。　〃I　went　to　his　lodgings。　He　had　left　the　town。　The　woman　told　me　a　letter　came　for　him　last　night。　A　letter　ina　female　hand。　The　scoundrel　came　in　from　us；　got　this　letter；　packed　up　his　things　directly；　paid　his　lodging；　and　went　off　in　a　two…horse　fly　at　eight　o'clock　in　the　morning。〃


CHAPTER　XXX

AT　these　plain　proofs　of　Alfred's　infidelity；　Julia's　sweet　throat　began　to　swell　hysterically；　and　then　her　bosom　to　heave　and　pant：　and；　after　a　piteous　struggle；　came　a　passion　of　sobs　and　tears　so　wild；　so　heart…broken；　that　Edward　blamed　himself　bitterly　for　telling　her。

But　Mrs。　Dodd　sobbed　〃No；　no；　I　would　rather　have　her　so；　only　leave　her　with　me　now：　bless　you；　darling：　leave　us　quickly。〃

She　rocked　and　nursed　her　deserted　child　hours　and　hours：　and　so　the　miserable　day　crawled　to　its　close。

Downstairs　the　house　looked　strange　and　gloomy：　she；　who　had　brightened　it　all；　was　darkened　herself。　The　wedding　breakfast　and　flowers　remained　in　bitter　mockery。　Sarah　cleared　half　the　table；　and　Sampson　and　Edward　dined　in　moody　silence。

Presently　Sampson's　eye　fell　upon　the　Deed：　it　lay　on　a　small　table　with　a　pen　beside　it；　to　sign　on　their　return　from　church。

Sampson　got　hold　of　it　and　dived　in　the　verbiage。　He　came　up　again　with　a　discovery。　In　spite　of　its　feebleness；　verbosity；　obscurity；　and　idiotic　way　of　expressing　itself；　the　Deed　managed　to　convey　to　David　and　Mrs。　Dodd　a　life　interest　in　nine　thousand　five　hundred　pounds；　with　reversion　to　Julia　and　the　children　of　the　projected　marriage。　Sampson　and　Edward　put　their　heads　over　this；　and　it　puzzled　them；　〃Why；　man；〃　said　Sampson；　〃if　the　puppy　had　signed　this　last　night；　he　would　be　a　beggar　now。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Edward；　〃but　after　all　he　did　not　sign　it。〃

〃Nay；　but　that　was　your　fault；　not　his：　the　lad　was　keen　to　sign。〃

〃That　is　true；　and　perhaps　if　we　had　pinned　him　to　this；　last　night；　he　would　not　have　dared　insult　my　sister　to…day。〃

Sampson　changed　the　subject　by　inquiring　suddenly　which　way　he　was　gone。

〃Curse　him；　I　don't　know；　and　don't　care。　Go　where　he　will　I　shall　meet　him　again　some　day；　and　thenEdward　spoke　almost　in　a　whisper；　but　a　certain　grind　of　his　white　teeth　and　flashing　of　his　lion　eyes　made　the　incomplete　sentence　very　expressive。

〃What　ninnies　you　young　men　are；〃　said　the　Doctor；　〃even　you；　that　I　dub　'my　fathom　o'　good　sense：'　just　finish　your　denner　and　come　with　me。〃

〃No；　Doctor；　I'm　off　my　feed　for　once：　if　you　had　been　upstairs　and　seen　my　poor　sister！　Hang　the　grub；　it　turns　my　stomach。〃　And　he　shoved　his　plate　away；　and　leaned　over　the　back　of　his　chair。

Sampson　made　him　drink　a　glass　of　wine；　and　then　they　got　up　from　the　half…finished　meal　and　went　hurriedly　to　Alfred's　lodgings；　the　Doctor；　though　sixty；　rushing　along　with　all　the　fire　and　buoyancy　of　early　youth。　They　found　the　landlady　surrounded　by　gossips　curious　as　themselves；　and　longing　to　chatter；　but　no　materials。　The　one　new　fact　they　elicited　was　that　the　vehicle　was　a　White　Lion　fly；　for　she　knew　the　young　man　by　the　cast　in　his　eye。　〃Come　away；〃　shouted　the　Doctor　unceremoniously；　and　in　two　minutes　they　were　in　the　yard　of　the　White　Lion。

Sampson　called　the　ostler：　out　came　a　hard…featured　man；　with　a　strong　squint。　Sampson　concluded　this　was　his　man；　and　said　roughly：　〃Where　did　you　drive　young　Hardie　this　morning？〃

He　seemed　rather　taken　aback　by　this　abrupt　question；　but　reflected　and　slapped　his　thigh：　〃Why；　that　is　the　party　from　Mill　Street。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Druv　him　to　Silverton　station；　sir：　and　wasn't　long　about　it；　eithergent　was　in　a　hurry。〃

〃What　train　did　he　go　by？〃

〃Well；　I　don't　know；　sir；　I　left　him　at　the　station。〃

〃Well；　then；　where　did　he　take　his　ticket　for？　Where　did　he　tell　the　porter　he　was　going？　Think　now；　and　I'll　give　y'　a　sovereign。〃

The　ostler　scratched　his　head；　and　seemed　at　first　inclined　to　guess　for　the　sovereign；　but　at　last　said：　〃I　should　only　be　robbing　you　gents。　Ye　see；　he　paid　the　fly　then　and　there；　and　gave　me　a　crown：　and　I　druv　away　directly。〃

On　this　they　gave　him　a　shilling　and　left　him。　But　on　leaving　the　yard　Edward　said：　〃Doctor；　I　don't　like　that　fellow's　looks：　let　us　try　the　landlord。〃　They　went　into　the　bar　and　made　similar　inquiries。　The　landlord　was　out；　the　mistress　knew　nothing　about　it；　but　took　a　book　out　of　a　drawer；　and　turned　over　the　leaves。　She　read　out　an　entry　to　this　effect

〃Pair　horse　fly　to　Silverton：　take　up　in　Mill　Street　at　eight　o'clock。　Is　that　it；　sir？〃　Sampson　assented；　but　Edward　told　her　the　ostler　said　it　was　Silverton　station。

〃No：　it　is　Silverton　in　the　book；　sir。　Well；　you　see　it　is　all　one　to　us；　the　station　is　further　than　the　town；　but　we　charge　seven　miles　whichever　'tis。〃

Bradshaw；　inspected　then　and　there；　sought　in　vain　to　conceal　that　four　trains　reach　Silverton　from　different　points　between　8。50　and　9。25　A。　M。

The　friends　retired　with　this　scanty　information。　Alfred　could　hardly　have　gone　to　London；　for　there　was　a　train　up　from　Barkington　itself　at　8。30。　But　he　might　have　gone　to　almost　any　other　part　of　the　island；　or　out　of　it　for　that　matter。　Sampson　fell　into　a　brown　study。

After　a　long　silence；　which　Edward　was　too　sad　to　break；　he　said　thoughtfully：　〃Bring　sceince　to　bear　on　this　hotch…potch。　Facks　are　never　really　opposed　to　facks；　they　onnly　seem　to　be：　and　the　true　solution　is　the　one　which　riconciles　all　the　facks：　for　instance；　the　chronothairmal　Therey　riconciles　all　th'　undisputed　facks　in　midicine。　So　now　sairch　for　a　solution　to　riconcile　the　Deed　with　the　puppy　levanting。〃

Edward　searched；　but　could　find　none；　and　said　so。

〃Can't　you？〃　said　Sampson；　〃then　I'll　give　you　a　couple。　Say　he　is　touched　in　the　upper　story　for　one。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？　Mad？〃

〃Oh：　there　are　degrees　of　Phrinzy。　Here　is　th'　inconsistency　of　conduct　that　marks　a　disturbance　of　the　reason：　and；　to　tell　the　truth；　I　once　knew　a　young　fellow　that　played　this　very　prank　at　a　wedding；　and　the　nixt　thing　we　hard；　my　lorrd　was　in　Bedlam。〃

Edward　shook　his　head：　〃It　is　the　villain's　heart；　not　his　brain。〃

Sampson　then　offered　another　solution；　in　which　he　owned　he　had　more　confidence

〃He　has　been　courting　some　other　wumman　first：　she　declined；　or　made　believe；　but；　when　she　found　he　had　the　spirit　to　go　and　marry　an　innocent　girl；　then　the　jade　wrote　to　him　and　yielded。　It's　a　married　one；　likely。　I've　known　women　go　further　for　hatred　of　a　wumman　than　they　would　for　love　of　a　man　and　here　was　a　temptation！　to　snap　a　lover　off　th'　altar；　and　insult　a　rival；　all　at　one　blow。　He　meant　to　marry：　he　meant　to　sign　that　deed：　ay　and　at　his　age；　even　if　he　had　signed　it；　he　would　have　gone　off　at　passion's　call；　and　beggared　himself。　What　enrages　me　is　that　we　didn't　let　him　sign　it；　and　so　na