hard cash-第29节

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nds：　as　mine　does。〃

〃Mamma！〃　cried　Julia；　embracing　her；　〃what　do　poor　girls　do　who　have　lost　their　mother？〃

〃Look　abroad　and　see；〃　was　the　grave　reply。

Mrs。　Dodd　then　begged　her　to　go　to　sleep；　like　a　good　child；　for　her　health's　sake；　all　would　be　well；　and　with　this　was　about　to　return　to　her　own　room；　but　a　white　hand　and　arm　darted　out　of　the　bed　and　caught　her。　〃What！　Hope　has　come　to　me　by　night　in　the　form　of　an　angel；　and　shall　I　let　her　go　back　to　her　own　room？　Never！　never！　never！　never！　never！〃　And　she　patted　the　bed　expressively；　and　with　the　prettiest　impatience。

〃Well；　let　Hope　take　off　her　earrings　first；〃　suggested　Mrs。　Dodd。

〃No；　no；　come　here　directly；　earrings　and　all。〃

〃No；　thank　you；　or　I　shall　have　_them_　wounding　you　next。〃

Mrs。　Hope　quietly　removed　her　earrings；　and　the　tender　pair　passed　the　rest　of　the　night　in　one　another's　arms。　The　young　girl's　tears　were　dried；　and　hope　revived；　and　life　bloomed　again：　only；　henceforth　her　longing　eyes　looked　out　to　sea　for　her　father；　homeward　bound。

Next　day；　as　they　were　seated　together　in　the　drawing…room；　Julia　came　from　the　window　with　a　rush；　and　kneeled　at　Mrs。　Dodd's　knees；　with　bright　imploring　face　upturned。

〃He　is　there；　andI　am　to　speak　to　him？　Is　that　it？〃

〃Dear；　dear；　dear　mamma！〃　was　the　somewhat　oblique　reply。

〃Well；　then；　bring　me　my　things。〃

She　was　ten　minutes　putting　them　on：　Julia　tried　to　expedite　her　and　retarded　her。　She　had　her　pace；　and　could　not　go　beyond　it。

Now　by　this　time　Alfred　Hardie　was　thoroughly　miserable。　Unable　to　move　his　father；　shunned　by　Julia；　sickened　by　what　he　had　heard；　and　indeed　seen；　of　her　gaiety　and　indifference　to　their　separation；　stung　by　jealousy　and　fretted　by　impatience；　he　was　drinking　nearly　all　the　bitters　of　that　sweet　passion；　Love。　But　as　you　are　aware；　he　ascribed　Julia's　inconstancy；　lightness；　and　cruelty　all　to　Mrs。　Dodd。　He　hated　her　cordially；　and　dreaded　her　into　the　bargain；　he　played　the　sentinel　about　her　door　all　the　more　because　she　had　asked　him　not　to　do　it　〃Always　do　what　your　enemy　particularly　objects　to；〃　said　he；　applying　to　his　own　case　the　wisdom　of　a　Greek　philosopher；　one　of　his　teachers。

So；　when　the　gate　suddenly　opened；　and　instead　of　Julia；　this　very　Mrs。　Dodd　walked　towards　him；　his　feelings　were　anything　but　enviable。　He　wished　himself　away；　heartily；　but　was　too　proud　to　retreat。　He　stood　his　ground。　She　came　up　to　him；　a　charming　smile　broke　out　over　her　features。　〃Ah！　Mr。　Hardie；〃　said　she；　〃if　you　have　nothing　better　to　do；　will　you　give　me　a　minute？〃　He　assented　with　surprise　and　an　ill　grace。

〃May　I　take　your　arm？〃

He　offered　it　with　a　worse。

She　laid　her　hand　lightly　on　it；　and　it　shuddered　at　her　touch。　He　felt　like　walking　with　a　velvet　tigress。

By　some　instinct　she　divined　his　sentiment；　and　found　her　task　more　difficult　than　she　had　thought；　she　took　some　steps　in　silence。　At　last；　as　he　was　no　dissembler；　he　burst　out　passionately；　〃Why　are　you　my　enemy？〃

〃I　am　not　your　enemy；〃　said　she　quietly。

〃Not　openly；　but　all　the　more　dangerous。　You　keep　us　apart；　you　bid　her　be　gay　and　forget　me；　you　are　a　cruel；　hard…hearted　lady。〃

〃No；　I　am　not；　sir；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　simply。

〃Oh！　I　believe　you　are　good　and　kind　to　all　the　rest　of　the　world；　but　you　know　you　have　a　heart　of　iron　for　me。〃

〃I　am　my　daughter's　friend；　but　not　your　enemy；　it　is　you　who　are　too　inexperienced　to　know　how　delicate；　how　difficult；　my　duties　are。　It　is　only　since　last　night　I　see　my　way　clear；　and；　look；　I　come　at　once　to　you　with　friendly　intentions。　Suppose　I　were　as　impetuous　as　you　are？　I　should；　perhaps；　be　calling　you　ungrateful。〃

He　retorted　bitterly。　〃Give　me　something　to　be　grateful　for；　and　you　shall　see　whether　that　baseness　is　in　my　nature。〃

〃I　have　a　great　mind　to　put　you　to　the　proof；〃　said　she　archly。　〃Let　us　walk　down　this　lane；　then　you　can　be　as　unjust　to　me　_as　you　think　proper；_　without　attracting　public　attention。〃

In　the　lane　she　told　him　quietly　she　knew　the　nature　of　his　father's　objections　to　the　alliance　he　had　so　much　at　heart；　and　they　were　objections　which　her　husband；　on　his　return；　would　remove。　On　this　he　changed　his　tone　a　little；　and　implored　her　piteously　not　to　deceive　him。

〃I　will　not；〃　said　she；　〃upon　my　honour。　If　you　are　as　constant　as　my　daughter　is　in　her　esteem　for　younotwithstanding　her　threadbare　gaiety　worn　over　loyal　regret；　and　to　check　a　parcel　of　idle　ladies'　tonguesyou　have　nothing　to　fear　from　me；　and　everything　to　expect。　Come；　_Alfred_may　I　take　that　liberty　with　you？let　us　understand　one　another。　We　only　want　that　to　be　friends。〃

This　was　hard　to　resist　and　at　his　age。　His　lip　trembled；　he　hesitated；　but　at　last　gave　her　his　hand。　She　walked　two　hours　with　him；　and　laid　herself　out　to　enlighten；　soothe；　and　comfort　his　sore　heart　His　hopes　and　happiness　revived　under　her　magic；　as　Julia's　had。　In　the　midst　of　it　all；　the　wise　woman　quietly　made　terms。　He　was　not　to　come　to　the　house　but　on　her　invitation；　unless　indeed　he　had　news　of　the　_Agra_　to　communicate；　but　he　might　write　once　a　week　to　her；　and　enclose　a　few　lines　to　Julia。　On　this　concession　he　proceeded　to　mumble　her　white　wrist；　and　call　her　his　best；　dearest；　loveliest　friend；　his　mother。　〃Oh；　remember；〃　said　he；　with　a　relic　of　distrust；　〃you　are　the　only　mother　I　can　ever　hope　to　have。〃

That　touched　her。　Hitherto；　he　had　been　to　her　but　a　thing　her　daughter　loved。

Her　eyes　filled。　〃My　poor；　warm…hearted；　motherless　boy；〃　she　said；　〃pray　for　my　husband's　safe　return。　For　on　that　your　happiness　depends；　and　hers；　and　mine。〃

So　now　two　more　bright　eyes　looked　longingly　seaward　for　the　_Agra_　homeward　bound。


CHAPTER　VII

NORTH　latitude　23。5；　longitude　east　113；　the　time　March　of　this　same　year；　the　wind　southerly；　the　port　Whampoa；　in　the　Canton　river。　Ships　at　anchor　reared　their　tall　masts　here　and　there；　and　the　broad　stream　was　enlivened　and　coloured　by　junks　and　boats　of　all　sizes　and　vivid　hues；　propelled　on　the　screw　principle　by　a　great　scull　at　the　stern；　with　projecting　handles；　for　the　crew　to　work；　and　at　times　a　gorgeous　mandarin　boat；　with　two　great　glaring　eyes　set　in　the　bows；　came　flying；　rowed　with　forty　paddles　by　an　armed　crew；　whose　shields　hung　on　the　gunwale　and　flashed　fire　in　the　sunbeams：　the　mandarin；　in　conical　and　buttoned　hat；　sitting　on　the　top　of　his　cabin　calmly　smoking　Paradise；　_alias_　opium；　while　his　gong　boomed　and　his　boat　flew　fourteen　miles　an　hour；　and　all　things　scuttled　out　of　his　celestial　way。　And　there；　looking　majestically　down　on　all　these　water…ants；　the　huge　_Agra；_　cynosure　of　so　many　loving　eyes　and　loving　hearts　in　England；　lay　at　her　moorings；　homeward　bound。

Her　tea　not　being　yet　on　board；　the　ship's　hull　floated　high　as　a　castle；　and　to　the　subtle；　intellectual；　doll…faced；　bolus…eyed　people　that　sculled　to　and　fro　busy　as　bees；　though　looking　forked　mushrooms；　she　sounded　like　a　vast　musical　shell：　for　a　lusty　harmony　of　many　mellow　voices　vibrated　in　her　great　cavities；　and　made　the　air　ring　cheerily　around　her。　The　vocalists　were　the　Cyclops；　to　judge　by　the　tremendous　thumps　that　kept　clean　time　to　their　sturdy　tune。　Yet　it　was　but　human　labour；　so　heavy　and　so　knowing；　that　it　had　called　in　music　to　help。　It　was　the　third　mate　and　his　gang　completing　his　floor　to　receive　the　coming　tea…chests。　Yesterday　he　had　stowed　his　dunnage；　many　hundred　bundles　of　light　flexible　canes　from　Sumatra　and　Malacca；　on　these　he　had　laid　tons　of　rough　saltpetre；　in　200　lb。　gunny…bags：　and　was　now　mashing　it　to　music；　bags　and　all。　His　gang　of　fifteen；　naked　to　the　waist；　stood　in　line；　with　huge　wooden　beetles　called　commanders；　and　lifted　them　high　and　brought　them　down　on　the　nitre　in　cadence　with　true　nautical　power　and　unison；　singing　as　follows；　with　a　ponderous　bump　on　the　first　note　in　each　bar。

＇music　notation＇

And　so　up　to　fifteen；　when　the　stave　was　concluded　with　a　shrill　〃Spell；　oh！〃　and　the　gang　relieved；　streaming　with　perspiration。　When　the　saltpetre　was　well　mashed；　they　rolled　ton　water…butts　on　it；　till　the　floor　was　like　a　billiard　table。　A　fleet　of　chop　boats　then　began　to　arrive；　so　many　per　day；　with　the　tea…chests。　Mr。　Grey　proceeded　to　lay　the　first　tier　on　his　saltpetre　floor；　and　then　built　the　chests；　tier　upon　tier；　beginning　at　the　sides；　and　leaving　in　the　middle　a　lane　somewhat　narrower　than　a　tea…chest　Then　he　applied　a　screw　jack　to　the　chests　on　both　sides；　and　so　enlarged　his　central　aperture；　and　forced　the　remaining　tea…chests　in；　and　behold　the　enormous　cargo　packed　as　tight　as　ever　shopkeeper　packed　a　box　nineteen　thousand　eight　hundred　and　six　chests；　sixty　half　chests；　fifty　quarter　chests。

While　Mr。　Grey　was　contemplating　his　work　with　singular　satisfaction；　a　small　boat　from　Canton　came　alongside；　and　Mr。　Tickell；　midshipman；　ran　up　the　side；　skipped　on　the　quarterdeck；　saluted　it　first；　and　then　the　first　mate；　and　gave　him　a　line　from　the　captain；　desiring　him　to　take　the　ship　down　to　Second　Barfor　her　waterat　the　turn　of　the　tide。

Two　hours　after　receipt　of　this　order　the　ship　swung　to　the　ebb。　Instantly　Mr。　Sharpe　unmoored；　and　the　_Agra_　began　her　famous　voyage；　with　her　head　at　right　ang