dream life and real life-第5部分

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The　woman　sat　at　her　desk　writing；　behind　her　the　fire　burnt　brightly。　　She

was　writing　a　leading　article　on　the　causes　which　in　differing　peoples　lead

to　the　adoption　of　Free　Trade　or　Protectionist　principles。



The　woman　wrote　on　quickly。　　After　a　while　the　servant　entered　and　laid　a

pile　of　letters　on　the　table。　　〃Tell　the　boy　I　shall　have　done　in　fifteen

minutes。〃　　She　wrote　on。　　Then　she　caught　sight　of　the　writing　on　one　of

the　letters。　　She　put　down　her　pen；　and　opened　it。　　It　ran　so：



〃Dear　Friend；I　am　writing　to　you；　because　I　know　you　will　rejoice　to　hear

of　my　great　happiness。　　Do　you　remember　how　you　told　me　that　day　by　the

fire　to　wait；　and　after　long；　long　years　I　should　see　that　all　was　for　the

best？　　That　time　has　come　sooner　than　we　hoped。　　Last　week　in　Rome　I　was

married　to　the　best；　noblest；　most　large…hearted　of　men。　　We　are　now　in

Florence　together。　　You　don't　know　how　beautiful　all　life　is　to　me。　　I　know

now　that　the　old　passion　was　only　a　girl's　foolish　dream。　　My　husband　is

the　first　man　I　have　ever　truly　loved。　　He　loves　me　and　understands　me　as

no　other　man　ever　could。　　I　am　thankful　that　my　dream　was　broken；　God　had

better　things　in　store　for　me。　　I　don't　hate　that　woman　any　more；　I　love

every　one！　　How　are　you；　dear？　　We　shall　come　and　see　you　as　soon　as　we

arrive　in　England。　　I　always　think　of　you　so　happy　in　your　great　work　and

helping　other　people。　　I　don't　think　now　it　is　terrible　to　be　a　woman；　it

is　lovely。



〃I　hope　you　are　enjoying　this　beautiful　spring　weather。



〃Yours；　always　full　of　gratitude　and　love；



〃E。〃



The　woman　read　the　letter：　　then　she　stood　up　and　walked　towards　the　fire。

She　did　not　re…read　it；　but　stood　with　it　open　in　her　hand；　looking　down

into　the　blaze。　　Her　lips　were　drawn　in　at　the　corners。　　Presently　she　tore

the　letter　up　slowly；　and　watched　the　bits　floating　down　one　by　one　into

the　grate。　　Then　she　went　back　to　her　desk；　and　began　to　write；　with　her

mouth　still　drawn　in　at　the　corners。　　After　a　while　she　laid　her　arm　on　the

paper　and　her　head　on　her　arm；　and　seemed　to　go　to　sleep　there。



Presently　the　servant　knocked；　the　boy　was　waiting。　　〃Tell　him　to　wait　ten

minutes　more。〃　　She　took　up　her　pen〃The　Policy　of　the　Australian　Colonies

in　favour　of　Protection　is　easily　understood〃　she　waited〃when　one

considers　the　factthe　fact；〃　then　she　finished　the　article。



Cape　Town；

South　Africa；　1892。











End