hard cash-第60章

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〃I　will　tell　you；　sir。　She　saw　me　standing　there；　and　asked　me　in　her　own　soft　angel　voice　if　I　was　unhappy。　I　told　her　I　must　be　a　poor　creature　if　I　could　be　happy。　Then　she　asked　me；　with　some　hesitation　I　thought；　why　I　was　unhappy。　I　said；　because　I　could　not　see　the　path　of　honour　and　duty　clear：　that　at　least　was　the　purport。　Then　she　told　me　that　in　all　difficulties　she　had　found　the　best　way　was　to　pray　to　God　to　guide　her；　and　she　begged　me　to　lay　my　care　before　Him　and　ask　His　counsel。　And　then　I　thanked　her；　and　bade　her　good…night；　and　she　me；　and　that　was　all　that　passed　between　us　two　unhappy　lovers；　whom　you　have　made　miserable；　and　even　cool　to　one　another；　but　not　hostile　to　you。　And　you　played　the　spy　on　us；　sir；　and　misunderstood　us；　as　spies　generally　do。　Ah；　sir！　a　few　months　ago　you　would　not　have　condescended　to　that。〃

Mr。　Hardie　coloured；　but　did　not　reply。　He　had　passed　from　the　irritable　into　the　quietly　vindictive　stage。

Alfred　then　deprecated　further　discussion　of　what　was　past；　and　said　abruptly；　〃I　have　an　offer　to　make　you：　in　a　very　short　time　I　shall　have　ten　thousand　pounds；　I　will　not　resign　my　whole　fortune；　that　would　be　unjust　to　myself；　and　my　wife；　and　I　loathe　and　despise　Injustice　in　all　its　forms；　however　romantic　or　plausible。　But；　if　you　will　give　the　Dodds　their　L。　14；000；　I　will　share　my　little　fortune　equally　with　you：　and　thank　you；　and　bless　you。　Consider；　sir；　with　your　abilities　and　experience　five　thousand　pounds　may　yet　be　the　nucleus　of　a　fortune；　a　fortune　built　on　an　honourable　foundation。　I　know　you　will　thrive　with　my　five　thousand　pounds　ten　times　more　than　with　their　fourteen　thousand；　and　enjoy　the　blessing　of　blessings；　a　clear　conscience。〃

Now　this　offer　was　no　sooner　made　than　Mr。　Hardie　shut　his　face；　and　went　to　mental　arithmetic；　like　one　doing　a　sum　behind　a　thick　door。　He　would　have　taken　ten　thousand：　but　five　thousand　did　not　much　tempt　him：　besides；　would　it　be　five　thousand　clear？　He　already　owed　Alfred　two　thousand　five　hundred。　It　flashed　through　him　that　a　young　man　who　loathed　and　despised　Injusticeeven　to　himselfwould　not　consent　to　be　diddled　by　him　out　of　one　sum　while　making　him　a　present　of　another：　and　then　there　was　Skinner's　thousand　to　be　reimbursed。　He　therefore　declined　in　these　terms：

〃This　offer　shows　me　you　are　sincere　in　these　strange　notions　you　have　taken　up。　I　am　sorry　for　it：　it　looks　like　insanity。　These　nocturnal　illusions；　these　imaginary　sights　and　sounds；　come　of　brooding　on　a　single　idea；　and　often　usher　in　a　calamity　one　trembles　to　think　of。　You　have　made　me　a　proposal：　I　make　you　one：　take　a　couple　of　hundred　pounds　（I'll　get　it　from　your　trustees）　and　travel　the　Continent　for　four　months；　enlarge　and　amuse　your　mind　with　the　contemplation　of　nature　and　manners　and　customs；　and　if　that　does　not　clear　this　phantom　L。　14；000　out　of　your　head；　I　am　much　mistaken。〃

Alfred　replied　that　foreign　travel　was　his　dream：　but　he　could　not　leave　Barkington　while　there　was　an　act　of　justice　to　be　done。

〃Then　do　me　justice；　boy；〃　said　Mr。　Hardie；　with　wonderful　dignity；　all　things　considered。　〃Instead　of　brooding　on　your　one　fantastical　idea；　and　shutting　out　all　rational　evidence　to　the　contrary；　take　the　trouble　to　look　through　my　books：　and　they　will　reveal　to　you　a　fortune；　not　of　fourteen　thousand；　but　of　eighty　thousand　pounds；　honourably　sacrificed　in　the　vain　struggle　to　fulfil　my　engagements：　who；　do　you　think；　will　believe；　against　such　evidence；　the　preposterous　tale　you　have　concocted　against　your　poor　father？　Already　the　tide　is　turning；　and　all　who　have　seen　the　accounts　of　the　Bank　pity　me；　they　will　pity　me　still　more　if　ever　they　hear　my　own　flesh　and　blood　insults　me　in　the　moment　of　my　fall；　sees　me　ruined　by　my　honesty　and　living　in　a　hovel；　yet　comes　into　that　poor　but　honest　abode；　and　stabs　me　to　the　heart　by　accusing　me　of　stealing　fourteen　thousand　pounds：　a　sum　that　would　have　saved　me；　if　I　could　only　have　laid　my　hands　on　it。〃

He　hid　his　face；　to　conceal　its　incongruous　expression：　and　heaved　a　deep　sigh。

Alfred　turned　his　head　away　and　groaned。

After　a　while　he　rose　from　his　seat　and　went　to　the　door；　but　seemed　reluctant　to　go：　he　cast　a　longing；　lingering　look　on　his　father；　and　said　beseechingly：　〃Oh　think！　you　are　not　my　flesh　and　blood　more　than　I　am　yours；　is　all　the　love　to　be　on　my　side？　Have　I　no　influence　even　when　right　is　on　my　side？〃　Then　he　suddenly　turned　and　threw　himself　impetuously　on　his　knees：　〃Your　father　was　the　soul　of　honour；　your　son　loathed　fraud　and　injustice　from　his　cradle；　you　stand　between　two　generations　of　Hardies；　and　belong　to　neither；　do　but　reflect　one　moment　how　bright　a　thing　honour　is；　how　short　and　uncertain　a　thing　life　is；　how　sure　a　thing　retribution　is；　in　this　world　or　the　next：　it　is　your　guardian　angel　that　kneels　before　you　now；　and　not　your　son：　oh；　for　Christ's　sake；　for　my　mother's　sake；　listen　to　my　last　appeal。　You　don't　know　me：　I　cannot　compound　with　injustice。　Pity　me；　pity　her　I　love；　pity　yourself！〃

〃You　young　viper！〃　cried　the　father；　stung　with　remorse；　but　not　touched　with　penitence。　〃Get　away；　you　amorous　young　hypocrite；　get　out　of　my　house；　get　out　of　my　sight；　or　I　shall　spurn　you　and　curse　you　at　my　feet。〃

〃Enough！〃　said　Alfred；　rising　and　turning　suddenly　calm　as　a　statue：　〃let　us　be　gentlemen；　if　you　please；　even　though　we　must　be　enemies。　Good…bye；　my　father　that　_was。_〃

And　he　walked　gently　out　of　the　room；　and；　as　he　passed　the　window　Mr。　Hardie　heard　his　great　heart　sob。

He　wiped　his　forehead　with　his　handkerchief。　〃A　hard　tussle；〃　thought　he；　〃and　with　my　own　unnatural；　ungrateful　flesh　and　blood；　but　I　have　won　it：　he　hasn't　told　the　Dodds；　he　never　will；　and；　if　he　did；　who　would　believe　him；　or　them？〃

At　dinner　there　was　no　Alfred；　but　after　dinner　a　note　to　Jane　informing　her　he　had　taken　lodgings　in　the　town；　and　requesting　her　to　send　his　books　and　clothes　in　the　evening。　Jane　handed　the　note　to　her　father：　and　sighed　deeply。　Watching　his　face　as　he　read　it；　she　saw　him　turn　rather　pale；　and　look　more　furrowed　than　ever。

〃Papa！〃　said　she；　〃what　_does_　it　all　mean！〃

〃I　am　thinking。〃

Then；　after　a　long　pause；　he　ground　his　teeth　and　said；　〃It　meansWar：　War　between　my　own　son　and　me。〃


CHAPTER　XXVI

LONG　before　this　open　rupture　Jane　Hardie　had　asked　her　father　sorrowfully；　whether　she　was　to　discontinue　her　intimacy　with　the　Dodds：　she　thought　of　course　he　would　say　〃Yes；〃　and　it　cost　her　a　hard　struggle　between　inclination　and　filial　duty　to　raise　the　question。　But　Mr。　Hardie　was　anxious　her　friendship　with　that　family　should　continue；　it　furnished　a　channel　of　news；　and　in　case　of　detection　might　be　useful　to　avert　or　soften　hostilities；　so　he　answered　rather　sharply；　〃On　no　account：　the　Dodds　are　an　estimable　family：　pray　be　as　friendly　with　them　as　ever　you　can。〃　Jane　coloured　with　pleasure　at　this　most　unexpected　reply；　but　her　wakeful　conscience　reminded　her；　this　answer　was　given　in　ignorance　of　her　attachment　to　Edward　Dodd；　and　urged　her　to　confession。　But　at　that　Nature　recoiled：　Edward　had　not　openly　declared　his　love　to　her；　so　modest　pride；　as　well　as　modest　shame；　combined　with　female　cowardice　to　hold　back　the　avowal。

So　then　Miss　Tender　Conscience　tormented　herself；　and　recorded　the　struggle　in　her　diary；　but　briefly；　and　in　terms　vague　and　typical；　not　a　word　about　〃a　young　man〃or　〃crossed　in　love〃but　one　obscure　and　hasty　slap　at　the　carnal　affections；　and　a　good　deal　about　〃the　saints　in　prison；〃　and　〃the　battle　of　Armageddon。〃

Yet；　to　do　her　justice；　laxity　of　expression　did　not　act　upon　her　conduct　and　warp　that　as　it　does　most　mystical　speakers。

To　obey　her　father　to　the　letter；　she　maintained　a　friendly　correspondence　with　Julia　Dodd；　exchanging　letters　daily；　but；　not　to　disobey　him　in　the　spirit；　she　ceased　to　visit　Albion　Villa。　Thus　she　avoided　Edward；　and　extracted　from　the　situation　the　utmost　self…denial；　and　the　least　possible　amount　of　〃carnal　pleasure；〃　as　she　naively　denominated　an　interchange　of　worldly　affection；　however　distant　and　respectful。

One　day　she　happened　to　mention　her　diary；　and　say　it　was　a　present　comfort　to　her；　and　instructive　to　review。　Julia；　catching　at　every　straw　of　consolation；　said　she　would　keep　one　too；　and　asked　a　sight　of　Jane's　for　a　model。　〃No；　dear　friend；〃　said　Jane：　〃a　diary　should　be　one's　self　on　paper。〃

This　was　fortunate：　it　precluded　that　servile　imitation；　in　which　her　sex　excels　even　mine；　and　consequently　the　two　records　reflect　two　good　girls；　instead　of　one　in　two　skins；　and　may　be　trusted　to　conduct　this　narrative　forward；　and　relieve　its　monotony　a　little：　only；　of　course；　the　reader　must　not　expect　to　see　the　plot　of　a　story　carried　minutely　out　in　two　crude　compositions　written　with　an　object　so　distinct：　he　must　watch　for　glimpses　and　make　the　most　of　indications。　Nor　is　this　an　excessive　demand　upon　his　intelligence；　for；　if　he　cannot　do　this　with　a　book；　how　will　he　do　it　in　real　life；　where　male　and　female　characters　reveal　their　true　selves　by　glimpses　only；　and　the　gravest　and　most　dramatic　events　give　the　diviner　so　few　and　faint　signs　of　their　coming？


　　　　　_Extracts　from　Julia　Dodd's　Diary。_

_〃Dec。　5th。_It　is　all　over；　they　have　taken　papa　away　to　an　asylum：　and　the　house　is　like　a　grave；　but　for　our　outbursts　of　sorrow。　Just　before　he　went　away　the　medal　cameoh　no；　I　cannot。　Poor；　poor　mamma！

〃8　P。　M。　In　the　midst　of　our　affliction　Heaven　sent　us　a　ray　of　comfort：　the　kindest　letter　from　a　lady；　a　perfect　stranger。　It　came　yesterday；　but　now　I　have　got　it　to　copy：　oh；　bless　it；　and　the　good；　kind　writer。


〃'DEAR　MADAM；I　scarcely　know　whether　to　hope　or　to　fear　that　your　good　husband　may　have　mentioned　my　name　to　you：　however；　he　is　just　the　man　to　pass　over　both　my　misbehaviour　and　his　own　gallantry；　so　I　beg　permission　to　introduce　myself。　I　and　my　little　boy　were　passengers　by　the　_Agra；_　I　was　spoiled　by　a　long　residence　in　India；　and　gave　your　husband　sore　trouble　by　resisting　discipline；　refusing　to　put　out　my　light　at　nine　o'clock；　and　in　short　by　being　an　unreasonable　woman；　or　rather　a　spoiled　child。　Well；　all　my　little　attempts　at　a　feud　failed；　Captain　Dodd　did　his　duty；　and　kept　his　temper　provokingly；　the　only　revenge　he　took　was　a　noble　one；　he　jumped　into　the　sea　after　my　darling　Freddy；　and　saved　him　from　a　watery　grave；　and　his　mother　from　madness　or　death；　yet　he　was　himself　hardly　recovered　from　a　wound　he　had　received　in　defending　us　all　against　pirates。　Need　I　say　more　to　one　who　is　herself　a　mother？　You　will　know　how　our　little　misunderstanding　ended　after　that。　As　soon　as　we　were　friends　I　made　him　talk　of　his　family；　yourself；　Edward；　Julia；　I　seem　to　know　you　all。

〃'When　the　ruffian；　who　succeeded　our　good　captain；　had　wrecked　poor　us；　and　then　deserted　us；　your　husband　resumed　the　command；　and　saved　Freddy　and　me　once　more　by　his　courage；　his　wonderful　coolness；　and　his　skill。　Since　then　the　mouse　has　been　at　work　for　the　lion：　I　despair　of　conveying　any　pleasure　by　it　to　a　character　so　elevated　as　Captain　Dodd；　his　reward　must　be　his　own　conscience；　but　we　poor　little　women　like　external　shows；　do　we　not？　and　so　I　thought　a　medal　of　the　Humane　So