按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
useful； like a grasshopper skipping off a grave into the green grass。 He had felt keenly about David while there was anything to be done： but now his poor friend was in a madhouse； thanks to the lancet： and there was an end of _him。_ Thinking about him would do him no good。 The present only is irresistible； past and future ills the mind can bar out by a resolute effort。 The bride will very likely die of her first child！ Well then； forget that just now。 Her father is in an asylum！ Well then； don't remember him at the wrong time： there sit female beauty and virtue ready to wed manly wit and comeliness； seated opposite； see their sweet stolen glances； a few hours only between them and wedded rapture： and I'm here to give the lovely virgin away： fill the bumper high！ _dum vivimus vivamus。_ In this glorious spirit he rattled on； and soon drew the young people out； and silvery peals of laughter rang round the genial board。
This jarred on Mrs。 Dodd。 She bore it in silence some time； but with the grief it revived and sharpened by contrast； and the polite effort to hide her distress； found herself becoming hysterical： then she made the usual signal to Julia； and beat an early retreat。 She left Julia in the drawing…room； and went and locked herself in her own room。 〃Oh； how can they be so cruel as to laugh and giggle in my David's house！〃 She wept sadly； and for the first time felt herself quite lonely in the world： for what companionship between the gay and the sad hearted？ Poor thing； she lived to reproach herself even with this； the nearest approach she ever made to selfishness。
Ere long she crept into Julia's room and humbly busied herself packing her trunks for the wedding tour。 The tears fell fast on her white hands。
She would not have been left alone a minute if Julia's mind had not been occupied just then with an affectionate and amiable anxiety： she earnestly desired to reconcile her Alfred and his sister before the wedding； and she sat in the drawing…room thinking whether it could be done； and how。
At last she sat down blushing； and wrote a little note； and rang the bell for Sarah； and sent it courageously into the dining…room。
Sarah very prudently listened at the keyhole before entering； for she said to herself； 〃If they are talking free； I shan't go in till it's over。〃
The persons so generously suspected were discussing a parchment Alfred had produced； and wanted signed： 〃You are our trustee； my boy；〃 said he to Edward： 〃so just write your name here； and mine comes here； and the witness's there： the Doctor and Sarah will do。 Send for a pen。〃
〃Let's read it first； please。〃
〃Read it！ What for？〃
〃Catch me signing a paper without reading it； my boy。〃
〃What； can't you trust me？ 〃 inquired Alfred； hurt。
〃Oh yes。 And can't you trust me？〃
〃There's a question： why I have appointed you my Trusty in the Deed； he； he。〃
〃Well then trust me without my signing； and I'll trust you without reading。〃
Sampson laughed at this retort； and Alfred reddened； he did not want the Deed read。 But while he hesitated； Sarah came in with Julia's note； asking him to come to her for a minute。 This sweet summons made him indifferent to prosaic things。 〃Well； read away；〃 said he： 〃one comfort； you will be no wiser。〃
〃What； is it in Latin？〃 asked Edward with a wry face。
〃No such luck。 Deeds used to be in Latin； but Latin could not be made obscure enough。 So now Dark Deeds are written in an unknown tongue called 'Lawyerish；' where the sense is 'as one grain of wheat in two bushels of chaff；' pick it out if you can。
〃Whatever man has done man may do；〃 said Dr。 Sampson stoutly。 〃You have rid it； and yet understood it： so why mayn't we； ye monster o' conceit？〃
〃Read it？〃 said Alfred。 〃I never read it： would not read it for a great deal of money。 The moment I saw what a senseless rigmarole it was； I flung it down and insisted on the battological author furnishing me with an English translation。 He complied： the crib occupies just twenty lines； the original three folio pages； as you see。 That crib； gentlemen；〃 added he severely； 〃is now in my waistcoat pocket； and you shall never see it for your impudence。 No； seat yourself by that pool of parchment （sedet eternumque sedebit； &c。） and fish for Lawyer Crawford's ideas； rari nantes in gurgite vasto。〃 And with this he flew up…stairs on the wings of love。 Julia met him in the middle of the room all in a flutter： 〃It is to ask you a favour。 I am unhappyabout one thing。〃
She then leaned one hand softly on his shoulder； and curving her lovely supple neck looked round into his face and watched it as she preferred her petition： 〃It is about Jane and you。 I cannot bear to part you two in this way： only think six days you have not spoken； and I am the cause。〃
〃Not the only cause； love。〃
〃I don't know； darling。 But it is very cruel。 I have got my dear mother and Edward； you have nobodybut Me。 Alfred；〃 said she with gentle impetuosity； 〃now is your time； your papa is away。〃
〃Oh； is he？〃 said Alfred carelessly。
〃Yes。 Sarah says Betty says he is gone to Uncle Thomas。 So I know you won't refuse me； my own Alfred： it is to go to your sister this minute and make it up。〃
〃What； and leave you？〃 objected Alfred ruefully。
〃No； no； you are with the gentlemen； you know： you are not here； _in reality；_ till tea。 Make them an excuse： say the truth； say it is Me； and come back to me with good news。〃
He consented on these terms。
Then she armed him with advice： 〃You go to make peace； it is our last chance； now remember； you must be very generous； very sweet…tempered。 Guard against your impetuosity。 Do take warning by me； see how impetuous I am。 And then； you know； after all； she is only a lady； and a great creature like you ought not to be ruffled by anything so small as a lady's tongue： the idea！ And； dearest； don't go trusting to your logic； but _do_ descend to the arts of persuasion； because they are far more convincing somehow： please try them。〃
〃Yes。 Enumerate them。〃
〃Why； kissing and coaxing； anddon't ask _me。_〃
〃Will you bestow a specimen of those arts on me if I succeed？〃
〃Try me；〃 said she： and looked him earnestly in the face； but lowered her long lashes slowly and shyly； as she realised to what her Impetuosity was pledging itself。
Alfred got his hat and ran to Musgrove Cottage。
A man stepped out of the shadow of a hedge opposite Albion Villa； and followed him； keeping in shadow as much as possible。
The door of Musgrove Cottage was opened to him by old Betty with a joyful start！ 〃Mr。 Alfred； I _de_clare！ Come in； there's only me and Miss。 Master is in Yorkshire； and that there crocodile； Peggy； she is turned awayfor sauceand a good riddance of bad rubbish： Miss is in the parlour。〃
She ushered him triumphantly in。 Jane was seated reading： she dropped her book； and ran and kissed him with a cry of joy。 So warm a reception surprised him agreeably； and simplified his task。 He told her he was come to try and make it up with her before the wedding： 〃We lose your presence； dear Jenny；〃 said he； 〃and that is a great grief to us； valuing you as we do： don't refuse us your good wishes to…morrow。〃
〃Dearest Alfred；〃 said she； 〃can you think