put yourself in his place-第26部分

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〃Ay；　lad；〃　said　he；　〃and　they　are　all　swells；　I　promise　you。　There's　Miss　Laura　Craske。　　That's　the　mayor's　daughter。　　Lady　Betty　Tyrone。　　She's　a　visitor。　　Miss　Castleton！　　Her　father　is　the　county　member。〃

〃And　who　is　this　Mr。　Coventry？〃　asked　Henry。

〃Oh；　he　is　a　landed　gentleman；　but　spends　his　tin　in　Hillsborough；　and　you　can't　blame　him。　　Mr。　Coventry？　　Why；　that　is　Miss　Carden's　intended。〃

〃Her　intended！〃　gasped　Henry。

〃I　mean　her　beau。　　The　gentleman　she　is　going　to　marry；　they　say。〃

Henry　Little　turned　cold；　and　a　tremor　ran　through　him；　but　he　did　not　speak　a　word；　and；　with　Spartan　fortitude；　suppressed　all　outward　sign　of　emotion。　　He　laid　the　paper　down　patiently；　and　went　slowly　away。

Loyal　to　his　friend　even　in　this　bitter　moment；　he　called　at　Bayne's　place　and　left　word　with　the　landlady　that　Mr。　Bayne　was　not　wanted　at　the　works　any　more　that　day。

But　he　could　not　bear　to　talk　to　Bayne　about　his　plans。　　They　had　lost　their　relish。　　He　walked　listlessly　away；　and　thought　it　all　over。

For　the　first　time　he　saw　his　infatuation　clearly。　　Was　ever　folly　like　his？　　If　she　had　been　a　girl　in　humble　life；　would　he　not　have　asked　whether　she　had　a　sweetheart？　　Yet　he　must　go　and　give　his　heart　to　a　lady　without　inquiry。　　There；　where　wisdom　and　prudence　were　most　needed；　he　had　speculated　like　an　idiot。　　He　saw　it；　and　said　to　himself；　〃I　have　acted　like　a　boy　playing　at　pitch…farthing；　not　like　a　man　who　knew　the　value　of　his　heart。〃

And　so　he　passed　a　miserable　time；　bemoaning　the　treasure　that　was　now　quite　inaccessible　instead　of　nearly；　and　the　treasure　of　his　own　heart　he　had　thrown　away。

He　awoke　with　a　sense　of　misery　and　deep　depression；　and　could　not　eat；　and　that　was　a　novelty　in　his　young　and　healthy　life。　　He　drank　a　cup　of　tea；　however；　and　then　went　out；　to　avoid　his　mother's　tender　looks　of　anxious　inquiry。　　He　meant　to　tell　her　all　one　day；　but　to…day　he　was　not　strong　enough。　　He　must　wait　till　he　was　cured；　for　cured　he　must　be；　cured　he　would　be。

He　now　tried　to　give　his　mind　to　the　task　Amboyne　had　set　him；　but　it　was　too　hard：　he　gave　it　up；　with　rage　and　despair。

Then　he　made　a　desperate　resolve；　which　will　not　surprise　those　who　know　the　human　heart。　　He　would　harden　himself。　　He　would　see　more　of　Miss　Carden　than　ever；　only　it　should　be　in　quite　a　new　light。　He　would　look　at　her；　and　keep　saying　to　himself　all　the　time；　〃You　are　another　man's　wife。〃

With　this　determination；　he　called　at　〃Woodbine　Villa。〃

Miss　Carden　was　not　at　home。

〃Are　you　sure　she　is　not　at　home？〃

〃Not　at　home；〃　replied　the　man　stiffly。

〃But　you　needn't　to　keep　him　at　the　door；〃　said　a　mellow　female　voice。

〃No；　miss；〃　said　the　man；　with　a　sudden　change　of　manner；　for　he　was　a　desperate　and　forlorn　admirer　of　the　last　speaker。　　〃Come　in；　sir。〃　　And　he　ushered　him　in　to　Jael　Dence。　　She　was　in　her　bonnet；　and　just　going　out。　　They　shook　hands；　and　she　told　him　Miss　Carden　was　out　walking。

〃Walking　with　her　beau？〃　said　Henry；　affecting　a　jaunty　air；　but　sick　within。

〃That's　more　than　I　can　say；〃　replied　Jael。

〃You　know　nothing　about　it；　of　course；〃　said　Henry；　roughly。

Jael　looked　surprised　at　the　uncalled…for　tone；　and　turned　a　mild　glance　of　inquiry　and　reproach　upon　him。

The　young　man　was　ashamed　of　himself；　and　at　that　moment；　too；　he　remembered　he　had　already　been　rather　ungrateful　to　her。　　So；　to　make　amends；　he　said；　〃Didn't　I　promise　to　take　you　to　Cairnhope？〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Jael；　and　she　beamed　and　blushed　in　a　moment。

〃Well；　I　must　go　there；　Sunday　at　the　latest。　　So　I　will　come　for　you；　if　you　like。　　Will　you　be　ready　at　ten　o'clock？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I'll　bring　a　gig；　and　take　you　like　a　lady。〃

〃Anyway　you　please。　　I'd　as　lieve　walk　as　ride。〃

〃I　prefer　riding。　　Ten　o'clock；　the　day　after　to…morrow。　　Good…by。〃

And　he　hurried　away；　provoked；　not　pleased；　at　the　manifest　pleasure　he　had　given。　　The　woman　he　lovedinaccessible！　　The　woman　he　only　likedhe　could　spend　the　whole　day　with　her。　　So　the　reasonable　youth　was　cross　with　her　for　that；　and　for　being　so　pleased；　when　he　was　wretched。

That　feeling　soon　wore　off；　however；　and；　being　a　man　of　business；　he　wrote　a　line　to　Martha　Dence；　and　told　her　he　should　visit　her　on　Sunday。　　He　added；　with　a　gleam　of　good…humor；　〃and　look　out；　for　I　shall　bring　my　lass；〃　intending　to　give　them　all　an　agreeable　surprise；　for　Jael；　he　knew；　was　an　immense　favorite。

Next　day　he　went　on　the　hills　with　Billy；　and；　instead　of　thinking　for　the　benefit　of　his　enemies；　as　agreed　with　Amboyne；　he　set　himself　to　hate　every　body；　especially　Miss　Carden's　lover；　and　the　Hillsborough　Unions。　　The　grinders　and　file…cutters　might　die　like　sheep。　　What　did　he　care？　　As　much　as　they　cared　for　him。　　Dr。　Amboyne　was　too　good　for　this　world；　and　should　keep　his　money　to　himself。　　He　（Henry　Little）　would　earn　none　of　it；　would　take　none　of　it。　　What　invention　he　had　should　all　go　to　outwit　the　Trades；　and　turn　that　old　ruffian's　church　into　his　own　smithy。　　This　double　master…stroke；　by　which　he　was　to　defeat　one　enemy；　and　secretly　affront　another；　did　make　him　chuckle　one　or　twice；　not　with　joy；　but　with　bitterness。

He　awoke　in　a　similar　mood　next　morning：　but　there　was　eight　o'clock　service　near；　and　the　silver…toned　bell　awakened　better　thoughts。　He　dressed　hurriedly；　and　went　to　church。

He　came　back　sadder；　but　rather　less　hot；　less　bitter：　he　had　his　breakfast；　improved　his　toilet；　went　to　the　livery　stable；　and　drove　to　〃Woodbine　Villa。〃

Mr。　and　Miss　Carden　had　just　finished　breakfast；　when　he　drove　up　to　the　door。

〃Who　is　this？〃　said　Mr。　Carden。

〃What；　have　you　forgotten　Mr。　Little？〃

〃Indeed！　　Why；　how　he　is　dressed。　　I　took　him　for　a　gentleman。〃

〃You　were　not　very　far　wrong；　papa。　　He　is　a　gentleman　at　heart。〃

Jael　came　in　equipped　for　the　ride。　　She　was　neatly　dressed；　and　had　a　plain　shepherd's…plaid　shawl；　that　suited　her　noble　bust。　　She　looked　a　picture　of　health　and　happiness。

〃If　you　please；　miss；　he　is　come　to　take　me　to　Cairnhope。〃

〃Oh！　is　it　for　that？　　And　I　declare　you　expected　him；　too。〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Jael；　and　blushed。

〃You　never　told　me；〃　said　Grace；　with　a　light　touch　of　asperity。

〃I　didn't　feel　very　sure　he　would　keep　his　word。〃

〃Then　you　don't　know　him　as　well　as　I　do。〃

〃I　haven't　the　chance。　　He　speaks　a　deal　more　to　you　than　he　do　to　me。〃

〃Well；　Jael；　you　needn't　snub　me；　because　you　are　going　with　Mr。　Little。〃

As　a　bone；　put　between　two　friendly　dogs；　causes　a　growl；　so　when　a　handsome　young　man　enters　on　the　scene；　I　have　seen　young　women　lose　a　little　of　that　unmitigated　sweetness　which　marked　them　a　moment　before。

With　Grace；　however；　to　snap　and　to　repent　generally　followed　in　a　breath。　　〃I　hope　you　will　have　a　happy　day；　dear；　as　happy　as　you　deserve。〃　　She　then　went　to　kiss　her；　but　gave　her　cheek；　instead　of　her　lips。　　〃There；〃　said　she；　in　rather　a　flurried　way；　〃don't　keep　Mr。　Little　waiting。〃

Just　as　they　drove　off；　Grace　came　to　the　window；　after　a　slight　irresolution；　and　kissed　her　hand　to　them　enchantingly；　at　which　a　sudden　flood　of　rapture　rushed　through　Little's　heart；　and　flushed　his　cheek；　and　fired　his　dark　eye；　Grace　caught　its　flash　full　in　hers；　and　instinctively　retired　a　step。　　They　were　off。

〃How　bright　and　happy　they　look；〃　said　she　to　her　father。　　And　no　wonder。

She　sat　down；　and；　somehow；　she　felt　singularly　dull　and　lonely。

Then　she　dressed　for　church；　languidly。　　Then　she　went　to　church。　By…and…by　she　came　back　from　church。

Then　she　sat　down；　in　her　bonnet；　and　felt　alone　in　the　world；　and　sad；　and　at　last　she　found　herself　quietly　crying；　as　young　ladies　will　sometimes；　without　any　visible　cause。

Then　she　asked　herself　what　on　earth　she　was　crying　about；　and　herself　told　her　she　was　a　little　hysterical　fool；　and　wanted　a　good　beating。

Then　she　plucked　up　spirit；　and　dried　her　eyes。　　Then　she　took　to　yawning；　and　said　Sunday　was　a　dull　day；　and　life　itself　rather　a　wearisome　thing。

Then　a　servant　came　to　inquire　if　she　was　at　home。

〃What；　on　Sunday？　　Of　course　not。　　Who　is　it？〃

〃Mr。　Coventry；　miss。〃

〃I　am　at　home。〃


CHAPTER　X。


People　that　met　Jael　Dence　and　Henry　Little　driving　to　Cairnhope　were　struck　with　their　faces；　his　so　dark；　hers　so　fair；　and　both　so　handsome：　but　the　woman's　lit　up　with　lively　delight；　the　man's　clouded　and　sorrowful；　and　his　brow　knit　with　care。　　This　very　day　he　must　take　the　lock　off　Cairnhope　old　church；　in　spite　of　his　Uncle　Raby。　　He　had　got　the　requisite　tools　with　him　hidden　in　the　gig；　but；　even　should　he　succeed；　it　was　but　the　first　step　of　a　difficult　and；　perhaps；　dangerous　enterprise；　and　he　was　entering　on　it　all　with　a　heart　no　longer　buoyed　by　hopeful　love。　　But　for　his　pledge　to　Mr。　Cheetham　he　could　hardly　have　persisted　in　the　struggle。

As　for　Jael　Dence；　she　had　no　great　reason　to　be　happy　either：　the　man　she　loved　loved　another。　　Still　he　was　kind　to　HER；　and　they　belonged　to　the　same　class；　she　had　a　chance；　and　gleams　of　hope。　And；　after　all；　the　future　was　uncertain；　but　the　present　certain：　she　had　him　to　herself　for　the　day。　　She　was　close　to　himso　close；　that　she　could　feel　himand　he　was　driving　her　out；　and　to　those　who　loved　her：　she　basked　in　the　present　delight；　and　looked　as　if　she　was　being　taken　to　heaven　by　an　angel；　instead　of　driving　to　Cairnhope　by　a　gloomy　young　man；　whom　the　passers…by　envied；　and　wondered　at　his　good　luck　in　having　such　a　companion。　　She　talked　to　him；　and　got　the　short　answers　of　an　absent　man。　　But　she　continued　to　make　her　little　remarks　occasionally；　and；　ere　they　reached　Cairnhope；　he　found　himself　somehow　soothed　by　her　sex；　her　beauty；　and　her　mellow；　kindly　voice。

As　they　drove　up　to　the　farm…house；　he　told　her　to　hide　her　face　a　moment；　for　they　didn't　know　who　it　was。

Martha　ran　out。　　〃Y'are　welcome；　y'are　welcome；　and　so　is　your　Eh！　　Why　it's　our　Jael。　　'Tis　no　avail　to　hide　thy　face；　thou　jade；　I　know　every　bit　o'　thee。〃　　And　Patty　had　her　out　of　the　gig　in　a　moment；　and　there　was　a　cuddling　match　it　did　one　good　to　see。

Henry　perked　up　for　a　moment　and　offered　a　suggestion。　　〃Some　of　that　ought　to　come　my　way；　for　bringing　her　here。〃

〃Oh；　you'll　get　enough　o'　that　fun　befor