a phyllis of the sierras-第18部分

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Them's　my　darter's　own　words；　Sir　Robert；　and　when　I　tell　yer　that

she's　got　a　million　o'　dollars　to　back　them；　ye'll　know　she　means

business；　every　time。〃



〃Did　Francis　know　that　you　were　coming　here？〃



〃Bless　ye；　no！　he　don't　know　that　she　would　have　him。　　Ef　it　kem　to

that；　he　ain't　even　asked　her！　　She　wouldn't　let　him　until　she　was

sure　of　YOU。〃



〃Then　you　mean　to　say　there　is　no　engagement？〃



〃In　course　not。　　I　reckoned　to　do　the　square　thing　first　with　ye。〃



The　halting　step　of　the　Baronet　crossing　the　room　was　heard

distinctly。　　He　had　stopped　beside　Sharpe。　　〃My　dear　Mr。　Sharpe；〃

he　said；　in　a　troubled　voice；　〃I　cannot　permit　this　sacrifice。　　It

is　tootoo　great！〃



〃Then；〃　said　Sharpe'　s　voice　querulously；　〃I'm　afraid　we　must　do

without　your　permission。　　I　didn't　reckon　to　find　a　sort　o'　British

Jim　Bradley　in　you。　　If　YOU　can't　permit　my　darter　to　sacrifice

herself　by　marryin'　your　son；　I　can't　permit　her　to　sacrifice　her

love　and　him　by　NOT　marryin'　him。　　So　I　reckon　this　yer　interview

is　over。〃



〃I　am　afraid　we　are　both　old　fools；　Mr。　Sharpe；　butwe　will　talk

this　over　with　Lady　Mainwaring。　　Come〃　　There　was　evidently　a

slight　struggle　near　the　chair　over　some　inanimate　object。　　But　the

next　moment　the　Baronet's　voice　rose；　persuasively；　〃Really；　I　must

insist　upon　relieving　you　of　your　bag　and　umbrella。〃



〃Well；　if　you'll　let　me　telegraph　'yes'　to　Minty；　I　don't　care　if

yer　do。〃



When　the　room　was　quiet　again；　Lady　Canterbridge　and　James　Bradley

silently　slipped　from　the　curtain；　and；　without　a　word；　separated

at　the　door。





There　was　a　merry　Christmas　at　Oldenhurst　and　at　Nice。　　But　whether

Minty's　loving　sacrifice　was　accepted　or　not；　or　whether　she　ever

reigned　as　Lady　Mainwaring；　or　lived　an　untitled　widow；　I　cannot

say。　　But　as　Oldenhurst　still　exists　in　all　its　pride　and　power；　it

is　presumed　that　the　peril　that　threatened　its　fortunes　was

averted；　and　that　if　another　heroine　was　not　found　worthy　of　a

frame　in　its　picture…gallery；　at　least　it　had　been　sustained　as　of

old　by　devotion　and　renunciation。











End