put yourself in his place-第33部分

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as　she　had　never　seen　either　of　the　two　older　instruments　in　her　life。　　She　played　on　them　all　three。

Mr。　Raby　had　the　doors　thrown　open　to　hear　her。

She　played　some　pretty　little　things　from　Mendelssohn；　Spohr；　and　Schubert。

The　gentlemen　smoked　and　praised。

Then　she　found　an　old　music…book；　and　played　Hamlet's　overture　to　Otho；　and　the　minuet。

The　gentlemen　left　off　praising　directly；　and　came　silently　into　the　room　to　hear　the　immortal　melodist。　　But　this　is　the　rule　in　music；　the　lips　praise　the　delicate　gelatinous；　the　heart　beats　in　silence　at　the　mighty　melodious。

Tea　and　coffee　came　directly　afterward；　and　ere　they　were　disposed　of；　a　servant　announced　〃The　Wassailers。〃

〃Well；　let　them　come　in；〃　said　Mr。　Raby。

The　school…children　and　young　people　of　the　village　trooped　in；　and　made　their　obeisances；　and　sang　the　Christmas　Carol


　　　　　〃God　rest　you；　merry　gentlemen；　　　　　　　Let　nothing　you　dismay。〃


Then　one　of　the　party　produced　an　image　of　the　Virgin　and　Child；　and　another　offered　comfits　in　a　box；　a　third　presented　the　wassail…cup；　into　which　Raby　immediately　poured　some　silver；　and　Coventry　followed　his　example。　　Grace　fumbled　for　her　purse；　and；　when　she　had　found　it；　began　to　fumble　in　it　for　her　silver。

But　Raby　lost　all　patience；　and　said；　〃There；　I　give　this　for　the　lady；　and　she'll　pay　me　NEXT　CHRISTMAS。〃

The　wassailers　departed；　and　the　Squire　went　to　say　a　kind　word　to　his　humbler　guests。

Miss　Carden　took　that　opportunity　to　ask　Mr。　Coventry　if　he　had　noticed　the　picture　with　its　face　to　the　wall。　　He　said　he　had。

〃Do　you　know　who　it　is？〃

〃No　idea。〃

〃Did　you　read　the　inscription？〃

〃No。　　But；　if　you　are　curious；　I'll　go　back　to　the　dining…room；　and　read　it。〃

〃I'm　afraid　he　might　be　angry。　　There　is　no　excuse　for　going　there　now。〃

〃Send　me　for　your　pocket…handkerchief。〃

〃Please　see　whether　I　have　left　my　pocket…handkerchief　in　the　dining…room；　Mr。　Coventry；〃　said　Grace；　demurely。

Mr。　Coventry　smiled；　and　hurried　away。　　But　he　soon　came　back　to　say　that　the　candles　were　all　out；　the　windows　open；　and　the　servants　laying　the　cloth　for　supper。

〃Oh；　never　mind；　then；〃　said　Grace；　〃when　we　go　in　to　supper　I'll　look　myself。〃

But　a　considerable　time　elapsed　before　supper；　and　Mr。　Coventry　spent　this　time　in　making　love　rather　ardently；　and　Grace　in　defending　herself　rather　feebly。

It　was　nearly　eleven　o'clock　when　Mr。　Raby　rejoined　them；　and　they　all　went　in　to　supper。　　There　were　candles　lighted　on　the　table　and　a　few　here　and　there　upon　the　walls；　but　the　room　was　very　somber：　and　Mr。　Raby　informed　them　this　was　to　remind　them　of　the　moral　darkness；　in　which　the　world　lay　before　that　great　event　they　were　about　to　celebrate。

He　then　helped　each　of　them　to　a　ladleful　of　frumety；　remarking　at　the　same　time；　with　a　grim　smile；　that　they　were　not　obliged　to　eat　it；　there　would　be　a　very　different　supper　after　midnight。　　Then　a　black…letter　Bible　was　brought　him；　and　he　read　it　all　to　himself　at　a　side…table。

After　an　interval　of　silence　so　passed　there　was　a　gentle　tap　at　the　bay　window。　　Mr。　Raby　went　and　threw　it　open；　and　immediately　a　woman's　voice；　full；　clear；　and　ringing；　sang　outside：


　　　　　〃The　first　Noel　the　angels　did　say；　　　　　　　Was　to　three　poor　shepherds；　in　fields　as　they　lay；　　　　　　　In　fields　where　they　were　keeping　their　sheep；　　　　　　　On　a　cold　winter's　night　that　was　so　deep。　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chorus。Noel；　Noel；　Noel；　Noel；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Born　is　the　King　of　Israel。〃


The　chorus　also　was　sung　outside。

During　the　chorus　one　of　the　doors　opened；　and　Jael　Dence　came　in　by　it；　and　the　treble　singer；　who　was　the　blacksmith's　sister；　came　in　at　the　window；　and　so　the　two　women　met　in　the　room；　and　sang　the　second　verse　in　sweetest　harmony。　　These　two　did　not　sing　like　invalids；　as　their　more　refined　sisters　too　often　do；　from　their　broad　chests；　and　healthy　lungs；　and　noble　throats；　and　above　all；　their　musical　hearts；　they　poured　out　the　harmony　so　clear　and　full；　that　every　glass　in　the　room　rang　like　a　harp；　and　a　bolt　of　ice　seemed　to　shoot　down　Grace　Carden's　backbone；　and；　in　the　chorus；　gentle　George's　bass　was　like　a　diapason。


　　　　　〃They　looked　up　and　saw　a　star　　　　　　　That　shone　in　the　East　beyond　them　far；　　　　　　　And　unto　the　earth　it　gave　a　great　light；　　　　　　　And　so　it　continued　both　day　and　night。　　　　　　　　　　　　　ChorusNoel；　Noel；　Noel；　Noel；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Born　is　the　King　of　Israel。〃


As　the　Noel　proceeded；　some　came　in　at　the　window；　others　at　the　doors；　and　the　lower　part　of　the　room　began　to　fill　with　singers　and　auditors。

The　Noel　ended：　there　was　a　silence；　during　which　the　organ　was　opened；　the　bellows　blown；　and　a　number　of　servants　and　others　came　into　the　room　with　little　lighted　tapers；　and　stood；　in　a　long　row；　awaiting　a　signal　from　the　Squire。

He　took　out　his　watch；　and；　finding　it　was　close　on　twelve　o'clock；　directed　the　doors　to　be　flung　open；　that　he　might　hear　the　great　clock　in　the　hall　strike　the　quarters。

There　was　a　solemn　hush　of　expectation；　that　made　the　sensitive　heart　of　Grace　Carden　thrill　with　anticipation。

The　clock　struck　the　first　quarterdead　silence；　the　secondthe　thirddead　silence。

But；　at　the　fourth；　and　with　the　first　stroke　of　midnight；　out　burst　the　full　organ　and　fifty　voices；　with　the　〃Gloria　in　excelsis　Deo；〃　and；　as　that　divine　hymn　surged　on；　the　lighters　ran　along　the　walls　and　lighted　the　eighty　candles；　and；　for　the　first　time；　the　twelve　waxen　pillars；　so　that；　as　the　hymn　concluded；　the　room　was　in　a　blaze；　and　it　was　Christmas　Day。

Instantly　an　enormous　punch…bowl　was　brought　to　the　host。　　He　put　his　lips　to　it；　and　said；　〃Friends；　neighbors；　I　wish　you　all　a　merry　Christmas。〃　　Then　there　was　a　cheer　that　made　the　whole　house　echo；　and；　by　this　time；　the　tears　were　running　down　Grace　Carden's　cheeks。

She　turned　aside；　to　hide　her　pious　emotion；　and　found　herself　right　opposite　the　picture；　with　this　inscription；　large　and　plain；　in　the　blaze　of　light


　　　　　〃GONE　INTO　TRADE〃


If；　in　the　middle　of　the　pious　harmony　that　had　stirred　her　soul；　some　blaring　trumpet　had　played　a　polka；　in　another　key；　it　could　hardly　have　jarred　more　upon　her　devotional　frame；　than　did　this　earthly　line；　that　glared　out　between　two　gigantic　yule　candles；　just　lighted　in　honor　of　Him；　whose　mother　was　in　trade　when　he　was　born。

She　turned　from　it　with　deep　repugnance；　and　seated　herself　in　silence　at　the　table。

Very　early　in　the　supper　she　made　an　excuse；　and　retired　to　her　room：　and；　as　she　went　out；　her　last　glance　was　at　the　mysterious　picture。

She　saw　it　again　next　morning　at　breakfast…time；　but；　it　must　be　owned；　with　different　eyes。　　It　was　no　longer　contrasted　with　a　religious　ceremony；　and　with　the　sentiments　of　gratitude　and　humility　proper　to　that　great　occasion；　when　we　commemorate　His　birth；　whose　mother　had　gone　into　trade。　　The　world；　and　society；　whose　child　she　was；　seemed　now　to　speak　with　authority　from　the　canvas；　and　to　warn　her　how　vain　and　hopeless　were　certain　regrets；　which　lay　secretly；　I　might　say　clandestinely；　at　her　heart。

She　revered　her　godfather；　and　it　was　no　small　nor　irrelevant　discovery　to　find　that　he　had　actually　turned　a　picture　in　disgrace　to　the　wall；　because　its　owner　had　descended　to　the　level；　or　probably　not　quite　to　the　level；　of　Henry　Little。

Jael　Dence　came　up　from　the　farm　on　Christmas　afternoon；　and　almost　the　first　word　Grace　spoke　was　to　ask　her　if　she　knew　whose　picture　that　was　in　the　dining…room。　　This　vague　description　was　enough　for　Jael。　　She　said　she　could　not　tell　for　certain；　but　she　had　once　heard　her　father　say　it　was　the　Squire's　own　sister；　but；　when　she　had　pressed　him　on　the　subject；　the　old　man　had　rebuked　hertold　her　not　to　meddle　too　much　with　other　folks'　business。　　〃And；　to　be　sure；　Squire　has　his　reasons；　no　doubt；〃　said　Jael；　rather　dryly。

〃The　reason　that　is　written　on　the　back？〃

〃Ay：　and　a　very　poor　reason　too；　to　my　mind。〃

〃You　are　not　the　best　judge　of　thatexcuse　me　for　saying　so。　　Oh　dear；　I　wish　I　could　see　it。〃

〃Don't　think　of　such　a　thing；　miss。　　You　can't；　however；　for　it's　padlocked　down　that　way　you　could　never　loose　it　without　being　found　out。　　No　longer　agone　than　last　Yule…time　'twas　only　turned；　and　not　fastened。　　But　they　say　in　the　kitchen；　that　one　day　last　month　Squire　had　them　all　up；　and　said　the　picture　had　been　tampered　with　while　he　was　at　Hillsboro'；　and　he　scolded；　and　had　it　strapped　and　padlocked　down　as　'tis。〃

The　reader　can　imagine　the　effect　of　these　fresh　revelations。　　And　a　lover　was　at　hand；　of　good　birth；　good　manners；　and　approved　by　her　godfather。　　That　lover　saw　her　inclining　toward　him；　and　omitted　nothing　to　compliment　and　please　her。　　To　be　sure；　that　was　no　uphill　work；　for　he　loved　her　better　than　he　had　ever　loved　a　woman　in　his　life；　which　was　a　good　deal　to　say；　in　his　case。

They　spent　Christmas　Day　very　happily　together。　　Church　in　the　morning；　then　luncheon；　then　thick　boots；　a　warmer　shawl；　and　a　little　walk　all　together；　for　Mr。　Raby　took　a　middle　course；　since　no　positive　engagement　existed；　he　would　not　allow　his　fair　guest　to　go　about　with　Mr。　Coventry　alone；　and　so　he　compromised；　even　in　village　eyes；　but；　on　the　other　hand；　by　stopping　now　and　then　to　give　an　order；　or　exchange　a　word；　he　gave　Coventry　many　opportunities；　and　that　gentleman　availed　himself　of　them　with　his　usual　tact。

In　the　evening　they　sat　round　the　great　fire；　and　Mr。　Raby　mulled　and　spiced　red　wine　by　a　family　receipt；　in　a　large　silver　saucepan；　and　they　sipped　the　hot　and　generous　beverage；　and　told　stories　and　legends；　the　custom　of　the　house　on　Christmas　night。　　Mr。　Raby　was　an　inexhaustible　repertory　of　ghost…stories　and　popular　legends。　But　I　select　one　that　was　told　by　Mr。　Coventry；　and　told　with　a　certain　easy　grace　that　gave　it　no　little　interest。


MR。　COVENTRY'S　TALE。


〃When　I　was　quite　a　child；　there　was　a　very　old　woman　living　in　our　village；　that　used　to　frighten　me　with　her　goggle　eyes；　and　muttering。　　She　passed　for　a　witch；　I　think；　and　when　she　diedI　was　eight　years　old　thenold　people　put　their　heads　together；　and　told　strange　stories　about　her　early　life。　　It　seems　that　this　Molly　Slater　was　away　in　servi