hard cash-第93章

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clearness　with　which　he　marshalled　the　proofs；　listened　in　silence；　and　presently　a　keen　shudder　ran　through　her　frame；　and　reminded　him　he　was　setting　a　daughter　against　her　father。

〃There；〃　said　he；　〃I　always　said　I　would　never　tell　you；　and　now　I've　done　it。　Well；　at　least　you　will　see　with　what　consideration；　and　unheard…of　leniency；　the　Dodds　for　our　sake　are　treating　Mr。　Richard　Hardie。　Just　compare　their　conduct　to　him　with　his　to　them。　And　which　is　most　to　his　advantage？　that　I　should　marry　Julia；　and　give　Mrs。　Dodd　the　life　interest　in　my　ten　thousand　pounds；　to　balance　his　dishonesty；　or　for　him　to　be　indicted　as　a　thief？　Ned　Dodd　told　us　plainly　he　would　have　set　the　police　on　him；　had　any　other　but　his　son　been　the　informant〃

〃Did　_he_　say　that？　Oh；　Alfred；　this　is　a　miserable　world。〃

〃I　can't　see　that：　it　is　the　jolliest　world　in　the　world：　everything　is　bright　and　lovely；　and　everybody　is　happy　except　a　few　sick　people；　and　a　few　peevish　ones　that　run　to　meet　trouble。　To…morrow　I　marry　my　sweet　Julia；　Richard　Hardie　will　find　we　two　don't　molest　him；　nor　trouble　our　heads　about　him。　He　will　get　used　to　us；　and　one　fine　day　we　shall　say　to　him；　'Now；　we　know　all　about　the　L。　14；000：　just　leave　it　by　will　to　dear　Jenny；　and　let　my　friend　Dodd　marry　her；　and　you　can　enjoy　it　unmolested　for　your　lifetime。'　He　will　consent：　and　you　will　marry　Ned；　and　then　you'll　find　the　world　has　been　wickedly　slandered　by　dishonest　men　and　dismal　dogs。〃

In　this　strain　he　continued　till　he　made　her　blush　a　good　deal　and　smile　a　little；　a　sad　smile。

But　at　last　she　said；　〃If　I　was　sure　all　this　is　true；　I　think　I　should　gowith　a　heavy　heartto　your　wedding。　If　I　don't；　the　best　part　of　me　will　be　there；　my　prayers；　and　my　warm；　warm　wishes　for　you　both。　Kiss　her　for　me；　and　tell　her　so；　and　that　I　hope　we　shall　meet　round　His　throne　soon；　if　we　cannot　meet　at　His　altar　to…morrow。〃

Brother　and　sister　then　kissed　one　another　affectionately；　and　Alfred　ran　back　like　the　wind　to　Albion　Cottage。　Julia　was　not　in　the　drawing…room；　and　some　coolish　tea　was。　After　waiting　half　an　hour　he　got　impatient；　and　sent　Sarah　to　say　he　had　a　message　for　her。　Sarah　went　upstairs　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　room；　and　was　instantly　absorbed。　After　waiting　again　for　a　long　time；　Alfred　persuaded　Edward　to　try　his　luck。　Edward　went　up　to　Mrs。　Dodd's　room；　and　was　absorbed。

The　wedding　dress　was　being　solemnly　tried　on。　A　clean　linen　sheet　was　on　the　floor；　and　the　bride　stood　on　it；　receiving　the　last　touches　of　the　milliner's　art。　With　this　and　her　white　poplin　and　lace　veil　she　seemed　framed　in　white；　and　her　cheeks　bloomed　so；　and　her　eyes　beamed；　with　excitement　and　innocent　vanity；　that　altogether　she　was　supernaturally　lovely。

Once　enter　the　room　enchanted　by　this　snow…chad　rose；　and_Vestigia　nulla　retrorsum。_

However；　Edward　escaped　at　last　and　told　Alfred　what　was　on　foot；　and　drew　a　picture　of　the　Bride　with　white　above　and　white　below。

〃Oh；　let　me　see　her；〃　implored　the　lover。

Edward　must　ask　mamma　about　that。　He　did；　and　mamma　said　〃Certainly　not；　the　last　person　in　the　world　that　shall　see　her　in　her　wedding　dress。〃　But　she　should　come　down　to　him　in　half　an　hour。　It　seemed　a　very　long　half…hour。　However；　by　way　of　compensation；　he　was　alone　when　she　did　come。　〃Good　news？〃　she　asked　eagerly。

〃Capital：　we　are　the　best　of　friends。　Why　she　is　half　inclined　to　_come。_〃

〃Thenoh　how　good　you　are：　oh；　how　I　love　you。〃

And　she　flung　a　tender　arm　round　his　neck；　like　a　young　goddess　making　love；　and　her　sweet　face　came　so　near　his；　he　had　only　to　stoop　a　little；　and　their　lips　met　in　a　long　blissful　kiss。

That　kiss　was　an　era　in　her　life。　Innocence　itself；　she　had　put　up　her　delicious　lips　to　her　lover　in　pure；　though　earnest　affection；　but　the　male　fire　with　which　his　met　them；　made　her　blush　as　well　as　thrill；　and　she　drew　back　a　little；　ashamed　and　half　scared；　and　nestled　on　his　shoulder；　hiding　a　face　that　grew　redder　and　redder。

He　bent　his　graceful　head；　and　murmured　down　to　her；　〃Are　you　afraid　of　me；　sweetest？〃

〃Oh　no；　no！　Yes；　a　little。　I　don't　know。　I　was　afraid　I　had　made　too　free　with　my　Treasure；　you　don't　quite　belong　to　me　yet；　you　know。〃

〃Oh　yes；　I　do；　and；　what　is　more；　you　belong　to　me。　Don't　you；　sweet　rebel？〃

〃Ah；　that　I　do；　heart　and　soul；　my　own；　own；　own。〃

A　few　more　soft　delicious　murmurs；　and　then　Julia　was　summoned　to　more　rites　of　vanity；　and　the　lovers　parted　with　tender　reluctance　for　those　few　hours。

Alfred　went　home　to　his　lodgings。　He　had　not　been　there　above　ten　minutes；　when　he　came　out　hastily；　and　walked　quickly　to　the　〃White　Lion；〃　the　principal　inn　in　Barkington。　He　went　into　the　stable…yard；　and　said　a　few　words　to　the　ostler：　then　returned　to　his　lodgings。

The　man　followed　him　at　a　distance　from　Albion　Terrace；　watched　him　home；　dogged　him　to　the　〃White　Lion；〃　and；　by…and…bye；　entered　the　yard　and　offered　the　ostler　a　glass　of　ale　at　the　tap。


At　Albion　Villa　they　were　working　on　Julia's　dresses　till　past　midnight：　and　then　Mrs。　Dodd　insisted　on　her　going　to　bed。　She　obeyed；　but　when　the　house　was　all　quiet；　came　stealing　out　to　her　mother；　and　begged　to　sleep　with　her：　the　sad　mother　strained　her　in　a　tearful　embrace：　and　so　they　passed　the　night；　clinging　to　one　another　more　as　the　parting　drew　near。

Edward　arranged　the　wedding　breakfast　for　after　the　ceremony；　and　sent　the　ladies　up　a　cup　of　coffee；　and　a　bit　of　toast　apiece。　They　could　hardly　find　appetite　even　for　this；　or　indeed　time；　there　was　so　much　still　to　do。

At　ten　o'clock　Julia　was　still　in　the　height　of　dressing；　delayed　by　_contretemps_　upon　_contretemps。_　Sarah　and　her　sister　did　her　hair　up　too　loose；　and；　being　a　glorious　mass；　it　threatened　all　to　come　down　and；　meantime；　a　hair…pin　quietly　but　persistently　bored　her　cream…white　poll。

〃Oh；　run　for　mamma！〃　she　cried。

Mamma　came　half　dressed；　had　the　hair　all　down　again；　and　did　it　up　with　adroit　and　loving　hand；　and　put　on　the　orange　wreath；　kissed　her　admiringly；　and　retired　to　her　own　toilet；　and　the　girls　began　to　lace　the　bride's　body。

Bump　came　Edward's　foot　against　the　door；　making　them　all　shriek。

〃Now　I　don't　want　to　hurry　you；　but　Dr。　Sampson　is　come。〃　The　handmaids；　flustered；　tried　to　go　faster；　and；　when　the　work　was　done；　Julia　took　her　little　handglass　and　inspected　her　back：　〃Oh；〃　she　screamed；　〃I　am　crooked。　There；　go　for　mamma！〃

Mamma　soon　came；　and　the　poor　bride　held　out　imploring　hands；　〃I'm　all　awry；　I'm　as　crooked　as　a　ram's　horn。〃

〃La；　miss；〃　said　Sarah；　〃it's　only　behind；　nobody　will　notice　it。〃

〃How　can　they　help　it？　Mamma！　_am_　I　deformed？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　smiled　superior　and　bade　her　be　calm：　〃It　is　the　lacing；　dear。　No；　Sarah；　it　is　no　use　your　_pulling_　it；　all　the　pulling　in　the　world　will　not　straighten　it。　I　thought　so：　you　have　missed　the　second　top　hole。〃

Julia's　little　foot　began　to　beat　a　tattoo　on　the　floor：　〃There　is　not　a　soul　in　the　house　but　you　can　do　the　simplest　thing。　Eyes　and　no　eyes！　Fingers　and　no　fingers！　I　never　did。〃

〃Hush；　love；　we　all　do　our　best。〃

〃Oh；　I　am　sure　of　that；　poor　things。〃

_〃Nobody_　can　lace　you　if　you　fidget　about　love；〃　objected　Mrs。　Dodd。

（Bump）！　〃Now　I　don't　want　to　hurry　any　man's　cattle：　but　the　bridesmaids　are　come。〃

〃Oh　dear；　I　shall　never　be　ready　in　time；〃　said　Julia；　and　the　tattoo　recommenced。

〃Plenty　of　time；　love；〃　said　Mrs。　Dodd；　quietly　lacing：　〃not　half…past　ten　yet。　Sarah；　go　and　see　if　the　bridegroom　has　arrived。〃

Sarah　returned　with　the　reassuring　tidings　that　the　bridegroom　had　not　yet　arrived；　though　the　carriages　had。

〃Oh；　thank　Heaven；　_he_　is　not　come；〃　said　Julia。　〃If　I　keep　him　waiting　to…day；　he　might　say'Oho！'〃

Under　dread　of　a　comment　so　significant　she　was　ready　at　last；　and　said　majestically　he　might　come　now　whenever　he　liked。

Meantime；　down　stairs　an　uneasiness　of　the　opposite　kind　was　growing。　Ten　minutes　past　the　appointed　time；　and　the　bridegroom　not　there。　So　while　Julia；　now　full　dressed；　and　easy　in　her　mind；　was　directing　Sarah's　sister　to　lay　out　her　plain　travelling　dress；　bonnet　and　gloves　on　the　bed；　Mrs。　Dodd　was　summoned　downstairs。　She　came　down　with　Julia's　white　gloves　in　her