hard cash-第10章

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　is　an　end　of　the　matter。〃

〃Forgive　you？　you　have　taken　a　thorn　out　of　my　soul。〃

〃Then　I　am　so　glad　you　summoned　courage　to　speak　to　me　without　ceremony。　Mamma　would　have　done　better；　though；　but　after　all；　do　not　I　know　her？　my　mamma　is　all　goodness　and　intelligence。　And　be　assured；　sir；　she　does　you　justice；　and　is　quite　sensible　of　your　_disinterested_　kindness　to　dear　Edward。〃　With　this　she　was　about　to　retire。

〃Ah！　But　you；　Miss　Dodd？　with　whom　I　have　taken　this　unwarrantable　liberty？〃　said　Hardie　imploringly。

〃Me；　Mr。　Hardie？　You　do　me　the　honour　to　require　my　opinion　of　your　performances：　including　of　course　this　self…introduction？〃

Hardie　hung　his　head；　there　was　a　touch　of　satire　in　the　lady's　voice；　he　thought。

Her　soft　eyes　rested　demurely　on　him　a　moment；　she　saw　he　was　a　little　abashed。

〃My　opinion　of　it　all　is　that　you　have　been　very　kind　to　us；　in　being　most　kind　to　our　poor　Edward。　I　never　saw；　nor　read　of　anything　more　generous；　more　manly。　And　then　_so_　thoughtful；　_so_　considerate；　_so_　delicate！　So　instead　of　criticising　you；　as　you　seem　to　expect；　his　sister　only　blesses　you；　and　thanks　you　from　the　very　bottom　of　her　heart。〃

She　had　begun　within　a　polite　composure　borrowed　from　mamma；　but；　once　launched；　her　ardent　nature　got　the　better：　her　colour　rose　and　rose；　and　her　voice　sank　and　sank；　and　the　last　words　came　almost　in　a　whisper；　and　such　a　lovely　whisper：　a　gurgle　from　the　heart；　and；　as　she　concluded；　her　delicate　hand　came　sweeping　out　with　a　heaven…taught　gesture　of　large　and　sovereign　cordiality；　that　made　even　the　honest　words　and　the　divine　tones　more　eloquent。　It　was　too　much；　the　young　man；　ardent　as　herself；　and　not；　in　reality；　half　so　timorous；　caught　fire；　and　seeing　a　white；　eloquent　hand　rather　near　him；　caught　it；　and　pressed　his　warm　lips　on　it　in　mute　adoration　and　gratitude。

At　this　she　was　scared　and　offended。　〃Oh；　keep　that　for　the　Queen！〃　cried　she；　turning　scarlet；　and　tossing　her　fair　head　into　the　air；　like　a　startled　stag；　and　she　drew　her　hand　away　quickly　and　decidedly；　though　not　roughly。　He　stammered　a　lowly　apologyin　the　very　middle　of　it　she　said　quietly；　〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Hardie；〃　and　swept；　with　a　gracious　little　curtsey；　through　the　doorway；　leaving　him　spell…bound。


And　so　the　virginal　instinct　of　self…defence　carried　her　off　swiftly　and　cleverly。　But　none　too　soon；　for；　on　entering　the　house；　that　external　composure　her　two　mothers　Mesdames　Dodd　and　Nature　had　taught　her；　fell　from　her　like　a　veil；　and　she　fluttered　up　the　stairs　to　her　own　room　with　hot　cheeks；　and　panted　there　like　some　wild　thing　that　has　been　grasped　at　and　grazed。　She　felt　young　Hardie's　lips　upon　the　palm　of　her　hand　plainly；　they　seemed　to　linger　there　still；　it　was　like　light　but　live　velvet　This；　and　the　ardent　look　he　had　poured　into　her　eyes；　set　the　young　creature　quivering。　Nobody　had　looked　at　her　so　before；　and　no　young　gentleman　had　imprinted　living　velvet　on　her　hand。　She　was　alarmed；　ashamed；　and　uneasy。　What　right　had　he　to　look　at　her　like　that？　What　shadow　of　a　right　to　go　and　kiss　her　hand？　He　could　not　pretend　to　think　she　had　put　it　out　to　be　kissed；　ladies　put　forth　the　back　of　the　hand　for　that；　not　the　palm。　The　truth　was　he　was　an　impudent　fellow；　and　she　hated　him　now；　and　herself　too；　for　being　so　simple　as　to　let　him　talk　to　her：　mamma　would　not　have　been　so　imprudent　when　she　was　a　girl。

She　would　not　go　down；　for　she　felt　there　must　be　something　of　this　kind　legibly　branded　on　her　face：　〃Oh！　oh！　just　look　at　this　young　lady！　She　has　been　letting　a　young　gentleman　kiss　the　palm　of　her　hand；　and　the　feel　has　not　gone　off　yet；　you　may　see　that　by　her　cheeks。〃

But　then；　poor　Edward！　she　must　go　down。

So　she　put　a　wet　towel　to　her　tell…tale　cheeks；　and　dried　them　by　artistic　dabs；　avoiding　friction；　and　came　downstairs　like　a　mouse；　and　turned　the　door…handle　noiselessly；　and　glided　into　the　sitting…room　looking　so　transparent；　conscious；　and　all　on　fire　with　beauty　and　animation；　that　even　Edward　was　startled；　and；　in　a　whisper；　bade　his　mother　observe　what　a　pretty　girl　she　was：　〃Beats　all　the　country　girls　in　a　canter。〃　Mrs。　Dodd　did　look；　and；　consequently；　as　soon　as　ever　Edward　was　gone　to　Oxford；　she　said　to　Julia；　〃You　are　feverish；　love；　you　have　been　excited　with　all　this。　You　had　better　go　to　bed。〃

Julia　complied　willingly；　for　she　wanted　to　be　alone　and　think。　She　retired　to　her　own　room；　and　went　the　whole　day　over　again；　and　was　happy　and　sorry；　exalted　and　uneasy；　by　turns；　and　ended　by　excusing　Mr。　Hardie's　escapade；　and　throwing　the　blame　on　herself。　She　ought　to　have　been　more　distant；　gentlemen　were　not　expected；　nor　indeed　much　wanted；　to　be　modest。　A　little　assurance　did　not　misbecome　them。　〃Really；　I　think　it　sets　them　off；〃　said　she　to　herself。

Grand　total：　〃What　_must_　he　think　of　me？〃

Time　gallops　in　reverie：　the　town　clock　struck　twelve；　and　with　its　iron　tongue　remorse　entered　her　youthful　conscience。　Was　this　obeying　mamma？　Mamma　had　said；　〃Go　to　bed：〃　not；　〃Go　upstairs　and　meditate：　upon　young　gentlemen。〃　She　gave　an　expressive　shake　of　her　fair　shoulders；　like　a　swan　flapping　the　water　off　its　downy　wings；　and　so　dismissed　the　subject　from　her　mind。

Then　she　said　her　prayers。

Then　she　rose　from　her　knees；　and　in　tones　of　honey　said；　〃Puss！　puss！　pretty　puss！〃　and　awaited　a　result。

Thieves　and　ghosts　she　did　not　believe　in；　yet　credited　cats　under　beds；　and　thought　them　neither　〃harmless〃　nor　〃necessary〃　there。

After　tenderly　evoking　the　dreaded　and　chimerical　quadruped；　she　proceeded　none　the　less　to　careful　research；　especially　of　cupboards。　The　door　of　one　resisted；　and　then　yielded　with　a　crack；　and　blew　out　the　candle。　〃There　now；〃　said　she。

It　was　her　only　light；　except　her　beauty。　They　allotted　each　Hebe　but　one　candle；　in　that　ancient　burgh。　〃Well；〃　she　thought；　〃there　is　moonlight　enough　to　_un_dress　by。〃　She　went　to　draw　back　one　of　the　curtains；　but　in　the　act　she　started　back　with　a　little　scream。　There　was　a　tall　figure　over　the　way　watching　the　house。

The　moon　shone　from　her　side　of　the　street　full　on　him；　and　in　that　instant　her　quick　eye　recognised　Mr。　Hardie。

〃Well！〃　said　she　aloud；　and　with　an　indescribable　inflexion；　and　hid　herself　swiftly　in　impenetrable　gloom。

But；　after　a　while；　Eve's　daughter　must　have　a　peep。　She　stole　with　infinite　caution　to　one　side　of　the　curtain；　and　made　an　aperture　just　big　enough　for　one　bright　eye。　Yes；　there　he　was；　motionless。　〃I'll　tell　mamma；〃　said　she　to　him；　malignantly；　as　if　the　sound　could　reach　him。

Unconscious　of　the　direful　threat；　he　did　not　budge。

She　was　unaffectedly　puzzled　at　this　phenomenon；　and；　not　being　the　least　vain；　fell　to　wondering　whether　he　played　the　nightly　sentinel　opposite　every　lady's　window　who　exchanged　civilities　within　him。　〃Because；　if　he　does；　he　is　a　fool；〃　said　she；　promptly。　But　on　reflection；　she　felt　sure　he　did　nothing　of　the　kind　habitually；　for　he　had　too　high　an　opinion　of　himself；　she　had　noted　that　trait　in　him　at　a　very　early　stage。　She　satisfied　herself；　by　cautious　examination；　that　he　did　not　know　her　room。　He　was　making　a　temple　of　the　whole　lodging。　〃How　ridiculous　of　him！〃　Yet　he　appeared　to　be　happy　over　it；　there　was　an　exalted　look　in　his　moonlit　face；　she　seemed　now　first　to　see　his　soul　there。　She　studied　his　countenance　like　an　inscription；　and　deciphered　each　rapt　expression　that　crossed　it；　and　stored　them　in　her　memory。

Twice　she　heft　her　ambuscade　to　go　to　bed；　and　twice　Curiosity；　or　Something；　drew　her　back。　At　last；　having　looked；　peered；　and　peeped；　till　her　feet　were　cold；　and　her　face　the　reverse；　she　informed　herself　that　the　foolish　Thing　had　tired　her　out。

〃Good…night；　Mr。　Policeman；〃　said　she；　pretending　to　bawl　to　him。　〃And　oh！　Do　rain！　As　hard　as　ever　you　can。　With　this　benevolent　aspiration；　a　little　too　violent　to　he　sincere；　she　laid　her　cheek　on　her　pillow　doughtily。

But　her　sentinel；　when　out　of　sight；　had　more　power　to　disturb　her。　She　lay　and　wondered　whether　he　was　still　there；　and　what　it　all　meant；　and　whatever　mamma　would　say；　and　which　of　the　two；　she　or　he；　was　the　head　culprit　in　this　strange　performance；　to　which　Earth；　sh