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！
〃And our new oracle； Edward； laid down the law like anything。 'Look here； Hardie；' said he； 'if anybody but you had told us about this fourteen thousand pounds； I should have set the police on your governor before now。 But it seems to me a shabby thing to attack a father on the son's information； especially when it's out of love for one of us he has denounced his own flesh and blood。'
〃'No； no；' said Alfred eagerly； 'out of love of justice。'
〃'Ah； you think so； my fine fellow； but you would not have done it for a stranger；' said Edward。 Then he went on： 'Of all blunders； the worst is to fall between two stools。 Look here； mamma： we decide； for the son's sake； not to attack the father： after that it would be very inconsistent to turn the cold shoulder to the son。 Another thing； who suffers most by this fraud？ Why the man that marries Julia。' Alfred burst out impetuously； 'Oh； prove that to me； and let me be that sufferer。' Edward turned calmly to mamma： 'If the fourteen thousand pounds was in our hands； what should you do with it？'
〃The dear thing said she should settle at least ten thousand of it on Me； and marry Me to this poor motherless boy； 'whom I have learned to love myself；' said she。
〃'There；' said Edward； 'you see it is you who lose by your governor'sI won't say whatif you marry my sister。'
〃Alfred took his hand； and said； 'God bless you for telling me this。'
〃Then Edward turned to mamma and me； and said； 'This poor fellow has left his father's house because he wronged us： then this house ought to open its arms to him： that is only justice。 But now to be just to our side； I have been to Mr。 Crawford； the lawyer； and I find this Hardie junior has ten thousand pounds of his own。 That ought to be settled on Julia； to make up for what she loses by Hardie senior'sI won't say what。'
〃'If anybody settles any of their trash on _me；_ I'll beat them； and throw it in the fire；' said I； 'and I hated money。'
〃The oracle asked me directly did I hate clothes and food； and charity to the poor； and cleanliness； and decency？ Then I didn't hate money； 'for none of these things can exist without money； you little romantic humbug； you shut up！'
〃Mamma rebuked him for his expressions； but approved his sentiments。 But I did not care for his sentiments： for _he_ smiled on me； and said； 'We two are of one mind； we shall transfer our fortune to Captain Dodd； whom my father has robbed。 Julia will consent to share my honest poverty。'
〃'Well； we will talk about that；' said Edward pompously。
〃'Talk about it without me； then；' I cried； and got up； and marched out indignant： only it was partly my low cunning to hide my face that I could not keep the rapture out of。 And； as soon as I had retired with cold dignity； off I skipped into the garden to let my face loose； and I think they sent him after me； for I heard his quick step behind me； so I ran away from him as hard as I could； so of course he soon caught me； in the shrubbery where he first asked me to be his； and he kissed both my hands again and again like wildfire； as he is； and he said； 'You are right； dearest； let them talk of their trash while I tell you how I adore you； poverty with you will be the soul's wealth； even misfortune； by your side； would hardly be misfortune： let all the world go； and let you and I be one； and live together； and die together； for now I see I could not have lived without you； nor without your love。' And I whispered something on his shoulderno matter what； what signifies the cackle of a goose？ And we mingled our happy tears； and our hearts； and our souls。 Ah； Love is a sweet a dreadful passion： what we two have gone through for one another in a few months！ He dined with us； and Edward and he sat a long； long time talking； I dare say it was only about their odious money； still I envied Edward having him so long。 But at last he came up； and devoured me with his lovely grey eyes； and I sang him Aileen Aroon； and he whispered things in my ear； oh； such sweet sweet； idiotic； darling things； I will not part with even the shadow of one of them by putting it on paper； only I am the blessedest creature in all the world； and I only hope to goodness it is not very wicked to be so happy as I am。〃
_〃Dec。 31st。_It is all settled。 Alfred returns to Oxford to make up for lost time； the time spent in construing me instead of Greek： and at the end of term he is to come of age and marrysomebody。 Marriage！ what a word to put down！ it makes me tingle； it thrills me； it frightens me deliciously： no； not deliciously； anything but： for suppose； being both of us fiery； and they all say one of them ought to be cold blooded for a pair to be happy； I should make him a downright bad wife。 Why then I hope I shall die in a year or two out of my darling's way； and let him have a good one instead。 I'd come back from the grave and tear her to pieces。
_〃Jan。 4th。_Found a saint in a garret over a stable。 Took her my luncheon clandestinely； that is lady…like for 'under my apron：' and was detected and expostulated by Ned。 He took me into his studioit is carpeted with shavingsand showed me the _'Tiser_ digest； an enormous book he has made of newspaper cuttings all in apple…pie order； and out of this authority he proved vice and poverty abound most wherever there are most charities。 Oh； 'and the poor' a set of intoxicated sneaks； and me a Demoralising Influence。 It is all very fine： but why are there saints in garrets； and half…starved？ That rouses all my evil passions； and I cannot bear it； it _is_ no use。
_〃Jan。 6th。_Once a gay day； but now a sad one。 Mamma gone to see poor papa； where he is。 Alfred found me sorrowful； and rested my forehead on his shoulder； that soothed me； while it lasted。 I think I should like to grow there。 Mem！ to burn this diary； and never let a creature see a syllable。
〃As soon as he was gone； prayed earnestly on my knees not to make an idol of him。 For it is our poor idols that are destroyed for our weakness。 Which really I cannot quite see the justice of。〃
_〃Jan。 8th。_Jane does not approve my proposal that we should praise now and then at the same hour instead of always praying。 The dear girl sends me her unconverted diary 'to show me she is 〃a brand。〃' I have read most of it。 But really it seems to me she was always goodish： only she went to parties； and read novels； and enjoyed society。
〃There； I have finished it。 Oh dear； how like her _un_converted diary is to my _con_verted one！〃
_〃Jan。 14th。_A sorrowful day： he and I parted； after a fortnight of the tenderest affection； and that mutual respect without which neither of us； I think； could love long。 I had resolved to be very brave； but we were alone； and his bright face looked so sad； the change in it took me by surprise； and my resolution failed； I clung to him。 If gentlemen could interpret； as we can； he would never have left me。 It is better as it is。 He kissed my tears away as fast as they came： it was the first time he had ever kissed more than my hand； so I shall have that to think of； and his dear promised letters： but it made me cry more at the time； of course。 Some day； when we have been married years and years； I shall tell him not to go and pay a lady for every