hard cash-第108节

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　so；　that　to　get　rid　of　his　importunity　she　married　him。　In　time　she　learned　to　love　him　ten　times　better　than　if　she　had　begun　all　flames。　Uncle　and　aunt　cut　her　tolerably　dead　for　some　years。　Uncle　came　round　the　first；　some　antiquarian　showed　him　that　Dodd　was　a　much　more　ancient　family　than　Talboys。　〃Why；　sir；　they　were　lords　of　sixteen　manors　under　the　Heptarchy；　and　hold　some　of　them　to　this　day。〃　Mrs。　Bazalgette；　too；　had　long　corresponded　with　her　periodically；　and　on　friendly　terms。


The　answers　came　on　the　same　day；　curiously　enough。　Uncle　Fountain；　ruined　by　railway　speculation；　was　living　on　an　allowance　from　creditors；　but　his　house　was　at　their　service；　if　they　liked　to　live　with　himand　board　themselves。

Mrs。　Bazalgette's　was　the　letter　of　a　smooth　woman；　who　has　hoarded　imperishable　spite。　She　reminded　her　niece　after　all　these　years；　that　her　marriage　with　David　was　an　act　of　disobedience　and　ingratitude。　She　then　enumerated　her　own　heavy　expenses；　all　but　the　L。　400　a　year　she　spent　in　bedizening　her　carcass；　and　finally；　amidst　a　multitude　of　petty　insults；　she　offered　to　relieve　Mrs。　Dodd　ofJulia。　Now　Poetry　has　reconciled　us　to　an　asp　in　a　basket　of　figs；　but　here　was　a　scorpion　in　a　bundle　of　nettles。　Poor　Mrs。　Dodd　could　not　speak　after　reading　it。　She　handed　it　to　Edward；　and　laid　her　white　forehead　wearily　in　her　hand。　Edward　put　the　letter　in　an　envelope　and　sent　it　back　with　a　line　in　his　own　hand　declining　all　further　correspondence　with　the　writer。

〃Now　then；　ladies；〃　said　he；　〃don't　you　be　cast　down。　Let　this　be　a　warning　to　us；　never　to　ask　favours　of　anybody。　Let　us　look　the　thing　in　the　face；　we　must　work　or　starve：　and　all　the　better　for　us。　Hard　work　suits　heavy　hearts。　Come；　have　you　any　plan？〃

〃To　be　sure　we　have；〃　said　Julia　eagerly。　〃I　mean　to　go　for　a　governess；　and　then　I　shall　cost　mamma　nothing；　and　besides　I　can　send　her　the　money　the　people　give　me。〃

〃A　pretty　plan！〃　said　Edward　sadly；　〃what！　we　three　part　company？　Don't　you　feel　lonely　enough　without　that？　I　do　then。　How　can　we　bear　our　burdens　at　all；　if　we　are　not　to　be　all　together　to　cheer　one　another　along　the　weary　road？　What！　are　we　to　break　up？　Is　it　not　enough　to　be　bereaved？〃

He　could　say　no　more　for　the　emotion　his　own　words　caused　him；　thinking　of　Jane；　he　broke　down　altogether；　and　ran　out　of　the　room。

However；　he　came　back　in　an　hour　with　his　eyes　red；　but　his　heart　indomitable；　determined　to　play　a　man's　part　for　all　their　sakes。　〃You　ladies；〃　said　he；　with　something　of　his　old　genial　way；　that　sounded　so　strange　to　one　looking　at　his　red　eyes；　and　inspired　a　desire　to　hug　him；　〃are　full　of　talent；　but　empty　of　invention。　The　moment　you　are　ruined　or　that　sort　of　thing；　it　is；　_go_　for　a　governess；　_go_　for　a　companion；　_go_　here；　_go_　there；　in　search　of　what？　Independence？　No；　dependence。　Besides　all　this　_going_　is　bosh。　Families　are　strong　if　they　stick　together；　and　if　they　go　to　pieces　they　are　weak。　I　learned　one　bit　of　sense　out　of　that　mass　of　folly　they　call　antiquity；　and　that　was　the　story　of　the　old　bloke　with　his　twelve　sons；　and　fagot　to　match。　'Break　'em　apart；'　he　said；　and　each　son　broke　his　stick　as　easy　as　shelling　peas。　'Now　break　the　twelve　all　tied　together：'　devil　a　bit　could　the　duffers　break　it　then。　Now　we　are　not　twelve；　we　are　but　three：　easy　to　break　one　or　two　of　us　apart；　but　not　the　lot　together。　No；　nothing　but　death　shall　break　this　fagot；　for　nothing　less　shall　part　us　three。〃

He　stood　like　a　colossus；　and　held　out　his　hand　to　them；　they　clung　round　his　neck　in　a　moment；　as　if　to　illustrate　his　words；　clung　tight；　and　blessed　him　for　standing　so　firm　and　forbidding　them　to　part。

Mrs。　Dodd　sighed；　after　the　first　burst　of　enthusiastic　affection；　and　said：　〃If　he　would　only　go　a　step　further　and　tell　us　what　to　do　in　company。〃

〃Ay；　there　it　is；〃　said　Julia。　〃Begin　with　me。　What　can　I　do？〃

〃Why；　paint。〃

〃What；　to　sell？　Oh　dear；　my　daubs　are　not　good　enough　for　that。〃

〃Stuff！　Nothing　is　too　bad　to　_sell。_〃

〃I　really　think　you　might；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃and　I　will　help　you。〃

〃No；　no；　mamma；　I　want　you　for　something　better　than　the　fine　arts。　You　must　go　in　one　of　the　great　grooves：　Female　vanity：　you　must　be　a　dressmaker；　you　are　a　genius　at　it。〃

〃My　mamma　a　dressmaker；〃　cried　Julia；　〃oh　Edward；　how　can　you。　How　dare　you。　Poor；　poor　mamma！〃

〃Do　not　be　so　impetuous；　dear。　I　think　he　is　right：　yes；　it　is　all　I　am　fit　for。　If　ever　there　was　a　Heaven…born　dressmaker；　it's　me。〃

〃As　for　myself；〃　said　Edward；　〃I　shall　look　out　for　some　business　in　which　physical　strength　goes　further　than　intellectual　attainments。　Luckily　there　are　plenty　such。　Breaking　stones　is　one。　But　I　shall　try　a　few　others　first。〃

It　is　easy　to　settle　on　a　business；　hard　to　get　a　footing　in　one。　Edward　convinced　that　the　dressmaking　was　their　best　card；　searched　that　mine　of　various　knowledge；　the　_'Tiser；_　for　an　opening：　but　none　came。　At　last　one　of　those　great　miscellaneous　houses　in　the　City　advertised　for　a　lady　to　cut　cloaks。　He　proposed　to　his　mother　to　go　with　him。　She　shrank　from　encountering　strangers。　No；　she　would　go　to　a　fashionable　dressmaker　she　had　employed　some　years；　and　ask　her　advice。　Perhaps　Madame　Blanch　would　find　her　something　to　do。　〃I　have　more　faith　in　the　_'Tiser；_〃　said　Edward；　clinging　to　his　idol。

Mrs。　Dodd　found　Madame　Blanch　occupied　in　trying　to　suit　one　of　those　heart…breaking　idiots；　to　whom　dress　is　the　one　great　thing；　and　all　things　else；　sin　included；　the　little　ones。　She　had　tried　on　a　scarf　three　times；　and　it　discontented　her　when　on；　and　spoilt　all　else　when　off。　Mrs。　Dodd　saw；　and　said　obligingly；　〃Perhaps　were　I　to　put　it　on；　you　could　better　judge。〃　Mrs。　Dodd；　you　must　know；　had　an　admirable　art　of　putting　on　a　shawl　or　scarf。　With　apparent　_nonchalance_　she　settled　the　scarf　on　her　shapely　shoulders　so　happily　that　the　fish　bit；　and　the　scarf　went　into　its　carriage；　forty　guineas；　or　so。　Madame　cast　a　rapid　but　ardent　glance　of　gratitude　Dodd…wards。　The　customer　began　to　go；　and　after　fidgeting　to　the　door　and　back　for　twenty　minutes　actually　went　somehow。　Then　madame　turned　round；　and　said；　〃I'm　sure；　ma'am；　I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　you　sold　me　the　scarf：　and　it　is　a　pity　we　couldn't　put　her　on　your　bust　and　shoulders；　ma'am；　then　perhaps　a　scarf　might　please　her。　What　can　I　do　for　you；　ma'am？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　blushed；　and　with　subdued　agitation　told　Madame　Blanch　that　this　time　she　was　come　not　to　purchase　but　to　ask　a　favour。　Misfortune　was　heavy　on　her；　and；　though　not　penniless；　she　was　so　reduced　by　her　husband's　illness　and　the　loss　of　L。　14；000　by　shipwreck；　that　she　must　employ　what　little　talents　she　had　to　support　her　family。

The　woman　explored　her　from　head　to　foot　to　find　the　change　of　fortune　in　some　corner　of　her　raiment：　but　her　customer　was　as　well；　though　plainly　dressed　as　ever；　and　still　looked　an　easy…going　duchess。

〃Could　Madame　Blanch　find　her　employment　in　her　own　line？　What　talent　I　have；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　humbly；　〃lies　in　that　way。　I　could　not　cut　as　well　as　yourself；　of　course；　but　I　think　I　can　as　well　as　some　of　your　people。〃

〃That　I'll　be　bound　you　can；〃　said　Madame　Blanch　drily。　〃But　dear；　dear；　to　think　of　your　having　come　down　so。　Have　a　glass　of　wine　to　cheer　you　a　bit；　do　now；　that　is　a　good　soul。〃

〃Oh　no；　madam。　I　thank　you；　but　wine　cannot　cheer　me：　a　little　bit　of　good　news　to　take　back　to　my　anxious　children；　that　would　cheer　me；　madam。　_Will_　you　be　so　good？〃

The　dressmaker　coloured　and　hesitated；　she　felt　the　fascination　of　Dignity　donning　Humility；　and　speaking　Music：　but　she　resisted。　〃It　won't　do；　at　least　here。　I　shouldn't　be　mistress　in　my　own　place。　I　couldn't　drive　you　like　I　am　forced　to　do　the　rest；　and；　then；　I　should　be　sure　to　favour　you；　being　a　real　lady；　which　is　my　taste；　and　you　always　will　be；　rich　or　poor；　and　then　all　my　ladies　would　be　on　the　bile　with　jealousy。〃

〃Ah；　madam；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃you　treat　me　like　a　child；　you　give　me　sweetmeats；　and　refuse　me　food　for　my　family。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　the　woman　hastily；　〃I　don't　say　I　mightn't　send　you　out　some　work　to　do　at　home。〃

〃Oh；　thank　you；　madam。〃　_N。B。_　The　dressmaker　had　dropped　the　Madam；　so　the　lady　used　it　now　at　every　word。

〃Now　stop　a　bit；〃　said　Madame　Blanch。　〃I　know　a　firm　that's　in　want。　Theirs　is　easy　work　by　mine；　and　they　cut　up　a　piece　of　stuff　every　two　or　three　days。〃　She　then　wrote　on　one　of　her　own　cards；　Messrs。　Cross；　Fitchett；　Copland；　and　Tylee；　11；　12；　13；　and　14；　Primrose　Lane；　City。　〃Say；　I　recommend　you。　To　tell　the　truth；　an　old　hand　of　my　own　was　to　come　here　this　very　morning　about　it；　but　she　hasn't　kept　her　time；　so　this　will　learn　her　business　doesn't　stand　still　for　lie…a…beds　to　catch　it。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　put　the　card　in　her　bosom　and　pressed　the　hand　extended　to　her　by　Madame　Zaire　Blanch；　whose　name　was　Sally　White；　spinster。　She　went　back　to　her　children　and　showed　them　the　card；　and　sank　gracefully　into　a　chair；　exhausted　as　much　by　the　agitation　of　asking　favours　as　by　the　walk。　〃Cross；　Fitchett；　Copland？　Why　they　were　in　the　_'Tiser_　yesterday；〃　said　Edward：　〃look　at　this；　a　day　lost　by　being　wiser　than　the　_'Tiser。_〃

〃I'll　waste　no　more　then；〃　said　Mrs。