put yourself in his place-第32部分

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A　housemaid　now　came　forward　with　bed　candles；　to　show　Miss　Carden　to　her　room。　　Grace　was　going　up；　as　a　matter　of　course；　when　Jael；　busy　helping　the　footman　with　her　boxes；　called　after　her：　〃The　stocking；　miss！　the　stocking！〃

Grace　looked　down　at　her　feet　in　surprise。

〃There　it　is；　hung　up　by　the　door。　　We　must　put　our　presents　into　it　before　we　go　upstairs。〃

〃Must　we？　what　on　earth　am　I　to　give？〃

〃Oh；　any　thing　will　do。　　See；　I　shall　put　in　this　crooked　sixpence。〃

Grace　examined　her　purse；　and　complained　that　all　her　stupid　sixpences　were　straight。

〃Never　mind；　miss；　put　in　a　hairpin；　sooner　than　pass　the　stocking　o'　Christmas　Eve。〃

Grace　had　come　prepared　to　encounter　old　customs。　　She　offered　her　shawl…pin：　and　Jael；　who　had　modestly　inserted　her　own　gift；　pinned　Grace's　offering　on　the　outside　of　the　stocking　with　a　flush　of　pride。　　Then　they　went　upstairs　with　the　servant；　and　Grace　was　ushered　into　a　bedroom　of　vast　size；　with　two　huge　fires　burning　at　each　end；　each　fireplace　was　flanked　with　a　coal…scuttle　full　of　kennel　coal　in　large　lumps；　and　also　with　an　enormous　basket　of　beech　billets。　　She　admired　the　old…fashioned　furniture；　and　said；　〃Oh；　what　a　palace　of　a　bedroom！　　This　will　spoil　me　for　my　little　poky　room。　　Here　one　can　roam　about　and　have　great　thoughts。　Hillsborough；　good…by！　　I　end　my　days　in　the　country。〃

Presently　her　quick　ears　caught　the　rattle　of　swift　wheels　upon　the　hard　road：　she　ran　to　the　window；　and　peeped　behind　the　curtain。　Two　brilliant　lamps　were　in　sight；　and　drew　nearer　and　nearer；　like　great　goggling　eyes；　and　soon　a　neat　dog…cart　came　up　to　the　door。　Before　it　had　well…stopped；　the　hospitable　door　flew　open；　and　the　yule　fire　shone　on　Mr。　Coventry；　and　his　natty　groom；　and　his　dog　cart　with　plated　axles；　it　illumined　the　silver　harness；　and　the　roan　horse　himself；　and　the　breath　that　poured　into　the　keen　air　from　his　nostrils　red　inside。

Mr。　Coventry　dropped　from　his　shoulders；　with　easy　grace；　something　between　a　coat　and　a　cloak；　lined　throughout　with　foxes'　skin；　and；　alighting；　left　his　groom　to　do　the　rest。　　The　fur　was　reddish；　relieved　with　occasional　white；　and　Grace　gloated　over　it；　as　it　lay　glowing　in　the　fire…light。　　〃Ah；〃　said　she；　〃I　should　never　do　for　a　poor　man's　wife：　I'm　so　fond　of　soft　furs　and　things；　and　I　don't　like　poky　rooms。〃　　With　that　she　fell　into　a　reverie；　which　was　only　interrupted　by　the　arrival　of　Jael　and　her　boxes。

Jael　helped　her　unpack；　and　dress。　　There　was　no　lack　of　conversation　between　these　two；　but　most　of　it　turned　upon　nothings。　　One　topic；　that　might　have　been　interesting　to　the　readers　of　this　tale；　was　avoided　by　them　both。　　They　had　now　come　to　have　a　high　opinion　of　each　other's　penetration；　and　it　made　them　rather　timid　and　reserved　on　that　subject。

Grace　was　dressed；　and　just　going　down；　when　she　found　she　wanted　a　pin。　　She　asked　Jael　for　one。

Jael　looked　aghast。　　〃Oh；　miss；　I'd　rather　you　would　take　one；　in　spite　of　me。〃

〃Well；　so　I　will。　　There！〃　　And　she　whipped　one　away　from　the　bosom　of　Jael's　dress。

〃Mind；　I　never　gave　it　you。〃

〃No。　　I　took　it　by　brute　force。〃

〃I　like　you　too　well　to　give　you　a　pin。〃

〃May　I　venture　to　inquire　what　would　be　the　consequence？〃

〃Ill　luck；　you　may　be　sure。　　Heart…trouble；　they　do　say。〃

〃Well；　I'm　glad　to　escape　that　so　easily。　　Why；　this　is　the　temple　of　superstition；　and　you　are　the　high…Priestess。　　How　shall　I　ever　get　on　at　dinner；　without　you？　　I　know　I　shall　do　something　to　shock　Mr。　Raby。　　Perhaps　spill　the　very　salt。　　I　generally　do。〃

〃Ay；　miss；　at　home。　　But；　dear　heart；　you　won't　see　any　of　them　nasty　little　salt…cellars　here；　that　some　crazy　creature　have　invented　to　bring　down　bad　luck。　　You　won't　spill　the　salt　here；　no　fear：　but　don't　ye　let　any　body　help　you　to　it　neither；　if　he　helps　you　to　salt；　he　helps　you　to　sorrow。〃

〃Oh；　does　he？　　Then　it　is　fortunate　nobody　ever　does　help　anybody　to　salt。　　Well；　yours　is　a　nice　creed。　　Why；　we　are　all　at　the　mercy　of　other　people；　according　to　you。　　Say　I　have　a　rival：　she　smiles　in　my　face；　and　says；　'My　sweet　friend；　accept　this　tribute　of　my　esteem；'　and　gives　me　a　pinch　of　salt；　before　I　know　where　I　am。　　I　wither　on　the　spot；　and　she　sails　off　with　the　prize。　　Or；　if　there　is　no　salt　about；　she　comes　behind　me　with　a　pin；　and　pins　it　to　my　skirt；　and　that　pierces　my　heart。　　Don't　you　see　what　abominable　nonsense　it　all　is？〃

The　argument　was　cut　short　by　the　ringing　of　a　tremendous　bell。

Grace　gave　the　last；　swift；　searching；　all…comprehensive　look　of　her　sex　into　the　glass；　and　went　down　to　the　drawing…room。　　There　she　found　Mr。　Raby　and　Mr。　Coventry；　who　both　greeted　her　cordially；　and　the　next　moment　dinner　was　announced。

〃Raby　Hall〃　was　a　square　house；　with　two　large　low　wings。　　The　left　wing　contained　the　kitchen；　pantry；　scullery；　bakehouse；　brew…house；　etc。；　and　servants'　bedrooms　above。　　The　right　wing　the　stables；　coach…houses；　cattle…sheds；　and　several　bedrooms。　　The　main　building　of　the　hall；　the　best　bedrooms；　and　the　double　staircase；　leading　up　to　them　in　horse…shoe　form　from　the　hall：　and；　behind　the　hall；　on　the　ground…floor；　there　was　a　morning…room；　in　which　several　of　the　Squire's　small　tenants　were　even　now　preparing　for　supper　by　drinking　tea；　and　eating　cakes　made　in　rude　imitation　of　the　infant　Saviour。　　On　the　right　of　the　hall　were　the　two　drawing…rooms　en　suite；　and　on　the　left　was　the　remarkable　room　into　which　the　host　now　handed　Miss　Carden；　and　Mr。　Coventry　followed。　　This　room　had　been；　originally；　the　banqueting…hall。　　It　was　about　twenty　feet　high；　twenty…eight　feet　wide；　and　fifty　feet　long；　and　ended　in　an　enormous　bay　window；　that　opened　upon　the　lawn。　　It　was　entirely　paneled　with　oak；　carved　by　old　Flemish　workmen；　and　adorned　here　and　there　with　bold　devices。　　The　oak；　having　grown　old　in　a　pure　atmosphere；　and　in　a　district　where　wood　and　roots　were　generally　burned　in　dining…rooms；　had　acquired　a　very　rich　and　beautiful　color；　a　pure　and　healthy　reddish　brown；　with　no　tinge　whatever　of　black；　a　mighty　different　hue　from　any　you　can　find　in　Wardour　Street。　　Plaster　ceiling　there　was　none；　and　never　had　been。　　The　original　joists；　and　beams；　and　boards；　were　still　there；　only　not　quite　so　rudely　fashioned　as　of　old；　for　Mr。　Raby's　grandfather　had　caused　them　to　be　planed　and　varnished；　and　gilded　a　little　in　serpentine　lines。　　This　woodwork　above　gave　nobility　to　the　room；　and　its　gilding；　though　worn；　relieved　the　eye　agreeably。

The　further　end　was　used　as　a　study；　and　one　side　of　it　graced　with　books；　all　handsomely　bound：　the　other　side；　with　a　very　beautiful　organ　that　had　an　oval　mirror　in　the　midst　of　its　gilt　dummy…pipes。　All　this　made　a　cozy　nook　in　the　grand　room。

What　might　be　called　the　dining…room　part；　though　rich；　was　rather　somber　on　ordinary　occasions；　but　this　night　it　was　decorated　gloriously。　　The　materials　were　simplewax…candles　and　holly；　the　effect　was　produced　by　a　magnificent　use　of　these　materials。　　There　were　eighty　candles；　of　the　largest　size　sold　in　shops；　and　twelve　wax　pillars；　five　feet　high；　and　the　size　of　a　man's　calf；　of　these；　four　only　were　lighted　at　present。　　The　holly　was　not　in　sprigs；　but　in　enormous　branches；　that　filled　the　eye　with　glistening　green　and　red：　and；　in　the　embrasure　of　the　front　window　stood　a　young　holly…　tree　entire；　eighteen　feet　high；　and　gorgeous　with　five　hundred　branches　of　red　berries。　　The　tree　had　been　dug　up；　and　planted　here　in　an　enormous　bucket；　used　for　that　purpose；　and　filled　with　mold。

Close　behind　this　tree　were　placed　two　of　the　wax　pillars；　lighted；　and　their　flame　shone　through　the　leaves　and　berries　magically。

As　Miss　Carden　entered；　on　Mr。　Raby's　arm；　her　eye　swept　the　room　with　complacency；　and　settled　on　the　holly…tree。　　At　sight　of　that　she　pinched　Mr。　Raby's　arm；　and　cried　〃Oh！〃　three　times。　　Then；　ignoring　the　dinner…table　altogether；　she　pulled　her　host　away　to　the　tree；　and　stood　before　it；　with　clasped　hands。　　〃Oh；　how　beautiful！〃

Mr。　Raby　was　gratified。　　〃So　then　our　forefathers　were　not　quite　such　fools　as　some　people　say。〃

〃They　were　angels；　they　were　ducks。　　It　is　beautiful；　it　is　divine。〃

Mr。　Raby　looked　at　the　glowing　cheek；　and　deep；　sparkling；　sapphire　eye。　　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃after　all；　there's　nothing　here　so　beautiful　as　the　young　lady　who　now　honors　the　place　with　her　presence。〃

With　this　he　handed　her　ceremoniously　to　a　place　at　his　right　hand；　said　a　short　grace；　and　sat　down　between　his　two　guests。

〃But；　Mr。　Raby；〃　said　Grace；　ruefully；　〃I'm　with　my　back　to　the　holly…tree。〃

〃You　can　ask　Coventry　to　change　places。〃

Mr。　Coventry　rose；　and　the　change　was　effected。

〃Well；　it　is　your　doing；　Coventry。　　Now　she'll　overlook　YOU。〃

〃All　the　better　for　me；　perhaps。　　I'm　content：　Miss　Carden　will　look　at　the　holly；　and　I　shall　look　at　Miss　Carden。〃

〃Faute　de　mieux。〃

〃C'est　mechant。〃

〃And　I　shall　fine　you　both　a　bumper　of　champagne；　for　going　out　of　the　English　language。〃

〃I　shall　take　my　punishment　like　a　man。〃

〃Then　take　mine　as　well。　　Champagne　with　me　means　frenzy。〃

But；　in　the　midst　of　the　easy　banter　and　jocose　airy　nothings　of　the　modern　dining…room；　an　object　attracted　Grace's　eye。　　It　was　a　picture；　with　its　face　turned　to　the　wall；　and　some　large　letters　on　the　back　of　the　canvas。

This　excited　Grace's　curiosity　directly；　and；　whenever　she　could；　without　being　observed；　she　peeped；　and　tried　to　read　the　inscription；　but；　what　with　Mr。　Raby's　head；　and　a　monster　candle　that　stood　before　it；　she　could　not　decipher　it　unobserved。　　She　was　inclined　to　ask　Mr。　Raby；　but　she　was　very　quick；　and；　observing　that　the　other　portraits　were　of　his　family；　she　suspected　at　once　that　the　original　of　this　picture　had　offended　her　host；　and　that　it　would　be　in　bad　taste；　and　might　be　offensive；　to　question　him。　Still　the　subject　took　possession　of　her。

At　about　eight　o'clock　a　servant　announced　candles　in　the　drawing…　room。

Upon　this　Mr。　Raby　rose；　and；　without　giving　her　any　option　on　the　matter；　handed　her　to　the　door　with　obsolete　deference。

In　the　drawing…room　she　found　a　harpsichord；　a　spinet；　and　a　piano；　all　tuned　expressly　for　her。　　This　amused　her；　as　she　had　never　seen　either　of