put yourself in his place-第14部分

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he　top　of　Cairnhope　Peak；　and　inhale　the　glorious　breeze；　and　look　over　four　counties。　　Write　to　your　mother　at　night；　and；　meantime；　I'll　do　my　best　to　relieve　her　anxiety。　Good…by。〃


Memory　sometimes　acts　like　an　old　flint…gun：　it　hangs　fire；　yet　ends　by　going　off。　　While　Dr。　Amboyne　was　driving　home；　the　swarthy；　but　handsome；　features　of　the　workman　he　had　befriended　seemed　to　enter　his　mind　more　deeply　than　during　the　hurry；　and　be　said　to　himself；　〃Jet　black　hair；　great　black　eyes；　and　olive　skin；　they　are　rare　in　these　parts；　and；　somehow；　they　remind　me　a　little　of　HER。〃

Then　his　mind　went　back；　in　a　moment；　over　many　years；　to　the　days　when　he　was　stalwart；　but　not　unwieldy；　and　loved　a　dark　but　peerless　beauty；　loved　her　deeply；　and　told　his　love；　and　was　esteemed　and　pitied；　but　another　was　beloved。

And　so　sad；　yet　absorbing；　was　the　retrospect　of　his　love；　his　sorrow；　and　her　own　unhappy　lot；　that　it　blotted　out　of　his　mind；　for　a　time；　the　very　youth　whose　features　and　complexion　had　launched　him　into　the　past。

But　the　moment　his　horse's　feet　rang　on　the　stones；　this　burly　philosopher　shook　off　the　past；　and　set　himself　to　recover　lost　time。　　He　drove　rapidly　to　several　patients；　and；　at　six　o'clock；　was　at　13　Chettle　Street；　and　asked　for　the　lady　on　the　second　floor；　〃Yes；　sir：　she　is　at　home；〃　was　the　reply。　　〃But　I　don't　know；　she　lives　very　retired。　　She　hasn't　received　any　visits　since　they　came。　　However；　they　rent　the　whole　floor；　and　the　sitting…room　fronts　you。〃

Dr。　Amboyne　mounted　the　stair　and　knocked　at　the　door。　　A　soft　and　mellow　voice　bade　him　enter。　　He　went　in；　and　a　tall　lady　in　black；　with　plain　linen　collar　and　wristbands；　rose　to　receive　him。　　They　confronted　each　other。　　Time　and　trouble　had　left　their　trace；　but　there　were　the　glorious　eyes；　and　jet　black　hair；　and　the　face；　worn　and　pensive；　but　still　beautiful。　　It　was　the　woman　he　had　loved；　the　only　one。

〃Mrs。　Little！〃　said　he；　in　an　indescribable　tone。

〃Dr。　Amboyne！〃

For　a　few　moments　he　forgot　the　task　he　had　undertaken；　and　could　only　express　his　astonishment　and　pleasure　at　seeing　her　once　more。

Then　he　remembered　why　he　was　there；　and　the　office　he　had　undertaken　so　lightly　alarmed　him　now。

His　first　instinct　was　to　gain　time。　　Accordingly；　he　began　to　chide　her　gently　for　having　resided　in　the　town　and　concealed　it　from　him；　then；　seeing　her　confused　and　uncomfortable　at　that　reproach；　and　in　the　mood　to　be　relieved　by　any　change　of　topic；　he　glided　off；　with　no　little　address；　as　follows：〃Observe　the　consequences：　here　have　I　been　most　despotically　rusticating　a　youth　who　turns　out　to　be　your　son。〃

〃My　son！　is　there　any　thing　the　matter　with　my　son？　　Oh；　Dr。　Amboyne！〃

〃He　must　have　been　out　of　sorts；　you　know；　or　he　would　not　have　consulted　me；〃　replied　the　doctor；　affecting　candor。

〃Consult！　　Why；　what　has　happened？　　He　was　quite　well　when　he　left　me　this　morning。〃

〃I　doubt　that。　　He　complained　of　headache　and　fever。　　But　I　soon　found　his　MIND　was　worried。　　A　misunderstanding　with　the　trades！　　I　was　very　much　pleased　with　his　face　and　manner；　my　carriage　was　at　the　door；　his　pulse　was　high；　but　there　was　nothing　that　country　air　and　quiet　will　not　restore。　　So　I　just　drove　him　away；　and　landed　him　in　a　farm…house。〃

Mrs。　Little's　brow　flushed　at　this。　　She　was　angry。　　But；　in　a　nature　so　gentle　as　hers；　anger　soon　gave　way。　　She　turned　a　glance　of　tearful　and　eloquent　reproach　on　Dr。　Amboyne。　　〃The　first　time　we　have　ever　been　separated　since　he　was　born；〃　said　she；　with　a　sigh。

Dr。　Amboyne's　preconceived　plan　broke　down　that　moment。　　He　said；　hurriedly；

〃Take　my　carriage；　and　drive　to　him。　　Better　do　that　than　torment　yourself。〃

〃Where　is　he？〃　asked　the　widow；　brightening　up　at　the　proposal。

〃At　Cairnhope。〃

At　this　word；　Mrs。　Little's　face　betrayed　a　series　of　emotions：　first　confusion；　then　astonishment；　and　at　last　a　sort　of　superstitious　alarm。　　〃At　Cairnhope？〃　she　faltered　at　last；　〃My　son　at　Cairnhope？〃

〃Pray　do　not　torment　yourself　with　fancies；〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃All　this　is　the　merest　accidentthe　simplest　thing　in　the　world。　　I　cured　Patty　Dence　of　diphtheria；　when　it　decimated　the　village。　　She　and　her　family　are　grateful；　the　air　of　Cairnhope　has　a　magic　effect　on　people　who　live　in　smoke；　and　Martha　and　Jael　let　me　send　them　out　an　invalid　now　and　then　to　be　reinvigorated。　　I　took　this　young　man　there；　not　knowing　who　he　was。　　Go　to　him；　if　you　like。　　But；　frankly；　as　his　physician；　I　would　rather　you　did　not。　　Never　do　a　wise　thing　by　halves。　　He　ought　to　be　entirely　separated　from　all　his　cares；　even　from　yourself　（who　are　doubtless　one　of　them）；　for　five　or　six　days。　　He　needs　no　other　medicine　but　that　and　the　fine　air　of　Cairnhope。〃

〃Then　somebody　must　see　him　every　day；　and　tell　me。　　Oh！　Dr。　Amboyne；　this　is　the　beginning：　what　will　the　end　be？　　I　am　miserable。〃

〃My　man　shall　ride　there　every　day；　and　see　him；　and　bring　you　back　a　letter　from　him。〃

〃Your　man！〃　said　Mrs。　Little；　a　little　haughtily。

Dr。　Amboyne　met　her　glance。　　〃If　there　was　any　ground　for　alarm；　should　I　not　go　myself　every　day？〃　said　he；　gravely；　and　even　tenderly。

〃Forgive　me；〃　said　the　widow；　and　gave　him　her　hand　with　a　sweet　and　womanly　gesture。

The　main　difficulty　was　now　got　over；　and　Dr。　Amboyne　was　careful　not　to　say　too　much；　for　he　knew　that　his　tongue　moved　among　pitfalls。

As　Dr。　Amboyne　descended　the　stairs；　the　landlady　held　a　door　ajar；　and　peeped　at　him；　according　to　a　custom　of　such　delicate…minded　females　as　can　neither　restrain　their　curiosity　nor　indulge　it　openly。　　Dr。　Amboyne　beckoned　to　her；　and　asked　for　a　private　interview。　　This　was　promptly　accorded。

〃Would　ten　guineas　be　of　any　service　to　you；　madam？〃

〃Eh；　dear；　that　it　would；　sir。　　Why；　my　rent　is　just　coming　due。〃

Under　these　circumstances；　the　bargain　was　soon　struck。　　Not　a　syllable　about　the　explosion　at　Cheetham's　was　to　reach　the　second　floor　lodger's　ears；　and　no　Hillsborough　journal　was　to　mount　the　stairs　until　the　young　man's　return。　　If　inquired　for；　they　were　to　be　reported　all　sold　out；　and　a　London　journal　purchased　instead。

Having　secured　a　keen　and　watchful　ally　in　this　good　woman；　who；　to　do　her　justice；　showed　a　hearty　determination　to　earn　her　ten　guineas；　Dr。　Amboyne　returned　home；　his　own　philosophic　pulse　beating　faster　than　it　had　done　for　some　years。

He　had　left　Mrs。　Little　grateful；　and；　apparently；　in　good　spirits；　but；　ere　he　had　been　gone　an　hour；　the　bare　separation　from　her　son　overpowered　her；　and　a　host　of　vague　misgivings　tortured　her；　and　she　slept　but　little　that　night。　　By　noon　next　day　she　was　thoroughly　miserable；　but　Dr。　Amboyne's　man　rode　up　to　the　door　in　the　afternoon　with　a　cheerful　line　from　Henry。


〃All　right；　dear　mother。　　Better　already。　　Letter　by　post。

〃Henry。〃


She　detained　the　man；　and　made　up　a　packet　of　things　for　Cairnhope；　and　gave　him　five　shillings　to　be　sure　and　take　them。

This　was　followed　by　a　correspondence；　a　portion　of　which　will　suffice　to　eke　out　the　narrative。


〃DEAREST　MOTHER；I　slept　ill　last　night；　and　got　up　aching　from　head　to　foot；　as　if　I　had　been　well　hided。　　But　they　sent　me　to　the　top　of　Cairnhope　Peak；　and；　what　with　the　keen　air　and　the　glorious　view；　I　came　home　and　ate　like　a　hog。　　That　pleased　Martha　Dence；　and　she　kept　putting　me　slices　off　her　own　plate；　till　I　had　to　cry　quarter。　　As　soon　as　I　have　addressed　this　letter；　I'm　off　to　bed；　for　it　is　all　I　can　do　not　to　fall　asleep　sitting。

〃I　am　safe　to　be　all　right　to…morrow；　so　pray　don't　fret。　　I　am；　dear　mother；〃　etc。；　etc。


〃DEAREST　MOTHER；I　hope　you　are　not　fretting　about　me。　　Dr。　Amboyne　promised　to　stop　all　that。　　But　do　write；　and　say　you　are　not　fretting　and　fancying　all　manner　of　things　at　my　cutting　away　so　suddenly。　　It　was　the　doctor's　doing。　　And；　mother；　I　shall　not　stay　long　away　from　you；　for　I　slept　twelve　hours　at　a　stretch　last　night；　and　now　I'm　another　man。　　But　really；　I　think　the　air　of　that　Cairnhope　Peak　would　cure　a　fellow　at　his　last　gasp。

〃Thank　you　for　the　linen；　and　the　brushes；　and　things。　　But　you　are　not　the　sort　to　forget　anything　a　fellow　might　want；〃　etc。


〃No；　my　darling　son。　　Be　in　no　hurry　to　leave　Cairnhope。　　Of　course；　love；　I　was　alarmed　at　first；　for　I　know　doctors　make　the　best　of　every　thing；　and　then　the　first　parting！that　is　always　a　sorrowful　thing。　　But；　now　you　are　there；　I　beg　you　will　stay　till　you　are　quite　recovered。　　Your　letters　are　a　delight；　and　one　I　could　not　have；　and　you　as　well；　you　know。

〃Since　you　are　at　Cairnhopehow　strange　that　seemspray　go　and　see　the　old　church；　where　your　forefathers　are　buried。　　There　are　curious　inscriptions；　and　some　brasses　nobody　could　decipher　when　I　was　a　girl；　but　perhaps　you　might；　you　are　so　clever。　　Your　grandfather's　monument　is　in　the　chancel：　I　want　you　to　see　it。　　Am　I　getting　very　old；　that　my　heart　turns　back　to　these　scenes　of　my　youth？

〃P。S。Who　is　this　Martha　Dence？〃


〃DEAR　MOTHER；Martha　Dence　is　the　farmer's　daughter　I　lodge　with。　She　is　not　so　pretty　as　her　sister　Jael　that　is　with　Miss　Carden；　but　she　is　a　comely　girl；　and　as　good　as　gold；　and　bespoke　by　the　butcher。　　And　her　putting　slices　from　her　plate　to　mine　is　a　village　custom；　I　find。

〃Mother；　the　people　here　are　wonderfully　good　and　simple。　　First　of　all；　there's　farmer　Dence；　with　his　high　bald　head；　like　a　patriarch　of　old；　and　he　sits　and　beams　with　benevolence；　but　does　not　talk　much。　　But　he　lets　me　see　I　can　stay　with　him　six　years；　if　I　choose。　　Then；　there's　Martha；　hospitality　itself；　and　ready　to　fly　at　my　enemies　like　a　mastiff。　　She　is　a　little　hot　in　the　temper；　feathers　up　in　a　moment；　but；　at　a　soft　word；　they　go　down　again　as　quick。　　Then；　there's　the　village　blacksmith。　　I　call　him　'The　gentle　giant。'　　He　is　a　tremendous　fellow　in　height；　and　size；　and　sinew；　but　such　a　kind；　sweet…tempered　chap。　　He　could　knock　down　an　ox；　yet　he　wouldn't　harm　a　fly。　　I　am　his　idol：　I　sauntered　in　to　his　smithy；　and　forged　him　one　or　two　knives；　and　of　course　he　had　never　seen　the　hammer　used　with　that　nicety；　but　instead　of　hating　me；　as　the　bad　forgers　in　Hillsborough　do；　he　regularly　worships　me；　and　comes　blushing　up　to　the　farm…house　after