put yourself in his place-第27部分

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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　before　you　die；〃　said　Patty。　〃Now　come　you　in；　the　carter's　boy　will　take　the　horse。〃

They　went　in　and　greeted　the　old　farmer；　and　soon　the　bell　began　to　ring　for　church；　and　Nathan　Dence　told　Martha　to　put　on　her　bonnet。

〃La；　father！〃　said　she；　piteously。

〃She　prefers　to　stay　at　home　and　chat　with　Jael；〃　said　Henry。　　The　fact　is；　he　wanted　to　be　rid　of　them　both。

Old　Dence　shook　his　head。　　He　was　one　of　those　simple；　grand；　old　rustic　Christians；　who　have　somehow　picked　out　the　marrow　of　religion；　and　left　the　devil　the　bone；　yclept　theology。　　〃What？〃　said　he；　〃my　lasses！　can't　ye　spare　God　a　slice　out　of　his　own　day？〃

〃Nay；　it　is　not　that；　father。〃

The　old　man　continued　his　remonstrance。　　〃To　be　sure　our　Jael　is　a　cordial。　　But　she'll　dine　and　sup　with　us。　　Take　my　word　for　't；　all　lawful　pleasures　are　sweeter　on　the　Lord's　day　after　a　bit　o'　church。〃

〃And　so　they　are；　father；　but　dear　heart！　to　think　of　you　forgetting。　　Will　nobody　tell　him？　　They're　sworn　to　give　me　a　red　face；　Jael　and　all。〃

This　piteous　appeal　set　Jael's　wits　working。　　〃Eh；　father；　it　will　be　the　first　of　her　bans！〃

〃Is　it　me　you　are　asking　such　a　question？〃　cried　Patty；　and　turned　her　head　away　with　absurd　mock…modesty。

〃And　so　'tis；〃　said　Dence；　〃ah；　that　is　a　different　thing。〃

Henry　thought　that　was　no　reason　for　Patty's　staying　at　home；　she　ought　rather　to　go　and　hear　the　bans　were　cried　all　right。

At　this　proposal　both　sisters　lifted　up　their　hands；　and　he　was　remonstrated　with；　and　lectured；　and　at　last　informed　that；　if　a　girl　was　in　church　when　her　bans　were　cried；　her　children　would　be　all　born　deaf　and　dumb。

〃Oh；　indeed！〃　said　Little；　satirically。　　〃That's　a　fact　in　natural　history　I　was　not　aware　of。　　Well；　farmer；　then　let's　you　and　I　go　by　ourselves。〃

So　Patty　stayed　at　home；　in　obedience　to　rural　superstition；　and　Jael　stayed　to　keep　her　company；　and　Farmer　Dence　went　to　church　out　of　piety；　and　as　for　Henry；　to　tell　the　truth；　he　went　to　church　to　escape　the　girls'　tongues；　and　to　be　in　a　quiet；　somniferous　place；　where　he　could　think　out　his　plans　undisturbed。

The　men　were　no　sooner　gone　than　the　sisters　began　to　gossip　hard。

〃Eh；　Jael；　thou's　gotten　a　prize。〃

〃Not　as　I　know　of。〃

〃I　do　adore　a　dark　young　man。〃

〃So　do　I；　but　this　one　is　not　mine。〃

〃I'll　take　his　word　before　thine。　　Why；　he　calls　thee　his　lass　in　his　very　letter。〃

〃Not　he。　　Show　me　his　letter。〃

〃What　will　ye　give　me？〃

〃Nay；　Patty；　pray　show　it　me。〃

〃Well；　and　so　I　will。〃

She　brought　her　the　letter。　　Jael　read　it　and　changed　color；　and　was　delighted　for　a　moment　or　two；　but　soon　her　good　sense　and　humility　prevailed。　　〃'Twas　to　surprise　you；　like。　　I　do　know　he　looks　higher　than　me。〃

〃More　fool　he。　　But　I　don't　believe　it。〃

〃You　may；〃　said　Jael；　and　turned　the　conversation　to　Patty's　approaching　marriage；　once　launched　in　that　direction；　it　flowed　without　intermission　till　the　men　returned；　and　dinner　smoked　upon　the　board。

After　dinner　Henry　watched　an　opportunity；　and　slipped　out　into　the　yard；　got　the　tools　out；　put　his　great…coat　over　them；　and　away　to　Cairnhope　Church。　　He　knew　better　than　go　past　Raby　Hall　to　it：　he　went　back　toward　Hillsborough；　full　three　miles；　and　then　turned　off　the　road　and　got　on　the　heather。　　He　skirted　the　base　of　a　heathery　mound；　and　at　last　saw　the　church　on　an　elevation　before　him；　made　for　it　incautiously　over　some　boggy　ground；　and　sank　in　up　to　his　waist。

He　extricated　himself　with　considerable　difficulty；　and　cast　a　woful　look　at　his　clothes。

Then　he　turned　to；　and　piled　up　a　heap　of　stones　to　mark　the　dangerous　spot；　for　he　foresaw　he　must　often　travel　that　way　in　all　weathers。　　At　last　he　reached　the　church；　removed　the　lock；　and　fastened　the　door　with　screws。　　He　then　went　back　to　the　farm　as　fast　as　he　could。　　But　all　this　had　taken　a　long　time；　and　the　sun　was　sinking　as　he　got　into　the　yard。　　He　was　in　the　very　act　of　concealing　the　lock　in　the　gig；　when　Martha　Dence　came　out　at　him；　as　red　as　a　turkey…cock。

〃You　thought　but　little　of　my　sister；　young　man；　to　leave　her　all　these　hours；　and　you　come　out　to　spend　the　day　with　her。〃

〃Stuff　and　nonsense！　　I　came　out　on　my　own　business。〃

〃So　it　seems。　　And　it　have　taken　you　into　worse　company。　　A　fine　figure　she　has　made　you。〃

〃Who？〃

〃The　hussy　you　have　been　after　this　while。〃

〃That's　so　like　you　girls。　　You　think　a　man　has　nothing　to　do　but　to　run　after　women。〃

〃What　business　can　you　have　on　the　Sabbath…day；　I'd　like　to　know。〃

〃Would　you？　　Well；　I'll　tell　youwhen　I　tell　the　bellman。〃

〃You　are　quite　right；　Mr。　Little。　　Trust　none　but　your　friends。〃

This　was　a　bitter　remark。　　Henry　could　not　reply　to　it；　and　that　moved　his　bile。　　Patty　pursued　her　advantage；　and　let　him　know　that；　when　a　young　man　brought　a　young　woman　out　for　the　day；　he　did　not　leave　her　for　three　hours　at　a　stretch；　unless　he　meant　to　affront　her。　　She　raised　her　voice　in　saying　this；　and　so　did　he　in　replying；　〃Tell　you　I　came　out　on　my　own　business；　not　Jael's；　but　I　am　a　good…natured　fellow；　considering　all　I　endure；　so　I　took　that　opportunity　to　bring　your　sister　out　to　see　you。　　Could　I　guess　you　two　couldn't　make　yourselves　happy　for　one　afternoon　without　flirting？　　So　much　for　sisterly　affection！　　Well；　next　time　I'll　come　aloneif　I　come　at　all。〃

Jael　came　out　at　the　raised　voices；　and　received　this　last　sentence　full　in　the　face。　　She　turned　pale。

〃Oh；　Patty；　Patty；　what　have　you　been　saying？〃

〃I've　been　speaking　my　mind；　that　is　all。〃

〃Ay；　and　you've　made　him　say　the　only　unkind　word　I　ever　heard　from　his　lips。〃

〃I'm　very　sorry；　Jael；〃　said　the　young　man；　penitently。

〃Oh；　then　I'm　to　blame；　because　he　is　so　ill…tempered。〃　　And　Patty　bridled。

〃Partly。　　You　should　not　interfere　between　friends。〃　　Having　delivered　this　admonition；　Jael　softened　it　by　kissing　her；　and　whispered；　〃Father's　asking　for　his　tea。〃

Patty　went　in　as　meek　as　Moses。

Then　Jael　turned　to　Henry；　and　laid　her　hand　on　his　arm；　while　her　gray　eyes　searched　his　face。

〃There's　something　amiss。　　You　are　never　cross；　except　when　you　are　unhappy。　　What　is　it？〃

〃Oh；　Jael；　my　heart　is　broken。　　She　is　going　to　be　married。〃

〃Who　says　so？〃

〃Mr。　Cheetham　told　me　she　was　engaged　to　a　Mr。　Coventry。〃

〃What　can　Mr。　Cheetham　know？　　To　be　sure　the　gentleman　is　a　good　deal　with　her；　and　I　hear　he　has　courted　her　this　two　years；　and　she　likes　his　company；　that's　certain。　　But　she　is　used　to　be　admired；　and　she　is　very　hard　to　please。〃

〃What；　then；　you　think　it　is　not　quite　hopeless？〃

〃While　there's　life　there's　hope。〃

〃What　had　I　better　do？〃

〃Nay；　you　shouldn't　ask　me。〃

〃Oh；　yes：　you　advised　me　so　wisely　about　the　insurance。〃

〃Ay；　but　then　I　saw　it　clear。　　He　is　purse…proud；　and　I　knew　he'd　think　a　deal　more　of　you　if　you　insured　your　life　for　a　vast　o'　money。　　But　now　I　don't　see　clear；　and　I'm　loath　to　advise。　　Happen　you'd　hate　me　afterward　if　it　went　wrong。〃

〃No；　no；　I　wouldn't　be　so　ungrateful。〃

Jael　shook　her　head；　doubtfully。

〃Well；　then；〃　said　Henry；　〃don't　advise　me；　but　put　yourself　in　my　place。　　（I'll　tell　you　a　secret　I　daren't　trust　to　Patty。　　I　have　found　a　way　to　beat　the　Trades；　and　make　my　fortune　in　a　year　or　two。）　　Now　what　would　you　do；　if　you　were　me？〃

This　question　raised　a　tumult　in　Jael's　heart。　　But　her　strong　will；　her　loyalty；　and；　above　all；　her　patience；　conquered；　though　not　without　signs　of　the　struggle；　a　bosom　that　heaved　somewhat　higher；　and　a　low　voice　that　trembled　a　little。　　〃If　I　was　a　young　man；　I　wouldn't　shilly…shally；　nor　wait　till　I　was　rich；　before　I　spoke。　I'd　have　it　out　with　her。　　I'd　get　her　alone；　and　tell　her　all。　Then；　if　she　showed　any　sign　of　liking；　I'd　beg　her　to　wait　a　bit；　and　say　I'd　soon　be　a　gentleman　for　her　sake。　　And　if　she　cares　naught　for　you；　better　know　it；　and　leave　her；　than　fare　in　heaven　one　hour　and　in　hell　the　next；　as　I　have　seen　thee　do　this　while；　my　poor　lad。〃

〃It　is　wise　and　good　advice；　and　I'll　take　it。　　I've　kept　all　my　courage　for　the　Trades；　I'd　better　have　shown　her　a　little。　　But　there's　one　thing　more　I　want　to　ask　you。〃

This　was　too　much。　　Jael's　courage　and　patience　failed　her　for　once。　〃Keep　it；〃　she　cried　almost　wildly。　　〃I　can't　bear　no　more。　　There's　not　one　lass　in　a　hundred　would　do　what　I　have　done　for　you：　yet　you　want　more。　　D'ye　think　I'm　not　flesh　and　blood；　as　well　as　her？〃

And　she　began　to　cry　bitterly。

This　took　Henry　quite　by　surprise；　and　grieved　him。　　He　consoled　her；　and　coaxed　her；　in　vague　terms；　that　did　not　produce　any　effect。　　So　then　he　kissed　her　cheek；　and　dried　her　eyes　with　his　own　handkerchief；　and　that　was　not　quite　so　ineffectual。　　She　gave　a　final　sob；　and　said；　with　some　slight　remains　of　passion；　〃There；　there；　never　heed　me。　　It　takes　a　deal　of　patience　to　go　through　the　world。〃　　And　so　she　left　him。

He　was　not　sorry　to　be　alone　a　minute；　and　think。　　This　short　dialogue　with　Jael　gave　him　some　insight　into　female　character。　　It　made　him　suspect　that　he　had　been　too　timid　with　Grace　Carden；　and　also　that　there　were　two　women　in　the　game　instead　of　one。

When　the　time　came　to　return　he　asked　leave　to　borrow　a　horse…cloth。

He　aired　it　by　the　fire；　and　remarked　that　it　had　turned　very　cold。

〃Why；〃　said　Patty；　〃you　have　got　your　top…coat。　　Well；　you　are　a　soft　one。〃

〃And　you　are　a　sharp　one；〃　said　Henry；　ironically。

When　Jael　came　to　the　gig；　Henry　put　the　cloth　over　her　shoulders。　〃'Twasn't　for　me；　ye　see；〃　said　he：　〃'twas　for　my　betters。〃

〃I　like　you　for　that；〃　said　Patty。

Then　there　was　much　kissing；　and　shaking　of　hands；　and　promising　to　come　again；　and　away　they　drove　to　Hillsborough。

On　the　road　Henry；　for　the　first　time；　was　very　respectful；　as　well　as　kind；　to　Jael。　　She　was　soft　and　gentle；　but　rather　silent　and　reserved。　　They　parted　at　the　door　of　〃Woodbine　Villa。〃

Next　day；　Henry　called　early；　and　found　Miss　Carden　alone。　　His　heart　beat　tumultuously。　　She　was　very　gracious；　and　hoped　he　had　spent　a　pleasant　day　yesterday。

〃Pretty　well。〃

〃Is　that　all？　　Why　I　qui