hard cash-第103节

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〃Oh；　never　mind　me；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　〃now　that　I　know　no　harm　has　come　to　him；　I　really　don't　care　a　straw：　I　have　got　one　child　that　loves　me；　and　that　I　love。〃

〃Ah　yes；　dear；　dear　papa；　and　that　will　always　love　you；　and　never；　never　disobey　you　in　small　things　or　great。〃　She　rose　from　the　table　and　sealed　this　with　a　pious　kiss；　and；　when　she　sat　down　with　a　pink　flush　on　her　delicate　cheek；　his　hard　eye　melted　and　dwelt　on　her　with　beaming　tenderness。　His　heart　yearned　over　her；　and　a　pang　went　through　it：　to　think　that　he　must　deceive　even　her；　the　one　sweet　soul　that　loved　him！

It　was　a　passing　remorse：　the　successful　plotter　soon　predominated；　and　it　was　with　unmixed　satisfaction　he　saw　her　put　on　her　bonnet　directly　after　breakfast　and　hurry　off　to　Albion　Villa　to　play　the　part　of　his　unconscious　sieve。

He　himself　strolled　in　the　opposite　direction；　not　to　seem　to　be　watching　her。

He　was　in　good　spirits：　felt　like　a　general；　who；　after　repulsing　many　desperate　attacks　successfully；　orders　an　advance；　and　sees　the　tide　of　battle　roll　away　from　his　bayonets。　His　very　body　seemed　elastic；　indomitable；　he　walked　lustily　out　into　the　country；　sniffed　the　perfumed　hedges；　and　relished　life。　To　be　sure　he　could　not　walk　away　from　all　traces　of　his　misdeeds；　he　fell　in　with　objects　that　to　an　ordinary　sinner　might　have　spoiled　the　walk；　and　even　marred　the　spring…time。　He　found　his　creditor　Maxley　with　grizzly　beard　and　bloodshot　eyes；　belabouring　a　milestone；　and　two　small　boys　quizzing　him；　and　pelting　him　with　mud：　and　soon　after　he　met　his　creditor；　old　Dr。　Phillips；　in　a　cart；　coming　back　to　Barkington　to　end　his　days　there；　at　the　almshouse。　But　to　our　triumphant　Bankrupt　and　Machiavel　these　things　were　literally　nothing：　he　paced　complacently　on；　and　cared　no　more　for　either　of　those　his　wrecks　than　the　smiling　sea　itself　seems　to　care　for　the　dead　ships　and　men　it　washed　ashore　a　week　ago。

He　came　home　before　luncheon　for　his　gossip　with　Jane；　but　she　had　not　returned。　All　the　better；　her　budget　would　be　the　larger。

To　while　the　time　he　got　his　file　of　the　_Times；_　and　amused　himself　noting　down　the　fluctuations　in　Peruvian　bonds；

While　thus　employed　he　heard　a　loud　knock　at　his　door；　and　soon　after　Peggy's　voice　and　a　man's　in　swift　collision。　Hasty　feet　came　along　the　passage；　the　parlour　door　opened；　and　a　young　man　rushed　in　pale　as　ashes；　and　stared　at　him；　he　was　breathless；　and　his　lips　moved；　but　no　sound　came。

It　was　Edward　Dodd。

Mr。　Hardie　rose　like　a　tower　and　manned　himself　to　repulse　this　fresh　assault。

The　strange　visitor　gasped　out；　〃You　are　wanted　at　our　house。〃


CHAPTER　XXXVII

JANE　HARDIE　had　found　Albion　Villa　in　the　miserable　state　that　precedes　an　auction：　the　house　raw；　its　contents　higgledy…piggledy。　The　stair　carpets；　and　drawing…room　carpets；　were　up；　and　in　rolls　in　the　dining…room；　the　bulk　of　the　furniture　was　there　too；　the　auction　was　to　be　in　that　room。　The　hall　was　clogged　with　great　packages；　and　littered　with　small；　all　awaiting　the　railway　carts；　and　Edward；　dusty　and　deliquescent；　was　cording；　strapping；　and　nailing　them　at　the　gallop；　in　his　shirt　sleeves。

Jane's　heart　sank　at　the　visible　signs　of　his　departure。　She　sighed；　and　then；　partly　to　divert　his　attention；　told　him　hastily　there　was　a　letter　from　Alfred。　On　this　he　ran　upstairs　and　told　Mrs。　Dodd；　and　she　came　downstairs；　and　after　a　conversation　took　Jane　up　softly　to　her　friend's　room。

They　opened　the　door　gently；　and　Jane　saw　the　grief　she　was　come　to　consoleor　to　embitter。

Such　a　change！　instead　of　the　bright；　elastic；　impetuous　young　beauty；　there　sat　a　pale；　languid　girl；　with　〃weary　of　the　world〃　written　on　every　part　of　her　eloquent　body；　her　right　hand　dangled　by　her　side；　and　on　the　ground　beneath　it　lay　a　piece　of　work　she　had　been　attempting；　but　it　had　escaped　from　those　listless　fingers：　her　left　arm　was　stretched　at　full　length　on　the　table　with　an　unspeakable　abandon；　and　her　brow　laid　wearily　on　it　above　the　elbow。　So　lies　the　wounded　bird；　so　droops　the　broken　lily。

She　did　not　move　for　Jane's　light　foot。　She　often　sat　thus；　a　drooping　statue；　and　let　the　people　come　and　go　unheeded。

Jane's　heart　yearned　for　her。　She　came　softly　and　laid　a　little　hand　lightly　on　her　shoulder；　and　true　to　her　creed　that　we　must　look　upward　for　consolation；　said　in　her　ear；　and　in　solemn　silvery　tones；　〃Our　light　affliction；　which　is　but　for　a　moment；　worketh　for　us　a　far　more　exceeding　and　eternal　weight　of　glory。〃

Julia　turned　at　this　and　flung　her　arms　round　Jane's　neck；　and　panted　heavily。

Jane　kissed　her；　and　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　proceeded　to　pour　out；　from　a　memory　richly　stored　with　Scripture；　those　blessed　words　it　is　full　of；　words　that　in　our　hours　of　ease　or　biblical　criticism　pass　over　the　mind　like　some　drowsy　chime　but　in　the　bitter　day　of　anguish　and　bereavement；　when　the　body　is　racked；　the　soul　darkened；　shine　out　like　stars　to　the　mariner；　seem　then　first　to　swell　to　their　real　size　and　meaning；　and　come　to　writhing　mortals　like　pitying　seraphim；　divinity　on　their　faces　and　healing　on　their　wings。

Julia　sighed　heavily：　〃Ah；〃　she　said；　〃these　are　sweet　words。　But　I　am　not　ripe　for　them。　You　show　me　the　true　path　of　happiness：　but　I　don't　_want_　to　be　happy；　it's　燺him_　I　want　to　be　happy。　If　the　angels　came　for　me　and　took　me　to　heaven　this　moment；　I　should　be　miserable　there；　if　I　thought　_he_　was　in　eternal　torment。　Ay；　I　should　be　as　miserable　there　as　I　am　here。　Oh；　Jane；　when　God　means　to　comfort　me；　He　will　show　me　_he_　is　alive；　till　then　words　are　wasted　on　me；　even　Bible　words。〃

〃Tell　her　your　news；　my　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　quietly。　She　was　one　of　those　who　take　human　nature　as　it　is；　and　make　the　best　of　it。

〃Julia　dear；〃　said　Jane；　〃your　fears　are　extravagant；　indeed：　Alfred　is　alive；　we　know。〃

Julia　trembled；　but　said　nothing。

〃He　has　written　to…day。〃

〃Ah！　To　you？〃

〃No；　to　papa。〃

〃I　don't　believe　it。　Why　to　him？〃

〃But　I　saw　the　letter；　dear；　I　had　it　my　hand。〃

〃Did　you　read　it？〃　asked　Julia；　trembling　now　like　an　aspen；　and　fluttering　like　a　bird。

〃No；　but　I　read　the　address；　and　the　date　inside；　and　I　saw　the　handwriting；　and　I　was　offered　the　letter；　but　papa　told　me　it　was　full　of　abuse　of　him；　so　I　declined*　to　read　it；　however；　I　will　get　it　for　_you。_〃

*　This　was　one　of　those　involuntary　inaccuracies　which　creep　into　mortal　statements。

Mrs。　Dodd　thanked　her　warmly；　but　asked　her　if　she　could　not　in　the　meantime　give　some　idea　of　the　contents。

〃Oh　yes；　Mrs。　Dodd：　papa　read　me　out　a　great　deal　of　it。　He　was　in　Paris；　but　just　starting　for　London：　and　he　demanded　his　money　and　his　accounts。　You　know　papa　is　one　of　his　trustees。〃

〃Well；　but；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃there　was　nothingnothing　about？〃

〃Oh　yes；　there　was；〃　said　Jane；　〃only　Iwell　then；　for　dear　Julia's　sakethe　letter　said；　'What　wonder　the　son　of　a　sharper　should　prove　a　traitor？　_You_　have　stolen　her　money　and　_I_　her　affections；　and'oh；　I　can't；　I　can't。〃　And　Jane　Hardie　began　to　cry。

Mrs。　Dodd　embraced　her　like　a　mother；　and　entered　into　her　filial　feelings：　Mrs。　Dodd　had　never　seen　her　so　weak；　and；　therefore；　never　thought　her　so　amiable。　Thus　occupied　they　did　not　at　first　observe　how　these　tidings　were　changing　Julia。

But　presently　looking　up；　they　saw　her　standing　at　her　full　height　on　fire　with　wrath　and　insulted　pride。

〃Ah；　you　have　brought　me　comfort；〃　she　cried。　〃　Mamma；　I　shall　hate　and　scorn　this　man　some　day；　as　much　as　I　hate　and　scorn　myself　now　for　every　tear　I　have　shed　for　him。〃

They　tried　to　calm　her；　but　in　vain；　a　new　gust　of　passion　possessed　the　ardent　young　creature　and　would　have　vent。　She　reddened　from　bosom　to　brow；　and　the　scalding　tears　ran　down　her　flaming　cheeks；　and　she　repeated　between　her　clenched　teeth；　〃My　veins　are　not　filled　with　skim…milk；　I　can　tell　you：　you　have　seen　how　I　can　love；　you　shall　see　how　I　can　hate。〃　And　with　this　she　went　haughtily　out　of　the　room；　not　to　expose　the　passion　which　overpowered　her。

Mrs。　Dodd　took　advantage　of　her　absence　to　thank　Jane　for　her　kindness；　and　told　her　she　had　also　received　some　letters　by　this　morning's　post；　and　thought　it　would　be　neither　kind　on　her　part　nor　just　to　conceal　their　purport　from　her。　She　then　read　her　a　letter　from　Mrs。　Beresford；　and　another　from　Mr。　Grey；　in　answer　to　queries　about　the　L。　14；000。

Sharpe；　I　may　as　well　observe；　was　at　sea；　Bayliss　drowned。

Mrs。　Beresford　knew　nothing　about　the　matter。

Mr。　Grey　was　positive　Captain　Dodd；　when　in　command；　had　several　thousand　pounds　in　his　cabin；　Mrs。　Beresford's　Indian　servant　had　been　detected　trying　to　steal　it；　and　put　in　irons：　believed　the　lady　had　not　been　told　the　causeout　of　delicacy！　and　Captain　Roberts　had　liberated　him。　As　to　whether　the　money　had　escaped　the　wreckif　on　Captain　Dodd's　person；　it　might　have　been　saved；　but　if　not；　it　was　certainly　lost：　for　Captain　Dodd　to　his　knowledge　had　run　on　deck　from　the　passenger's　cabin　the　moment　the　ship　struck；　and　had　remained　there　till　she　went　to　pieces；　and　everything　was　washed　out　of　her。

〃Our　own　opinion；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃I　mean　Edward's　and　mine；　is　now；　that　the　money　was　lost　in　the　ship；　and　you　c