hard cash-第20节

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adies　express　a　misgiving　as　to　the　pecuniary　value　of　my　costume；　ha！　ha！　Ohyoufoolish！Fancy　noticing　that！　Why　it　is　in　little　sneers　that　the　approval　of　the　ladies　shows　itself　at　a　ball；　and　it　is　a　much　sincerer　compliment　than　the　gentlemen's　bombastical　praises：　'the　fairest　of　her　sex；'　and　so　on；　that　none　but　the　'silliest　of　her　sex'　believe。〃

〃Miss　Dodd；　I　never　said　the　fairest　of　her　sex。　I　said　the　loveliest。〃

〃Oh；　that　alters　the　case　entirely；〃　said　Julia；　whose　spirits　were　mounting　with　the　lights　and　music；　and　Alfred's　company；　〃so　now　come　and　be　reconciled　to　the　best　and　wisest　of　her　sex；　ay；　and　the　beautifullest；　if　you　but　knew　her　sweet；　dear；　darling　face　as　I　do。　There　she　is；　let　us　fly。〃

〃Mamma；　here　is　a　penitent　for　you；　real　or　feigned；　I　don't　know　which。〃

〃Real；　Mrs。　Dodd；〃　said　Alfred。　〃　I　had　no　right　to　disobey　you　and　risk　a　scene。　You　served　me　right　by　abandoning　me；　I　feel　the　rebuke　and　its　justice。　Let　me　hope　your　vengeance　will　go　no　further。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　smiled　at　the　grandiloquence　of　youth；　and　told　him　he　had　mistaken　her　character。　〃I　saw　I　had　acquired　a　generous；　hot…headed　ally；　who　was　bent　on　doing　battle　with　insects；　so　I　withdrew；　but　so　I　should　at　Waterloo；　or　anywhere　else　where　people　put　themselves　in　a　passion。〃

The　band　struck　up　again。

〃Ah！〃　said　Julia；　〃and　I　promised　you　this　dance；　but　it　is　a　waltz　and　my　guardian　angel　objects　to　the　_valse　a　deux　temps。_〃

〃Decidedly。　Should　all　the　mothers　in　England　permit　their　daughters　to　romp　and　wrestle　in　public；　and　call　it　waltzing；　I　must　stand　firm　till　they　return　to　their　senses。〃

Julia　looked　at　Alfred　despondently。　He　took　his　cue　and　said　with　a　smile；　〃Well；　perhaps　it　is　a　little　rompy；　a　donkey's　gallop　and　then　twirl　her　like　a　mop。〃

〃Since　you　admit　that；　perhaps　you　can　waltz　properly？〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。

Alfred　said　he　ought；　he　had　given　his　whole　soul　to　it　in　Germany　last　Long。

〃Then　I　can　have　the　pleasure　of　dropping　the　tyrant。　Away　with　you　both　while　there　is　room　to　circulate。〃

Alfred　took　his　partner　delicately；　they　made　just　two　catlike　steps　forward；　and　melted　into　the　old…fashioned　waltz。

It　was　an　exquisite　moment。　To　most　young　people　Love　comes　after　a　great　deal　of　waltzing。　But　this　pair　brought　the　awakened　tenderness　and　trembling　sensibilities　of　two　burning　hearts　to　this　their　first　intoxicating　whirl。　To　them；　therefore；　everything　was　an　event；　everything　was　a　thrillthe　first　meeting　and　timid　pressure　of　their　hands；　the　first　delicate　enfolding　of　her　supple　waist　by　his　strong　arm　but　trembling　hand；　the　delightful　unison　of　their　unerring　feet；　the　movement；　the　music；　the　soft　delicious　whirl；　her　cool　breath　saluting　his　neck；　his　ardent　but　now　liquid　eyes　seeking　hers　tenderly；　and　drinking　them　deep；　hers　that　now　and　then　sipped　his　so　sweetlyall　these　were　new　and　separate　joys；　that　linked　themselves　in　one　soft　delirium　of　bliss。　It　was　not　a　waltz　it　was　an　Ecstasy。

Starting　almost　alone；　this　peerless　pair　danced　a　gauntlet。　On　each　side　admiration　and　detraction　buzzed　all　the　time。

〃Beautiful！　They　are　turning　in　the　air。〃

〃Quite　gone　by。　That's　how　the　old　fogies　dance。〃

Chorus　of　shallow　males：　〃How　well　she　waltzes。〃

Chorus　of　shallow　females：　〃How　well　he　waltzes。〃

But　they　noted　neither　praise　nor　detraction：　they　saw　nothing；　heard　nothing；　felt　nothing；　but　themselves　and　the　other　music；　till　two　valsers　_a　deux　temps_　plunged　into　them。　Thus　smartly　reminded　they　had　not　earth　all　to　themselves；　they　laughed　good…humouredly　and　paused。

〃Ah！　I　am　happy！〃　gushed　from　Julia。　She　hushed　at　herself；　and　said　severely；　〃You　dance　very　well；　sir。〃　This　was　said　to　justify　her　unguarded　admission；　and　did；　after　a　fashion。　〃I　think　it　is　time　to　go　to　mamma；〃　said　she　demurely。

〃So　soon？　And　I　had　so　much　to　say　to　you。〃

〃Oh；　very　well。　I　am　all　attention。〃

The　sudden　facility　offered　set　Alfred　stammering　a　little。　〃I　wanted　to　apologise　to　you　for　somethingyou　are　so　good　you　seem　to　have　forgotten　itbut　I　dare　not　hope　thatI　mean　at　Henleywhen　the　beauty　of　your　character；　and　your　goodness；　so　overpowered　me；　that　a　fatal　impulse〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？〃　said　Julia；　looking　him　full　in　the　face；　like　an　offended　lion；　while；　with　true　feminine　and　Julian　inconsistency　her　bosom　fluttered　like　a　dove。　〃I　never　exchanged　one　word　with　you　in　my　life　before　to…day；　and　I　never　shall　again　if　you　pretend　the　contrary。〃

Alfred　stood　stupified；　and　looked　at　her　in　piteous　amazement。

〃I　value　your　acquaintance　highly；　Mr。　Hardie；　now　I　have　made　it；　as　acquaintances　are　made；　but　please　to　observe；　I　never　saw　you　beforescarcely；　not　even　in　church。〃

〃As　you　please；〃　said　he；　recovering　his　wits　in　part。　〃What　you　say　I'll　swear　to。〃

〃Then　I　say；　never　remind　a　lady　of　what　you　ought　to　wish　her　to　forget。〃

〃I　was　a　fool；　and　you　are　an　angel　of　tact　and　goodness。〃

〃Oh；　now　I　am　sure　it　is　time　to　join　mamma；〃　said　she　in　the　driest；　drollest　way。　_〃Valsons。_〃

They　waltzed　down　to　Mrs。　Dodd；　exchanging　hearts　at　every　turn；　and　they　took　a　good　many　in　the　space　of　a　round　table；　for　in　truth　both　were　equally　loth　to　part。


At　two　o'clock　Mrs。　Dodd　resumed　common…place　views　of　a　daughter's　health；　and　rose　to　go。

Her　fly　had　played　her　false；　and；　being　our　island　home；　it　rained　buckets。　Alfred　ran；　before　they　could　stop　him；　and　caught　a　fly。　He　was　dripping。　Mrs。　Dodd　expressed　her　regrets；　he　told　her　it　did　not　matter；　for　him　the　ball　was　now　over；　the　flowers　faded；　and　the　lights　darkness　visible。

〃The　extravagance　of　these　children！〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　to　Julia；　with　a　smile；　as　soon　as　he　was　out　of　hearing。　Julia　made　no　reply。

Next　day　she　was　at　evening　church：　the　congregation　was　very　sparse。　The　first　glance　revealed　Alfred　Hardie　standing　in　the　very　next　pew。　He　wore　a　calm　front　of　conscious　rectitude；　under　which　peeped　sheep…faced　misgivings　as　to　the　result　of　this　advance；　for；　like　all　true　lovers；　he　was　half　impudence；　half　timidity；　and　both　on　the　grand　scale。

Now　Julia　in　a　ball…room　was　one　creature；　another　in　church。　After　the　first　surprise；　which　sent　the　blood　for　a　moment　to　her　cheek；　she　found　he　had　come　without　a　prayer…book。　She　looked　sadly　and　half　reproachfully　at　him；　then　put　her　white　hand　calmly　over　the　wooden　partition；　and　made　him　read　with　her　out　of　her　book。　She　shared　her　hymn…book　with　him；　too；　and　sang　her　Maker's　praise　modestly　and　soberly；　but　earnestly；　and　quite　undisturbed　by　her　lover's　presence。　It　seemed　as　if　this　pure　creature　was　drawing　him　to　heaven　holding　by　that　good　book；　and　by　her　touching　voice。　He　felt　good　all　over。　To　be　like　her；　be　tried　to　bend　his　whole　mind　on　the　prayers　of　the　church；　and　for　the　first　time　realised　how　beautiful　they　are。

After　service　he　followed　her　to　the　door。　Island　home　again；　by　the　pailful；　and　she　had　a　thick　shawl　but　no　umbrella。　He　had　brought　a　large　one　on　the　chance；　he　would　see　her　home。

〃Quite　unnecessary；　it　is　so　near。〃

He　insisted；　she　persisted；　and；　persisting；　yielded。　They　said　but　little；　yet　they　seemed　to　interchange　volumes；　and；　at　each　gaslight　they　passed；　they　stole　a　look　and　treasured　it　to　feed　on。

That　night　was　one　broad　step　more　towards　the　great　happiness；　or　great　misery；　which　awaits　a　noble　love。　Such　loves；　somewhat　rare　in　Nature；　have　lately　become　so　very　rare　in　Fiction　that　I　have　ventured；　with　many　misgivings；　to　detail　the　peculiarities　of　its　rise　and　progress。　But　now　for　a　time　it　advanced　on　beaten　tracks。　Alfred　had　the　right　to　call　at　Albion　Villa；　and　he　came　twice；　once　when　Mrs。　Dodd　was　out。　This　was　the　time　he　stayed　the　two　hours。　A　Mrs。　James　invited　Jane　and　him　to　tea　and　exposition。　There　he　met　Julia　and　Edward；　who　had　just　returned。　Edward　was　taken　with　Jane　Hardie's　face　and　dovelike　eyes；　eyes　that　dwelt　with　a　soft　and　chastened　admiration　on　his　masculine　face　and　his　model　form；　and　their　owner　felt　she　had　received　〃a　call〃　to　watch　over　his　spiritual　weal。　So　they　paired　off。

Julia's　fluctuating　spirits　settled　now　into　a　calm；　demure；　complacency。　Her　mother；　finding　this　strange　remedial　virtue　in　youthful　society；　gave　young　parties；　inviting　Jane　and　Alfred　in　their　turn。　Jane　hesitated；　but；　as　she　could　no　longer　keep　Julia　from　knowing　her　worldly　brother；　and　hoped　a　way　might　be　opened　for　her　to　rescue　Edward；　she　relaxed　her　general　rule；　which　was　to　go　into　no　company　unless　some　religious　service　formed　part　of　the　entertainment。　Yet　her　conscience　was　ill　at　ease；　and；　to　set　them　an　example；　she　took　care；　when　she　asked　the　Dodds　in　return；　to　have　a　clergyman　there　of　her　own　party；　who　could　pray　and　expound　with　unction。

Mrs。　Dodd；　not　to　throw　cold　water　on　what　seemed　to　gratify　her　children；　accepted　Miss　Hardie's　invitation；　but　she　never　intended　to　go；　and　at　the　last　moment　wrote　to　say　she　was　slightly　indisposed。　The　nature　of　her　_indisposition_　she　revealed　to　Julia　alone。　〃That　young　lady　keeps　me　on　thorns。　I　never　feel　secure　she　will　not　say　or　do　something　extravagant　or　unusual：　she　seems　to　suspect　sobriety　and　good　t