a ride across palestine-第9部分

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by　you；　he　knew　nothing　of　my　secret。　　Nor　would　he　have　known　it；〃
she　added；　looking　down　upon　the　ground。　　As　to　that　latter
assertion；　I　was　at　liberty　to　believe　as　much　as　I　pleased。

The　Pole　now　came　to　the　door；　informing　us　that　any　who　wished　to
start　by　the　packet　must　go　on　board；　and　therefore；　as　the
unreasonable　old　gentleman　perceived；　it　was　necessary　that　we
should　all　make　our　arrangements。　　I　cannot　say　that　they　were　such
as　enable　me　to　look　back　on　them　with　satisfaction。　　He　did　seem
now　at　last　to　believe　that　I　had　been　an　unconscious　agent　in　his
niece's　stratagem；　but　he　hardly　on　that　account　became　civil　to　me。
〃It　was　absolutely　necessary；〃　he　said；　〃that　he　and　that
unfortunate　young　woman；〃　as　he　would　call　her；　〃should　depart　at
once；by　this　ship　now　going。〃　　To　this　proposition　of　course　I
made　no　opposition。　　〃And　you；　Mr。　Jones；〃　he　continued；　〃will　at
once　perceive　that　you；　as　a　gentleman；　should　allow　us　to　proceed
on　our　journey　without　the　honour　of　your　company。〃

This　was　very　dreadful；　but　what　could　I　say；　or；　indeed；　what　could
I　do？　　My　most　earnest　desire　in　the　matter　was　to　save　Miss　Weston
from　annoyance；　and　under　existing　circumstances　my　presence　on
board　could　not　but　be　a　burden　to　her。　　And　then；　if　I　went；if　I
did　go；　in　opposition　to　the　wishes　of　the　baronet；　could　I　trust　my
own　prudence？　　It　was　better　for　all　parties　that　I　should　remain。

〃Sir　William；〃　said　I；　after　a　minute's　consideration；　〃if　you　will
apologise　to　me　for　the　gross　insults　you　have　offered　me；　it　shall
be　as　you　say。〃

〃Mr。　Jones；〃　said　Sir　William；　〃I　do　apologise　for　the　words　which　I
used　to　you　while　I　was　labouring　under　a　very　natural　misconception
of　the　circumstances。〃　　I　do　not　know　that　I　was　much　the　better　for
the　apology；　but　at　the　moment　I　regarded　it　sufficient。

Their　things　were　then　hurried　down　to　the　strand；　and　I　accompanied
them　to　the　ruined　quay。　　I　took　off　my　hat　to　Sir　William　as　he　was
first　let　down　into　the　boat。　　He　descended　first；　so　that　he　might
receive　his　niece；for　all　Jaffa　now　knew　that　it　was　a　lady；and
then　I　gave　her　my　hand　for　the　last　time。　　〃God　bless　you；　Miss
Weston；〃　I　said；　pressing　it　closely。　　〃God　bless　you；　Mr。　Jones；〃
she　replied。　　And　from　that　day　to　this　I　have　neither　spoken　to　her
nor　seen　her。

I　waited　a　fortnight　at　Jaffa　for　the　French　boat；　eating　cutlets　of
goat's　flesh；　and　wandering　among　the　orange　groves。　　I　certainly
look　back　on　that　fortnight　as　the　most　miserable　period　of　my　life。
I　had　been　deceived；　and　had　failed　to　discover　the　deceit；　even
though　the　deceiver　had　perhaps　wished　that　I　should　do　so。　　For
that　blindness　I　have　never　forgiven　myself。







End