hard cash-第159节

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Of　these　two　men　which　was　the　rich　man；　he　who　had　nothing；　yet　thought　he　possessed　enough　for　himself　and　his　neighbours：　or　he　who　rolled　in　wealth；　but　writhed　under　imaginary　poverty？

One　reflection　more。　Do　not　look　to　see　Providence　dash　the　cup　of　prosperity　from　every　dishonest　hand；　or　you　will　often　be　disappointed。　Yet　this；　if　you　look　closer；　you　shall　often　see：　such　a　man　holds　the　glittering　cup　tight；　and　nectar　to　the　brim；　but　into　that　cup　a　shadowy　hand　squeezes　some　subtle　ingredient；　which　turns　that　nectar　to　wormwood。

Richard　Hardie　died；　his　end　being　hastened　by　fear　of　poverty　coming　like　an　armed　man；　and　his　guinea　a　week　going。　Matthews　met　with　an　accident；　and；　being　impervious　to　pain；　but　subject　to　death；　was　laid　beside　his　poor　mistress　in　St。　Anne's　churchyard。　Julia　buried　him；　and　had　a　headstone　put　to　his　grave；　and；　when　this　was　done；　she　took　her　husband　to　see　it。　On　that　stone　was　fresh　carved　the　true　name　of　the　deceased；　James　Maxley。

〃I　have　done　what　you　told　me；〃　said　Julia；　her　sweet　voice　trembling　a　little。　Even　she　did　not　quite　know　how　her　husband　would　take　it；　or　bear　it。

〃I　_know　it；_〃　said　Alfred　softly。　〃I　saw　who　your　Matthews　was；　but　I　could　not　speak　of　him；　even　to　you。〃　He　looked　at　the　grave　in　silence。

Julia's　arms　were　round　his　neck　in　a　moment；　and　her　wet　cheek　consoling　his。

〃You　have　done　right；　my　good　Christian　wife。　I　wish　I　was　like　you。　My　poor　little　Jenny！〃

Richard　Hardie's　papers　were　found　in　perfect　order；　and　among　them　an　old　will　leaving　L。　14；000　to　Edward　Dodd。

On　this　being　announced　to　Edward；　he　suggested　that　it　was　a　fraud：　Alfred　had　been　at　him　for　a　long　time　with　offers　of　money；　and　failing　there；　and　being　a　fine　impetuous　fellow；　had　lost　his　temper　and　forged　a　will；　in　his；　Edward's；　favour。

This　scandalous　defence　broke　down。　The　document　was　indisputable；　and　the　magic　sum　was　forced　down　Master　Edward's　throat；　nilly　willy。　Thus　rose　the　Hard　Cash　a　second　time　from　the　grave。

All　this　enabled　the　tenacious　Alfred　to　carry　out　a　deeply…cherished　design。　Hardie's　late　bank　had　been　made　into　a　shop；　but　it　belonged　to　Mrs。　Dodd。　He　bought　it　of　her；　and　set　up　the　bank　again；　with　Edward　as　managing　partner。　This　just　suited　Edward；　who　sadly　wanted　employment。　Hardie　&　Co。　rose　again；　and　soon　wiped　out　the　late　disgraceful　episode；　and　looked　on　to　the　past　centuries　of　honour　and　good　credit。　No　creditor　of　Richard　Hardie　was　left　unpaid。　Alfred　went　in　for　politics；　stood　for　Barkington；　was　defeated　by　seventeen：　took　it　as　a　matter　of　course；　told　his　friends　he　had　never　succeeded　in　anything　at　first；　nor　been　beaten　in　the　end；　stood　again；　and　became　M。　P。　for　Barkington；　whence　to　dislodge　him　I　pity　any　one　who　tries。

For　a　long　time　Mrs。　Dodd　was　nervous；　and　used　to　wake　with　a　start　at　night；　and　put　out　her　hand　to　make　sure　David　was　not　lost　again。　But　this　wore　off。

For　years　the　anniversary　of　that　fatal　day；　when　he　was　brought　home　on　the　stretcher；　came　back　to　them　all　as　a　day　of　gloom。　But　that　wore　off。

Sometimes　the　happiness　of　her　family　seemed　incredible　to　her；　remembering　what　they　had　all　gone　through。　At　first；　their　troubles　were　too　terrible　and　recent　to　be　discussed。　But　even　that　wore　off；　and　they　could　talk　of　it　all；　and　things　bitter　at　the　time　became　pleasant　to　remember。

One　midsummer　day　they　had　all　dined　together　rather　early　at　Albion　Villa；　and　sat　on　the　lawn；　with　Mrs。　Dodd's　boy　and　Julia's　boy　and　girl　playing　about　these　ladies'　knees。　Now　after　a　little　silence；　Mrs。　Dodd；　who　had　been　thinking　quietly　of　many　things；　spoke　to　them　all；　and　said：　〃If　my　children　and　I　had　not　been　bosom…friends；　we　never　should　have　survived　that　terrible　time　we　have　passed　through；　my　dears。　Make　friends　of　your　children；　my　child。〃

〃Ah；　that　I　will！〃　said　Julia；　and　caught　up　the　nearest　brat　and　kissed　it　impetuously：　for　Wifehood　and　Maternity　had　not　un…Julia'd　her。

〃It　wasn't　only　our　being　friends；　mamma；〃　said　Edward；　〃it　was　our　sticking　together　so。〃

In　looking　back　on　the　story　now　ended；　I　incline　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　conclusion。　Almost　my　first　word　was　that　she　and　her　children　were　bosom…friends；　and　my　last　is　to　congratulate　them　that　it　was　so。　Think　of　their　various　trials　and　temptations；　and　imagine　what　would　have　become　of　them　if　family　love　and　unity　had　not　abounded。　Their　little　house　was　built　on　the　sure　foundation　of　true　family　affection：　and　so　the　winds　of　adversity　descended；　and　the　floods　came；　and　burst　upon　that　house；　but　could　not　prevail　against　it；　it　was　founded　on　a　rock。








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