hard cash-第16节

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There　is　a　fascinating　age；　when　an　intelligent　girl　is　said　to　fluctuate　between　childhood　and　womanhood。　Let　me　add　that　these　seeming　fluctuations　depend　much　on　the　company　she　is　in：　the　budding　virgin　is　princess　of　chameleons；　and；　to　confine　ourselves　to　her　two　most　piquant　contrasts；　by　her　mother's　side　she　is　always　more　or　less　childlike；　but；　let　a　nice　young　fellow　engage　her　apart；　and；　hey　presto！　she　shall　be　every　inch　a　woman：　perhaps　at　no　period　of　her　life　are　the　purely　mental　characteristics　of　her　sex　so　supreme　in　her；　thus　her　type；　the　rosebud；　excels　in　essence　of　rosehood　the　rose　itself。

My　reader　has　seen　Julia　Dodd　play　both　parts；　but　it　is　her　child's　face　she　has　now　been　turning　for　several　pages；　so　it　may　be　prudent　to　remind　him　she　has　shone　on　Alfred　Hardie　in　but　one　light；　a　young　but　Juno…like　woman。　Had　she　shown　〃my　puppy〃　her　childish　qualities；　he　would　have　despised　herhe　had　left　that　department　himself　so　recently。　But　Nature　guarded　the　budding　fair　from　such　a　disaster。

We　left　Alfred　Hardie　standing　in　the　moonlight　gazing　at　her　lodging。　This　was　sudden；　but；　let　slow　coaches　deny　it　as　loudly　as　they　like；　fast　coaches　exist；　and　Love　is　a　Passion；　which；　like　Hate；　Envy；　Avarice；　&c。；　has　risen　to　a　great　height　in　a　single　day。　Not　that　Alfred's　was　〃Love　at　first　sight；〃　for　he　had　seen　her　beauty　in　the　full　blaze　of　day　with　no　deeper　feeling　than　admiration；　but　in　the　moonlight　he　came　under　more　sovereign　spells　than　a　fair　face：　her　virtues　and　her　voice。　The　narrative　of　their　meeting　has　indicated　the　first；　and　as　to　the　latter；　Julia　was　not　one　of　those　whose　beauty　goes　out　with　the　candle；　her　voice　was　that　rich；　mellow；　moving　organ；　which　belongs　to　no　rank　nor　station；　is　born；　not　made；　and；　flow　it　from　the　lips　of　dairymaid　or　countess；　touches　every　heart；　gentle　or　simple；　that　is　truly　male。　And　this　divine　contralto；　full；　yet　penetrating；　Dame　Nature　had　inspired　her　to　lower　when　she　was　moved　or　excited；　instead　of　raising　it；　and　then　she　was　enchanting。　All　unconsciously　she　cast　this　crowning　spell　on　Alfred；　and　he　adored　her。　In　a　word；　he　caught　a　child…woman　away　from　its　mother；　his　fluttering　captive　turned；　put　on　composure；　and　bewitched　him。

She　left　him；　and　the　moonlight　night　seemed　to　blacken。　But　within　his　young　breast　all　was　light；　new　light。　He　leaned　opposite　her　window　in　an　Elysian　reverie；　and　let　the　hours　go　by。　He　seemed　to　have　vegetated　till　then；　and　lo！　true　life　had　dawned。　He　thought　he　should　love　to　die　for　her；　and；　when　he　was　calmer；　he　felt　he　was　to　live　for　her；　and　welcomed　his　destiny　with　rapture。　He　passed　the　rest　of　the　Oxford　term　in　a　soft　ecstasy；　called　often　on　Edward；　and　took　a　sudden　and　prodigious　interest　in　him；　and　counted　the　days　glide　by　and　the　happy　time　draw　near；　when　he　should　be　four　months　in　the　same　town　with　his　enchantress。　This　one　did　not　trouble　the　doctors；　he　glowed　with　a　steady　fire；　no　heats　and　chills；　and　sad　misgivings；　for　one　thing；　he　was　not　a　woman；　a　being　tied　to　that　stake；　Suspense；　and　compelled　to　wait　and　wait　for　others'　actions。　To　him；　life's　path　seemed　paved　with　roses；　and　himself　to　march　in　eternal　sunshine；　buoyed　by　perfumed　wings。

He　came　to　Barkington　to　try　for　the　lovely　prize。　Then　first　he　had　to　come　down　from　love's　sky；　and　realise　how　hard　it　is　here　below　to　court　a　young　ladywho　is　guarded　by　a　motherwithout　an　introduction　in　the　usual　form。　The　obvious　course　was　to　call　on　Edward。　Having　parted　from　him　so　lately；　he　forced　himself　to　wait　a　few　days；　and　then　set　out　for　Albion　Villa。

As　he　went　along；　he　arranged　the　coming　dialogue　for　all　the　parties。　Edward　was　to　introduce　him；　Mrs。　Dodd　to　recognise　his　friendship　for　her　son；　he　was　to　say　he　was　the　gainer　by　it；　Julia；　silent　at　first；　was　to　hazard　a　timid　observation；　and　he　to　answer　gracefully；　and　draw　her　out　and　find　how　he　stood　in　her　opinion。　The　sprightly　affair　should　end　by　his　inviting　Edward　to　dinner。　That　should　lead　to　their　uninviting　him　in　turn；　and　then　he　should　have　a　word　with　Julia；　and　find　out　what　houses　she　visited；　and　get　introduced　to　their　proprietors。　Arrived　at　this　point；　his　mind　went　over　hedge　and　ditch　faster　than　my　poor　pen　can　follow；　as　the　crow　flies；　so　flew　he；　and　had　reached　the　church…porch　under　a　rain　of　nosegays　with　Juliain　imaginationby　then　he　arrived　at　Albion　Villa　in　the　body。　Yet　he　knocked　timidly；　his　heart　beat　almost　as　hard　as　his　hand。

Sarah；　the　black…eyed　housemaid；　〃answered　the　door。〃

〃Mr。　Edward　Dodd？〃

〃Not　at　home；　sir。　Left　last　week。〃

〃For　long？〃

〃I　don't　rightly　know；　sir。　But　he　won't　be　back　this　week；　I　don't　think。〃

〃Perhaps；〃　stammered　Alfred；　〃the　ladiesMrs。　Doddmight　be　able　to　tell　me。〃

〃Oh　yes；　sir。　But　my　mistress；　she's　in　London　just　now。〃

Alfred's　eyes　flashed。　〃Could　I　learn　from　Miss　Dodd？〃

〃La；　sir；　she　is　in　London　along　with　her　ma；　why；　'tis　for　her　they　are　gone；　to　insult　the　great　doctors。〃

He　started。　〃She　is　not　ill？　Nothing　serious？〃

〃Well；　sir；　we　do　hope　not。　She　is　pinning　a　bit；　as　young　ladies　will。〃

Alfred　was　anything　but　consoled　by　this　off…hand　account；　he　became　alarmed；　and　looked　wretched。　Seeming　him　so　perturbed；　Sarah；　who　was　blunt　but　good…natured；　added；　〃But　cook　she　says　hard　work　would　cure　our　Miss　of　all　_she_　ails。　But　who　shall　I　say　was　asking？　For　my　work　is　a　bit　behind…hand。〃

Alfred　took　the　hint　reluctantly；　and　drew　out　his　card…case；　saying；　〃For　Mr。　Edward　Dodd。〃　She　gave　her　clean　but　wettish　hand　a　hasty　wipe　with　her　apron；　and　took　the　card。　He　retired；　she　stood　on　the　step　and　watched　him　out　of　sight；　said　〃Oho！〃　and　took　his　card　to　the　kitchen　for　preliminary　inspection　and　discussion。

Alfred　Hardie　was　resolute；　but　sensitive。　He　had　come　on　the　wings　of　Love　and　Hope；　he　went　away　heavily；　a　housemaid's　tongue　had　shod　his　elastic　feet　with　lead　in　a　moment；　of　all　misfortunes；　sickness　was　what　he　had　not　anticipated；　for　she　looked　immortal。　Perhaps　it　was　that　fair　and　treacherous　disease；　consumption。　Well；　if　it　was；　he　would　love　her　all　the　more；　would　wed　her　as　soon　as　he　was　of　age；　and　carry　her　to　some　soft　Southern　clime；　and　keep　each　noxious　air　at　bay；　and　prolong　her　life；　perhaps　save　it。

And　now　he　began　to　chafe　at　the　social　cobwebs　that　kept　him　from　her。　But；　just　as　his　impatience　was　about　to　launch　him　into　imprudence；　he　was　saved　by　a　genuine　descendant　of　Adam。　James　Maxley　kept　Mr。　Hardie's　little　pleasaunce　trim　as　trim　could　be；　by　yearly　contract。　This　entailed　short　but　frequent　visits；　and　Alfred　often　talked　with　him；　for　the　man　was　really　a　bit　of　a　character；　had　a　shrewd　rustic　wit；　and　a　ready　tongue；　was　rather　too　fond　of　law；　and　much　too　fond　of　money；　but　scrupulously　honest：　head　as　long　as　Cudworth's；　but　broader；　and　could　not　read　a　line。　One　day　he　told　Alfred　that　he　must　knock　off　now；　and　take　a　look　in　at　Albion　Villee。　The　captain　was　due：　and　on　no　account　would　he；　Maxley；　allow　that　there　ragged　box　round　the　captains　quarter…deck：　〃That　is　how　he　do　name　their　little　mossel　of　a　lawn：　and　there　he　walks　for　a　wager；　athirt　and　across；　across　and　athirt；　five　steps　and　then　about；　and　I'd　a'most　bet　ye　a　halfpenny　he　thinks　hisself　on　the　salt　sea　ocean；　bless　his　silly　old　heart。〃

All　this　time　Alfred；　after　the　first　start　of　joyful　surprise；　was　secretly　thanking　his　stars　for　sending　him　an　instrument。　To　learn　whether　she　had　returned；　he　asked　Maxley　whether　the　ladies　had　sent　for　him。　〃Not　they；〃　said　Maxley；　rather　contemptuously；　〃what　do　women…folk　care　about　a　border；　without　'tis　a　lace　one　to　their　nightcaps；　for　none　but　the　father　of　all　vanity　to　see。　Not　as　I　have　ought　to　say　again　the　pair；　they　keep　their　turf　tidyishand　pay　ready　moneyand　a　few　flowers　in　their　pots；　but　the　rest　may　shift　for　itself。　Ye　see；　Master　Alfred；〃　explained　Maxley；　wagging　his　head　wisely；　〃nobody's　pride　can　be　everywhere。　Now　theirs　is　in…a…doors；　their　with…drawing…room　it's　like　the　Queen's　palace；　my　missus　tells　me；　she　is　wrapped　up　in　'em；　ye　know。　But　the　captain　for　my　money。〃

The　sage　shouldered　his　tools　and　departed。　But　he　left　a　good　hint　behind　him。　Alfred　hovered　about　the　back…door　the　next　day　till　he　caught　Mrs。　Maxley；　she　supplied　the　house　with　eggs　and　vegetables。　〃Could　she　tell　him　whether　his　friend　Edward　Dodd　was　likely　to　come　home　soon？〃　She　thought　not；　he　was　gone　away　to　study。　〃He　haven't　much　head…piece；　you　know；　not　like　what　Miss　Julia　have。　Mrs。　and　Miss　are　to　be　home　to…day；　they　wrote　to　cook　this　morning。　I　shall　be　there　to…morrow；　sartain；　and　I'll　ask　in　the　kitchen　when　Master　Edward　is　a…coming　back。〃　She　prattled　on。　The　ladies　of　Albion　Villa　were　good　kind　ladies；　the　very　maid…servants　loved　them；　Miss　was　more　for　religion　than　her　mother；　and　went　to　St。　Anne's　Church　Thursday　evenings；　and　Sundays　morning　and　evening；　and　visited　some　poor　women　in　the　parish　with　food　and　clothes；　Mrs。　Dodd　could　not　sleep　a　wink　when　the　wind　blew　hard　at　night；　but　never　complained；　only　came　down　pale　to　breakfast。　Miss　Julia's　ailment　was　nothing　to　speak　of；　b