armadale-第101章

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Neelie！　there　must　be　other　ways　of　marrying；　besides　this
roundabout　way；　that　ends　in　a　Publication　and　a　Void。　Infernal
gibberish！　I　could　write　better　English　myself。〃

〃We　are　not　at　the　end　of　it　yet；〃　said　Neelie。　〃The　Void　is
nothing　to　what　is　to　come。〃

〃Whatever　it　is；〃　rejoined　Allan；　〃we'll　treat　it　like　a　dose　of
physicwe'll　take　it　at　once；　and　be　done　with　it。〃　He　went　on
reading：　〃　'And　no　license　to　marry　without　banns　shall　be
granted；　unless　oath　shall　be　first　made　by　one　of　the　parties
that　he　or　she　believes　that　there　is　no　impediment　of　kindred　or
alliance'well；　I　can　take　my　oath　of　that　with　a　safe
conscience！　What　next？　'And　one　of　the　said　parties　must；　for　the
space　of　fifteen　days　immediately　preceding　such　license；　have
had　his　or　her　usual　place　of　abode　within　the　parish　or　chapelry
within　which　such　marriage　is　to　be　solemnized！'　Chapelry！　I'd
live　fifteen　days　in　a　dog…kennel　with　the　greatest　pleasure。　I
say；　Neelie；　all　this　seems　like　plain　sailing　enough。　What　are
you　shaking　your　head　about？　Go　on；　and　I　shall　see？　Oh；　all
right；　I'll　go　on。　Here　we　are：　'And　where　one　of　the　said
parties；　not　being　a　widower　or　widow；　shall　be　under　the　age　of
twenty…one　years；　oath　must　first　be　made　that　the　consent　of　the
person　or　persons　whose　consent　is　required　has　been　obtained；　or
that　there　is　no　person　having　authority　to　give　such　consent。
The　consent　required　by　this　act　is　that　of　the　father'　〃　At
those　last　formidable　words　Allan　came　to　a　full　stop。　〃The
consent　of　the　father；〃　he　repeated；　with　all　needful　seriousness
of　look　and　manner。　〃I　couldn't　exactly　swear　to　that；　could　I？〃

Neelie　answered　in　expressive　silence。　She　handed　him　the
pocket…book；　with　the　final　entry　completed；　on　the　side　of
〃Bad；〃　in　these　terms：　〃Our　marriage　is　impossible；　unless　Allan
commits　perjury。〃

The　lovers　looked　at　each　other；　across　the　insuperable　obstacle
of　Blackstone；　in　speechless　dismay。

〃Shut　up　the　book；〃　said　Neelie；　resignedly。　〃I　have　no　doubt　we
should　find　the　police；　and　the　prison；　and　the　hair…cuttingall
punishments　for　perjury；　exactly　as　I　told　you！if　we　looked　at
the　next　page。　But　we　needn't　trouble　ourselves　to　look；　we　have
found　out　quite　enough　already。　It's　all　over　with　us。　I　must　go
to　school　on　Saturday；　and　you　must　manage　to　forget　me　as　soon
as　you　can。　Perhaps　we　may　meet　in　after…life；　and　you　may　be　a
widower　and　I　may　be　a　widow；　and　the　cruel　law　may　consider　us
emancipated；　when　it's　too　late　to　be　of　the　slightest　use。　By
that　time；　no　doubt；　I　shall　be　old　and　ugly；　and　you　will
naturally　have　ceased　to　care　about　me；　and　it　will　all　end　in
the　grave；　and　the　sooner　the　better。　Good…by；〃　concluded　Neelie；
rising　mournfully；　with　the　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃It's　only
prolonging　our　misery　to　stop　here；　unlessunless　you　have
anything　to　propose？〃

〃I've　got　something　to　propose；〃　cried　the　headlong　Allan。　〃It's
an　entirely　new　idea。　Would　you　mind　trying　the　blacksmith　at
Gretna　Green？〃

〃No　earthly　consideration；〃　answered　Neelie；　indignantly；　〃would
induce　me　to　be　married　by　a　blacksmith！〃

〃Don't　be　offended；〃　pleaded　Allan；　〃I　meant　it　for　the　best。
Lots　of　people　in　our　situation　have　tried　the　blacksmith；　and
found　him　quite　as　good　as　a　clergyman；　and　a　most　amiable　man；　I
believe；　into　the　bargain。　Never　mind！　We　must　try　another　string
to　our　bow。〃

〃We　haven't　got　another　to　try；〃　said　Neelie。

〃Take　my　word　for　it；〃　persisted　Allan；　stoutly；　〃there　must　be
ways　and　means　of　circumventing　Blackstone　（without　perjury）；　if
we　only　knew　of　them。　It's　a　matter　of　law；　and　we　must　consult
somebody　in　the　profession。　I　dare　say　it's　a　risk。　But　nothing
venture；　nothing　have。　What　do　you　say　to　young　Pedgift？　He's　a
thorough　good　fellow。　I'm　sure　we　could　trust　young　Pedgift　to
keep　our　secret。〃

〃Not　for　worlds！〃　exclaimed　Neelie。　〃You　may　be　willing　to　trust
your　secrets　to　the　vulgar　little　wretch；　I　won't　have　him
trusted　with　mine。　I　hate　him。　No！〃　she　concluded；　with　a
mounting　color　and　a　peremptory　stamp　of　her　foot　on　the　grass。
〃I　positively　forbid　you　to　take　any　of　the　Thorpe　Ambrose　people
into　your　confidence。　They　would　instantly　suspect　me；　and　it
would　be　all　over　the　place　in　a　moment。　My　attachment　may　be　an
unhappy　one；　〃　remarked　Neelie；　with　her　handkerchief　to　her
eyes；　〃and　papa　may　nip　it　in　the　bud；　but　I　won't　have　it
profaned　by　the　town　gossip！〃

〃Hush！　hush！〃　said　Allan。　〃I　won't　say　a　word　at　Thorpe　Ambrose；
I　won't　indeed！〃　He　paused；　and　considered　for　a　moment。　〃There's
another　way！〃　he　burst　out；　brightening　up　on　the　instant。　〃We've
got　the　whole　week　before　us。　I'll　tell　you　what　I'll　do；　I'll　go
to　London！〃

There　was　a　sudden　rustlingheard　neither　by　one　nor　the
otheramong　the　trees　behind　them　that　screened　Miss　Gwilt。　One
more　of　the　difficulties　in　her　way　（the　difficulty　of　getting
Allan　to　London）　now　promised　to　be　removed　by　an　act　of　Allan's
own　will。

〃To　London？〃　repeated　Neelie；　looking　up　in　astonishment。

〃To　London！〃　reiterated　Allan。　〃That's　far　enough　away　from
Thorpe　Ambrose；　surely？　Wait　a　minute；　and　don't　forget　that　this
is　a　question　of　law。　Very　well；　I　know　some　lawyers　in　London
who　managed　all　my　business　for　me　when　I　first　came　in　for　this
property；　they　are　just　the　men　to　consult。　And　if　they　decline
to　be　mixed　up　in　it；　there's　their　head　clerk；　who　is　one　of　the
best　fellows　I　ever　met　with　in　my　life。　I　asked　him　to　go
yachting　with　me；　I　remember；　and；　though　he　couldn't　go；　he　said
he　felt　the　obligation　all　the　same。　That's　the　man　to　help　us。
Blackstone's　a　mere　infant　to　him。　Don't　say　it's　absurd；　don't
say　it's　exactly　like　_me。_　Do　pray　hear　me　out。　I　won't　breathe
your　name　or　your　father's。　I'll　describe　you　as　'a　young　lady　to
whom　I　am　devotedly　attached。'　And　if　my　friend　the　clerk　asks
where　you　live；　I'll　say　the　north　of　Scotland；　or　the　west　of
Ireland；　or　the　Channel　Islands；　or　anywhere　else　you　like。　My
friend　the　clerk　is　a　total　stranger　to　Thorpe　Ambrose　and
everybody　in　it　（which　is　one　recommendation）；　and　in　five
minutes'　time　he'd　put　me　up　to　what　to　do　（which　is　another）。　If
you　only　knew　him！　He's　one　of　those　extraordinary　men　who　appear
once　or　twice　in　a　centurythe　sort　of　man　who　won't　allow　you
to　make　a　mistake　if　you　try。　All　I　have　got　to　say　to　him
（putting　it　short）　is；　'My　dear　fellow；　I　want　to　be　privately
married　without　perjury。'　All　he　has　got　to　say　to　me　（putting　it
short）　is；　'You　must　do　so…and…so　and　so…and…so；　and　you　must　be
careful　to　avoid　this；　that；　and　the　other。'　I　have　nothing　in
the　world　to　do　but　to　follow　his　directions；　and　you　have
nothing　in　the　world　to　do　but　what　the　bride　always　does　when
the　bridegroom　is　ready　and　willing！〃　His　arm　stole　round
Neelie's　waist；　and　his　lips　pointed　the　moral　of　the　last
sentence　with　that　inarticulate　eloquence　which　is　so　uniformly
successful　in　persuading　a　woman　against　her　will。

All　Neelie's　meditated　objections　dwindled；　in　spite　of　her；　to
one　feeble　little　question。　〃Suppose　I　allow　you　to　go；　Allan？〃
she　whispered；　toying　nervously　with　the　stud　in　the　bosom　of　his
shirt。　〃Shall　you　be　very　long　away？〃

〃I'll　be　off　to…day；〃　said　Allan；　〃by　the　eleven　o'clock　train。
And　I'll　be　back　to…morrow；　if　I　and　my　friend　the　clerk　can
settle　it　all　in　time。　If　not；　by　Wednesday　at　latest。〃

〃You'll　write　to　me　even　day？〃　pleaded　Neelie；　clinging　a　little
closer　to　him。　〃I　shall　sink　under　the　suspense；　if　you　don't
promise　to　write　to　me　every　day。〃

Allan　promised　to　write　twice　a　day；　if　she
likedletter…writing；　which　was　such　an　effort　to　other　men；　was
no　effort　to　_him！_

〃And　mind；　whatever　those　people　may　say　to　you　in　London；〃
proceeded　Neelie；　〃I　insist　on　your　coming　back　for　me。　I
positively　decline　to　run　away；　unless　you　promise　to　fetch　me。〃

Allan　promised　for　the　second　time；　on　his　sacred　word　of　honor；
and　at　the　full　compass　of　his　voice。　But　Neelie　was　not
satisfied　even　yet。　She　reverted　to　first　principles；　and
insisted　on　knowing　whether　Allan　was　quite　sure　he　loved　her。
Allan　called　Heaven　to　witness　how　sure　he　was；　and　got　another
question　directly　for　his　pains。　Could　he　solemnly　declare　that
he　would　never　regret　taking　Neelie　away　from　home？　Allan　called
Heaven　to　witness　again；　louder　than　ever。　All　to　no　purpose！　The
ravenous　female　appetite　for　tender　protestations　still　hungered
for　more。　〃I　know　what　will　happen　one　of　these　days；〃　persisted
Neelie。　〃You　will　see　some　other　girl　who　is　prettier　than　I　am；
and　you　will　wish　you　had　married　her　instead　of　Me！〃

As　Allan　opened　his　lips　for　a　final　outburst　of　asseveration；
the　stable　clock　at　the　great　house　was　faintly　audible　in　the
distance　striking　the　hour。　Neelie　started　guiltily。　It　was
breakfast…time　at　the　cottagein　other　words；　time　to　take
leave。　At　the　last　moment　her　heart　went　back　to　her　father；　and
her　head　sank　on　Allan's　bosom　as　she　tried　to　say；　Good…by。
〃Papa　has　always　been　so　kind　to　me；　Allan；〃　she　whispered；
holding　him　back　tremulously　when　he　turned　to　leave　her。　〃It
seems　so　guilty　and　so　heartless　to　go　away　from　him　and　be
married　in　secret。　Oh；　do；　do　think　before　you　really　go　to
London；　is　there　no　way　of　making　him　a　little　kinder　and　juster
to　_you？_〃　The　question　was　useless；　the　major's　resolutely
unfavorable　reception　of　Allan's　letter　rose　in　Neelie's　memory；
and　answered　her　as　the　words　passed　her　lips。　With　a　girl's
impulsiveness　she　pushed　Allan　away　before　he　could　speak；　and
signed　to　him　impatiently　to　go。　The　conflict　of　contending
emotions；　which　she　had　mastered　thus　far；　burst　its　way　outward
in　spite　of　her　after　he　had　waved　his　hand　for　the　last　time；
and　had　disappeared　in　the　depths　of　the　dell。　When　she　turned
from　the　place；　on　her　side；　her　long…restrained　tears　fell
freely　at　last；　and　made　the　lonely　way　back　to　the　cottage　the
dimmest　prospect　that　Neelie　had　seen　for　many　a　long　day　past。

As　she　hurried　homeward；　the　leaves　parted　behind　her；　and　Miss
Gwilt　stepped　softly　into　the　open　space。　She　stood　there　in
triumph；　tall；　beautiful；　and　resolute。　Her　lovely　color
brightened　while　she　watched　Neelie's　retreating　figure　hastening
lightly　away　from　her　over　the　grass。

〃Cry；　you　little　fool！〃　she　said；　with　her　quiet；　clear　tones；
and　her　steady　smile　of　contempt。　〃Cry　as　you　have　never　cried
yet！　You　have　seen　the　last　of　your　sweetheart。〃

CHAPTER　XII。

A　SCANDAL　AT　THE　STATION。

AN　hour　later；　the　landlady　at　Miss　Gwilt's　lodgings　was　lost　in
astonishment；　and　the　clamorous　tongues　of　the　children　were　in　a
state　of　ungovernable　revolt。　〃Unforeseen　circumstances〃　had
suddenly　obliged　the　tenant　of　the　first　floor　to　terminate　the
occupation　of　her　apartments；　and　to　go　to　London　that　day　by　the
eleven　o'clock　train。

〃Please　to　have　a　fly　at　the　door　at　half…past　ten；〃　said　Miss
Gwilt；　as　the　amazed　landlady　followed　her　upstairs。　〃And　excuse
me；　you　good　creature；　if　I　beg　and　pray　not　to　be　disturbed　till
the　fly　comes。　〃Once　inside　the　room；　she　locked　the　door；　and
then　opened　her　writing…desk。　〃Now　for　my　letter　to　the　major！〃
she　said。　〃H