the courtship of susan bell-第8节

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roses。

How　Susan's　heart　beat；how　both　their　hearts　beat　as　the　hands　of
the　clock　came　round　to　seven！　　And　then；　sharp　at　seven；　came　the
knock；　that　same　short　bold　ringing　knock　which　Susan　had　so　soon
learned　to　know　as　belonging　to　Aaron　Dunn。　　〃Oh　mother；　I　had
better　go　up　stairs；〃　she　cried；　starting　from　her　chair。

〃No　dear；　you　would　only　be　more　nervous。〃

〃I　will；　mother。〃

〃No；　no；　dear；　you　have　not　time；〃　and　then　Aaron　Dunn　was　in　the
room。

She　had　thought　much　what　she　would　say　to　him；　but　had　not　yet
quite　made　up　her　mind。　　It　mattered　however　but　very　little。　　On
whatever　she　might　have　resolved；　her　resolution　would　have　vanished
to　the　wind。　　Aaron　Dunn　came　into　the　room；　and　in　one　second　she
found　herself　in　the　centre　of　a　whirlwind；　and　his　arms　were　the
storms　that　enveloped　her　on　every　side。

〃My　own；　own　darling　girl；〃　he　said　over　and　over　again；　as　he
pressed　her　to　his　heart；　quite　regardless　of　Mrs。　Bell；　who　stood
by；　sobbing　with　joy。　　〃My　own　Susan。〃

〃Aaron；　dear　Aaron；〃　she　whispered。　　But　she　had　already　recognised
the　fact　that　for　the　present　meeting　a　passive　part　would　become
her　well；　and　save　her　a　deal　of　trouble。　　She　had　her　lover　there
quite　safe；　safe　beyond　anything　that　Mr。　or　Mrs。　Beckard　might　have
to　say　to　the　contrary。　　She　was　quite　happy；　only　that　there　were
symptoms　now　and　again　that　the　whirlwind　was　about　to　engulf　her
yet　once　more。

〃Dear　Aaron；　I　am　so　glad　you　are　come；〃　said　the　innocent…minded
widow；　as　she　went　up　stairs　with　him；　to　show　him　his　room；　and
then　he　embraced　her　also。　　〃Dear；　dear　mother；〃　he　said。

On　the　next　day　there　was；　as　a　matter　of　course；　a　family　conclave。
Hetta　and　Phineas　came　down；　and　discussed　the　whole　subject　of　the
coming　marriage　with　Mrs。　Bell。　　Hetta　at　first　was　not　quite
certain；ought　they　not　to　inquire　whether　the　situation　was
permanent？

〃I　won't　inquire　at　all；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell；　with　an　energy　that
startled　both　the　daughter　and　son…in…law。　　〃I　would　not　part　them
now；　no；　not　if〃　and　the　widow　shuddered　as　she　thought　of　her
daughter's　sunken　eyes；　and　pale　cheeks。

〃He　is　a　good　lad；〃　said　Phineas；　〃and　I　trust　she　will　make　him　a
sober　steady　wife；〃　and　so　the　matter　was　settled。

During　this　time；　Susan　and　Aaron　were　walking　along　the　Balston
road；　and　they　also　had　settled　the　matterquite　as　satisfactorily。

Such　was　the　courtship　of　Susan　Dunn。







End