hard cash-第132节

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r　advice　of　counsel　for　your　protection。〃

Alfred　wrote　as　requested；　and　Mr。　Compton　put　the　paper　in　his　drawer；　remarking；　〃With　this　I　can　proceed　by　law　or　equity；　even　should　you　get　into　the　asylum　again。〃　He　then　dismissed　Alfred　somewhat　abruptly；　but　with　an　invitation　to　call　again　after　three　clear　days。　Like　most　ardent　suitors　after　their　first　interview　with　passionless　law；　he　went　away　sadly　chilled；　and　so　home　to　his　cheerless　lodging；　to　count　the　hours　till　he　could　see　Julia；　and　learn　his　fate　from　her　lips。

This　very　morning　a　hasty　note　came　to　Edward　from　Folkestone；　worded　thus：


〃Oh；　Edward：　my　worst　misgivings！　The　two　have　parted。　Poor　papa　has　taken　a　man's　boat　and　is　in　sight。　We　shall　follow　directly　in　a　steamboat。　But　the　other！　You　know　my　fears；　you　must　be　father　and　mother　to　that　poor　child　till　I　come　homeYour　sad　mother；

〃LUCY　DODD。〃


Julia　held　out　her　hand　for　the　note。　Edward　put　it　in　his　pocket。

〃What　is　that　for？〃　said　the　young　lady。

〃Why　surely　I　may　put　my　own　property　in　my　pocket。〃

〃Oh；　certainly。　I　only　want　to　look　at　it　first。〃

〃Excuse　me。〃

〃Are　you　in　earnest；　Edward？　Not　let　me　see　dear　mamma's　letter？〃　and　the　vivid　face　looked　piteously　surprised。

〃Oh；　I'll　tell　you　the　contents。　Papa　had　got　to　Folkestone　and　taken　a　boat；　and　gone　to　sea：　then　mamma　took　a　steamboat　and　after　him：　so　she　will　soon　catch　him；　and　is　not　that　a　comfort？〃

〃Oh；　yes；〃　cried　Julia；　and　was　for　some　time　too　interested　and　excited　to　think　of　anything　else。　But　presently　she　returned　to　the　charge。　〃Anything　else；　dear？〃

〃Humph？　Well；　not　of　equal　importance。〃

〃Oh；　if　it　is　of　no　importance；　there　can　be　no　reason　for　not　telling　me。　What　was　it？〃

Edward　coloured　but　said　nothing。　He　thought　however；　and　thus　ran　his　thoughts：　〃She's　my　intellectual　superior　and　I've　got　to　deceive　her；　and　a　nice　mess　I　shall　make　of　it。〃

It　_is_　of　importance；〃　said　Julia；　eyeing　him。　〃You　have　told　a　story：　and　you　don't　love　your　sister。〃　This　fulminated；　she　drew　herself　up　proudly　and　was　silent。　A　minute　afterwards；　stealing　a　look　at　her；　he　saw　her　eyes　suddenly　fill　with　tears；　_apropos_　of　nothing　tangible。

〃Now　this　is　nice；〃　said　he　to　himself

At　noon　she　put　on　her　bonnet　to　visit　her　district。　He　put　on　his　hat　directly；　and　accompanied　her。　Great　was　her　innocent　pleasure　at　that：　it　was　the　first　time　he　had　done　her　the　honour。　She　took　him　to　her　poor　people；　and　showed　him　off　with　innocent　pride。

〃Hannah；　this　is　my　brother。〃　Then　in　a　whisper；　〃Isn't　he　beautiful？〃　Presently　she　saw　him　looking　pale；　unheard　of　phenomenon！　〃There　now；　you　are　ill；〃　said　she。　〃Come　home　directly；　and　be　nursed。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　he。　〃I　only　want　a　little　fresh　air。　What　horrid　places　what　horrid　sights　and　smells！　I　say；　you　must　have　no　end　of　pluck　to　face　them。〃

〃No；　no；　no。　Dearest；　I　pray　for　strength：　that　is　how　I　manage。　And　oh；　Edward；　you　used　to　think　the　poor　were　not　to　be　pitied。　But　now　you　see。〃

〃Yes；　I　see；　and　smell　and　all。　You　are　a　brave；　good　girl。　Got　any　salts　about　you？〃

〃Yes；　of　course。　There。　But　fancy　a　young　lion　smelling　salts。〃

〃A　young　duffer；　you　mean；　that　has　passed　for　game　through　the　thing　not　being　looked　into　close。〃

〃Oh；　you　can　he　close　enough；　where　I　want　you　to　be　open。〃

No　answer。

The　next　day　he　accompanied　her　again；　but　remained　at　the　stairfoot　while　she　went　in　to　her　patients；　and；　when　she　came　down；　asked　her；　Could　no　good　Christian　be　found　to　knock　that　poor　woman　on　the　head　who　lived　in　a　plate。

〃No　good　Heathen；　you　mean；〃　said　Julia。

〃Why；　yes；〃　said　he；　〃the　savages　manage　these　things　better。〃

He　also　accompanied　her　shopping；　and　smoked　phlegmatically　outside　the　shops；　nor　could　she　exhaust　his　patience。　Then　the　quick　girl　put　this　and　that　together。　When　they　were　at　home　again　and　her　bonnet　off；　she　looked　him　in　the　face　and　said　sweetly；　〃I　have　got　a　watch…dog。〃　He　smiled；　and　said　nothing。　〃Why　don't　you　answer？〃　cried　Julia　impetuously。

〃Because　least　said　is　soonest　mended。　Besides；　I'm　down　upon　you：　you　decoy　me　into　a　friendly　conversation；　and　then　you　say　biting　things　directly。〃

〃If　I　bite　you；　you　sting　me。　Such　want　of　confidence！　Oh　how　cruel！　how　cruel！　Why　can　you　not　trust　me？　Am　I　a　child？　No　one　is　young　who　has　suffered　what　I　have　suffered。　Secrets　disunite　a　family：　and　we　were　so　united。　And　then　you　are　so　stupid；　_you_　keep　a　secret？　Yes；　like　a　dog　in　a　chain；　you　can't　hide　it　one　bit。　You　have　undertaken　a　task　you　are　not　fit　for；　sir；　to　hide　a　secret　you　must　be　able　to　tell　fibs：　and　you　can't：　not　for　want　of　badness；　but　cleverness　to　tell　them　smoothly；　you　know　it；　you　know　it；　and　so　out　of　your　abominable　slyness　you　won't　say　a　word。　There；　it　is　no　use　my　trying　to　provoke　him。　I　wish　you　were　not　so　good…tempered；　so　apathetic　I　mean；　of　course。〃　Then；　with　one　of　her　old　rapid　transitions；　she　began　to　caress　him　and　fawn　on　him：　she　seated　him　in　an　arm…chair　and　herself　on　a　footstool；　and　suddenly　curling　round　his　neck；　murmured；　〃Dear；　dear　brother；　have　pity　on　a　poor　girl；　and　tell　her　is　there　any　news　that　I　have　a　right　to　hear；　only　mamma　has　given　you　your　orders　not　to　tell　me；　tell　me；　love！〃　This　last　in　an　exquisite　whisper。

〃Let　me　alone；　you　little　fascinating　demon；〃　said　he　angrily。　〃Ask　mamma。　I　won't　tell　you　a　word。〃

〃Thank　you！〃　she　cried；　bounding　to　her　feet；　〃you　_have_　told　me。　He　is　alive。　He　loves　me　still。　He　was　bewitched；　seduced；　deluded。　He　has　come　to　himself。　Mamma　has　seen　him。　He　wants　to　come　and　beg　my　pardon。　But　you　are　all　afraid　I　shall　forgive　him。　But　I　will　not；　for　at　the　first　word　I'll　stop　his　mouth；　and　say；　'If　you　were　happy　away　from　me；　I　suppose　you　would　not　have　come　back。'〃

And　instantly　she　burst　out　singing；　with　inspired　eloquence　and　defiance

　　　　〃Castles　are　sacked　in　war；　　　　　　Chieftains　are　scattered　far；　　　　　　Truth　is　a　fixed　star　　　　　　Aileen　aroon。〃

But；　unable　to　sustain　it；　the　poor　Impetuosity　dropped　as　quickly　as　she　had　mounted；　and　out　went　her　arm　on　the　table；　and　her　forehead　sank　on　her　arm；　and　the　tears　began　to　run　silently　down　the　sweet　face；　so　brave　for　a　moment。

〃Wwill　yyou　allow　me　to　light　a　cigar？〃　said　Edward。　〃I'm　wretched　and　miserable；　you　Tempest　in　petticoats；　you！〃

She　made　him　a　sign　of　assent　with　the　hand　that　was　dangling　languidly；　but　she　did　not　speak；　nor　did　she　appeal　to　him　any　more。　Alienation　was　commencing。　But　what　was　worse　than　speaking　her　mind；　she　was　for　ever　at　the　window　now；　looking　up　and　down　the　street；　and　walking　with　her　he　felt　her　arm　often　tremble；　and　sometimes　jerk。　The　secret　was　agitating　her　nerves；　and　destroying　her　tranquillity　as　much；　or　perhaps　more；　than　if　she　had　known　all。

Mrs。　Dodd　wrote　from　Portsmouth：　whereof　anon。


Mr。　Peterson　called；　and　soon　after　him　Mr。　Hurd。　Edward　was　glad　to　see　them；　especially　the　latter；　whose　visits　seemed　always　to　do　Julia　good。

Moreover；　as　Peterson　and　Hurd　were　rivals；　it　afforded　Edward　an　innocent　amusement　to　see　their　ill…concealed　aversion　to　one　another；　and　the　admirable　address　and　delicacy　with　which　his　sister　conducted　herself　between　them。

However；　this　pastime　was　cut　short　by　Sarah　coming　in　and　saying；　〃There's　a　young　man　wants　to　see　you；　sir。〃

Julia　looked　up　and　changed　colour。

〃I　think　he　is　a　fireman；〃　said　Sarah。　She　knew　very　well　he　was　a　fireman；　and　also　one　of　her　followers。　Edward　went　out　and　found　one　of　his　late　brethren；　who　told　him　a　young　gentleman　had　just　been　inquiring　for　him　at　the　station。

〃What　was　he　like？〃

〃Why；　I　was　a　good　ways　off；　but　I　saw　he　was　a　tall　one。〃

〃Six　feet？〃

〃Full　that。〃

〃Give　you　his　name？'

〃No：　I　didn't　speak　to　him：　it　was　Andrew。　Andrew　says　he　asked　if　there　was　a　fireman　called　Dodd：　so　Andrew　said　you　had　left；　then　the　swell　asked　where　you　lived；　and　Andrew　couldn't　tell　him　any　more　than　it　was　in　Pembroke　Street。　So　I　told　him；　says　I；　'Why　couldn't　you　call　me？　It　is　number　sixty…six；'　says　I。　'Oh；　he　is　coming　back；'　says　Andrew。　However；　I　thought　I'd　come　and　tell　you。〃　（And　so　get　a　word　with　Sarah；　you　sly　dog。）

Edward　thanked　him；　and　put　on　his　hat　directly；　for　he　could　not　disguise　from　himself　that　this　visitor　might　be　Alfred　Hardie。　Indeed；　what　more　likely？

Messrs。　Hurd　and　Peterson　always　tried　to　stay　one　another　out　whenever　they　met　at　66；　Pembroke　Street。　However；　to　make　sure　of　not　leaving　Julia　alone；　Edward　went　in　and　asked　them　both　to　luncheon；　at　which　time　he　said　he　should　be　back。

As　he　walked　rapidly　to　the　station　he　grew　more　and　more　convinced　that　it　was　Alfred　Hardie。　And　his　reflections　ran　like　this。　〃What　a　headpiece　mamma　has！　But　it　did　not　strike　her　he　would　come　to　me　first。　Yet　how　plain　that　looks　now：　for　of　course　I'm　the　duffer's　only　clue　to　Julia。　These　madmen　are　no　fools；　though。　And　how　quiet　he　was　that　night！　And　he　made　papa　go　down　the　ladder　first：　that　was　the　old　Alfred　Hardie；　he　was　always　generous：　vain；　overhearing；　saucy；　but　noble　with　it　all。　I　liked　him：　he　was　a　man　that　showed　you　his　worst；　and　let　you　find　his　best　out