hard cash-第107节
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ll meet where she is now； and may I go to her the first。〃
Richard Hardie was led from the room in a stupor。
Immediately after death all the disfiguring effect of pain retired； and the happy soul seemed to have stamped its own celestial rapture on the countenance at the moment of leaving it； a rapture so wonderful； so divine； so more than mortal calm； irradiated the dead face。 The good Christians she left behind her looked on and feared to weep； lest they should offend Him； who had taken her to Himself； and set a visible seal upon the house of clay that had held her。 〃Oh； mamma；〃 cried Julia with fervour； 〃look！ look！ Can we； dare we； wish that angel back to this world of misery and sin？〃 And it was some hours before she cooled； and began to hang on Edward's neck and weep his loss and hers； as weep we mortals must； though the angels of Heaven are rejoicing。
Thus died in the flower of her youth； and by what we call a violent death； the one child Richard Hardie loved； member of a religious party whose diction now and then offends one to the soul： but the root of the matter is in them； allowance made for those passions； foibles； and infirmities of the flesh； even you and I are not entirely free from； they live fearing God； and die loving Him。
There was an inquest next day； followed in due course by a public trial of James Maxley。 But these are matters which； though rather curious and interesting； must be omitted； or touched hereafter and briefly。
The effect of Jane's death on Richard Hardie was deplorable。 He saw the hand of Heaven； but did not bow to it： so it filled him with rage； rebellion； and despair。 He got his daughter away and hid himself in the room with her； scarce stirring out by night or day。 He spoke to no one； he shunned the Dodds： he hated them。 He said it was through visiting their house she had met her death； and at their door。 He would not let himself see it was he who had sent her there with his lie。 He loathed Alfred； calling him the cause of all。
He asked nobody to the funeral： and； when Edward begged permission to come； he gave a snarl like a wild beast and went raging from him。 But Edward would go： and at the graveside pitying Heaven relieved the young fellow's choking heart with tears。 But no such dew came to that parched old man； who stood on its other side like the withered Archangel； his eyes gloomy and wild； his white cheek ploughed deep with care and crime and anguish； his lofty figure bowed by his long warfare； his soul burning and sickening by turns； with hatred and rebellion； with desolation and despair。
He went home and made his will； for he felt life hang on him like lead； and that any moment he might kill himself to be rid of it。 Strange to say； he left a sum of money to Edward Dodd。 A moment before； he didn't know he was going to do it： a moment after； he was half surprised he had done it； and minded to undo it； but would not take the trouble。 He went up to London； and dashed into speculation as some in their despair take to drink。 For this man had but two passions； avarice； and his love for his daughter。 Bereaved of her； he must either die； or live for gain。 He sought the very cave of Mammon； he plunged into the Stock Exchange。
When Mr。 Hardie said； 〃Alfred can't come； it seems；〃 Mrs。 Dodd misunderstood him； naturally enough。 She thought the heartless young man had sent some excuse： had chosen to let his sister die neglected rather than face Julia： 〃As if she would leave her own room while _he_ was in my house；〃 said Mrs。 Dodd； with sovereign contempt。 From this moment she conceived a horror of the young man。 Edward shared it fully； and the pair always spoke of him under the title of 〃the Wretch：〃 this was when Julia was not by。 In her presence he was never mentioned。 By this means she would in time forget him； or else see him as they saw him。
And as； after all； they knew little to Mr。 Hardie's disadvantage； except what had come out of 〃the Wretch's〃 mouth； and as moreover their hearts were softened towards the father by his bereavement； and their sight of his misery； and also by his grateful words； they quite acquitted him of having robbed them； and felt sure the fourteen thousand pounds was at the bottom of the sea。
They were a little surprised that Mr。 Hardie never spoke nor wrote to them again； but being high…minded and sweet tempered； they set it down to all…absorbing grief； and would not feel sore about it。
And now they must leave the little villa where they had been so happy and so unhappy。
The scanty furniture went first； Mrs。 Dodd followed； and arranged it in their apartments。 Julia would stay behind to comfort Edward； inconsolable herself。 The auction came off。 Most of the things went for cruelly little money compared to their value： and with the balance the sad young pair came up to London； and were clasped in their mother's arms。 The tears were in her tender eyes。 〃It is a poor place to receive my treasures；〃 she said： Edward looked round astonished： 〃It was a poor place；〃 said he； 〃but you have made a little palace of it； somehow or another。〃
〃My children's love can alone do that；〃 replied Mrs。 Dodd； kissing them both again。
Next day they consulted together how they were to live。 Edward wished to try and get his father into a public asylum； then his mother would have a balance to live upon out of her income。 But Mrs。 Dodd rejected this proposal with astonishment。 In vain Edward cited the _'Tiser_ that public asylums are patterns of comfort； and cure twice as many patients as the private ones do。 She was deaf alike to the _'Tiser_ and to statistics。 〃Do not argue me out of my common sense；〃 said she。 〃My husband； your father； in a public asylum； where anybody can go and stare at my darling！〃
She then informed them she had written to her Aunt Bazalgette and her Uncle Fountain； and invited them to contribute something towards David's maintenance。
Edward was almost angry at this。 〃Fancy asking favours of _them；_〃 said he。
〃Oh； I must not sacrifice my family to false pride；〃 said Mrs。 Dodd； 〃besides they are entitled to know。〃
While waiting for their answers； a word about the parties and their niece。
Our Mrs。 Dodd； born Lucy Fountain； was left at nineteen to the care of two guardians： 1； her Uncle Fountain； an old bachelor； who loved comfort； pedigree； and his own way； 2； her Aunt Bazalgette； who loved flirting； dressing； and her own way； both charming people； when they got their own way； verjuice； when they didn't： and； to conclude； egotists deep as ocean。 From guardians they grew match…makers and rivals by proxy： uncle schemed to graft Lucy on to a stick called Talboys； that came in with the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes； known in pedigrees as 〃the Norman Conquest。〃 Aunt； wife of a merchant of no Descent； except from a high stool； devoted her to Richard Hardie。 An unlooked…for obstacle encountered both： Lucy was not amorous。 She loved these two egotists and their quadrupeds； but there she stopped dead short。 They persisted； and； while they pulled her to and fro and ruffled her native calm； David Dodd； first mate of the Something or other East Indiamanbrown cheek； honest speech； heart of goldfell deep in love and worshipped her at a distance。 His timidity and social insignificance made him harmless； so egotist Fountain had him in to dessert to spin yarns； egotist Bazalgette invited him to her house to flirt with。 At this latter place he found Hardie and Talboys both courting Lucy； this drove him mad； and in his fury he popped。 Lucy declined him _secundum artem：_ he went away blessing her； with a manly sob or two。 Lucy cried a little and took a feminine spite against his rivals； who remained to pester her。 Now Talboys； spurred by uncle； had often all but popped； only some let； hindrance； or just impediment had still interposed： once her pony kept prancing at each effort he made towards Hymen； they do say the subtle virgin kept probing the brute with a hair pin； and made him caracole and spill the treacle as fast as it came her way。 However； now Talboys elected to pop by sea。 It was the element his ancestors had invaded fair England by； and on its tranquil bosom a lover is safe from prancing steeds； and the myriad anti…pops of _terra firma。_ Miss Lucy consented to the water excursion demurely； designing to bring her sickly wooer to the point and so get rid of him for ever and ever。 Plot and counter…plot were baffled by the elements： there came an anti…pop out of the south…west called a gale。 Talboys boated so skilfully that he and his intended would have been united without ceremony by Father Nep； at the bottom of the British Channel； but for David Dodd； who was hovering near in jealous anguish and a cutter。 He saved them both； but in the doing of it missed his ship； and professional ruin faced him。 Then good…hearted Lucy was miserable； and appealed to Mr。 Bazalgette； and he managed somehow to get David made captain of the _Rajah。_ The poor girl thought she had squared the account with David； but he refused the ship unless she would go halves； and while her egotists bullied and vexed her； he wrought so upon her pity； and teased her so； that to get rid of his importunity she married him。 In time she learned to love him ten times b
