hard cash-第98章

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　to　let　him　out　of　the　asylum　ere　Julia　should　be　Mrs。　Hurd；　and　even　liberty　come　too　late　for　true　love。　She　looked　again　at　the　statue　of　grief　by　her　side；　and　burst　out　crying　in　earnest。

This　was　unfortunate。　Shallow　pity　exuding　in　salt　water　leaves　not　enough　behind　to　gush　forth　in　good　deeds。

She　only　tried　to　undo　her　own　work　in　part；　to　comfort　him　a　little　with　commonplaces。　She　told　him　in　a　soothing　whisper　there　were　other　women　in　the　world　besides　this　inconstant　girl；　others　who　could　love　him　as　he　deserved。

He　made　no　answer　to　all　she　could　say；　but　just　waved　his　hand　once　impatiently。　Petty　consolation　seemed　to　sting　him。

She　drew　back　discouraged；　but　only　for　a　while。　He　was　silent。

With　one　grand　serpentine　movement　she　came　suddenly　close　to　him；　and；　standing　half　behind　him；　laid　her　hand　softly　on　his　shoulder；　and　poured　burning　love　in　his　ear。　〃Alfred；〃　she　murmured；　〃we　are　both　unhappy；　let　us　comfort　one　another。　I　had　pity　on　you　at　Silverton　House；　I　pity　you　now：　pity　_me_　a　little　in　turn：　take　me　out　of　this　dreadful　house；　out　of　this　revolting　life；　and　let　me　be　with　you。　Let　me　be　your　housekeeper；　your　servant；　your　slave。　This　news　that　has　shocked　you　so　has　torn　the　veil　from　my　eyes。　I　thought　I　had　cooled　my　love　down　to　friendship　and　tender　esteem；　but　no；　now　I　see　you　as　unhappy　as　myself；　now　I　can　speak　and　wrong　no　one；　I　own　Ioh　Alfred　my　heart　burns　for　you；　bleeds　for　you；　yearns　for　you；　sickens　for　you；　dies　for　you。〃

〃Oh；　hush！　hush！　Mrs。　Archbold。　You　are　saying　things　you　will　blush　for　the　next　moment。〃

〃I　blush　now；　but　cannot　hush；　I　have　gone　too　far。　And　your　happiness　as　well　as　mine　is　at　stake。　No　young　girl　can　understand　or　value　such　a　man　as　you　are：　but　I；　like　you；　have　suffered；　I；　like　you；　am　constant；　I；　like　you；　am　warm　and　tender；　at　my　age　a　woman's　love　is　bliss　to　him　who　can　gain　it；　and　I　love　you　with　all　my　soul；　Alfred。　I　worship　the　ground　you　walk　on；　my　sweet；　sweet　boy。　Say　you　the　word；　dearest；　and　I　will　bribe　the　servants；　and　get　the　keys；　and　sacrifice　my　profession　for　ever　to　give　you　liberty　（see　how　sweet　the　open　face　of　nature　is；　sweeter　than　anything　on　earth；　but　love）；　and　all　I　ask　is　a　little；　little　of　your　heart　in　return。　Give　me　a　chance　to　make　you　mine　for　ever；　and；　if　I　fail；　treat　me　as　I　shall　deserve；　desert　me　at　once；　and　then　I'll　never　reproach　you；　I'll　only　die　for　you；　as　I　have　lived　for　you　ever　since　I　first　saw　your　heavenly　face。〃

The　passionate　woman　paused　at　last；　but　her　hot　cheek　and　heaving　bosom　and　tender　convulsive　hand　prolonged　the　pleading。

I　am　afraid　few　men　of　her　own　age　would　have　resisted　her；　for　voice　and　speech　and　all　burning；　melting；　and　winning；　and　then；　so　reasonable；　lads；　she　did　not　stipulate　for　constancy。

But　Alfred　turned　round　to　her　blushing　and　sorrowful。　〃For　shame！〃　he　said；　〃this　is　not　love：　you　abuse　that　sacred　word。　Indeed；　if　you　had　ever　really　loved；　you　would　have　pitied　me　and　Julia　long　ago；　and　respected　our　love；　and　saved　us　by　giving　me　my　freedom　long　ago。　I　am　not　a　fool：　do　you　think　I　don't　know　that　you　are　my　jailer；　and　the　cunningest　and　most　dangerous　of　them　all？〃

〃You　cruel；　ungrateful！〃　she　sobbed。

〃No；　I　am　not　ungrateful　either；〃　said　he　more　gently。　〃You　have　always　come　between　me　and　that　kind　of　torture　which　most　terrifies　vulgar　souls：　and　I　thank　you　for　it。　Only　if　you　had　also　pitied　the　deeper　anguish　of　my　heart；　I　should　thank　you　more　still。　As　it　is；　I　forgive　you　for　the　share　you　have　had　in　blasting　my　happiness　for　life；　and　nobody　shall　ever　know　what　you　have　been　mad　enough　in　an　unguarded　moment　to　say；　but　for　pity's　sake　talk　no　more　of　love；　to　mock　my　misery。〃

Mrs。　Archbold　was　white　with　ire　long　before　he　had　done　this　sentence。　〃You　insolent　creature；〃　said　she；　〃you　spurn　my　love；　you　shall　feel　my　hate。〃

〃So　I　conclude；〃　said　he　coldly：　〃such　love　as　yours　is　hard　by　hate。〃

〃It　is；〃　said　she：　〃and　I　know　how　I'll　combine　the　two。　To…day　I　loved　you；　and　you　spurned　me；　ere　long　you　shall　love　me　and　I'll　despise　you；　and　not　spurn　you。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　said　Alfred；　feeling　rather　uneasy。

〃What；〃　said　she；　〃don't　you　see　how　the　superior　mind　can　fascinate　the　inferior？　Look　at　Frank　Beverleyhow　he　follows　you　about　and　fawns　on　you　like　a　little　dog。〃

〃I　prefer　his　sort　of　affection　to　yours。〃

〃A　gentleman　and　a　man　would　have　kept　that　to　himself；　but　you　are　neither　one　nor　the　other；　or　you　would　have　taken　my　offer；　and　then　run　away　from　me　the　next　day；　you　fool。　A　man　betrays　a　woman；　he　doesn't　insult　her。　Ah；　you　admire　Frank's　affection；　well；　you　shall　imitate　it。　You　couldn't　love　me　like　a　man；　you　shall　love　me　like　a　dog。〃

〃How　will　you　manage　that；　pray？　〃　he　inquired　with　a　sneer。

〃I'll　drive　you　mad。〃

She　hissed　this　fiendish　threat　out　between　her　white　teeth。

〃Ay；　sir；〃　she　said；　〃hitherto　your　reason　has　only　encountered　men。　You　shall　see　now　what　an　insulted　woman　can　do。　A　lunatic　you　shall　be　ere　long；　and　then　I'll　make　you　love　me；　dote　on　me；　follow　me　about　for　a　smile：　and　then　I'll　leave　off　hating　you；　and　love　you　once　more；　but　not　the　way　I　did　five　minutes　ago。〃

At　this　furious　threat　Alfred　ground　his　teeth；　and　said；　〃Then　I　give　you　my　honour　that　the　moment　I　see　my　reason　the　least　shaken；　I'll　kill　you：　and　so　save　myself　from　the　degradation　of　being　your　lover　on　any　terms。〃

〃Threaten　your　own　sex　with　that；〃　said　the　Archbold　contemptuously；　〃you　may　kill　me　whenever　you　like；　and　the　sooner　the　better。　Only；　if　you　don't　do　it　very　quickly；　you　shall　be　my　property；　my　brain…sick；　love…sick　slave。〃




CHAPTER　XLI

AFTER　a　defiance　so　bitter　and　deadly；　Alfred　naturally　drew　away　from　his　inamorata。　But　she；　boiling　with　love　and　hate；　said　bitterly；　〃We　need　not　take　Mr。　Rooke　into　our　secrets。　Come；　sir；　your　arm！〃

He　stuck　it　out　ungraciously；　and　averted　his　head；　she　took　it；　suppressed　with　difficulty　a　petty　desire　to　pinch；　and　so　walked　by　his　side。　He　was　as　much　at　his　ease　as　if　promenading　jungles　with　a　panther。　She　felt　him　quiver　with　repugnance　under　her　soft　hand；　and　prolonged　the　irritating　contact。　She　walked　very　slowly；　and　told　him　with　much　meaning　she　was　waiting　for　a　signal。　〃Till　then；〃　said　she；　〃we　will　keep　one　another　company；〃　biting　the　word　with　her　teeth　as　it　went　out。

By…and…by　a　window　was　opened　in　the　asylum；　and　a　table…cloth　hung　out。　Mrs。　Archbold　pointed　it　out　to　Alfred；　he　stared　at　it；　and　after　that　she　walked　him　rapidly　home　in　silence。　But；　as　soon　as　the　door　was　double…locked　on　him；　she　whispered　triumphantly　in　his　ear

〃Your　mother…in…law　was　expected　to…day；　that　signal　was　to　let　me　know　she　was　gone。〃

〃My　mother…in…law！〃　cried　the　young　man；　and　tried　in　vain　to　conceal　his　surprise　and　agitation。

〃Ay；　your　mother…in…law；　that　shall　never　be。　Mrs。　Dodd。〃

〃Mrs。　Dodd　here！〃　said　Alfred；　clasping　his　hands。　Then　he　reflected；　and　said　coolly：　〃It　is　false；　what　should　she　come　here　for？〃

〃To　see　your　father…in…law。〃

〃My　father…in…law？　What；　is　he　here；　too？〃　said　Alfred　with　an　incredulous　sneer。

〃Yes；　the　raving　maniac　that　calls　himself　Thompson；　and　that　you　took　to　from　the　first：　he　is　your　precious　father…in…lawthat　shall　never　be。〃

Alfred　was　now　utterly　amazed；　and　bewildered。　Mrs。　Archbold　eyed　him　in　silent　scorn。

〃Poor　man；〃　said　he　at　last；　and　hung　his　head　sorrowfully。　〃No　wonder　then　his　voice　went　so　to　my　heart。　How　strange　it　all　is！　and　how　will　it　all　end？〃

〃In　your　being　a　madman　instead　of　an　insolent　fool；〃　hissed　the　viper。

At　this　moment　Beverley　appeared　at　the　end　of　the　yard。　Mrs。　Archbold　whistled　him　to　her　like　a　dog。　He　came　running　zealously。　〃Who　was　that　called　while　I　was　out？〃　she　inquired。

〃A　polite　lady；　madam：　she　said　sir　to　me；　and　thanked　me。〃

〃That　sounds　like　Mrs。　Dodd；〃　said　the　Archbold　quietly。

〃Ah；　but；〃　continued　Frank；　〃there　was　another　with　her　a　beautiful　young　lady；　oh；　so　beautiful！〃

〃Miss　Julia　Dodd；〃　said　the　Archbold　grimly。

Alfred　panted；　and　his　eyes　roved　wildly　in　search　of　a　way　to　escape　and　follow　her；　she　could　not　be　far　off。

〃Anybody　else；　Frank？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Archbold。

〃No　more　ladies；　madam；　but　there　was　a　young　gentleman　all　in　black。　I　think　he　was　a　clergymanor　a　butler。〃

〃Ah；　that　was　her　husband　that　is　to　be；　that　was　Mr。　Hurd。　She　can　go　nowhere　without　him；　not　even　to　see　her　old　beau。〃

At　these　words；　every　one　of　them　an　adder；　Alfred　turned　on　her　furiously；　and　his　long　arm　shot　out　of　its　own　accord；　and　the　fingers　opened　like　an　eagle's　claw。　She　saw；　and　understood；　but　never　blenched。　Her　vindictive　eye　met　his　dilating　flashing　orbs　unflinchingly。

〃You　pass　for　a　woman；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　am　too　wretched　for　anger。〃　He　turned　from　her　with　a　deep　convulsive　sob；　and；　almost　staggering；　leaned　his　brow　against　the　wall　of　the　house。

She　had　done　what　no　man　had　as　yet　succeeded　in；　she　had　broken　his　spirit。　And　here　a　man　would　have　left　him　alone。　But　the　rejected　beauty　put　her　lips　to　his　ear；　and　whispered　into　them；　〃This　is　only　the　beginning。〃　Then　she　left　him　and　went　to　his　room　and　stole　all　his　paper；　and　pens；　and　ink；　and　his　very　Aristotle。　He　was　to　have　no　occupation　now；　except　to　brood；　and　brood；　and　brood。

As　for　Alfred；　he　sat　down　upon　a　bench　in　the　yard　a　broken　man：　up　to　this　moment　he　had　hoped　his　Julia　was　as　constant　as　himself。　But　no；　either　she　had　heard　he　was　mad；　and　with　the　universal　credulity　had　believed　it；　or　perhaps；　not　hearing　from　him　at　all　believed　herself　forsaken；　and　was　consoling　herself　with　a　clergyman。　Jealousy　did　not　as　yet　infuriate　Alfred。　Its　first　effect　resembled　that　of　a　heavy　blow。　Little　Beverley　found　him　actually　sick；　and　ran　to　the　Robin。　The　ex…prizefighter　brought　him　a　thimbleful　of　brandy；　but　he　would　not　take　it。　〃Ah　no；　my　friends；〃　he　said；　〃that　cannot　cure　me；　it　is　not　my　stomach；　it　is　my　heart。　Broken；　broken！〃

The　Robin　retired　muttering。　Little　Beverley　kneeled　down　beside　him；　and　kissed　his　hand　with　a　devotion　that　savoured　of　the　canine。　Yet　it　was　tender；　and　the　sinking　heart　clung　to　it。　〃Oh；　Frank！〃　he　cried；　〃my　Julia　believes　me　mad；　or　thinks　me　false；　or　something；　and　she　will　marry　another　before　I　can　get　out　to　tell　her　all　I　have　endured　was　for　loving　her。　What　shall　I　do？　God　protect　my　reason！　What　will　become　of　me？〃

He　moaned；　and　young　Frank　sorrowed　over　him；　till　the　harsh　voice　of　Rooke　summoned　him　to　some　menial　duty。　This　discharged；　he　came　running　back；　and　sat　on　the　bench　beside　his　crushed　benefactor　without　saying　a　word。　At　last　he　delivered　this　sapient　speech：　〃I　see。　You　want　to　get　out　of　this　place。〃

Alfred　only　sighed　hopelessly。

〃Then　I　must　try　and　get　you　out；〃　said　Frank。　Alfred　shook　his　head。

〃Just　let　me　think；〃　said　Frank　solemnly；　and　he　sat　silent　looking　like　a　young　owl：　for　thinking　soon　puzzled　him；　and　elicited　his　intellectual　weakness；　whereas　in　a　groove　of　duties　he　could　go　as　smoothly　as　half　the　world；　and　but　for　his　official；　officious　Protector；　might　just　as　well　have　been　Boots　at　the　Swan；