put yourself in his place-第36部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


way。

Add　to　this　a　good　figure　and　a　distinguished　air；　and　you　have　some　superficial　idea　of　the　gentleman　toward　whom　Grace　Carden　found　herself　drawn　by　circumstances；　and　not　unwillingly；　though　not　with　that　sacred　joy　and　thrill　which　marks　a　genuine　passion。


They　left　George　and　the　trap　at　the　〃Colley　Dog；〃　and　ascended　the　mountain。　　There　were　no　serious　difficulties　on　this　side；　but　still　there　were　little　occasional　asperities；　that　gave　the　lover　an　opportunity　to　offer　his　arm；　and　Mr。　Coventry　threw　a　graceful　devotion　even　into　this　slight　act　of　homage。　　He　wooed　her　with　perfect　moderation　at　first；　it　was　not　his　business　to　alarm　her　at　starting；　he　proceeded　gradually；　and；　by　the　time　they　had　reached　the　summit；　he　had　felt　his　way；　and　had　every　reason　to　hope　she　would　accept　him。

At　the　summit　the　remarkable　beauty　of　the　view　threw　her　into　raptures；　and　interrupted　the　more　interesting　topic　on　which　he　was　bent。

But　the　man　of　the　world　showed　no　impatience　（I　don't　say　he　felt　none）；　he　answered　all　Grace's　questions；　and　told　her　what　all　the　places　were。

But；　by…and…by；　the　atmosphere　thickened　suddenly　in　that　quarter；　and　he　then　told　her　gently　he　had　something　to　show　her　on　the　other　side　of　the　knob。

He　conducted　her　to　a　shed　the　shepherds　had　erected；　and　seated　her　on　a　rude　bench。　　〃You　must　be　a　little　tired；〃　he　said。

Then　he　showed　her；　in　the　valley；　one　of　those　delightful　old　red　brick　houses；　with　white　stone　facings。　　〃That　is　Bollinghope。〃

She　looked　at　it　with　polite　interest。

〃Do　you　like　it？〃

〃Very　much。　　It　warms　the　landscape　so。〃

He　expected　a　more　prosaic　answer；　but　he　took　her　cue。　　〃I　wish　it　was　a　great　deal　prettier　than　it　is；　and　its　owner　a　much　better　man；　richerwiser〃

〃You　are　hard　to　please；　Mr。　Coventry。〃

〃Miss　CardenGracemay　I　call　you　Grace？〃

〃It　seems　to　me　you　have　done　it。〃

〃But　I　had　no　right。〃

〃Then；　of　course；　you　will　never　do　it　again。〃

〃I　should　be　very　unhappy　if　I　thought　that。　　Miss　Carden；　I　think　you　know　how　dear　you　are　to　me；　and　have　been　ever　since　I　first　met　you。　　I　wish　I　had　ten　times　more　to　offer　you　than　I　have。　　But　I　am　only　a　poor　gentleman；　of　good　descent；　but　moderate　means；　as　you　see。〃　　Comedie！　　（Bollinghope　was　the　sort　of　house　that　generally　goes　with　L5000　a　year　at　least。）

〃I　don't　care　about　your　means；　Mr。　Coventry；〃　said　Grace；　with　a　lofty　smile。　　〃It　is　your　amiable　character　that　I　esteem。〃

〃You　forgive　me　for　loving　you；　for　hoping　that　you　will　let　me　lead　you　to　my　poor　house　there；　as　my　adored　wife？〃

It　had　come；　and；　although　she　knew　it　was　coming；　yet　her　face　was　dyed　with　blushes。

〃I　esteem　you　very　much；〃　she　faltered。　　〃I　thank　you　for　the　honor　you　do　me；　but　Ioh；　pray；　let　me　think　what　I　am　doing。〃　　She　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　and　her　bosom　panted　visibly。

Mr。　Coventry　loved　her　sincerely；　and　his　own　heart　beat　high　at　this　moment。　　He　augured　well　from　her　agitation；　but　presently　he　saw　something　that　puzzled　him；　and　gave　a　man　of　his　experience　a　qualm。

A　tear　forced　its　way　between　her　fingers；　another；　and　another；　soon　followed。

Coventry　said　to　himself；　〃There's　some　other　man。〃　　　And　he　sighed　heavily；　but　even　in　this　moment　of　true　and　strong　feeling　he　was　on　his　guard；　and　said　nothing。

It　was　his　wisest　course。　　She　was　left　to　herself；　and　an　amazing　piece　of　female　logic　came　to　Mr。　Coventry's　aid。　　She　found　herself　crying；　and　got　frightened　at　herself。　　That；　which　would　have　made　a　man　pause；　had　just　the　opposite　effect　on　her。　　She　felt　that　no　good　could　come　to　any　body　of　those　wild　and　weak　regrets　that　made　her　weep。　　She　saw　she　had　a　weakness　and　a　folly　to　cure　herself　of；　and　the　cure　was　at　hand。　　There　was　a　magic　in　marriage；　a　gentleman　could；　somehow；　MAKE　a　girl　love　him　when　once　she　had　married　him。　　Mr。　Coventry　should　be　enabled　to　make　her　love　him；　he　should　cure　her　of　this　trick　of　crying；　it　would　be　the　best　thing　for　every　bodyfor　HIM；　for　Jael；　for　Mr。　Coventry；　and　even　for　herself。

She　dried　her　eyes；　and　said；　in　a　low；　tremulous　voice：　〃Have　you　spoken　to　papa　ofof　this？〃

〃No。　　I　waited　to　be　authorized　by　you。　　May　I　speak　to　him？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃May　I　tell　him？〃

〃Oh　I　can't　tell　you　what　to　tell　him。　　How　dark　it　is　getting。　Please　take　me　home。〃　　Another　tear　or　two。

Then；　if　Coventry　had　not　loved　her　sincerely；　and　also　been　a　man　of　the　world；　he　would　have　lost　his　temper；　and　if　he　had　lost　his　temper；　he　would　have　lost　the　lady；　for　she　would　have　seized　the　first　fair　opportunity　to　quarrel。　　But　no；　he　took　her　hand　gently；　and　set　himself　to　comfort　her。　　He　poured　out　his　love　to　her；　and　promised　her　a　life　of　wedded　happiness。　　He　drew　so　delightful　a　picture　of　their　wedded　life；　and　in　a　voice　so　winning；　that　she　began　to　be　consoled；　and　her　tears　ceased。

〃I　believe　you　love　me；〃　she　murmured；　〃and　I　esteem　you　sincerely。〃

Mr。　Coventry　drew　a　family　ring　from　his　pocket。　　It　was　a　sapphire　of　uncommon　beauty。

〃This　was　my　mother's；〃　said　he。　　〃Will　you　do　me　the　honor　to　wear　it；　as　a　pledge？〃

But　the　actual　fetter　startled　her；　I　think。　　She　started　up；　and　said；　〃Oh；　please　take　me　home　first！　　IT　IS　GOING　TO　SNOW。〃

Call　her　slippery；　if　you　don't　like　her；　call　her　unhappy　and　wavering；　if　you　do　like　her。

Mr。　Coventry　smiled　now　at　this　attempt　to　put　off　the　inevitable；　and　complied　at　once。

But；　before　they　had　gone　a　hundred　yards；　the　snow　did　really　fall；　and　so　heavily　that　the　air　was　darkened。

〃We　had　better　go　back　to　the　shed　till　it　is　over；〃　said　Mr。　Coventry。

〃Do　you　think　so？〃　said　Grace；　doubtfully。　　〃Well。〃

And　they　went　back。

But　the　snow　did　not　abate；　and　the　air　got　darker。　　So；　by…and…by；　Grace　suggested　that　Mr。　Coventry　should　run　down　the　hill；　and　send　George　up　to　her　with　an　umbrella。

〃What；　and　leave　you　alone？〃　said　he。

〃Well；　then；　we　had　better　go　together。〃

They　started　together。

By　this　time　the　whole　ground　was　covered　about　three　inches　deep；　not　enough　to　impede　their　progress；　but　it　had　the　unfortunate　effect　of　effacing　the　distinct　features　of　the　ground；　and；　as　the　declining　sun　could　no　longer　struggle　successfully　through　the　atmosphere；　which　was　half　air；　half　snow；　they　were　almost　in　darkness；　and　soon　lost　their　way。　　They　kept　slanting　unconsciously　to　the　left；　till　they　got　over　one　of　the　forks　of　the　mountain　and　into　a　ravine：　they　managed　to　get　out　of　that；　and　continued　to　descend；　for　the　great　thing　they　had　to　do　was　to　reach　the　valley；　no　matter　where。

But；　after　a　long　laborious；　and　even　dangerous　descent；　they　found　themselves　beginning　to　ascend。　　Another　mountain　or　hill　barred　their　progress。　　Then　they　knew　they　must　be　all　wrong；　and　began　to　feel　rather　anxious。　　They　wished　they　had　stayed　up　on　the　hill。

They　consulted　together；　and　agreed　to　go　on　for　the　present；　it　might　be　only　a　small　rise　in　the　ground。

And　so　it　proved。　　After　a　while　they　found　themselves　descending　again。

But　now　the　path　was　full　of　pitfalls；　hidden　by　the　snow　and　the　darkness。

Mr。　Coventry　insisted　on　going　first。

In　this　order　they　moved　cautiously　on；　often　stumbling。

Suddenly　Mr。　Coventry　disappeared　with　a　sudden　plunge；　and　rolled　down　a　ravine；　with　a　loud　cry。

Grace　stood　transfixed　with　terror。

Then　she　called　to　him。

There　was　no　answer。

She　called　again。

A　faint　voice　replied　that　he　was　not　much　hurt；　and　would　try　to　get　back　to　her。

This；　however；　was　impossible；　and　all　he　could　do　was　to　scramble　along　the　bottom　of　the　ravine。

Grace　kept　on　the　high　ground；　and　they　called　to　each　other　every　moment。　　They　seemed　to　be　a　long　way　from　each　other；　yet　they　were　never　sixty　yards　apart。　　At　last　the　descent　moderated；　and　Grace　rejoined　him。

Then　they　kept　in　the　hollow　for　some　time；　but　at　last　found　another　acclivity　to　mount：　they　toiled　up　it；　laden　with　snow；　yet　perspiring　profusely　with　the　exertion　of　toiling　uphill　through　heather　clogged　with　heavy　snow。

They　reached　the　summit；　and　began　to　descend　again。　　But　now　their　hearts　began　to　quake。　　Men　had　been　lost　on　Cairnhope　before　to…　day；　and　never　found　alive：　and　they　were　lost　on　Cairnhope；　buried　in　the　sinuosities　of　the　mountain；　and　in　a　tremendous　snowstorm。

They　wandered　and　staggered；　sick　at　heart；　since　each　step　might　be　for　the　worse。

They　wandered　and　staggered；　miserably；　and　the　man　began　to　sigh；　and　the　woman　to　cry。

At　last　they　were　so　exhausted；　they　sat　down　in　despair：　and；　in　a　few　minutes；　they　were　a　couple　of　snow…heaps。

Mr。　Coventry　was　the　first　to　see　all　the　danger　they　ran　by　this　course。

〃For　God's　sake；　let　us　go　on！〃　he　said；　〃if　we　once　get　benumbed；　we　are　lost。　　We　MUST　keep　moving；　till　help　comes　to　us。〃

Then　they　staggered；　and　stumbled　on　again；　till　they　both　sank　into　a　deep　snow…drift。

They　extricated　themselves；　but；　oh；　when　they　felt　that　deep　cold　snow　all　round　them；　it　was　a　foretaste　of　the　grave。

The　sun　had　set；　it　was　bitterly　cold；　and　still　the　enormous　flakes　fell；　and　doubled　the　darkness　of　the　night。

They　staggered　and　stumbled　on；　not　now　with　any　hope　of　extricating　themselves　from　the　fatal　mountain；　but　merely　to　keep　the　blood　alive　in　their　veins。　　And；　when　they　were　exhausted；　they　sat　down；　and　soon　were　heaps　of　snow。

While　they　sat　thus；　side　by　side；　thinking　no　more　of　love；　or　any　other　thing　but　this：　should　they　ever　see　the　sun　rise；　or　sit　by　a　fireside　again？　suddenly　they　heard　a　sound　in　the　air　behind　them；　and；　in　a　moment；　what　seemed　a　pack　of　hounds　in　full　cry　passed　close　over　their　heads。

They　uttered　a　loud　cry。

〃We　are　saved！〃　cried　Grace。　　〃Mr。　Raby　is　hunting　us　with　his　dogs。　That　was　the　echo。〃

Coventry　groaned。　　〃What　scent　would　lie？〃　said　he。　　〃Those　hounds　were　in　the　air；　a　hundred　strong。〃

Neither　spoke　for　a　moment；　and　then　it　was　Grace　who　broke　the　terrible　silence。

〃THE　GABRIEL　HOUNDS！〃

〃The　Gabriel　hounds；　that　run　before　calamity！　　Mr。　Coventry；　there's　nothing　to　be　done　now；　but　to　make　our　peace　with　God。　　For　you　are　a　dead　man；　and　I'm　a　dead　woman。　　My　poor　pa