hard cash-第84章

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　the　business；　the　enclosed　would　give　her　a　hint。　She　might　name　her　own　day；　and　the　sooner　the　better。

The　enclosed　was　a　wedding…ring。

At　nine　this　extraordinary　pair　of　lovers　met　at　the　gate；　but　Peggy　seemed　hardly　at　her　ease；　said　her　master　would　be　coming　out　and　catching　her；　perhaps　they　had　better　walk　up　the　road　a　bit。　〃With　all　my　heart；〃　said　Green；　but　he　could　not　help　a　little　sneer：　〃Your　master？〃　said　he：　〃why　he　is　your　servant；　as　I　am。　What；　is　he　jealous？〃

〃I　don't　know　what　you　mean；　young　man；〃　said　Peggy。

〃I'll　tell　you　when　we　are　married。〃

〃La；　that　is　a　long　time　to　wait　for　my　answer：　why　we　ain't　asked　in　church　yet。〃

〃There's　no　need　of　that；　I　can　afford　a　special　licence。〃

〃Lawk　a　daisy：　why　you　be　a　gentleman；　then。〃

〃No；　but　I　can　keep　my　wife　like　a　lady。〃

You　sounds　very　tempting；〃　murmured　Peggy；　throwing　her　skirt　over　her　headfor　a　drizzle　was　beginningand　walking　slower　and　slower。

Then　he　made　hot　love　to　her；　and　pressed　her　hard　to　name　the　day。

She　coquetted　with　the　question　till　they　came　near　the　mouth　of　a　dark　lane；　called　Lovers'　Walk；　then；　as　he　insisted　on　an　answer；　she　hung　her　head　bashfully；　and　coughed　a　little　cough。　At　which　preconcerted　signal　a　huge　policeman　sprang　out　of　the　lane　and　collared　Mr。　Green。

On　this　Peggy；　who　was　all　Lie　from　head　to　heel；　uttered　a　little　scream　of　dismay　and　surprise。

Mr。　Green　laughed。

〃Well；　you　_are_　a　downy　one；〃　said　he。　〃I'll　marry　you　all　the　more　for　thus。〃

The　detective　put　his　hands　suddenly　inside　the　policeman's；　caught　him　by　the　bosom　with　his　right　hand　by　way　of　fulcrum；　and　with　his　left　by　the　chin；　which　he　forced　violently　back；　and　gave　him　a　slight　Cornish　trip　at　the　same　moment；　down　went　the　policeman　on　the　back　of　his　head　a　fearful　crack。　Green　then　caught　the　astonished　Peggy　round　the　neck；　kissed　her　lips　violently；　and　fled　like　the　wind；　removed　all　traces　of　his　personal　identity；　and　up　to　London　by　the　train　in　the　character　of　a　young　swell；　with　a　self…fitting　eyeglass　and　a　long　moustache　the　colour　of　his　tender　mistress's　eyebrow：　tow。

From　town　he　wrote　to　her；　made　her　a　formal　offer　of　marriage；　and　gave　her　an　address　to　write　to　〃should　she　at　any　time　think　more　kindly　of　him　and　of　his　sincere　affection。〃

I　suppose　he　specified　sincere　because　it　was　no　longer　sincere：　he　hurled　the　offer　into　Musgrove　Cottage　by　way　of　an　apple　of　discordat　least　so　I　infer　from　the　memorandum；　with　which　he　retired　at　present　from　the　cash　hunt。

〃Mr。　Hardie　has　the　stiff；　I　think：　but；　if　so；　it　is　planted　somewheredoesn't　carry　it　about　him；　my　Peggy　is　his　mistress：　nothing　to　be　done　till　they　split。〃


Victorious　so　far；　Mr。　Hardie　had　still　one　pressing　anxiety：　Dr。　Sampson's　placard：　this　had　been　renewed；　and　stared　him　everywhere　in　the　face。　Every　copy　of　it　he　encountered　made　him　shiver。　If　he　had　been　a　man　of　impulse；　he　would　have　torn　it　down　wherever　he　saw　it；　but　he　knew　that　would　not　do。　However；　learning　from　Jane；　who　had　it　from　old　Betty；　who　had　it　from　Sarah；　that　Mrs。　and　Miss　Dodd　would　leave　for　London　the　day　before　the　sale；　and　Edward　the　day　after　it；　he　thought　he　might　venture　in　the　busy　intermediate　time　to　take　some　liberties　with　it。　This　he　did　with　excellent　tact　and　judgment。　Peggy　and　a　billsticker　were　seen　in　conference；　and；　soon　after；　the　huge　bills　of　a　travelling　circus　were　pasted　right　over　both　the　rival　advertisements　in　which　the　name　of　Hardie　figured。　The　consequence　was；　Edward　raised　no　objection：　he　was　full　of　the　sale　for　one　thing；　but　I　suspect　he　was　content　to　see　his　own　false　move　pasted　over　on　such　easy　terms。


One　morning　Peggy　brought　in　the　letters；　and　Jane　saw　one　in　Alfred's　handwriting。　She　snatched　it　up；　and　cried　〃Papa；　from　Alfred！〃　And　she　left　off　making　the　tea；　while　her　father　opened　it　with　comparative　composure。

This　coolness；　however；　did　not　outlast　the　perusal：　〃The　young　ruffian！〃　said　he；　〃would　you　believe　it　Jenny；　he　accuses　me　of　being　the　cause　of　his　last　business。〃

〃Let　me　see；　papa。〃

He　held　her　out　the　letter；　but　hesitated　and　drew　it　back。　〃My　dear；　it　would　give　you　pain　to　see　your　poor　father　treated　so。　Here's　a　specimen：　'What　could　they　expect　but　that　the　son　of　a　sharper　would　prove　a　traitor？　You　stole　her　money；　I　her　affections；　of　which　I　am　unworthy。'　Now　what　do　you　think　of　that？〃

〃Unhappy　Alfred！〃　said　Jane。　〃No；　papa；　I　would　not　read　it；　if　you　are　insulted　in　it。　But　where　is　he？〃

〃The　letter　is　dated　Paris。　See！　〃　And　he　showed　her　the　date。　〃But　he　says　here　he　is　coming　back　to　London　directly；　and　he　orders　me　in　the　most　peremptory　way　to　he　ready　with　my　accounts；　and　pay　him　over　his　fortune。　Well；　he　is　alive；　at　all　events：　really　my　good；　kind；　interfering；　pragmatical　friend　Sampson；　with　his　placards；　made　me　feel　uneasy；　more　uneasy　than　I　would　own　to　you；　Jenny。〃

〃Unhappy　Alfred！〃　cried　Jane；　with　the　tears　in　her　eyes；　〃and　poor　papa！〃

〃Oh；　never　mind　me；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　〃now　that　I　know　no　harm　has　come　to　him；　I　really　don't　care　a　straw：　I　have　got　one　child　that　loves　me；　and　that　I　love。〃

〃Ah　yes；　dear；　dear　papa；　and　that　will　always　love　you；　and　never；　never　disobey　you　in　small　things　or　great。〃　She　rose　from　the　table　and　sealed　this　with　a　pious　kiss；　and；　when　she　sat　down　with　a　pink　flush　on　her　delicate　cheek；　his　hard　eye　melted　and　dwelt　on　her　with　beaming　tenderness。　His　heart　yearned　over　her；　and　a　pang　went　through　it：　to　think　that　he　must　deceive　even　her；　the　one　sweet　soul　that　loved　him！

It　was　a　passing　remorse：　the　successful　plotter　soon　predominated；　and　it　was　with　unmixed　satisfaction　he　saw　her　put　on　her　bonnet　directly　after　breakfast　and　hurry　off　to　Albion　Villa　to　play　the　part　of　his　unconscious　sieve。

He　himself　strolled　in　the　opposite　direction；　not　to　seem　to　be　watching　her。

He　was　in　good　spirits：　felt　like　a　general；　who；　after　repulsing　many　desperate　attacks　successfully；　orders　an　advance；　and　sees　the　tide　of　battle　roll　away　from　his　bayonets。　His　very　body　seemed　elastic；　indomitable；　he　walked　lustily　out　into　the　country；　sniffed　the　perfumed　hedges；　and　relished　life。　To　be　sure　he　could　not　walk　away　from　all　traces　of　his　misdeeds；　he　fell　in　with　objects　that　to　an　ordinary　sinner　might　have　spoiled　the　walk；　and　even　marred　the　spring…time。　He　found　his　creditor　Maxley　with　grizzly　beard　and　bloodshot　eyes；　belabouring　a　milestone；　and　two　small　boys　quizzing　him；　and　pelting　him　with　mud：　and　soon　after　he　met　his　creditor；　old　Dr。　Phillips；　in　a　cart；　coming　back　to　Barkington　to　end　his　days　there；　at　the　almshouse。　But　to　our　triumphant　Bankrupt　and　Machiavel　these　things　were　literally　nothing：　he　paced　complacently　on；　and　cared　no　more　for　either　of　those　his　wrecks　than　the　smiling　sea　itself　seems　to　care　for　the　dead　ships　and　men　it　washed　ashore　a　week　ago。

He　came　home　before　luncheon　for　his　gossip　with　Jane；　but　she　had　not　returned。　All　the　better；　her　budget　would　be　the　larger。

To　while　the　time　he　got　his　file　of　the　_Times；_　and　amused　himself　noting　down　the　fluctuations　in　Peruvian　bonds；

While　thus　employed　he　heard　a　loud　knock　at　his　door；　and　soon　after　Peggy's　voice　and　a　man's　in　swift　collision。　Hasty　feet　came　along　the　passage；　the　parlour　door　opened；　and　a　young　man　rushed　in　pale　as　ashes；　and　stared　at　him；　he　was　breathless；　and　his　lips　moved；　but　no　sound　came。

It　was　Edward　Dodd。

Mr。　Hardie　rose　like　a　tower　and　manned　himself　to　repulse　this　fresh　assault。

The　strange　visitor　gasped　out；　〃You　are　wanted　at　our　house。〃


CHAPTER　XXXVII

JANE　HARDIE　had　found　Albion　Villa　in　the　miserable　state　that　precedes　an　auction：　the　house　raw；　its　contents　higgledy…piggledy。　The　stair　carpets；　and　drawing…room　carpets；　were　up；　and　in　rolls　in　the　dining…room；　the　bulk　of　the　furniture　was　there　too；　the　auction　was　to　be　in　that　room。　The　hall　was　clogged　with　great　packages；　and　littered　with　small；　all　awaiting　the　railway　carts；　and　Edward；　dusty　and　deliquescent；　was　cording；　strapping；　and　nailing　them　at　the　gallop；　in　his　shirt　sleeves。

Jane's　heart　sank　at　the　visible　signs　of　his　departure。　She　sighed；　and　then；　partly　to　divert　his　attention；　told　him　hastily　there　was　a　letter　from　Alfred。　On　this　he　ran　upstairs　and　told　Mrs。　Dodd；　and　she　came　downstairs；　and　after　a　conversation　took　Jane　up　softly　to　her　friend's　room。

They　opened　the　door　gently；　and　Jane　saw　the　grief　she　was　come　to　consoleor　to　embitter。

Such　a　change！　instead　of　the　bright；　elastic；　impetuous　young　beauty；　there　sat　a　pale；　languid　girl；　with　〃weary　of　the　world〃　written　on　every　part　of　her　eloquent　body；　her　right　hand　dangled　by　her　side；　and　on　the　ground　beneath　it　lay　a　piece　of　work　she　had　been　attempting；　but　it　had　escaped　from　those　listless　fingers：　her　left　arm　was　stretched　at　full　length　on　the　table　with　an　unspeakable　abandon；　and　her　brow　laid　wearily　on　it　above　the　elbow。　So　lies　the　wounded　bird；　so　droops　the　broken　lily。

She　did　not　move　for　Jane's　light　foot。　She　often　sat　thus；　a　drooping　statue；　and　let　the　people　come　and　go　unheeded。

Jane's　heart　yearned　for　her。　She　came　softly　and　laid　a　little　hand　lightly　on　her　shoulder；　and　true　to　her　creed　that　we　must　look　upward　for　consolation；　said　in　her　ear；　and　in　solemn　silvery　tones；　〃Our　light　affliction；　which　is　but　for　a　moment；　worketh　for　us　a　far　more　exceeding　and　eternal　weight　of　glory。〃

Julia　turned　at　this　and　flung　her　arms　round　Jane's　neck；　and　panted　heavily。

Jane　kissed　her；　and　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　proceeded　to　pour　out；　from　a　memory　richly　stored　with　Scripture；　those　blessed　words　it　is　full　of；　words　that　in　our　hours　of　ease　or　biblical　criticism　pass　over　the　mind　like　some　drowsy　chime　but　in　the　bitter　day　of　anguish　and　bereavement；　when　the　body　is　racked；　the　soul　darkened；　shine　out　like　stars　to　the　mariner；　seem　then　first　to　swell　to　their　real　size　and　meaning；　and　come　to　writhing　mortals　like　pitying　seraphim；　divinity　on　their　faces　and　healing　on　their　wings。

Julia　sighed　heavily：　〃Ah；〃　she　said；　〃these　are　sweet　words。　But　I　am　not　ripe　for　them。　You　show　me　the　true　path　of　happiness：　but　I　don't　_want_　to　be　happy；　it's　燺him_　I　want　to　be　happy。　If　the　angels　came　for　me　and　took　me　to　heaven　this　moment；　I　should　be　miserable　there；　if　I　thought　_he_　was　in　eternal　torment。　Ay；　I　should　be　as　miserable　there　as　I　am　here。　Oh；　Jane；　when　God　means　to　comfort　me；　He　will　show　me　_he_　is　alive；　till　then　words　are　wasted　on　me；　even　Bible　words。〃

〃Tell　her　your　news；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　quietly。　She　was　one　of　those　who　take　human　nature　as　it　is；　and　make　the　best　of　it。

〃Julia　dear；〃　said　Jane；　〃your　fears　are　extravagant；　indeed：　Alfred　is　alive；　we　know。〃

Julia　trembled；　but　said　nothing。

〃He　has　written　to…day。〃

〃Ah！　To　you？〃

〃No；　to　papa。〃

〃I　don't　believe　it。　Why　to　him？〃

〃But　I　saw　the　letter；　dear；　I　had　it　my　hand。〃

〃Did　you　read　it？〃　asked　Julia；　trembling　now　like　an　aspen；　and　fluttering　like　a　bird。

〃No；　but　I　read　the　address；　and　the　date　inside；　and　I　saw　the　handwriting；　and　I　was　offered　th