the law and the lady-第2章

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neck；　my　eyes　answer　his　eyes。　Our　lips　meet　in　the　first　long；
lingering　kiss　of　our　married　life。

Oh；　what　recollections　of　that　journey　rise　in　me　as　I　write！　Let
me　dry　my　eyes；　and　shut　up　my　paper　for　the　day。


CHAPTER　II。

THE　BRIDE'S　THOUGHTS。

　WE　had　been　traveling　for　a　little　more　than　an　hour　when　a
change　passed　insensibly　over　us　both。

Still　sitting　close　together；　with　my　hand　in　his；　with　my　head
on　his　shoulder；　little　by　little　we　fell　insensibly　into
silence。　Had　we　already　exhausted　the　narrow　yet　eloquent
vocabulary　of　love？　Or　had　we　determined　by　unexpressed　consent；
after　enjoying　the　luxury　of　passion　that　speaks；　to　try　the
deeper　and　finer　rapture　of　passion　that　thinks？　I　can　hardly
determine；　I　only　know　that　a　time　came　when；　under　some　strange
influence；　our　lips　were　closed　toward　each　other。　We　traveled
along；　each　of　us　absorbed　in　our　own　reverie。　Was　he　thinking
exclusively　of　meas　I　was　thinking　exclusively　of　him？　Before
the　journey's　end　I　had　my　doubts；　at　a　little　later　time　I　knew
for　certain　that　his　thoughts；　wandering　far　away　from　his　young
wife；　were　all　turned　inward　on　his　own　unhappy　self。

For　me　the　secret　pleasure　of　filling　my　mind　with　him；　while　I
felt　him　by　my　side；　was　a　luxury　in　itself。

I　pictured　in　my　thoughts　our　first　meeting　in　the　neighborhood
of　my　uncle's　house。

Our　famous　north…country　trout　stream　wound　its　flashing　and
foaming　way　through　a　ravine　in　the　rocky　moorland。　It　was　a
windy；　shadowy　evening。　A　heavily　clouded　sunset　lay　low　and　red
in　the　west。　A　solitary　angler　stood　casting　his　fly　at　a　turn　in
the　stream　where　the　backwater　lay　still　and　deep　under　an
overhanging　bank。　A　girl　（myself）　standing　on　the　bank；　invisible
to　the　fisherman　beneath；　waited　eagerly　to　see　the　trout　rise。

The　moment　came；　the　fish　took　the　fly。

Sometimes　on　the　little　level　strip　of　sand　at　the　foot　of　the
bank；　sometimes　（when　the　stream　turned　again）　in　the　shallower
water　rushing　over　its　rocky　bed；　the　angler　followed　the
captured　trout；　now　letting　the　line　run　out　and　now　winding　it
in　again；　in　the　difficult　and　delicate　process　of　〃playing〃　the
fish。　Along　the　bank　I　followed　to　watch　the　contest　of　skill　and
cunning　between　the　man　and　the　trout。　I　had　lived　long　enough
with　my　uncle　Starkweather　to　catch　some　of　his　enthusiasm　for
field　sports；　and　to　learn　something；　especially；　of　the　angler's
art。　Still　following　the　stranger；　with　my　eyes　intently　fixed　on
every　movement　of　his　rod　and　line；　and　with　not　so　much　as　a
chance　fragment　of　my　attention　to　spare　for　the　rough　path　along
which　I　was　walking；　I　stepped　by　chance　on　the　loose　overhanging
earth　at　the　edge　of　the　bank；　and　fell　into　the　stream　in　an
instant。

The　distance　was　trifling；　the　water　was　shallow；　the　bed　of　the
river　was　（fortunately　for　me）　of　sand。　Beyond　the　fright　and　the
wetting　I　had　nothing　to　complain　of。　In　a　few　moments　I　was　out
of　the　water　and　up　again；　very　much　ashamed　of　myself；　on　the
firm　ground。　Short　as　the　interval　was；　it　proved　long　enough　to
favor　the　escape　of　the　fish。　The　angler　had　heard　my　first
instinctive　cry　of　alarm；　had　turned；　and　had　thrown　aside　his
rod　to　help　me。　We　confronted　each　other　for　the　first　time；　I　on
the　bank　and　he　in　the　shallow　water　below。　Our　eyes　encountered；
and　I　verily　believe　our　hearts　encountered　at　the　same　moment。
This　I　know　for　certain；　we　forgot　our　breeding　as　lady　and
gentleman：　we　looked　at　each　other　in　barbarous　silence。

I　was　the　first　to　recover　myself。　What　did　I　say　to　him？

I　said　something　about　my　not　being　hurt；　and　then　something
more；　urging　him　to　run　back　and　try　if　he　might　not　yet　recover
the　fish。

He　went　back　unwillingly。　He　returned　to　meof　course　without
the　fish。　Knowing　how　bitterly　disappointed　my　uncle　would　have
been　in　his　place；　I　apologized　very　earnestly。　In　my　eagerness
to　make　atonement；　I　even　offered　to　show　him　a　spot　where　he
might　try　again；　lower　down　the　stream。

He　would　not　hear　of　it；　he　entreated　me　to　go　home　and　change　my
wet　dress。　I　cared　nothing　for　the　wetting；　but　I　obeyed　him
without　knowing　why。

He　walked　with　me。　My　way　back　to　the　Vicarage　was　his　way　back
to　the　inn。　He　had　come　to　our　parts；　he　told　me；　for　the　quiet
and　retirement　as　much　as　for　the　fishing。　He　had　noticed　me　once
or　twice　from　the　window　of　his　room　at　the　inn。　He　asked　if　I
were　not　the　vicar's　daughter。

I　set　him　right。　I　told　him　that　the　vicar　had　married　my
mother's　sister；　and　that　the　two　had　been　father　and　mother　to
me　since　the　death　of　my　parents。　He　asked　if　he　might　venture　to
call　on　Doctor　Starkweather　the　next　day；　mentioning　the　name　of
a　friend　of　his；　with　whom　he　believed　the　vicar　to　be
acquainted。　I　invited　him　to　visit　us；　as　if　it　had　been　my
house；　I　was　spell…bound　under　his　eyes　and　under　his　voice。　I
had　fancied；　honestly　fancied；　myself　to　have　been　in　love　often
and　often　before　this　time。　Never　in　any　other　man's　company　had
I　felt　as　I　now　felt　in　the　presence　of　_this_　man。　Night　seemed
to　fall　suddenly　over　the　evening　landscape　when　he　left　me。　I
leaned　against　the　Vic　arage　gate。　I　could　not　breathe；　I　could
not　think；　my　heart　fluttered　as　if　it　would　fly　out　of　my
bosomand　all　this　for　a　stranger！　I　burned　with　shame；　but　oh；
in　spite　of　it　all；　I　was　so　happy！

And　now；　when　little　more　than　a　few　weeks　had　passed　since　that
first　meeting；　I　had　him　by　my　side；　he　was　mine　for　life！　I
lifted　my　head　from　his　bosom　to　look　at　him。　I　was　like　a　child
with　a　new　toyI　wanted　to　make　sure　that　he　was　really　my　own。

He　never　noticed　the　action；　he　never　moved　in　his　corner　of　the
carriage。　Was　he　deep　in　his　own　thoughts？　and　were　they　thoughts
of　Me？

I　laid　down　my　head　again　softly；　so　as　not　to　disturb　him。　My
thoughts　wandered　backward　once　more；　and　showed　me　another
picture　in　the　golden　gallery　of　the　past。

　The　garden　at　the　Vicarage　formed　the　new　scene。　The　time　was
night。　We　had　met　together　in　secret。　We　were　walking　slowly　to
and　fro；　out　of　sight　of　the　house；　now　in　the　shadowy　paths　of
the　shrubbery；　now　in　the　lovely　moonlight　on　the　open　lawn。

We　had　long　since　owned　our　love　and　devoted　our　lives　to　each
other。　Already　our　interests　were　one；　already　we　shared　the
pleasures　and　the　pains　of　life。　I　had　gone　out　to　meet　him　that
night　with　a　heavy　heart；　to　seek　comfort　in　his　presence　and　to
find　encouragement　in　his　voice。　He　noticed　that　I　sighed　when　he
first　took　me　in　his　arms；　and　he　gently　turned　my　head　toward
the　moonlight　to　read　my　trouble　in　my　face。　How　often　he　had
read　my　happiness　there　in　the　earlier　days　of　our　love！

〃You　bring　bad　news；　my　angel；〃　he　said；　lifting　my　hair　tenderly
from　my　forehead　as　he　spoke。　〃I　see　the　lines　here　which　tell　me
of　anxiety　and　distress。　I　almost　wish　I　loved　you　less　dearly；
Valeria。〃

〃Why？〃

〃I　might　give　you　back　your　freedom。　I　have　only　to　leave　this
place；　and　your　uncle　would　be　satisfied；　and　you　would　be
relieved　from　all　the　cares　that　are　pressing　on　you　now。〃

〃Don't　speak　of　it；　Eustace！　If　you　want　me　to　forget　my　cares；
say　you　love　me　more　dearly　than　ever。〃

He　said　it　in　a　kiss。　We　had　a　moment　of　exquisite　forgetfulness
of　the　hard　ways　of　lifea　moment　of　delicious　absorption　in
each　other。　I　came　back　to　realities　fortified　and　composed；
rewarded　for　all　that　I　had　gone　through；　ready　to　go　through　it
all　over　again　for　another　kiss。　Only　give　a　woman　love；　and
there　is　nothing　she　will　not　venture；　suffer；　and　do。

〃No；　they　have　done　with　objecting。　They　have　remembered　at　last
that　I　am　of　age；　and　that　I　can　choose　for　myself。　They　have
been　pleading　with　me；　Eustace；　to　give　you　up。　My　aunt；　whom　I
thought　rather　a　hard　woman；　has　been　cryingfor　the　first　time
in　my　experience　of　her。　My　uncle；　always　kind　and　good　to　me；
has　been　kinder　and　better　than　ever。　He　has　told　me　that　if　I
persist　in　becoming　your　wife；　I　shall　not　be　deserted　on　my
wedding…day。　Wherever　we　may　marry；　he　will　be　there　to　read　the
service；　and　my　aunt　will　go　to　the　church　with　me。　But　he
entreats　me　to　consider　seriously　what　I　am　doingto　consent　to
a　separation　from　you　for　a　timeto　consult　other　people　on　my
position　toward　you；　if　I　am　not　satisfied　with　his　opinion。　Oh；
my　darling；　they　are　as　anxious　to　part　us　as　if　you　were　the
worst　instead　of　the　best　of　men！〃

〃Has　anything　happened　since　yesterday　to　increase　their　distrust
of　me？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃

〃What　is　it？〃

〃You　remember　referring　my　uncle　to　a　friend　of　yours　and　of
his？〃

〃Yes。　To　Major　Fitz…David。〃

〃My　uncle　has　written　to　Major　Fitz…David　〃

〃Why？〃

He　pronounced　that　one　word　in　a　tone　so　utterly　unlike　his
natural　tone　that　his　voice　sounded　quite　strange　to　me。

〃You　won't　be　angry；　Eustace；　if　I　tell　you？〃　I　said。　〃My　uncle；
as　I　understood　him；　had　several　motives　for　writing　to　the
major。　One　of　them　was　to　inquire　if　he　knew　your　mother's
address。〃

Eustace　suddenly　stood　still。

I　paused　at　the　same　moment；　feeling　that　I　could　venture　no
further　without　the　risk　of　offending　him。

To　speak　the　truth；　his　conduct；　when　he　first　mentioned　our
engagement　to　my　uncle；　had　been　（so　far　as　appearances　went）　a
little　flighty　and　strange。　The　vicar　had　naturally　questioned
him　about　his　family。　He　had　answered　that　his　father　was　dead；
and　he　had　consented；　though　not　very　readily；　to　announce　his
contemplated　marriage　to　his　mother。　Informing　us　that　she　too
lived　in　the　country；　he　had　gone　to　see　her；　without　more
particularly　mentioning　her　address。　In　two　days　he　had　returned
to　the　Vicarage　with　a　very　startling　message。　His　mother
intended　no　disrespect　to　me　or　my　relatives；　but　she　disapproved
so　absolutely　of　her　son's　marriage　that　she　（and　the　members　of
her　family；　who　all　agreed　with　her）　would　refuse　to　be　present
at　the　ceremony；　if　Mr。　Woodville　persisted　in　keeping　his
engagement　with　Dr。　Starkweather's　niece。　Being　asked　to　explain
this　extraordinary　communication；　Eustace　had　told　us　that　his
mother　and　his　sisters　were　bent　on　his　marrying　another　lady；
and　that　they　were　bitterly　mortified　and　disappointed　by　his
choosing　a　stranger　to　the　family。　This　explanation　was　enough
for　me；　it　implied；　so　far　as　I　was　concerned；　a　compliment　to　my
superior　influence　over　Eustace；　which　a　woman　always　receives
with　pleasure。　But　it　failed　to　satisfy　my　uncle　and　my　aunt。　The
vicar　expressed　to　Mr。　Woodville　a　wish　to　write　to　his　mother；
or　to　see　her；　on　the　subject　of　her　strange　message。　Eustace
obstinately　declined　to　mention　his　mother's　address；　on　the
ground　that　the　vicar's　interference　would　be　utterly　useless。　My
uncle　at　once　drew　the　conclusion　that　the　mystery　about　the
address　indicated　something　wrong。　He　refused　to　favor　Mr。
Woodville's　renewed　proposal　for　my　hand；　and　he　wrote　the　same
day　to　make　inquiries　of　Mr。　Woodville's　reference　and　of　his　own
friend　Major　Fitz…David。

Under　such　circumstances　as　these；　to　speak　of　my　uncle's　motives
was　to　venture　on　very　delicate　ground。　Eustace　relieved　me　from
further　embarrassment　by　asking　a　question　to　which