the man between(夹在中间的人)-第30节
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〃Miss Lucy Watson。 Her father is the Independent minister。 He is a
gentleman； though his salary is less than we give our overseer。 And he is a
great scholar。 So is Lucy。 She finished her course at college this summer；
and with high honors。 Bless you； Tyrrel； she knows far more than I do
about everything but warps and looms and such like。 I admire a clever
woman； and I'm proud of Lucy。〃
〃Where is she now？〃
〃Well； she was a bit done up with so much study； and so she went to
Scarborough for a few weeks。 She has an aunt there。 The sea breezes and
salt water soon made her fit for anything。 She may be home very soon
now。 Then； Tyrrel； you'll see a beautyface like a rose； hair brown as a nut；
eyes that make your heart go galloping； the most enticing mouth； the
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prettiest figure； and she loves me with all her heart。 When she says ‘John
Thomas； dear one；' I tremble with pleasure； and when she lets me kiss her
sweet mouth； I really don't know where I am。 What would you say if a girl
whispered； ‘I love you； and nobody but you；' and gave you a kiss that was
likelike wine and roses？ Now what would you say？〃
〃I know as little as you do what I would say。 It's a situation to make a
man coin new words。 I suppose your family are pleased。〃
〃Well； I never thought about my family till I had Lucy's word。 Then I
told mother。 She knew Lucy all through。 Mother has a great respect for
Independents； and though father sulked a bit at first； mother had it out with
him one night； and when mother has father quiet in their room father
comes to see things just as she wants him。 I suppose that's the way with
wives。 Lucy will be just like that。 She's got a sharp little temper； too。 She'll
let me have a bit of it； no doubt； now and then。〃
〃Will you like that？〃
〃I wouldn't care a farthing for a wife without a bit of temper。 There
would be no fun in living with a woman of that kind。 My father would
droop and pine if mother didn't spur him on now and then。 And he likes it。
Don't I know？ I've seen mother snappy and awkward with him all
breakfast time； tossing her head； and rattling the china； and declaring she
was worn out with men that let all the good bargains pass them； perhaps
making fun of us because we couldn't manage to get along without strikes。
She had no strikes with her hands； she'd like to see her women stand up
and talk to her about shorter hours； and so on； and father would look at me
sly…like； and as we walked to the mill together he'd laugh contentedly and
say； ‘Your mother was quite refreshing this morning； John Thomas。 She
has keyed me up to a right pitch。 When Jonathan Arkroyd comes about
that wool he sold us I'll be all ready for him。' So you see I'm not against a
sharp temper。 I like women as Tennyson says English girls are； ‘roses set
round with little wilful thorns；' eh？〃
Unusual as this conversation was； its general tone was assumed by
Ethel in her confidential talk with Ruth the following day。 Of course； Ruth
was not at all surprised at the news Ethel brought her； for though the
lovers had been individually sure they had betrayed their secret to no one；
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it had really been an open one to Ruth since the hour of their meeting。 She
was sincerely ardent in her praises of Tyrrel Rawdon； butand there is
always a butshe wondered if Ethel had 〃noticed what a quick temper he
had。〃
〃Oh； yes；〃 answered Ethel； 〃I should not like him not to have a quick
temper。 I expect my husband to stand up at a moment's notice for either
mine or his own rights or opinions。〃
And in the afternoon when all preliminaries had been settled and
approved； Judge Rawdon expressed himself in the same manner to Ruth。
〃Yes；〃 he said； in reply to her timid suggestion of temper； 〃you can strike
fire anywhere with him if you try it； but he has it under control。 Besides；
Ethel is just as quick to flame up。 It will be Rawdon against Rawdon； and
Ethel's weapons are of finer； keener steel than Tyrrel's。 Ethel will hold her
own。 It is best so。〃
〃How did the Squire feel about such a marriage？〃
〃He was quite overcome with delight。 Nothing was said to Tyrrel about
Ethel having bought the reversion of Rawdon Manor； for things have been
harder to get into proper shape than I thought they would be； and it may be
another month before all is finally settled； but the Squire has the secret
satisfaction； and he was much affected by the certainty of a Rawdon at
Rawdon Court after him。 He declined to think of it in any other way but
‘providential；' and of course I let him take all the satisfaction he could out
of the idea。 Ever since he heard of the engagement he has been at the
organ singing the One Hundred and Third Psalm。〃
〃He is the dearest and noblest of men。 How soon shall we go home
now？〃
〃In about a month。 Are you tired of England？〃
〃I shall be glad to see America again。 There was a letter from Dora this
morning。 They sail on the twenty…third。〃
〃Do you know anything of Mostyn？〃
〃Since he wrote us a polite farewell we have heard nothing。〃
〃Do you think he went to America？〃
〃I cannot tell。 When he bid us good…by he made no statement as to his
destination； he merely said ‘he was leaving England on business。'〃
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〃Well； Ruth； we shall sail as soon as I am satisfied all is right。 There is
a little delay about some leases and other matters。 In the meantime the
lovers are in Paradise wherever we locate them。〃
And in Paradise they dwelt for another four weeks。 The ancient garden
had doubtless many a dream of love to keep； but none sweeter or truer
than the idyl of Tyrrel and Ethel Rawdon。 They were never weary of
rehearsing it； every incident of its growth had been charming and romantic；
and； as they believed； appointed from afar。 As the sum… mer waxed hotter
the beautiful place took on an appearance of royal color and splendor； and
the air was languid with the perfume of the clove carnations and tall white
August lilies。 Fluted dahlias； scarlet poppies； and all the flowers that
exhale their spice in the last hot days of August burned incense for them。
Their very hair was laden with odor； their fingers flower…sweet； their
minds took on the many colors of their exquisite surroundings。
And it was part of this drama of love and scent and color that they
should see it slowly assume the more ethereal loveliness of September；
and watch the subtle amber rays shine through the thinning boughs； and
feel that all nature was becoming idealized。 The birds were then mostly
silent。 They had left their best notes on the hawthorns and among the roses；
but the crickets made a cheerful chirrup； and the great brown butterflies
displayed their richest velvets； and the gossamer…like insects in the dreamy
atmosphere performed dances and undulations full of grace and mystery。
And all these marvelous changes imparted to love that sweet sadness
which is beyond all words poetic and enchaining。
Yet however sweet the hours； they pass away； and it is not much
memory can save from the mutable； happy days of love。 Still； when the
hour of departure came they had garnered enough to sweeten all the after…
straits and stress of time。 September had then perceptibly begun to add to
the nights and shorten the days； and her tender touch had been laid on
everything。 With a smile and a sigh the Rawdons turned their faces to their
pleasant home in the Land of the West。 It was to be but a short farewell。
They had promised the Squire to return the following summer； but he felt
the desolation of the parting very keenly。 With his hat slightly lifted above
his white head； he stood watching them out of sight。 Then he went to his
