hard cash-第87章

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nd　night。〃

Mr。　Hardie　blessed　her；　it　seemed　the　face　of　an　angel；　so　earnest；　so　lovely；　so　pious。　He　went　home：　and　at　the　door　of　his　own　house　Peggy　met　him　with　anxious　looks。　He　told　her　what　he　had　done。

〃Good　Heavens！〃　said　she；　〃have　you　forgotten？　He　says　he　will　kill　you　the　first　day　he　gets　out。　You　told　me　so　yourself。〃

〃Yes；　Baker　said　so。　I　can't　help　it。　I　don't　care　what　becomes　of　me；　I　care　only　for　my　child。　Leave　me；　Peggy；　there；　go；　go。〃

He　was　no　sooner　alone　than　he　fell　upon　his　knees；　and　offered　the　Great　Author　of　life　and　deatha　bargain。　〃O　God；〃　he　cried；　〃I　own　my　sins；　and　I　repent　them。　Spare　but　my　child；　who　never　sinned　against　Thee；　and　I　will　undo　all　I　have　done　amiss　in　Thy　sight。　I　will　refund　that　money　on　which　Thy　curse　lies。　I　will　throw　myself　on　their　mercy。　I　will　set　my　son　free。　I　will　live　on　a　pittance。　I　will　part　with　Peggy。　I　will　serve　Mammon　no　more。　I　will　attend　Thine　ordinances。　I　will　live　soberly；　honestly；　and　godly　all　the　remainder　of　my　days；　only　do　Thou　spare　my　child。　She　is　Thy　servant；　and　does　Thy　work　on　earth；　and　there　is　nothing　on　earth　I　love　but　her。〃


And　now　the　whistle　sounded；　the　train　moved；　and　his　messenger　was　flying　fast　to　London；　with　a　note　to　Dr。　Wycherley：

〃DEAR　SIR；My　poor　daughter　lies　dangerously　wounded；　and　perhaps　at　the　point　of　death。　She　cries　for　her　brother。　He　must　come　down　to　us　instantly　with　the　bearer　of　this。　Send　one　of　your　people　with　him　if　you　like。　But　it　is　not　necessary。　I　enclose　a　blank　cheque；　signed；　which　please　fill　at　your　discretion。I　am；　with　thanks；　yours　in　deep　distress；

〃RICHARD　HARDIE〃



CHAPTER　XXXIX

DR。　SHORT　arrived；　approved　Dr。　Phillips's　treatment；　and　said　the　case　was　severe　but　not　hopeless；　and　he　would　call　again。　A　bed　was　prepared　in　the　house　for　Mr。　Hardie：　but　neither　he　nor　any　of　the　Dodds　closed　an　eye　that　sorrowful　night。

About　midnight；　after　a　short　slumber；　the　sufferer　became　uneasy；　and　begged　to　be　left　with　Julia。　Julia　was　sent　for；　and　found　her　a　good　deal　excited。　She　inquired　more　than　once　if　they　were　quite　alone；　and　then　asked　for　paper　and　a　pencil。　She　wrote　a　few　lines；　and　made　Julia　put　them　in　a　cover　and　seal　them。　〃Now。　dear　friend；〃　she　said；　〃promise　me　not　to　open　this；　nor　even　to　let　your　mother；　it　is　not　for　your　happiness　that　what　I　have　written　should　be　seen　by　her　or　you；　no；　no；　much　better　not。　Come；　dear　friend；　pledge　me　your　honour。〃　Julia　pledged　her　honour。

Then　Jane　wrote　on　the　cover；　〃From　a　dying　sister。〃　Julia　saw　that；　and　wept　sore。

Jane　comforted　her。　〃Do　not　weep　for　me；　love：　I　am　content　to　go；　or　stay。　This　is　not　my　doing；　so　I　know　it　must　be　for　the　best。　He　is　leading　me　by　a　way　that　I　know　not。　Oh；　my　beloved　friend；　how　sweet　it　is　to　lie　in　His　hands；　and　know　no　will　but　His。　Ay；　I　thank　Him　for　crossing　my　will；　and　leading　me　to　Himself　by　His　own　good　way；　and　not　by　poor　blind；　foolish　mine。〃

In　this　spirit　of　full　resignation　she　abode　constant；　and　consoled　her　weeping　friends　from　time　to　time；　whenever　she　was　quite　herself。

About　daybreak；　being　alone　with　her　father；　she　shed　a　few　tears　at　his　lonely　condition。　〃I　fear　you　will　miss　me；〃　said　she。　〃Take　my　advice；　dear；　be　reconciled　with　Alfred　at　once；　and　let　Julia　be　your　daughter；　since　I　am　leaving　you。　She　is　all　humility　and　heart。　Dying；　I　prize　her　and　her　affection　more　highly；　I　seem　to　see　characters　clearer；　all　things　clearer；　than　I　did　before　my　summons　came。〃

The　miserable　father　tried　to　be　playful　and　scold　her：　〃You　must　not　talk　nor　think　of　death；〃　he　said。　〃Your　bridal…day　is　to　come　first；　I　know　all；　Edward　Dodd　has　told　me　he　loves　you。　He　is　a　fine　noble　fellow；　you　shall　marry　him：　I　wish　it。　Now；　for　his　sake；　summon　all　your　resolution；　and　make　up　your　mind　to　live。　Why；　at　your　age；　it　needs　but　to　say；　'I　will　live；　I　will；　I　will；'　and　when　all　the　prospect　is　so　smiling；　when　love　awaits　you　at　the　altar；　and　on　every　side！　If　you　could　leave　your　poor　doting　father；　do　not　leave　your　lover：　and　here　he　is　with　his　mother　crying　for　you。　Let　me　comfort　him；　let　me　tell　him　you　will　live　for　his　sake　and　mine。〃

Even　this　could　not　disturb　the　dying　Christian。　〃Dear　Edward；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　sweet　to　know　he　loves　me。　Ah；　well；　he　is　young；　he　must　live　without　me　till　I　become　but　a　tender　memory　of　his　youth。　And　oh；　I　pray　for　him　that　he　may　cherish　the　words　I　have　spoken　to　him　for　his　soul's　good　far　longer　than　he　can　remember　these　features　that　are　hastening　to　decay。〃

At　ten　in　the　morning　Mr。　Hardie's　messenger　returned　without　Alfred；　and　with　a　note　from　Dr。　Wycherley　to　this　effect；　that；　the　order　for　Alfred's　admission　into　his　asylum　being　signed　by　Mr。　Thomas　Hardie；　he　could　not　send　him　out　even　for　a　day　except　on　Thomas　Hardie's　authority；　it　would　be　a　violation　of　the　law。　Under　the　circumstances；　however；　he　thought　he　might　venture　to　receive　that　order　by　telegraph。　If；　then；　Mr。　Hardie　would　telegraph　Thomas　Hardie　in　Yorkshire　to　telegraph　him　（Wycherley）；　Alfred　should　be　sent　with　two　keepers　wherever　Mr。　T。　Hardie　should　so　direct；

Now　Mr。　Hardie　had　already　repented　of　sending　for　Alfred　at　all。　So；　instead　of　telegraphing　Yorkshire；　he　remained　passive；　and　said　sullenly　to　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃Alfred　can't　come；　it　seems。〃

Thus　Routine　kept　the　brother　from　his　dying　sister。

They　told　Jane；　with　aching　hearts；　there　was　reason　to　fear　Alfred　could　not　arrive　that　day。

She　only　gave　a　meaning　look　at　Julia；　about　the　paper；　and　then　she　said　with　a　little　sigh；　〃God's　will　be　done。〃

This　was　the　last　disappointment　Heaven　allowed　Earth　to　inflict　on　her；　and　the　shield　of　Faith　turned　its　edge。

One　hour　of　pain；　another　of　delirium；　and　now　the　clouds　that　darken　this　mortal　life　seemed　to　part　and　pass；　and　Heaven　to　open　full　upon　her。　She　spoke　of　her　coming　change　no　longer　with　resignation；　it　was　with　rapture。　〃Oh！〃　she　cried；　〃to　think　that　from　this　very　day　I　shall　never　sin　again；　shall　never　again　offend　Him　by　unholy　temper；　by　un…Christ…like　behaviour！〃

The　strong　and　healthy　wept　and　groaned　aloud；　but　she　they　sorrowed　for　was　all　celestial　bliss。　In　her　lifetime　she　had　her　ups　and　downs　of　religious　fervour；　was　not　without　feverish　heats；　and　cold　misgivings　and　depression；　but　all　these　fled　at　that　dread　hour　when　the　wicked　are　a　prey　to　dark　misgivings；　or　escape　into　apathy。　This　timid　girl　that　would　have　screamed　at　a　scratch；　met　the　King　of　Terrors　with　smiles　and　triumph。　For　her　the　grave　was　Jordan；　and　death　was　but　the　iron　gate　of　life　everlasting。　_Mors　janua　vitae。_　Yet　once　or　twice　she　took　herself　to　task：　but　only　to　show　she　knew　what　the　All…Pure　had　forgiven　her。　〃I　often　was　wanting　in　humility；〃　she　said；　〃I　almost　think　that　if　I　were　to　be　sent　back　again　into　this　world　of　sin　and　sorrow　I　am　leaving　behind；　I　should　grow　a　little　in　humility；　for　I　know　the　ripe　Christian　is　like　the　ripe　corn；　holds　his　head　lower　than　when　he　was　green；　and　the　grave　it　seems　to　be　ripening　me。　But　what　does　it　matter？　since　He　who　died　for　me　is　content　to　take　me　as　I　am。　Come　quickly；　Lord　Jesus；　oh；　come　quickly！　Relieve　Thy　servant　from　the　burden　of　the　flesh；　and　of　the　sins　and　foibles　that　cling　to　it　and　keep　her　these　many　years　from　Thee。〃

This　prayer　was　granted；　the　body　failed　more　and　more；　she　could　not　swallow　even　a　drop　of　wine；　she　could　not　even　praise　her　Redeemer；　that　is　to　say；　she　could　not　speak。　Yet　she　lay　and　triumphed。　With　hands　put　together　in　prayer；　and　eyes　full　of　praise　and　joy　unspeakable；　she　climbed　fast　to　God。　While　she　so　mounted　in　the　spirit；　her　breath　came　at　intervals　unusually　long；　and　all　were　sent　for　to　see　Death　conquer　the　body　and　be　conquered　by　the　soul。

At　last；　after　an　unnaturally　long　interval；　she　drew　a　breath　like　a　sigh。　They　waited　for　another；　waited；　waited　in　vain。

She　had　calmly　ceased　to　live。


The　old　doctor　laid　down　her　hand　reverently；　and　said　〃She　is　with　us　no　more。〃　Then　with　many　tears；　〃Oh；　may　we　all　meet　where　she　is　now；　and　may　I　go　to　her　the　first。〃


Richard　Hardie　was　led　from　the　room　in　a　stupor。


Immediately　after　death　all　the　disfiguring　effect　of　pain　retired；　and　the　happy　soul　seemed　to　have　stamped　its　own　celestial　rapture　on　the　countenance　at　the　moment　of　leaving　it；　a　rapture　so　wonderful；　so　divine；　so　more　than　mortal　calm；　irradiated　the　dead　face。　The　good　Christians　she　left　behind　her　looked　on　and　feared　to　weep；　lest　they　should　offend　Him；　who　had　taken　her　to　Himself；　and　set　a　visible　seal　upon　the　house　of　clay　that　had　held　her。　〃Oh；　mamma；〃　cried　Julia　with　fervour；　〃look！　look！　Can　we；　dare　we；　wish　that　angel　back　to　this　world　of　misery　and　sin？〃　And　it　was　some　hours　before　she　cooled；　and　began　to　hang　on　Edward's　neck　and　weep　his　loss　and　hers；　as　weep　we　mortals　must；　though　the　angels　of　Heaven　are　rejoicing。


Thus　died　in　the　flower　of　her　youth；　and　by　what　we　call　a　violent　death；　the　one　child　Richard　Hardie　loved；　member　of　a　religious　party　whose　diction　now　and　then　offends　one　to　the　soul：　but　the　root　of　the　matter　is　in　them；　allowance　made　for　those　passions；　foibles；　and　infirmities　of　the　flesh；　even　you　and　I　are　not　entirely　free　from；　they　live　fearing　God；　and　die　loving　Him。


There　was　an　inquest　next　day；　followed　in　due　course　by　a　public　trial　of　James　Maxley。　But　these　are　matters　which；　though　rather　curious　and　interesting；　must　be　omitted；　or　touched　hereafter　and　briefly。

The　effect　of　Jane's　death　on　Richard　Hardie　was　deplorable。　He　saw　the　hand　of　Heaven；　but　did　not　bow　to　it：　so　it　filled　him　with　rage；　rebellion；　and　despair。　He　got　his　daughter　away　and　hid　himself　in　the　room　with　her；　scarce　stirring　out　by　night　or　day。　He　spoke　to　no　one；　he　shunned　the　Dodds：　he　hated　them。　He　said　it　was　through　visiting　their　house　she　had　met　her　death；　and　at　their　door。　He　would　not　let　himself　see　it　was　he　who　had　sent　her　there　with　his　lie。　He　loathed　Alfred；　calling　him　the　cause　of　all。

He　asked　nobody　to　the　funeral：　and；　when　Edward　begged　permission　to　come；　he　gave　a　snarl　like　a　wild　beast　and　went　raging　from　him。　But　Edward　would　go：　and　at　the　graveside　pitying　Heaven　relieved　the　young　fellow's　choking　heart　with　tears。　But　no　such　dew　came　to　that　parched　old　man；　who　stood　on　its　other　side　like　the　withered　Archangel；　his　eyes　gloomy　and　wild；　his　white　cheek　ploughed　deep　with　care　and　crime　and　anguish；　his　lofty　figure　bowed　by　his　long　warfare；　his　soul　burning　and　sickening　by　turns；　with　hatred　and　rebellion；　with　desolation　and　despair。

He　went　home　and　made　his　will；　for　he　felt　life　hang　on　him　like　lead；　and　that　any　moment　he　might　kill　himself　to　be　rid　of　it。　Strange　to　say；　he　left　a　sum　of　money　to　Edward　Dodd。　A　moment　before；　he　didn't　know　he　was　going　to　do　it：　a　moment　after；　he　was　half　surprised　he　had　done　it；　and　minded　to　undo　it；　but　would　not　take　the　trouble。　He　went　up　to　London；　and　dashed　into　speculation　as　some　in　their　despair　take　to　drink。　For　this　man　had　but　two　passions；　avarice；　and　his　love　for　his　daughter。　Bereaved　of　her；　he　must　either　die；　or　live　for　g