the courtship of susan bell-第4章

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〃Will　it；　Sir？〃

〃Six　weeks；　Miss　Susan！〃　and　then　he　paused；　looking　into　her　eyes；
to　see　what　he　could　read　there。　　She　leant　against　the　table；
pulling　to　pieces　a　morsel　of　half…ravelled　muslin　which　she　held　in
her　hand；　but　her　eyes　were　turned　to　the　ground；　and　he　could
hardly　see　them。

〃Miss　Susan；〃　he　continued；　〃I　may　as　well　speak　out　now　as　at
another　time。〃　　He　too　was　looking　towards　the　ground；　and　clearly
did　not　know　what　to　do　with　his　hands。　　〃The　truth　is　just　this。
II　love　you　dearly；　with　all　my　heart。　　I　never　saw　any　one　I　ever
thought　so　beautiful；　so　nice；　and　so　good；and　what's　more；　I
never　shall。　　I'm　not　very　good　at　this　sort　of　thing；　I　know；　but　I
couldn't　go　away　from　Saratoga　for　six　weeks　and　not　tell　you。〃　　And
then　he　ceased。　　He　did　not　ask　for　any　love　in　return。　　His
presumption　had　not　got　so　far　as　that　yet。　　He　merely　declared　his
passion；　leaning　against　the　door；　and　there　he　stood　twiddling　his
thumbs。

Susan　had　not　the　slightest　conception　of　the　way　in　which　she　ought
to　receive　such　a　declaration。　　She　had　never　had　a　lover　before；
nor　had　she　ever　thought　of　Aaron　absolutely　as　a　lover；　though
something　very　like　love　for　him　had　been　crossing　over　her　spirit。
Now；　at　this　moment；　she　felt　that　he　was　the　beau…ideal　of　manhood；
though　his　boots　were　covered　with　the　railway　mud；　and　though　his
pantaloons　were　tucked　up　in　rolls　round　his　ankles。　　He　was　a　fine；
well…grown；　open…faced　fellow；　whose　eye　was　bold　and　yet　tender；
whose　brow　was　full　and　broad；　and　all　his　bearing　manly。　　Love　him！
Of　course　she　loved　him。　　Why　else　had　her　heart　melted　with
pleasure　when　her　mother　said　that　that　second　picture　was　to　be
accepted？

But　what　was　she　to　say？　　Anything　but　the　open　truth；　she　well　knew
that。　　The　open　truth　would　not　do　at　all。　　What　would　her　mother
say　and　Hetta　if　she　were　rashly　to　say　that？　　Hetta；　she　knew；
would　be　dead　against　such　a　lover；　and　of　her　mother's　approbation
she　had　hardly　more　hope。　　Why　they　should　disapprove　of　Aaron　as　a
lover　she　had　never　asked　herself。　　There　are　many　nice　things　that
seem　to　be　wrong　only　because　they　are　so　nice。　　Maybe　that　Susan
regarded　a　lover　as　one　of　them。　　〃Oh；　Mr。　Dunn；　you　shouldn't。〃
That　in　fact　was　all　that　she　could　say。

〃Should　not　I？〃　said　he。　　〃Well；　perhaps　not；　but　there's　the　truth；
and　no　harm　ever　comes　of　that。　　Perhaps　I'd　better　not　ask　you　for
an　answer　now；　but　I　thought　it　better　you　should　know　it　all。　　And
remember　thisI　only　care　for　one　thing　now　in　the　world；　and　that
is　for　your　love。〃　　And　then　he　paused；　thinking　possibly　that　in
spite　of　what　he　had　said　he　might　perhaps　get　some　sort　of　an
answer；　some　inkling　of　the　state　of　her　heart's　disposition　towards
him。

But　Susan　had　at　once　resolved　to　take　him　at　his　word　when　he
suggested　that　an　immediate　reply　was　not　necessary。　　To　say　that
she　loved　him　was　of　course　impossible；　and　to　say　that　she　did　not
was　equally　so。　　She　determined　therefore　to　close　at　once　with　the
offer　of　silence。

When　he　ceased　speaking　there　was　a　moment's　pause；　during　which　he
strove　hard　to　read　what　might　be　written　on　her　down…turned　face。
But　he　was　not　good　at　such　reading。　　〃Well；　I　guess　I'll　go　and　get
my　things　ready　now；〃　he　said；　and　then　turned　round　to　open　the
door。

〃Mother　will　be　in　before　you　are　gone；　I　suppose；〃　said　Susan。

〃I　have　only　got　twenty　minutes；〃　said　he；　looking　at　his　watch。
〃But；　Susan；　tell　her　what　I　have　said　to　you。　　Goodbye。〃　　And　he
put　out　his　hand。　　He　knew　he　should　see　her　again；　but　this　had
been　his　plan　to　get　her　hand　in　his。

〃Good…bye；　Mr。　Dunn；〃　and　she　gave　him　her　hand。

He　held　it　tight　for　a　moment；　so　that　she　could　not　draw　it　away；
could　not　if　she　would。　　〃Will　you　tell　your　mother？〃　he　asked。

〃Yes；〃　she　answered；　quite　in　a　whisper。　　〃I　guess　I'd　better　tell
her。〃　　And　then　she　gave　a　long　sigh。　　He　pressed　her　hand　again　and
got　it　up　to　his　lips。

〃Mr。　Dunn；　don't；〃　she　said。　　But　he　did　kiss　it。　　〃God　bless　you；
my　own　dearest；　dearest　girl！　　I'll　just　open　the　door　as　I　come
down。　　Perhaps　Mrs。　Bell　will　be　here。〃　　And　then　he　rushed　up
stairs。

But　Mrs。　Bell　did　not　come　in。　　She　and　Hetta　were　at　a　weekly
service　at　Mr。　Beckard's　meeting…house；　and　Mr。　Beckard　it　seemed
had　much　to　say。　　Susan；　when　left　alone；　sat　down　and　tried　to
think。　　But　she　could　not　think；　she　could　only　love。　　She　could　use
her　mind　only　in　recounting　to　herself　the　perfections　of　that
demigod　whose　heavy　steps　were　so　audible　overhead；　as　he　walked　to
and　fro　collecting　his　things　and　putting　them　into　his　bag。

And　then；　just　when　he　had　finished；　she　bethought　herself　that　he
must　be　hungry。　　She　flew　to　the　kitchen；　but　she　was　too　late。
Before　she　could　even　reach　at　the　loaf　of　bread　he　descended　the
stairs；　with　a　clattering　noise；　and　heard　her　voice　as　she　spoke
quickly　to　Kate　O'Brien。

〃Miss　Susan；〃　he　said；　〃don't　get　anything　for　me；　for　I'm　off。〃

〃Oh；　Mr。　Dunn；　I　am　so　sorry。　　You'll　be　so　hungry　on　your　journey；〃
and　she　came　out　to　him　in　the　passage。

〃I　shall　want　nothing　on　the　journey；　dearest；　if　you'll　say　one
kind　word　to　me。〃

Again　her　eyes　went　to　the　ground。　　〃What　do　you　want　me　to　say；　Mr。
Dunn？〃

〃Say；　God　bless　you；　Aaron。〃

〃God　bless　you；　Aaron；〃　said　she；　and　yet　she　was　sure　that　she　had
not　declared　her　love。　　He　however　thought　otherwise；　and　went　up　to
New　York　with　a　happy　heart。

Things　happened　in　the　next　fortnight　rather　quickly。　　Susan　at　once
resolved　to　tell　her　mother；　but　she　resolved　also　not　to　tell
Hetta。　　That　afternoon　she　got　her　mother　to　herself　in　Mrs。　Bell's
own　room；　and　then　she　made　a　clean　breast　of　it。

〃And　what　did　you　say　to　him；　Susan？〃

〃I　said　nothing；　mother。〃

〃Nothing；　dear！〃

〃No；　mother；　not　a　word。　　He　told　me　he　didn't　want　it。〃　　She　forgot
how　she　had　used　his　Christian　name　in　bidding　God　bless　him。

〃Oh　dear！〃　said　the　widow。

〃Was　it　very　wrong？〃　asked　Susan。

〃But　what　do　you　think　yourself；　my　child？〃　asked　Mrs。　Bell　after　a
while。　　〃What　are　your　own　feelings。〃

Mrs。　Bell　was　sitting　on　a　chair　and　Susan　was　standing　opposite　to
her　against　the　post　of　the　bed。　　She　made　no　answer；　but　moving
from　her　place；　she　threw　herself　into　her　mother's　arms；　and　hid
her　face　on　her　mother's　shoulder。　　It　was　easy　enough　to　guess　what
were　her　feelings。

〃But；　my　darling；〃　said　her　mother；　〃you　must　not　think　that　it　is
an　engagement。〃

〃No；〃　said　Susan；　sorrowfully。

〃Young　men　say　those　things　to　amuse　themselves。〃　　Wolves；　she　would
have　said；　had　she　spoken　out　her　mind　freely。

〃Oh；　mother；　he　is　not　like　that。〃

The　daughter　contrived　to　extract　a　promise　from　the　mother　that
Hetta　should　not　be　told　just　at　present。　　Mrs。　Bell　calculated　that
she　had　six　weeks　before　her；　as　yet　Mr。　Beckard　had　not　spoken　out；
but　there　was　reason　to　suppose　that　he　would　do　so　before　those　six
weeks　would　be　over；　and　then　she　would　be　able　to　seek　counsel　from
him。

Mr。　Beckard　spoke　out　at　the　end　of　six　days；　and　Hetta　frankly
accepted　him。　　〃I　hope　you'll　love　your　brother…in…law；〃　said　she　to
Susan。

〃Oh；　I　will　indeed；〃　said　Susan；　and　in　the　softness　of　her　heart　at
the　moment　she　almost　made　up　her　mind　to　tell；　but　Hetta　was　full
of　her　own　affairs；　and　thus　it　passed　off。

It　was　then　arranged　that　Hetta　should　go　and　spend　a　week　with　Mr。
Beckard's　parents。　　Old　Mr。　Beckard　was　a　farmer　living　near　Utica；
and　now　that　the　match　was　declared　and　approved；　it　was　thought
well　that　Hetta　should　know　her　future　husband's　family。　　So　she
went　for　a　week；　and　Mr。　Beckard　went　with　her。　　〃He　will　be　back　in
plenty　of　time　for　me　to　speak　to　him　before　Aaron　Dunn's　six　weeks
are　over；〃　said　Mrs。　Bell　to　herself。

But　things　did　not　go　exactly　as　she　expected。　　On　the　very　morning
after　the　departure　of　the　engaged　couple；　there　came　a　letter　from
Aaron；　saying　that　he　would　be　at　Saratoga　that　very　evening。　　The
railway　people　had　ordered　him　down　again　for　some　days'　special
work；　then　he　was　to　go　elsewhere；　and　not　to　return　to　Saratoga
till　June。　　〃But　he　hoped；〃　so　said　the　letter；　〃that　Mrs。　Bell
would　not　turn　him　into　the　street　even　then；　though　the　summer
might　have　come；　and　her　regular　lodgers　might　be　expected。〃

〃Oh　dear；　oh　dear！〃　said　Mrs。　Bell　to　herself；　reflecting　that　she
had　no　one　of　whom　she　could　ask　advice；　and　that　she　must　decide
that　very　day。　　Why　had　she　let　Mr。　Beckard　go　without　telling　him？
Then　she　told　Susan；　and　Susan　spent　the　day　trembling。　　Perhaps；
thought　Mrs。　Bell；　he　will　say　nothing　about　it。　　In　such　case；
however；　would　it　not　be　her　duty　to　say　something？　　Poor　mother！
She　trembled　nearly　as　much　as　Susan。

It　was　dark　when　the　fatal　knock　came　at　the　door。　　The　tea…things
were　already　laid；　and　the　tea…cake　was　already　baked；　for　it　would
at　any　rate　be　necessary　to　give　Mr。　Dunn　his　tea。　　Susan；　when　she
heard　the　knock；　rushed　from　her　chair　and　took　refuge　up　stairs。
The　widow　gave　a　long　sigh　and　settled　her　dress。　　Kate　O'Brien　with
willing　step　opened　the　door；　and　bade　her　old　friend　welcome。

〃How　are　the　ladies？〃　asked　Aaron；　trying　to　gather　something　from
the　face　and　voice　of　the　domestic。

〃Miss　Hetta　and　Mr。　Beckard　be　gone　off　to　Utica；　just　man…and…wife
like！　and　so　they　are；　more　power　to　them。〃

〃Oh　indeed；　I'm　very　glad；〃　said　Aaronand　so　he　was；　very　glad　to
have　Hetta　the　demure　out　of　the　way。　　And　then　he　made　his　way　into
the　parlour；　doubting　much；　and　hoping　much。

Mrs。　Bell　rose　from　her　chair；　and　tried　to　look　grave。　　Aaron
glancing　round　the　room　saw　that　Susan　was　not　there。　　He　walked
straight　up　to　the　widow；　and　offered　her　his　hand；　which　she　took。
It　might　be　that　Susan　had　not　thought　fit　to　tell；　and　in　such　case
it　would　not　be　right　for　him　to　compromise　her；　so　he　said　never　a
word。

But　the　subject　was　too　important　to　the　mother　to　allow　of　her
being　silent　when　the　young　man　stood　before　her。　　〃Oh；　Mr。　Dunn；〃
said　she；　〃what　is　this　you　have　been　saying　to　Susan？〃

〃I　have　asked　her　to　be　my　wife；〃　said　he；　drawing　himself　up　and
looking　her　full　in　the　face。　　Mrs。　Bell's　heart　was　almost　as　soft
as　her　daughter's；　and　it　was　nearly　gone；　but　at　the　moment　she　had
nothing　to　say　but；　〃Oh　dear；　oh　dear！〃

〃May　I　not　call　you　mother？〃　said　he；　taking　both　her　hands　in　his。

〃Oh　dearoh　dear！　　But　will　you　be　good　to　her？　　Oh；　Aaron　Dunn；　if
you　deceive　my　child！〃

In　another　quarter　of　an　hour；　Susan　was　kneeling　at　her　mother's
knee；　with　her　face　on　her　mother's　lap；　the　mother　was　wiping　tears
out　of　her　eyes；　and　Aaron　was　standing　by　holding　one　of　the
widow's　hands。

〃You　are　my　mother　too；　now；〃　said　he。　　What　would　Hetta　and　Mr。
Beckard　say；　when　they　came　back？　　But　then　he　surely　was　not　a
wolf！

There　were　four　or　five　days　left　for　courtship　before　Hetta　and　Mr。
Beckard　would　return；　four　or　five　days　during　which　Susan　might　be
happy；　Aaron　triumphant；　and　Mrs。　Bell　nervous。　　Days　I　have　said；
but　after　all　it　was　only　the　evenings　that　were　so　left。　　Every
morning　Susan　got　up　to　give　Aaron　his　breakfast；　but　Mrs。