tales and fantasies-第27章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



House。　　He　was　still　ailing；　it　was　said；　and　the　Squire

nursed　him　like　the　proverbial　woman。　　Rumour；　in　this

instance；　did　no　more　than　justice　to　the　truth；　and　over　the

sickbed　many　confidences　were　exchanged；　and　clouds　that　had

been　growing　for　years　passed　away　in　a　few　hours；　and　as

fond　mankind　loves　to　hope；　for　ever。　　Many　long　talks　had

been　fruitless　in　external　action；　though　fruitful　for　the

understanding　of　the　pair；　but　at　last；　one　showery　Tuesday；

the　Squire　might　have　been　observed　upon　his　way　to　the

cottage　in　the　lane。



The　old　gentleman　had　arranged　his　features　with　a　view　to

self…command；　rather　than　external　cheerfulness；　and　he

entered　the　cottage　on　his　visit　of　conciliation　with　the

bearing　of　a　clergyman　come　to　announce　a　death。



The　Admiral　and　his　daughter　were　both　within；　and　both

looked　upon　their　visitor　with　more　surprise　than　favour。



'Sir；'　said　he　to　Van　Tromp；　'I　am　told　I　have　done　you　much

injustice。'



There　came　a　little　sound　in　Esther's　throat；　and　she　put　her

hand　suddenly　to　her　heart。



'You　have；　sir；　and　the　acknowledgment　suffices；'　replied　the

Admiral。　　'I　am　prepared；　sir；　to　be　easy　with　you；　since　I

hear　you　have　made　it　up　with　my　friend　Dick。　　But　let　me

remind　you　that　you　owe　some　apologies　to　this　young　lady

also。'



'I　shall　have　the　temerity　to　ask　for　more　than　her

forgiveness；'　said　the　Squire。　　'Miss　Van　Tromp；'　he

continued；　'once　I　was　in　great　distress；　and　knew　nothing　of

you　or　your　character；　but　I　believe　you　will　pardon　a　few

rough　words　to　an　old　man　who　asks　forgiveness　from　his

heart。　　I　have　heard　much　of　you　since　then；　for　you　have　a

fervent　advocate　in　my　house。　　I　believe　you　will　understand

that　I　speak　of　my　son。　　He　is；　I　regret　to　say；　very　far

from　well；　he　does　not　pick　up　as　the　doctors　had　expected；

he　has　a　great　deal　upon　his　mind；　and；　to　tell　you　the

truth；　my　girl；　if　you　won't　help　us；　I　am　afraid　I　shall

lose　him。　　Come　now；　forgive　him！　　I　was　angry　with　him　once

myself；　and　I　found　I　was　in　the　wrong。　　This　is　only　a

misunderstanding；　like　the　other；　believe　me；　and　with　one

kind　movement；　you　may　give　happiness　to　him；　and　to　me；　and

to　yourself。'



Esther　made　a　movement　towards　the　door；　but　long　before　she

reached　it　she　had　broken　forth　sobbing。



'It　is　all　right；'　said　the　Admiral；　'I　understand　the　sex。

Let　me　make　you　my　compliments；　Mr。　Naseby。'



The　Squire　was　too　much　relieved　to　be　angry。



'My　dear；'　said　he　to　Esther；　'you　must　not　agitate

yourself。'



'She　had　better　go　up　and　see　him　right　away；'　suggested　Van

Tromp。



'I　had　not　ventured　to　propose　it；'　replied　the　Squire。　　'LES

CONVENANCES；　I　believe　…　'



'JE　M'EN　FICHE；'　cried　the　Admiral；　snapping　his　fingers。

'She　shall　go　and　see　my　friend　Dick。　　Run　and　get　ready；

Esther。'



Esther　obeyed。



'She　has　not　…　has　not　run　away　again？'　inquired　Mr。　Naseby；

as　soon　as　she　was　gone。



'No；'　said　Van　Tromp；　'not　again。　　She　is　a　devilish　odd　girl

though；　mind　you　that。'



'But　I　cannot　stomach　the　man　with　the　carbuncles；'　thought

the　Squire。



And　this　is　why　there　is　a　new　household　and　a　brand…new　baby

in　Naseby　Dower　House；　and　why　the　great　Van　Tromp　lives　in

pleasant　style　upon　the　shores　of　England；　and　why　twenty…six

individual　copies　of　the　THYMEBURY　STAR　are　received　daily　at

the　door　of　Naseby　House。









End