put yourself in his place-第28部分

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〃Pretty　well。〃

〃Is　that　all？　　Why　I　quite　envied　you　your　ride；　and　your　companion。〃

〃She　is　a　very　good　girl。〃

〃She　is　something　more　than　that：　but　one　does　not　find　her　out　all　at　once。〃

Now　it　was　Henry's　turn。　　But　he　was　flustered；　and　thinking　how　he　should　begin。　　And；　while　he　hesitated；　the　lady　asked　him　was　he　come　to　finish　the　bust。

〃No。　　I　didn't　come　for　that。　　I　will　finish　it　though。〃　　And　thus　he　was　diverted　from　his　purpose；　for　the　moment。

He　took　a　carving　tool；　and　eyed　his　model；　but　soon　laid　down　the　tool；　and　said：　〃I　haven't　thanked　you　yet。　　And　I　don't　know　how　to　thank　you。〃

〃What　for？〃

〃For　what　you　sent　to　Mr。　Cheetham。〃

〃Oh！〃　said　Grace；　and　blushed。　　Then　she　turned　it　off；　and　said　she　thought　if　any　body　ought　to　thank　her　for　that；　it　was　Mr。　Cheetham。

〃Ay；　for　the　order。　　But　the　sweet　words　that　came　with　it？　　Do　you　think　I　don't　prize　them　above　all　the　orders　in　the　world？〃

She　colored　high　again。　　〃What！　did　he　show　you　my　note？〃

〃He　did：　and　that　has　made　me　his　friend。　　Shall　I　tell　you　the　effect　of　those　words　on　me？〃

〃No；　never　mind。　　But　I'm　glad　I　put　them　in；　if　they　did　you　any　good。〃

〃Any　good？　　They　made　me　a　new　man。　　I　was　defeated　by　the　Trades：　I　was　broken…hearted：　and　I　hated　every　body。　　Good　Dr。　Amboyne　had　set　me　work　to　do；　to　save　the　lives　of　my　fellow…creatures。　　But　I　couldn't；　I　hated　them　so。　　The　world　had　been　too　unjust　to　me；　I　could　not　return　it　good　for　evil。　　My　heart　was　full　of　rage　and　bitterness。〃

〃That's　a　great　pityat　your　age。　　But　really　it　is　no　wonder。　Yes；　you　have　been　cruelly　used。〃　　And　the　water　stood　in　Grace's　eyes。

〃Ay；　but　it　is　all　over；　those　sweet　words　of　yours　made　a　man　of　me　again。　　They　showed　me　you　cared　a　little　for　me。　　Now　I　have　found　a　way　to　outwit　the　Trades。　　Now　I'm　on　the　road　to　fortune。　　I　won't　be　a　workman　this　time　next　year。　　I'll　be　a　master；　and　a　thriving　one。〃

〃Ay；　do；　do。　　Beat　them；　defeat　them；　make　them　scream　with　envy。　But　I　am　afraid　you　are　too　sanguine。〃

〃No；　I　can　do　it；　if　you　will　only　give　me　another　word　of　hope　to　keep　me　going；　and　oh；　I　need　it；　if　you　knew　all。〃

Grace　began　to　look　uneasy。　　〃Mr。　Little；　can　you　doubt　that　you　have　my　best　wishes？〃　said　she；　guardedly；　and　much　less　warmly　than　she　had　spoken　just　before。

〃No；　I　don't　doubt　that；　but　what　I　fear　is；　that；　when　I　have　gained　the　hard　battle；　and　risen　in　the　world；　it　will　be　too　late。　Too　late。〃

Grace　turned　more　and　more　uncomfortable。

〃Oh；　pray　wait　a　few　months；　and　see　what　I　can　do；　before　you〃

Will　it　be　believed　that　Mr。　Carden；　who　seldom　came　into　this　room　at　all；　must　walk　in　just　at　this　moment；　and　interrupt　them。　　He　was　too　occupied　with　his　own　affairs；　to　pay　much　attention　to　their　faces；　or　perhaps　he　might　have　asked　himself　why　the　young　man　was　so　pale；　and　his　daughter　so　red。

〃I　heard　you　were　here；　Little；　and　I　want　to　speak　to　you　on　a　matter　of　some　importance。〃

Grace　took　this　opportunity；　and　made　her　escape　from　the　room　promptly。

Henry；　burning　inwardly；　had　to　listen　politely　to　a　matter　he　thought　pitiably　unimportant　compared　with　that　which　had　been　broken　off。　　But　the　〃Gosshawk〃　had　got　him　in　its　clutches；　and　was　resolved　to　make　him　a　decoy　duck。　　He　was　to　open　a　new　vein　of　Insurances。　　Workmen　had　hitherto　acted　with　great　folly　and　imprudence　in　this　respect；　and　he　was　to　cure　them；　by　precept　as　well　as　example。

Henry　assented；　to　gratify　a　person　whose　good…will　he　might　require；　and　to　get　rid　of　a　bore。　　But　that　was　not　so　easy；　the　〃Gosshawk〃　was　full　of　this　new　project；　and　had　a　great　deal　to　say；　before　he　came　to　the　point；　and　offered　Henry　a　percentage　on　the　yearly　premium　of　every　workman　that　should　be　insured　in　the　〃Gosshawk。〃

This　little　bargain　struck；　Henry　was　left　alone；　and　waited　for　the　return　of　Miss　Carden。

He　was　simple　enough　to　hope　she　would　come　back；　and　have　it　out　with　him。

She　kept　carefully　out　of　his　way；　and；　at　last；　he　went　sadly　home。

〃Ah；〃　said　he；　〃Jael　gave　me　bad　advice。　　I　have　been　premature；　and　frightened　her。〃

He　would　go　to　work　his　own　way　again。

In　forty…eight　hours　he　moved　into　his　new　house；　furnished　it　partly：　bought　a　quantity　of　mediocre　wood…carving；　and　improved　it；　put　specimens　in　his　window；　and　painted　his　name　over　the　door。　This；　at　his　mother's　request　and　tearful　entreaties；　he　painted　out　again；　and　substituted　〃Rowbotham。〃

Nor　was　Rowbotham　a　mere　nom　de　plume。　　It　was　the　real　name　of　Silly　Billy。　　The　boy　had　some　turn　for　carving；　but　was　quite　uncultivated：　Henry　took　him　into　his　employ；　fed　him；　and　made　free　with　his　name。　　With　all　this　he　found　time　to　get　a　key　made　to　fit　the　lock　of　Cairnhope　old　Church。

At　one　o'clock　on　Thursday　morning　he　came　to　Cheetham's　works；　and　scratched　at　the　gate。　　A　big　workman　opened　it。　　It　turned　out　to　be　Cheetham　himself；　in　a　moleskin　suit；　and　a　long　beard。

The　forge　on　wheels　was　all　ready；　also　a　cart　containing　anvil；　bellows；　hammers；　pincers；　leathern　buckets；　and　a　quantity　of　steel　laths。　　They　attached　the　forge　to　the　tail　of　the　cart；　and　went　on　their　silent　expedition。　　Cheetham　drove　the　cart。　　Henry　followed　afar　off　until　they　had　cleared　the　suburbs。

They　passed　〃Woodbine　Villa。〃　　A　single　light　was　burning。　　Henry　eyed　it　wistfully；　and　loitered　long　to　look　at　it。　　Something　told　him　that　light　was　in　her　bedroom。　　He　could　hardly　tear　himself　away　from　contemplating　it：　it　was　his　pole…star。

There　was　only　one　great　difficulty　in　their　way；　a　man　on　a　horse　might　cross　the　moor；　but　a　cart　must　go　by　〃Raby　Hall〃　to　reach　the　church：　and；　before　they　got　within　a　furlong　of　the　Hall；　a　watch…　dog　began　to　bark。

〃Stop；　sir；〃　whispered　Henry。　　〃I　expected　this。〃　　He　then　produced　some　pieces　of　thick　felt；　and　tied　them　with　strings　round　the　wheels。

They　then　drove　by　the　house　as　fast　as　they　could。　　They　did　not　deceive　the　dogs；　but　no　man　heard　them；　nor　saw　them。

They　got　to　the　church；　opened　the　door；　and　drew　the　forge　into　the　deserted　building。

As　soon　as　they　got　inside；　Cheetham　cast　his　eyes　round　and　gave　a　shudder。　　〃You　must　have　a　stout　heart：　no　money　should　tempt　me　to　work　here　by　myself。　　Lord！　　What's　that？〃

For　a　low　musical　moan　was　heard。

Cheetham　darted　back；　and　got　to　the　church…door。

Henry's　heart　beast　faster：　but　he　lighted　his　lantern；　and　went　up　the　aisle。　　The　place　was　solemn；　grim；　gaunt；　and　moldering；　and　echoed　strangely；　but　it　was　empty。　　He　halloed　to　his　companion　that　it　was　all　right。　　Then　they　set　the　forge　up　near　a　pillar　at　the　entrance　into　the　chancel。　　When　they　had　done　this；　and　brought　in　the　steel　laths；　the　sacks　of　coals；　etc。；　Cheetham　produced　a　flask；　and　took　a　pull　of　neat　brandy。　　This　gave　him　courage；　and　he　proposed　to　have　a　look　round　before　they　went。　　Accordingly　they　inspected　the　building。

When　they　came　round　to　the　chancel；　suddenly　there　was　a　rattle；　and　a　tremendous　rush　of　some　huge　thing　that　made　a　cold　wind；　and　blew　out　the　light。

Henry　was　appalled；　and　Cheetham　dropped　the　lantern；　and　ran；　yelling。　　And　soon　Henry　heard　his　voice　in　the　churchyard　calling　on　him　to　come　out。

He　did　go　out；　and　felt　very　much　puzzled　and　alarmed。　　However；　he　got　matches　from　Cheetham；　and　went　back；　and　lighted　the　lantern；　quaking　a　little；　and　then　he　found　that　the　great　moldering　picture　over　the　altar　had　rotted　away　from　some　of　its　supports；　and　one　half　of　it　was　now　drooping；　like　a　monstrous　wing；　over　the　altar。

He　returned　with　the　lantern；　and　told　Cheetham　what　it　was。　　Then　he　screwed　on　the　lock；　locked　the　church；　and　they　went　back　to　Hillsborough　in　good　spirits。

But；　as　he　lay　in　bed；　Henry　thought　the　matter　over；　and；　for　the　first　time　in　his　life；　felt　superstitious。

〃It　is　very　odd；〃　he　said；　〃that　old　picture　my　forefathers　have　worshiped　under；　and　prayed　to；　no　doubt；　should　flap　out　in　my　face　like　that；　the　moment　I　offered　to　set　up　my　forge　among　their　dead　bones。〃

Daylight　dispersed　these　superstitious　feelings；　and　the　battle　began。

As　usual；　the　first　step　toward　making　money　was　to　part　with　it。　He　could　do　nothing　without　a　horse　and　a　light　cart。　　In　Hillsborough　they　drive　magnificent　horses　in　public　cabs：　Henry　knew　one　in　particular；　that　had　often　spun　up　the　steepest　hills　with　him；　a　brute　of　prodigious　bone　and　spirit。　　He　bought　this　animal　for　a　moderate　price；　considering　his　value：　and　then　the　next　thing　wasand　indeed　with　some　of　us　it　precedes　the　purchase　of　the　animalto　learn　to　ride。

He　had　only　two　days　to　acquire　this　accomplishment　in：　so　he　took　a　compendious　method。　　He　went　to　the　circus；　at　noon；　and　asked　to　see　the　clown。　　A　gloomy　fellow　was　fished　out　of　the　nearest　public；　and　inquired　what　he　wanted。

〃The　clown。〃

〃Well；　I　am　the　clown。〃

〃What！　you　the　merry　chap　that　makes　the　fun？〃　said　Henry；　incredulously。

〃I　make　the　fun　at　night；〃　replied　the　man；　dolefully。　　〃If　you　want　fun　out　of　me；　come　and　pay　your　shilling；　like　a　man。〃

〃But　it　isn't　fun　I'm　come　for。　　I　want　to　learn　to　ride。〃

〃Then　you　are　too　old。　　Why；　we　begin　as　soon　as　we　can　stand　on　a　horse's　back。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　mean　to　ride　standing。　　I　want　to　sit　a　horse；　rearing；　or　plunging；　or　blundering　over　rough　ground。〃

〃What　will　you　stand？〃

〃A　sovereign。〃

The　clown　dived　into　the　public…house；　and　told　a　dark　seedy　man；　with　his　black　hair　plastered　and　rolled　effeminately；　that　he　had　got　a　bloke　who　would　stand　a　quid　for　a　mount。　　The　two　came　out；　and　the　plastered　Italian　went　to　the　stables：　the　melancholy　punster　conducted　Henry　into　the　arena；　and　stood　beside　him　like　Patience　on　a　monument。　　Presently　a　quiet　mare　ran　in；　and　stuck。

Henry　was　mounted；　and　cantered　her　round；　the　two　men　instinctively　following　in　a　smaller　circle；　with　jaws　as　long　as　your　arm。

〃This　is　delightful；〃　said　Henry；　〃but　I　might　as　well　be　sitting　in　a　chair。　　What　I　want　is　a　Prancer。〃

Then　they　brought　him　another　horse；　just　as　docile　as　the　mare。　The　obedient　creature；　at　a　signal；　reared　suddenly；　and　seated　Mr。　Little　on　the　sawdust　behind　him。　　A　simil