hard cash-第122节

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！


ter　hidden　for　an　ingenious　purpose。　What　that　purpose　was　my　reader　shall　divine。



CHAPTER　XLII

WE　left　Julia　Dodd　a　district　visitor。　Working　in　a　dense　parish　she　learned　the　depths　of　human　misery；　bodily　and　mental。

She　visited　an　honest　widow；　so　poor　that　she　could　not　afford　a　farthing　dip；　but　sat　in　the　dark。　When　friends　came　to　see　her　they　sometimes　brought　a　candle　to　talk　by。

She　visited　a　cripple　who　often　thanked　God　sincerely　for　leaving　her　the　use　of　one　thumb。

She　visited　a　poor　creature　who　for　sixteen　years　had　been　afflicted　with　a　tumour　in　the　neck；　and　had　lain　all　those　years　on　her　back　with　her　head　in　a　plate；　the　heat　of　a　pillow　being　intolerable。　Julia　found　her　longing　to　go；　and　yet　content　to　stay：　and　praising　God　in　all　the　lulls　of　that　pain　which　was　her　companion　day　and　night。

But　were　I　to　enumerate　the　ghastly　sights；　the　stifling　loathsome　odours；　the　vulgar　horrors　upon　horrors　this　refined　young　lady　faced；　few　of　my　readers　would　endure　on　paper　for　love　of　truth　what　she　endured　in　reality　for　love　of　suffering　humanity；　and　of　Him　whose　servant　she　aspired　to　be。

Probably　such　sacrifices　of　selfish　ease　and　comfort　are　never　quite　in　vain；　they　tend　in　many　ways　to　heal　our　own　wounds：　I　won't　say　that　bodily　suffering　is　worse　than　mental；　but　it　is　realised　far　more　vividly　by　a　spectator。　The　grim　heart…breaking　sights　she　saw　arrayed　Julia's　conscience　against　her　own　grief；　the　more　so　when　she　found　some　of　her　most　afflicted　ones　resigned；　and　even　grateful。　〃What；〃　said　she；　〃can　they；　all　rags；　disease　and　suffering；　bow　so　cheerfully　to　the　will　of　Heaven；　and　have　I　the　wickedness；　the　impudence；　to　repine？〃

And　then；　happier　than　most　district　visitors；　she　was　not　always　obliged　to　look　on　helpless；　or　to　confine　her　consolations　to　good　words。　Mrs。　Dodd　was　getting　on　famously　in　her　groove。　She　was　high　in　the　confidence　of　Cross　and　Co。；　and　was　inspecting　eighty　ladies；　as　well　as　working；　her　salary　and　profits　together　were　not　less　than　five　hundred　pounds　a　year；　and　her　one　luxury　was　charity；　and　Julia　its　minister。　She　carried　a　good　honest　basket；　and　there　you　might　see　her　Bible　wedged　in　with　wine　and　meat；　and　tea　and　sugar：　and　still；　as　these　melted　in　her　round；　a　little　spark　of　something　warm　would　sometimes　come　in　her　own　sick　heart。　Thus　by　degrees　she　was　attaining　not　earthly　happiness；　but　a　grave　and　pensive　composure。

Yet　across　it　gusts　of　earthly　grief　came　sweeping　often；　but　these　she　hid　till　she　was　herself　again。

To　her　mother　and　brother　she　was　kinder；　sweeter；　and　dearer；　if　possible；　than　ever。　They　looked　on　her　as　a　saint；　but　she　knew　better；　and　used　to　blush　with　honest　shame　when　they　called　her　so。　〃Oh　don't；　pray　don't；　she　would　say　with　unaffected　pain。　〃Love　me　as　if　I　was　an　angel；　but　do　not　praise　me；　that　turns　my　eyes　inward　and　makes　me　see　myself。　I　am　not　a　Christian　yet；　nor　anything　like　one。〃

Returning　one　day　from　her　duties　very　tired；　she　sat　down　to　take　off　her　bonnet　in　her　own　room；　and　presently　heard　snatches　of　an　argument　that　made　her　prick　those　wonderful　little　ears　of　hers　which　could　almost　hear　through　a　wall。　The　two　concluding　sentences　were　a　key　to　the　whole　dialogue。

〃Why　disturb　her？〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃She　is　getting　better　of　'the　Wretch；'　and　my　advice　is；　say　nothing：　what　harm　can　that　do？〃

〃But　then　it　is　so　unfair；　so　ungenerous；　to　keep　anything　from　the　poor　girl　that　may　concern　her。〃

At　this　moment　Julia　came　softly　into　the　room　with　her　curiosity　hidden　under　an　air　of　angelic　composure。

Her　mother　asked　after　Mrs。　Beecher；　to　draw　her　into　conversation。　She　replied　quietly　that　Mrs。　Beecher　was　no　better；　but　very　thankful　for　the　wine　Mrs。　Dodd　had　sent　her。　This　answer　given；　she　went　without　any　apparent　hurry　and　sat　by　Edward；　and　fixed　two　loving　imploring　eyes　on　him　in　silence。　Oh；　subtle　sex！　This　feather　was　to　turn　the　scale；　and　make　him　talk　unquestioned。　It　told。　She　was　close　to　him　too；　and　mamma　at　the　end　of　the　room。

〃Look　here；　Ju；〃　said　he；　putting　his　hands　in　his　pockets；　〃we　two　have　always　been　friends　as　well　as　brother　and　sister；　and　somehow　it　does　not　seem　like　a　friend　to　keep　things　dark；〃　then　to　Mrs。　Dodd：　〃She　is　not　a　child；　mother；　after　all；　and　how　can　it　be　wrong　to　tell　her　the　truth；　or　right　to　suppress　the　truth？　Well　then；　Ju；　there's　an　advertisement　in　the　_'Tiser；_　and　it's　a　regular　riddle。　Now　mind；　I　don't　really　think　there　is　anything　in　it；　but　it　is　a　droll　coincidence；　very　droll；　if　it　wasn't　there　are　ladies　present；　and　one　of　them　a　district　visitor；　I　would　say；　dd　droll。　So　droll；〃　continued　he；　getting　warm；　〃that　I　should　like　to　punch　the　advertiser's　head。〃

〃Let　me　see　it；　dear；〃　said　Julia。　〃I　dare　say　it　is　nothing　worth　punching　about。〃

〃There；〃　said　Edward。　〃I've　marked　it。〃

Julia　took　the　paper；　and　her　eye　fell　on　this　short　advertisement：


　　　　　AILEEN　AROON。DISTRUST　APPEARANCES。

Looking　at　her　with　some　anxiety；　they　saw　the　paper　give　one　sharp　rustle　in　her　hands；　and　then　quiver　a　little。　She　bowed　her　head　over　it；　and　everything　seemed　to　swim。　But　she　never　moved：　they　could　neither　of　them　see　her　face；　she　defended　herself　with　the　paper。　The　letters　cleared　again；　and；　still　hiding　her　face；　she　studied　and　studied　the　advertisement。

〃Come；　tell　us　what　you　think　of　it；〃　said　Edward。　〃Is　it　anything？　or　a　mere　coincidence？〃

〃It　is　a　pure　coincidence；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　with　an　admirable　imitation　of　cool　confidence。

Julia　said　nothing；　but　she　now　rose　and　put　both　arms　round　Edward's　neck；　and　kissed　him　fervidly　again　and　again；　holding　the　newspaper　tight　all　the　time。

〃There；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd：　〃see　what　you　have　done。〃

〃Oh；　it　is　all　right；〃　said　Edward　cheerfully。　〃The　British　fireman　is　getting　hugged　no　end。　Why；　what　is　the　matter？　have　you　got　the　hiccough；　Ju？〃

〃No；　no！　You　are　a　true　brother。　I　knew　all　along　that　he　would　explain　all　if　he　was　alive：　and　he　is　alive。〃　So　saying　she　kissed　the　_'Tiser_　violently　more　than　once；　then　fluttered　away　with　it　to　her　own　room　ashamed　to　show　her　joy；　and　yet　not　able　to　hide　it。

Mrs。　Dodd　shook　her　head　sorrowfully：　and　Edward　began　to　look　rueful；　and　doubt　whether　he　had　done　wisely。　I　omit　the　discussion　that　followed。　But　the　next　time　his　duties　permitted　him　to　visit　them　Mrs。　Dodd　showed　him　the　_'Tiser_　in　her　turn；　and　with　her　pretty　white　taper　finger；　and　such　a　look；　pointed　to　the　following　advertisement：

　　　　　AILEEN　AROON。I　_do_　DISTRUST　　　　　　APPEARANCES。　But　if　you　ever　loved　me　　　　　　explain　them　at　once。　I　have　something　for　　　　　　you　from　your　dear　sister。

〃Poor　simple　girl；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　〃not　to　see　that；　if　he　could　explain　at　all；　he　_would_　explain；　not　go　advertising　an　enigma　after　acting　a　mystification。　And　to　think　of　my　innocent　dove　putting　in　that　she　had　something　for　him　from　his　sister；　a　mighty　temptation　for　such　a　wretch！〃

〃It　was　wonderfully　silly；〃　said　Edward；　〃and　such　a　clever　girl；　too；　but　you　ladies　can't　stick　to　one　thing　at　a　time；　begging　your　pardon；　mamma。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　took　no　notice　of　this　remark。

〃To　see　her　lower　herself　so！〃　she　said。　〃Oh；　my　son；　I　am　mortified。〃　And　Mrs。　Dodd　leaned　her　cheek　against　Edward's；　and　sighed。

〃Now　don't　you　cry；　mammy；〃　said　he　sorrowfully。　〃I'll　break　every　bone　in　his　skin　for　your　comfort。〃

〃Heaven　forbid！〃　cried　Mrs。　Dodd　anxiously；　〃what；　are　you　not　aware　she　would　hate　you？〃

〃Hate　me：　her　brother！〃

〃She　would　hate　us　all　if　we　laid　a　finger　on　that　wretch。　Pray　interfere　no　more；　love；　foolish　child；　talking　to　me　about　women；　and　it　is　plain　you　know　nothing　of　their　hearts：　and　a　good　thing　_for_　you。〃　She　then　put　on　maternal　authority　（nobody　could　do　it　more　easily）　and　solemnly　forbade　all　violence。

He　did　not　venture　to　contradict　her　now；　but　cherished　his　resolution　all　the　more；　and　longed　for　the　hour　when　he　might　take　〃the　Wretch〃　by　the　throat；　and　chastise　him；　the　more　publicly　the　better。

Now；　the　above　incident　that　revealed　Julia's　real　heart；　which　she　had　been　hiding　more　or　less　all　this　time　from　those　who　could　not　sympathise　with　her；　took　eventually　a　turn　unfavourable　to　〃the　Wretch。〃　So　he　might　well　be　called。　Her　great　and　settled　fear　had　always　been　that　Alfred　was　dead。　Under　the　immediate　influence　of　his　father's　cunning；　she　had　for　a　moment　believed　he　was　false；　but　so　true　and　loving　a　heart　could　not　rest　in　that　opinion。　In　true　love　so　long　as　there　is　one　grain　of　uncertainty；　there　is　a　world　of　faith　and　credulous　ingenuity。　So；　as　Alfred　had　never　been　seen　since；　as　nobody　could　say　he　was　married　to　another；　there　was　a　grain　of　uncertainty　as　to　his　unfaithfulness；　and　this　her　true　heart　magnified　to　a　mountain。

But　now　matters　wore　another　face。　She　was　sure　he　had　written　the　advertisement。　Who　but　he；　out　of　the　few　that　take　the　words　of　any　song　to　heart；　admired　Aileen　Aroon？　Who　but　he　out　of　the　three　or　four　people　who　might　possibly　care　for　that　old　song；　had　appearances　to　explain　away？　And　who　but　he　knew　they　took　in　the　_Morning　Advertiser？_　She　waited　then　for　the　expl