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the man from glengarry-第60节

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take this note to Maimie。  The note will explain to her。〃

〃But; Ranald; this is〃

〃And; Harry; I want to tell you that this is my last day here。〃

Harry gazed at him speechless。

〃Mr。 St。 Clair and I have had a difference that can never be made
right; and to…night I leave the office for good。〃

〃Leave the office for good?  Going to leave us?  What the deuce can
the office do without you?  And what does it all mean?  Come;
Ranald; don't be such a confounded sphynx!  Why do you talk such
rubbish?〃

〃It is true;〃 said Ranald; 〃though I can hardly realize it myself;
it is absolutely and finally settled; and I say; old man; don't
make it harder for me。  You don't know what it means to me to leave
this place; andyou; andall!〃  In spite of his splendid nerve
Ranald's voice shook a little。  Harry gazed at him in amazement。

〃I will give your note to Maimie;〃 he said; 〃but you will be back
here if I know myself。  I'll see father about this。〃

〃Now; Harry;〃 said Ranald; rising and putting his hand on his
shoulder; 〃you are not going to mix up in this at all; and for my
sake; old chap; don't make any row at home。  Promise me;〃 said
Ranald again holding him fast。

〃Well; I promise;〃 said Harry; reluctantly; 〃but I'll be hanged if
I understand it at all; and I tell you this; that if you don't come
back here; neither shall I。〃

〃Now you are talking rot; Harry;〃 said Ranald; and sat down again
to his desk。  Harry went out in a state of dazed astonishment。
Alone Ranald sat in his office writing steadily except that now and
then he paused to let a smile flutter across his stern; set face;
as a gleam of sunshine over a rugged rock on a cloudy day。  He was
listening to his heart; whose every beat kept singing the refrain;
〃I love her; I love her; she will come to me!〃

At that very moment Maimie was showing her Aunt Murray her London
dresses and finery; and recounting her triumphs in that land of
social glory。

〃How lovely; how wonderfully lovely they are;〃 said Mrs。 Murray;
touching the beautiful fabrics with fond fingers; 〃and I am sure
they will suit you well; my dear。  Have you worn most of them?〃

〃No; not all。  This one I wore the evening I went with the Lord
Archers to the Heathcote's ball。  Lord Heathcote; you know; is an
uncle of Captain De Lacy。〃

〃Was Captain De Lacy there?〃 inquired Mrs。 Murray。

〃Yes; indeed;〃 cried Maimie; 〃and we had a lovely time!〃 either the
memory of that evening brought the warm blushes to her face; or it
may be the thought of what she was about to tell her aunt; 〃and
Captain De Lacy is coming to…morrow。〃

〃Coming to…morrow?〃

〃Yes; he has written to Aunt Frank; and to papa as well。〃

Mrs。 Murray sat silent; apparently not knowing what to say; and
Maimie stood with the dress in her hands waiting for her aunt to
speak。  At length Mrs。 Murray said:  〃You knew Captain De Lacy
before; I think。〃

〃Oh; I have known him for a long time; and he's just splendid;
auntie; and he's coming to〃  Maimie paused; but her face told her
secret。

〃Do you mean he is going to speak to your father about you;
Maimie?〃 Maimie nodded。  〃And are you glad?〃

〃He's very handsome; auntie; and very nice; and he's awfully well
connected; and that sort of thing; and when Lord Heathcote dies he
has a good chance of the estates and the title。〃

〃Do you love him; Maimie?〃 asked her aunt; quietly。

Maimie dropped the dress; and sitting down upon a low stool; turned
her face from her aunt; and looked out of the window。

〃Oh; I suppose so; auntie;〃 she said。  〃He's very nice and
gentlemanly and I like to be with him〃

〃But; Maimie; dear; are you not sure that you love him?〃

〃Oh; I don't know;〃 said Maimie; petulantly。  〃Are you not pleased;
auntie?〃

〃Well; I confess I am surprised。  I do not know Captain De Lacy;
and besides I thought it wasI thought you〃  Mrs。 Murray paused;
while Maimie's face grew hot with fiery blushes; but before she
could reply they heard Harry's step on the stairs; and in a moment
he burst into the room。

〃Ranald isn't coming!〃 he exclaimed。  〃Here's a note for you;
Maimie。  But what thebut what he means;〃 said Harry; checking
himself; 〃I can't make out。〃

〃Not coming?〃 cried Maimie; the flush fading from her face。  〃What
can he mean?〃  She opened the note; and as she read the blood
rushed quickly into her face again; and as quickly fled; leaving
her pale and trembling。

〃Well; what does he say?〃 inquired Harry; bluntly。

〃He says it is impossible for him to come tonight;〃 said Maimie;
putting the note into her bosom。

〃Huh!〃 grunted Harry; and flung out of the room。

Immediately Maimie pulled out the note。

〃Oh; auntie;〃 she cried; 〃I am so miserable; Ranald is not coming
and he saysthere read it。〃  She hurriedly thrust the note into
Mrs。 Murray's hands; and Mrs。 Murray; opening it; read:


MY DEAR MAIMIE:  It is impossible for me to go to you tonight。
Your father and I have had a difference so serious that I can never
enter his house again; but I am writing now to tell you what I
meant to tell you to…night。  I love you; Maimie。  I love you with
all my heart and soul。  I have loved you since the night I pulled
you from the fire。


〃Maimie;〃 said Mrs。 Murray; handing her back the note; 〃I do not
think you ought to give me this。  That is too sacred for any eyes
but your own。〃

〃Oh; I know; auntie; but what can I do?  I am so sorry for Ranald!
What shall I do; auntie?〃

〃My dear child; in this neither I nor any one can advise you。  You
must be true to yourself。〃

〃Oh; I wish I knew what to do!〃 cried Maimie。  〃He wants me to tell
him〃  Maimie paused; her face once more covered with blushes;
〃and I do not know what to say!〃

〃What does your heart say; Maimie?〃 said Mrs。 Murray; quietly。

〃Oh; auntie; I am so miserable!〃

〃But; Maimie;〃 continued her aunt; 〃in this matter; as I said
before; you must be true to yourself。  Do you love Ranald?〃

〃Oh; auntie; I cannot tell;〃 cried Maimie; putting her face in her
hands。

〃If Ranald were De Lacy would you love him?〃

〃Oh yes; yes; how happy I would be!〃

Then Mrs。 Murray rose。  〃Maimie; dear;〃 she said; and her voice was
very gentle but very firm; 〃let me speak to you for your dear
mother's sake。  Do not deceive yourself。  Do not give your life for
anything but love。  Ranald is a noble man and he will be a great
man some day; and I love him as my own son; but I would not have
you give yourself to him unless you truly loved him。〃  She did not
mention De Lacy's name nor utter a word in comparison of the two;
but listening to her voice; Maimie knew only too well whither her
love had gone。

〃Oh; auntie;〃 she cried; 〃I cannot bear it!〃

〃Yes; Maimie dear; you can bear to do the right; for there is One
in whose strength we can do all things。〃

Before Maimie could reply her Aunt Frances came in。

〃It is dinner…time;〃 she announced; 〃and your father has just come
in; Maimie; and we must have dinner over at once。〃

Maimie rose; and going to the glass; smoothed back her hair。  Her
Aunt Frances glanced at her face and then at Mrs。 Murray; and as if
fearing Maimie's reply; went on hurriedly; 〃You must look your very
best to…night; and even better to…morrow;〃 she said; smiling;
significantly。  She came and put her hands on Maimie's shoulders;
and kissing her; said:  〃Have you told your Aunt Murray who is
coming to…morrow?  I am sure I'm very thankful; my dear; you will
be very happy。  It is an excellent match。  Half the girls in town
will be wild with envy。  He has written a very manly letter to your
father; and I am sure he is a noble fellow; and he has excellent
prospects。  But we must hurry down to dinner;〃 she said; turning to
Mrs。 Murray; who with a look of sadness on her pale face; left the
room without a word。

〃Ranald is not coming;〃 said Maimie; when her Aunt Murray had gone。

〃Indeed; from what your father says;〃 cried Aunt Frank; indignantly;
〃I do not very well see how he could。  He has been most impertinent。〃

〃You are not to say that; Aunt Frank;〃 cried Maimie。  〃Ranald could
not be impertinent; and I will not hear it。〃  Her tone was so
haughty and fierce that Aunt Frank thought it wiser to pursue this
subject no further。

〃Well;〃 she said; as she turned to leave the room; 〃I'm very glad
he has the grace to keep away tonight。  He has always struck me as
a young man of some presumption。〃

When the door closed upon her Maimie tore the note from her bosom
and pressed it again and again to her lips:  〃Oh; Ranald; Ranald;〃
she cried; 〃I love you!  I love you!  Oh; why can it not be?  Oh; I
cannotI cannot give him up!〃  She threw herself upon her knees
and laid her face in the bed。  In a few minutes there came a tap at
the door; and her Aunt Frances's voice was heard; 〃Maimie; your
father has gone down; we must not delay。〃  The tone was incisive
and matter…of…fact。  It said to Maimie; 〃Now let's have no
nonsense。  Be a sensible woman of the world。〃  Maimie rose from her
knees。  Hastily removing all traces of tears from her face; and
glancing in the glass; she touched the little ringlets into place
and went down to dinner。

It was a depressing meal。  Mr。 St。 Clair was irritable; Harr

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