hard cash-第80节

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y　he　_is_　to　bide　at　home　for　ever。　Master　Alfred's　time　is　come　to　leave　we；　and　be　master　in　a　house　of　his　own；　as　his　father　done　before　him；　which　he　forgets　that　now；　he　is　grown　to　man's　estate；　and　got　his　mother's　money；　and　no　more　bound　to　our　master　than　I　be。〃　She　said；　too；　that　〃parting　blights　more　quarrels　than　it　breeds：〃　and　she　constantly　invited　Peggy　to　speak　up；　and　gainsay　her。　But　Peggy　was　a　young　woman　with　white　eyelashes；　and　given　to　looking　down；　and　not　to　speaking　up：　she　was　always　watching　Mr。　Hardie　in　company；　like　a　cat　cream；　and　hovering　about　him　when　alone。　Betty　went　so　far　as　to　accuse　her　of　colloguing　with　him　against　Alfred；　and　of　〃setting　her　cap　at　master；〃　which　accusation　elicited　no　direct　reply；　but　stinging　innuendoes　hours　after。

Now；　if　one　looks　into　the　thing；　the　elements　of　discord　had　attacked　Albion　Villa　quite　as　powerfully　as　Musgrove　Cottage；　but　had　hitherto　failed　signally：　the　mutual　affection　of　the　Dodds　was　so　complete；　and　no　unprincipled　person　among　them　to　split　the　good。

And；　now　that　the　wedding　drew　near；　there　was　but　one　joyful　heart　within　the　walls；　though　the　others　were　too　kind　and　unselfish　to　throw　cold　water。　Mrs。　Dodd's　own　wedding　had　ended　in　a　piteous　separation；　and　now　to　part　with　her　darling　child　and　launch　her　on　the　uncertain　waves　of　matrimony！　She　heaved　many　a　sigh　when　alone：　but　as　there　were　no　bounds　to　her　maternal　love；　so　there　were　no　exceptions　to　her　politeness：　over　her　aching　heart　she　forced　on　a　wedding　face；　subdued；　but　hopeful；　for　her　daughter；　as　she　would　for　any　other　young　lady　about　to　be　married　beneath　her　roof。

It　wanted　but　six　days；　when　one　morning　after　breakfast　the　bereaved　wife；　and　mother　about　to　be　deserted；　addressed　her　son　and　Viceroy　thus：　〃Edward；　we　_must_　borrow　fifty　pounds。〃

〃Fifty　pounds！　what　for？　who　wants　that？〃

〃Why；　_I_　want　it；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　stoutly。

〃Oh；　if　_you_　want　itwhat　to　do；　please？〃

〃Why；　to　buy　her　wedding　clothes；　dear。〃

〃I　thought　what　her　'I'　would　come　to；〃　said　Julia　reproachfully。

Edward　shook　his　head；　and　said；　〃He　who　goes　a　borrowing　goes　a　sorrowing。'

〃But　she　is　not　a　he；〃　objected　Mrs。　Dodd　with　the　subtlety　of　a　schoolman：　〃and　who　ever　heard　of　a　young　lady　being　married　without　some　things　to　be　married　_in？_〃

〃Well；　I've　heard　Nudity　is　not　the　cheese　on　public　occasions：　but　why　not　go　dressed　like　a　lady　as　she　always　does；　only　with　white　gloves；　and　be　married　without　any　bother　and　nonsense。〃

〃You　talk　like　a　boy；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃I　could　not　bear　it。　My　poor　child！〃　and　she　cast　a　look　of　tenderest　pity　on　the　proposed　victim。　〃Well；　suppose　we　make　the　poor　child　the　judge；〃　suggested　Edward。　He　then　put　it　to　Julia　whether；　under　the　circumstances；　she　would　wish　them　to　run　in　debt；　buying　her　finery　to　wear　for　a　day。　〃It　was　not　fair　to　ask　_her；_〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　with　a　sigh。

Julia　blushed　and　hesitated；　and　said　she　would　be　candid；　and　then　stopped。

〃Ugh！〃　ejaculated　Edward。　〃This　is　a　bad　beginning。　Girl's　candour！　Now　for　a　masterpiece　of　duplicity。〃

Julia　inquired　how　he　dared；　and　Mrs。　Dodd　said　warmly　that　Julia　was　not　like　other　people；　she　could　be　candid；　had　actually　done　it；　more　than　once；　within　her　recollection。　The　young　lady　justified　the　exception　as　follows：　〃If　I　was　going　to　be　married　to　myself；　or　to　some　gentleman　I　did　not　care　for；　I　would　not　spend　a　shilling。　But　I　am　going　to　marry　_him；_　and　sooh；　Edward；　think　of　them　saying；　'What　has　he　married？　a　dowdy：　why　she　hadn't　new　things　on　to　go　to　church　with　him：　no　bonnet；　no　wreath；　no　new　white　dress！'　To　mortify　him　the　very　first　day　of　our〃　The　sentence　remained　unfinished；　but　two　lovely　eyes　filled　to　the　very　brim　without　running　over；　and　completed　the　sense；　and　did　the　Viceroy's　business；　though　a　brother。　〃Why　you　dear　little　goose；〃　said　he：　〃of　course；　I　don't　mean　that。　I　have　as　good　as　got　the　things　we　must　buy；　and　those　are　a　new　bonnet〃

〃Ah！〃

〃A　wreath　of　orange　blossoms〃

〃Oh　you　good　boy！〃

〃Four　pair　of　gloves：　two　whiteone　is　safe　to　breaktwo　dark；　very　dark：　invisible　green；　or　visible　black；　last　the　honeymoon。　All　the　rest　you　must　find　in　the　house。〃

〃What；　fit　her　out　with　a　parcel　of　old　things？　so　cruel；　so　unreasonable；　dear　Edward？〃

〃Old　things！　Why；　where　is　all　your　gorgeous　attire　from　Oriental　climes？　I　see　the　splendiferous　articles　arrive；　and　then　they　vanish　for　ever。〃

〃Now；　shawls　and　Indian　muslins！　pray　what　use　are　they　to　a　bride？〃

〃Why；　what　looks　nicer　than　a　white　muslin　dress？〃

〃Married　in　muslin？　The　very　idea　makes　me　shiver。〃

〃Well；　clap　her　on　another　petticoat。〃

〃How　can　you　be　so　childish？　Muslin　is　not　the　_the　thing。_〃

〃No　more　is　running　in　debt。〃

He　then　suggested　that　a　white　shawl　or　two　should　be　cut　into　a　bridal　dress。　At　this　both　ladies'　fair　throats　opened　on　him　with　ridicule：　cut　fifty　guinea　shawls　into　ten…pound　dresses；　that　was　male　economy！　was　it？　Total；　a　wedding　was　a　wedding：　new　things　always　_had_　had　to　be　bought　for　a　wedding；　and　always　would　_in　secula　seculorum。_

〃New　things？　Yes；〃　said　the　pertinacious　wretch；　〃but　they　need　not　be　new…bought　things。　You　ladies　go　and　confound　the　world's　eyes　with　your　own　in　the　drollest　way：　If　Gorgeous　Attire　has　lain　long　in　your　drawers；　you　fancy　the　world　will　detect　on　its　glossy　surface　how　long　you　had　it；　and　gloated　over　it；　and　made　it　stale　to　your　eye；　before　you　could　bring　your　mind　to　wear　it。　That　is　your　delusion；　that　and　the　itch　for　going　out　shopping；　oh；　I'm　down　on　you。　Mamma　dear；　you　open　that　gigantic　wardrobe　of　yours；　and　I'll　oil　my　hair；　white…wash　my　mug　（a　little　moan　from　Mrs。　D。）　and　do　the　counterjumping　business　to　the　life；　hand　the　things　down　to　you；　unrol　'em；　grin；　charge　you　100　per　cent　over　value；　note　them　down　in　a　penny　memorandum…book；　sing　out　'Caesh！　Caesh！'　&c。　&c。：　and　so　we　shall　get　all　Julia　wants；　and　go　through　the　ritual　of　shopping　without　the　substantial　disgrace　of　running　in　debt。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　smiled　admiringly；　as　ladies　generally　do　at　the　sauciness　of　a　young　male；　but　proposed　an　amendment。　She　would　open　her　wardrobe；　and　look　out　all　the　contents　for　Edward's　inspection；　and；　if　the　mere　sight　of　them　did　not　convince　him　they　were　inappropriate　to　a　bride；　why　then　she　would　coincide　with　his　views；　and　resign　her　own。

〃All　right！〃　said　he。　〃That　will　take　a　jolly　time；　I　know；　so　I'll　go　to　my　governor　first　for　the　bonnet　and　wreath。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　drew　in　at　this　last　slang　word；　she　had　heard　young　gentlemen　apply　it　to　their　fathers。　Edward；　she　felt　sure；　would　not　so　sully　that　sacred　relation；　still　the　word　was　obnoxious　for　its　past　offences；　and　she　froze　at　it：　〃I　have　not　the　honour　to　know　who　the　personage　is　you　so　describe；〃　said　she　formally。　Edward　replied　very　carelessly　that　it　was　an　upholsterer　at　the　north　end　of　the　town。

〃Ah；　a　tradesman　you　patronise。〃

〃Humph！　Well；　yes；　that　is　the　word；　mamma；　haw！　haw！　I　have　been　making　the　bloke　a　lot　of　oak　candlesticks；　and　human　heads　with　sparkling　eyes；　for　walking…sticks；　&c。　And　now　I'll　go　and　draw　myprotege'sblunt。〃　The　lady's　hands　were　uplifted　towards　pitying　Heaven　with　one　impulse。　The　young　workman　grinned：　〃Soyons　de　notre　siecle；〃　said　he；　and　departed　whistling　in　the　tenor　clef。　He　had　the　mellowest　whistle。

After　a　few　minutes　well　spent　in　deploring　the　fall　of　her　Oxonian；　and　gently　denouncing　his　motto；　and　his　century；　its　ways；　and　above　all　its　words；　Mrs。　Dodd　took　Julia　to　her　bedroom；　and　unlocked　drawers　and　doors　in　her　wardrobe；　and　straightway　Sarah；　who　was　hurriedly　flogging　the　chairs　with　a　duster；　relaxed；　and　began　to　work　on　a　cheval…glass　as　slowly　as　if　she　was　drawing　Nelson's　lions　at　a　thousand　pounds　the　tail。　Mrs。　Dodd　opened　a　drawer　and　took　out　three　pieces　of　worked　Indian　muslin；　a　little　discoloured　by　hoarding：　〃There；　that　must　be　bleached　and　make　you　some　wrappers　for　the　honeymoon；　if　the　weather　is　at　all　fine；　and　petticoats　to　match；〃　next　an　envelope　consisting　of　two　foolscap　sheets　tacked：　this；　carefully　undone　upon　the　bed　revealed　a　Brussels　lace　flounce　and　a　veil：　〃It　was　my　own；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd　softly。　〃I　saved　it　for　you；　see　here　is　your　name　written　on　it　seventeen　years　ago。　I　thought　'this　dear　little　toddler　will　have　wings　some　day；　and　then　she　will　leave　me。'　But　now　I　am　almost　afraid　to　let　you　wear　it；　it　might　bring　you　misfortune：　suppose　after　years　of　wedded　love　you　should　be　bereaved　of〃　Mrs。　Dodd　choked；　and　Julia's　arms　were　round　her　neck　in　a　moment。

〃I'll　risk　it；〃　cried　she　impetuously。　〃If　it　but　makes　me　as　beloved　as　you　are；　I'll　wear　it；　come　weal　come　woe！　And　then　I　shall　feel　it　over　me　at　the　altar　like　my　guardian　angel's　wings；　my　own　sweet；　darling　mamma。　Oh　what　an　idiot；　what　a　wretch　I　am；　to　leave　you　at　all。〃

This　unfortunate；　unexpected　burst；　interrupted　business　sadly。　Mrs。　Dodd　sank　down　directly　on　the　bed　and　wept；　Julia　cried　over　her；　and　Sarah　plumped　herself　down　in　a　chair　and　blubbered。　But　wedding　flowers　are　generally　well　watered　in　the　private　apartments。

Patient　Mrs。　Dodd　soon　rec