hard cash-第15部分

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He　started。　〃She　is　not　ill？　Nothing　serious？〃

〃Well；　sir；　we　do　hope　not。　She　is　pinning　a　bit；　as　young　ladies　will。〃

Alfred　was　anything　but　consoled　by　this　off…hand　account；　he　became　alarmed；　and　looked　wretched。　Seeming　him　so　perturbed；　Sarah；　who　was　blunt　but　good…natured；　added；　〃But　cook　she　says　hard　work　would　cure　our　Miss　of　all　_she_　ails。　But　who　shall　I　say　was　asking？　For　my　work　is　a　bit　behind…hand。〃

Alfred　took　the　hint　reluctantly；　and　drew　out　his　card…case；　saying；　〃For　Mr。　Edward　Dodd。〃　She　gave　her　clean　but　wettish　hand　a　hasty　wipe　with　her　apron；　and　took　the　card。　He　retired；　she　stood　on　the　step　and　watched　him　out　of　sight；　said　〃Oho！〃　and　took　his　card　to　the　kitchen　for　preliminary　inspection　and　discussion。

Alfred　Hardie　was　resolute；　but　sensitive。　He　had　come　on　the　wings　of　Love　and　Hope；　he　went　away　heavily；　a　housemaid's　tongue　had　shod　his　elastic　feet　with　lead　in　a　moment；　of　all　misfortunes；　sickness　was　what　he　had　not　anticipated；　for　she　looked　immortal。　Perhaps　it　was　that　fair　and　treacherous　disease；　consumption。　Well；　if　it　was；　he　would　love　her　all　the　more；　would　wed　her　as　soon　as　he　was　of　age；　and　carry　her　to　some　soft　Southern　clime；　and　keep　each　noxious　air　at　bay；　and　prolong　her　life；　perhaps　save　it。

And　now　he　began　to　chafe　at　the　social　cobwebs　that　kept　him　from　her。　But；　just　as　his　impatience　was　about　to　launch　him　into　imprudence；　he　was　saved　by　a　genuine　descendant　of　Adam。　James　Maxley　kept　Mr。　Hardie's　little　pleasaunce　trim　as　trim　could　be；　by　yearly　contract。　This　entailed　short　but　frequent　visits；　and　Alfred　often　talked　with　him；　for　the　man　was　really　a　bit　of　a　character；　had　a　shrewd　rustic　wit；　and　a　ready　tongue；　was　rather　too　fond　of　law；　and　much　too　fond　of　money；　but　scrupulously　honest：　head　as　long　as　Cudworth's；　but　broader；　and　could　not　read　a　line。　One　day　he　told　Alfred　that　he　must　knock　off　now；　and　take　a　look　in　at　Albion　Villee。　The　captain　was　due：　and　on　no　account　would　he；　Maxley；　allow　that　there　ragged　box　round　the　captains　quarter…deck：　〃That　is　how　he　do　name　their　little　mossel　of　a　lawn：　and　there　he　walks　for　a　wager；　athirt　and　across；　across　and　athirt；　five　steps　and　then　about；　and　I'd　a'most　bet　ye　a　halfpenny　he　thinks　hisself　on　the　salt　sea　ocean；　bless　his　silly　old　heart。〃

All　this　time　Alfred；　after　the　first　start　of　joyful　surprise；　was　secretly　thanking　his　stars　for　sending　him　an　instrument。　To　learn　whether　she　had　returned；　he　asked　Maxley　whether　the　ladies　had　sent　for　him。　〃Not　they；〃　said　Maxley；　rather　contemptuously；　〃what　do　women…folk　care　about　a　border；　without　'tis　a　lace　one　to　their　nightcaps；　for　none　but　the　father　of　all　vanity　to　see。　Not　as　I　have　ought　to　say　again　the　pair；　they　keep　their　turf　tidyishand　pay　ready　moneyand　a　few　flowers　in　their　pots；　but　the　rest　may　shift　for　itself。　Ye　see；　Master　Alfred；〃　explained　Maxley；　wagging　his　head　wisely；　〃nobody's　pride　can　be　everywhere。　Now　theirs　is　in…a…doors；　their　with…drawing…room　it's　like　the　Queen's　palace；　my　missus　tells　me；　she　is　wrapped　up　in　'em；　ye　know。　But　the　captain　for　my　money。〃

The　sage　shouldered　his　tools　and　departed。　But　he　left　a　good　hint　behind　him。　Alfred　hovered　about　the　back…door　the　next　day　till　he　caught　Mrs。　Maxley；　she　supplied　the　house　with　eggs　and　vegetables。　〃Could　she　tell　him　whether　his　friend　Edward　Dodd　was　likely　to　come　home　soon？〃　She　thought　not；　he　was　gone　away　to　study。　〃He　haven't　much　head…piece；　you　know；　not　like　what　Miss　Julia　have。　Mrs。　and　Miss　are　to　be　home　to…day；　they　wrote　to　cook　this　morning。　I　shall　be　there　to…morrow；　sartain；　and　I'll　ask　in　the　kitchen　when　Master　Edward　is　a…coming　back。〃　She　prattled　on。　The　ladies　of　Albion　Villa　were　good　kind　ladies；　the　very　maid…servants　loved　them；　Miss　was　more　for　religion　than　her　mother；　and　went　to　St。　Anne's　Church　Thursday　evenings；　and　Sundays　morning　and　evening；　and　visited　some　poor　women　in　the　parish　with　food　and　clothes；　Mrs。　Dodd　could　not　sleep　a　wink　when　the　wind　blew　hard　at　night；　but　never　complained；　only　came　down　pale　to　breakfast。　Miss　Julia's　ailment　was　nothing　to　speak　of；　but　they　were　in　care　along　of　being　so　wrapped　up　in　her；　and　no　wonder；　for　if　ever　there　was　a　duck！〃

Acting　on　this　intelligence；　Alfred　went　early　the　next　Sunday　to　St。　Anne's　Church；　and　sat　down　in　the　side　gallery　at　its　east　end。　While　the　congregation　flowed　quietly　in；　the　organist　played　the　_Agnus　Dei_　of　Mozart。　Those　pious　tender　tones　stole　over　his　hot　young　heart；　and　whispered；　〃Peace；　be　still！〃　He　sighed　wearily；　and　it　passed　through　his　mind　that　it　might　have　been　better　for　him；　and　especially　for　his　studies；　if　he　had　never　seen　her。　Suddenly　the　aisle　seemed　to　lighten　up；　she　was　gliding　along　it；　beautiful　as　May；　and　modesty　itself　in　dress　and　carriage。　She　went　into　a　pew　and　kneeled　a　minute；　then　seated　herself　and　looked　out　the　lessons　for　the　day。　Alfred　gazed　at　her　face：　devoured　it。　But　her　eyes　never　roved。　She　seemed　to　have　put　off　feminine　curiosity；　and　the　world；　at　the　church　door。　Indeed　he　wished　she　was　not　quite　so　heavenly　discreet；　her　lashes　were　delicious；　but　he　longed　to　see　her　eyes　once　more；　to　catch　a　glance　from　them；　and；　by　it；　decipher　his　fate。

But　no；　she　was　there　to　worship；　and　did　not　discern　her　earthly　lover；　whose　longing　looks　were　glued　to　her；　and　his　body　rose　and　sank　with　the　true　worshippers；　but　with　no　more　spirituality　than　a　piston　or　a　Jack…in…the…box。

In　the　last　hymn　before　the　sermon；　a　well…meaning　worshipper　in　the　gallery　delivered　a　leading　note；　a　high　one；　with　great　zeal；　but　small　precision；　being　about　a　semitone　flat；　at　this　outrage　on　her　too…sensitive　ear；　Julia　Dodd　turned　her　head　swiftly　to　discover　the　offender；　and　failed；　but　her　two　sapphire　eyes　met　Alfred's　point…blank。

She　was　crimson　in　a　moment；　and　lowered　them　on　her　book　again；　as　if　to　look　that　way　was　to　sin。　It　was　but　a　flash：　but　sometimes　a　flash　fires　a　mine。

The　lovely　blush　deepened　and　spread　before　it　melted　away；　and　Alfred's　late　cooling　heart　warmed　itself　at　that　sweet　glowing　cheek。　She　never　looked　his　way　again；　not　once：　which　was　a　sad　disappointment；　but　she　blushed　again　and　again　before　the　service　ended；　only　not　so　deeply。　Now　there　was　nothing　in　the　sermon　to　make　her　blush：　I　might　add；　there　was　nothing　to　redden　her　cheek　with　religious　excitement。　There　was　a　little　candid　sournessoil　and　vinegar　against　sects　and　Low　Churchmen；　but　thin　generality　predominated。　Total：　〃Acetate　of　morphia；〃　for　dry　souls　to　sip。

So　Alfred　took　all　the　credit　of　causing　those　sweet　irrelevant　blushes；　and　gloated：　the　young　wretch　could　not　help　glorying　in　his　power　to　tint　that　fair　statue　of　devotion　with　earthly　thoughts。

But　stay！　that　dear　blush；　was　it　pleasure　or　pain？　What　if　the　sight　of　him　was　intolerable？

He　would　know　how　he　stood　with　her；　and　on　the　spot。　He　was　one　of　the　first　to　leave　the　church；　he　made　for　the　churchyard　gate；　and　walked　slowly　backwards　and　forwards　by　it；　with　throbbing　heart　till　she　came　out。

She　was　prepared　for　him　now；　and　bowed　slightly　to　him　with　the　most　perfect　composure；　and　no　legible　sentiment；　except　a　certain　marked　politeness　many　of　our　young　ladies　think　wasted　upon　young　gentlemen；　and　are　mistaken。

Alfred　took　off　his　hat　in　a　tremor；　and　his　eyes　implored　and　inquired；　but　met　with　no　further　response；　and　she　walked　swiftly　home；　though　without　apparent　effort。　He　looked　longingly　after　her；　but　discretion　forbade。

He　now　crawled　by　Albion　Villa　twice　every　day；　wet　or　dry；　and　had　the　good　fortune　to　see　her　twice　at　the　drawing…room　window。　He　was　constant　at　St。　Anne's　Church；　and　one　Thursday　crept　into　the　aisle　to　be　nearer　to　her；　and　he　saw　her　steal　one　swift　look　at　the　gallery；　and　look　grave；　but　soon　she　detected　him；　and　though　she　looked　no　more　towards　him；　she　seemed　demurely　complacent。　Alfred　had　learned　to　note　these　subtleties　now；　for　Love　is　a　microscope。　What　he　did　not　know　was；　that　his　timid　ardour　was　pursuing　a　masterly　course；　that　to　find　herself　furtively　followed　everywhere；　and　hovered　about　for　a　look；　is　apt　to　soothe　womanly　pride　and　stir　womanly　pity；　and　to　keep　the　female　heart　in　a　flutter　of　curiosity　and　emotions；　two　porters　that　open　the　heart's　great　gate　to　love。

Now　the　evening　before　his　visit　to　the　Dodds；　Dr。　Sampson　dined　with　the　Hardies；　and　happened　to　mention　the　〃Dodds〃　among　his　old　patients：　〃The　Dodds　of'　Albion　Villa？〃　inquired　Miss　Hardie；　to　her　brother's　no　little　surprise。　〃Albyn　fiddlestick！〃　said　the　polished　doctor。　〃No！　they　live　by　the　water…side；　used　to；　but　now　they　have　left　the　town；　I　hear。　He　is　a　sea…captain　and　a　fine　lad；　and　Mrs。　Dodd　is　just　the　best…bred　woman　I　ever　prescribed　for；　except　Mrs。　Sampson。〃

〃It　_is_　the　Dodds　of　Albion　Villa；〃　said　Miss　Hardie。　〃They　have　two　children：　a　son；　his　name　is　Edward；　and　a　daughter；　Julia；　she　is　rather　good…looking；　a　Gentleman's　Beauty。〃

Alfred　stared　at　his　sister。　Was　she　blind？　with　her　〃rather　good…looking。〃

Sampson　was　quite　pleased　at　the　information。　〃N'　listen　me！　I　saved　that　girl's　life　when　she　was　a　year　old。〃

〃Then　she　is　ill　now；　doctor；〃　said　Alfred　hastily。　〃Do　go　and　see　her！　Hum！　The　fact　is；　her　brother　is　a　great　favourite　of　mine。〃　He　then　told　him　how　to　find　Albion　Villa。　〃Jenny；　dear；〃　said　he；　when　Sampson　was　gone；　〃you　never　told　me　you　knew　her。〃

〃Knew　who；　dear？〃

〃Whom？　Why　Dodd's　sister。〃

〃Oh；　she　is　a　new　acquaintance；　and　not　one　to　interest　you。　We　only　meet　in　the　Lord；　I　do　not　visit　Albion　Villa；　her　mother　is　an　amiable　worldling。〃

〃Unpardonable　combination！〃　said　Alfred　with　a　slight　sneer。　〃So　you　and　Miss　Dodd　meet　only　at　church！〃

〃At　church？　Hardly。　She　goes　to　St。　Anne's：　sits　under　a　preacher　who　starves　his　flock　with　moral　discourses；　and　holds　out　the　sacraments　of　the　Church　as　the　means　of　grace。〃

Alfred　shook　his　head　good…humouredly。　〃Now；　Jenny；　that　is　a　challenge；　and　you　know　we　both　got　into　a　fury　the　last　time　we　were　betrayed　into　that　miserable　waste　of　time　and　temper；　Theological　discussion。　No；　no：

　　　　　Let