put yourself in his place-第38部分

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Three　broad　bands　of　light　shot　from　the　fires；　expanding　in　size；　but　weakening　in　intensity。　　These　lights；　and　the　candles　at　the　west　end；　revealed　in　a　strange　combination　the　middle　ages；　the　nineteenth　century；　and　eternal　nature。

Nature　first。　　Snow　gleaming　on　the　windows。　　Oh；　it　was　cozy　to　see　it　gleam　and　sparkle；　and　to　think　〃Aha！　you　all　but　killed　me；　now　King　Fire　warms　both　thee　and　me。〃　　Snow…flakes；　of　enormous　size；　softly　descending；　and　each　appearing　a　diamond　brooch；　as　it　passed　through　the　channels　of　fiery　light。

The　middle　ages。　　Massive　old　arches；　chipped；　and　stained；　a　moldering　altar…piece；　dog's…eared　（Henry　had　nailed　it　up　again　all　but　the　top　corner；　and　in　it　still　faintly　gleamed　the　Virgin's　golden　crown）。　　Pulpit；　richly　carved；　but　moldering：　gaunt　walls；　streaked　and　stained　by　time。　　At　the　west　end；　one　saintthe　last　of　manylit　by　two　candles；　and　glowing　ruby　red　across　the　intervening　gulf　of　blackness：　on　the　nearest　wall　an　inscription；　that　still　told；　in　rusty　letters；　how　Giles　de　la　Beche　had　charged　his　lands　with　six　merks　a　year　forever；　to　buy　bread　and　white　watered　herrings；　the　same　to　be　brought　into　Cairnhope　Church　every　Sunday　in　Lent；　and　given　to　two　poor　men　and　four　women；　and　the　same　on　Good　Friday　with　a　penny　dole；　and；　on　that　day；　the　clerk　to　toll　the　bell　at　three　of　the　clock　after　noon；　and　read　the　lamentation　of　a　sinner；　and　receive　one　groat。

Ancient　monuments；　sculptures　with　here　an　arm　gone；　and　here　a　head；　that　yet　looked　half…alive　in　the　weird　and　partial　light。

And　between　one　of　those　mediaeval　sculptures；　and　that　moldering　picture　of　the　Virgin；　stood　a　living　horse；　munching　his　corn；　and　in　the　foreground　was　a　portable　forge；　a　mausoleum　turned　into　fires　and　hot　plate；　and　a　young　man；　type　of　his　century；　forging　table…knives　amidst　the　wrecks　of　another　age。

When　Grace　had　taken　in　the　whole　scene　with　wonder；　her　eye　was　absorbed　by　this　one　figure；　a　model　of　manly　strength；　and　skill；　and　grace。　　How　lightly　he　stepped：　how　easily　his　left　arm　blew　the　coals　to　a　white　heat；　with　blue　flames　rising　from　them。　　How　deftly　he　drew　out　the　white　steel。　　With　what　tremendous　force　his　first　blows　fell；　and　scattered　hot　steel　around。　　Yet　all　that　force　was　regulated　to　a　hairhe　beat；　he　molded；　he　never　broke。　Then　came　the　lighter　blows；　and　not　one　left　the　steel　as　it　found　it。　　In　less　than　a　minute　the　bar　was　a　blade；　it　was　work　incredibly　unlike　his　method　in　carving；　yet；　at　a　glance；　Grace　saw　it　was　also　perfection；　but　in　an　opposite　style。　　In　carving；　the　hand　of　a　countess；　in　forging；　a　blacksmith's　arm。

She　gazed　with　secret　wonder　and　admiration；　and　the　comparison　was　to　the　disadvantage　of　Mr。　Coventry；　for　he　sat　shivering；　and　the　other　seemed　all　power。　　And　women　adore　power。

When　Little　had　forged　the　knives　and　forks；　and　two　deep　saucers；　with　magical　celerity；　he　plunged　them　into　water　a　minute；　and　they　hissed；　he　sawed　off　the　rim　of　a　pew；　and　fitted　handles。

Then　he　washed　his　face　and　hands；　and　made　himself　dry　and　glowing；　let　down　his　sleeves；　and　served　them　some　Yorkshire　pie；　and　bread；　and　salt；　and　stirred　a　little　sugar　into　the　wine；　and　poured　it　into　the　saucers。

〃Now　eat　a　bit；　both　of　you；　before　you　go。〃

Mr。　Coventry　responded　at　once　to　the　invitation。

But　Grace　said；　timidly；　〃Yes；　if　you　will　eat　with　us。〃

〃No；　no；〃　said　he。　　〃I've　not　been　perished　with　snow；　nor　rolled　in　a　river。〃

Grace　hesitated　still；　but　Coventry　attacked　the　pie　directly。　　It　was　delicious。　　〃By　Jove；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃you　are　the　prince　of　blacksmiths。〃

〃Blacksmiths！〃　said　Grace；　coloring　high。　　But　Little　only　smiled　satirically。

Grace；　who　was　really　faint　with　hunger；　now　ate　a　little；　and　then　the　host　made　her　sip　some　wine。

The　food　and　wine　did　Mr。　Coventry　so　much　good；　that　he　began　to　recover　his　superiority；　and　expressed　his　obligations　to　Henry　in　a　tone　which　was　natural；　and　not　meant　to　be　offensive；　but　yet；　it　was　so；　under　all　the　circumstances：　there　was　an　underlying　tone　of　condescension；　it　made　Grace　fear　he　would　offer　Henry　his　purse　at　leaving。

Henry　himself　writhed　under　it；　but　said　nothing。　　Grace；　however；　saw　his　ire；　his　mortification；　and　his　jealousy　in　his　face；　and　that　irritated　her；　but　she　did　not　choose　to　show　either　of　the　men　how　much　it　angered　her。

She　was　in　a　most　trying　situation；　and　all　the　woman's　wit　and　tact　were　keenly　on　their　guard。

What　she　did　was　this；　she　did　not　utter　one　word　of　remonstrance；　but　she　addressed　most　of　her　remarks　to　Mr。　Little；　and；　though　the　remarks　were　nothing　in　themselves；　she　contrived　to　throw　profound　respect　into　them。　　Indeed；　she　went　beyond　respect。　　She　took　the　tone　of　an　inferior　addressing　a　superior。

This　was　nicely　calculated　to　soothe　Henry；　and　also　to　make　Coventry；　who　was　a　man　of　tact；　change　his　own　manner。

Nor　was　it　altogether　without　that　effect。　　But　then　it　annoyed　Coventry；　and　made　him　wish　to　end　it。

After　a　while　he　said；　〃My　dear　Grace；　it　can't　be　far　from　Raby　Hall。　　I　think　you　had　better　let　me　take　you　home　at　once。〃

Grace　colored　high；　and　bit　her　lip。

Henry　was　green　with　jealous　anguish。

〃Are　you　quite　recovered　yourself？〃　said　Grace；　demurely；　to　Mr。　Coventry。

〃Quite；　thanks　to　this　good　fellow's　hospitality。〃

〃Then　WOULD　you　mind　going　to　Raby；　and　sending　some　people　for　me？　I　really　feel　hardly　equal　to　fresh　exertion　just　yet。〃

This　proposal　brought　a　flush　of　pleasure　to　Henry's　cheek；　and　mortified　Mr。　Coventry　cruelly　in　his　turn。

〃What；　go　and　leave　you　here？　　Surely　you　can　not　be　serious。〃

〃Oh；　I　don't　wish　you　to　leave　me。　　Only　you　seemed　in　a　hurry。〃

Henry　was　miserable　again。

Coventry　did　not　let　well　alone；　he　alluded　delicately　but　tenderly　to　what　had　passed　between　them；　and　said　he　could　not　bear　her　out　of　his　sight　until　she　was　safe　at　Raby。　　The　words　and　the　tone　were　those　of　a　lover；　and　Henry　was　in　agony：　thereupon　Grace　laughed　it　off；　〃Not　bear　me　out　of　your　sight！〃　said　she。　　〃Why；　you　ran　away　from　me；　and　tumbled　into　the　river。　　Ha！　ha！　ha！　　And〃　（very　seriously）　〃we　should　both　be　in　another　world　but　for　Mr。　Little。〃

〃You　are　very　cruel；〃　said　Mr。　Coventry。　　〃When　you　gave　up　in　despair；　I　ran　for　help。　　You　punish　me　for　failure；　punish　me　savagely。〃

〃Yes；　I　was　ungenerous；〃　said　Grace。　　〃Forgive　me。〃　　But　she　said　it　rather　coolly；　and　not　with　a　very　penitent　air。

She　added　an　explanation　more　calculated　to　please　Henry　than　him。　〃Your　gallantry　is　always　graceful；　and　it　is　charming；　in　a　drawing…room；　but　in　this　wild　place；　and　just　after　escaping　the　grave；　let　us　talk　like　sensible　people。　　If　you　and　I　set　out　for　Raby　Hall　alone；　we　shall　lose　our　way　again；　and　perish；　to　a　certainty。　　But　I　think　Mr。　Little　must　know　the　way　to　Raby　Hall。〃

〃Oh；　then；〃　said　Coventry；　catching　at　her　idea；　〃perhaps　Mr。　Little　would　add　to　the　great　obligation；　under　which　he　has　laid　us　both；　by　going　to　Raby　Hall　and　sending　assistance　hither。〃

〃I　can't　do　that；〃　said　Henry；　roughly。

〃And　that　is　not　at　all　what　I　was　going　to　propose；〃　said　Grace；　quietly。　　〃But　perhaps　you　would　be　so　good　as　to　go　with　us　to　Raby　Hall？　　Then　I　should　feel　safe；　and　I　want　Mr。　Raby　to　thank　you；　for　I　feel　how　cold　and　unmeaning　all　I　have　said　to　you　is；　I　seem　to　have　no　words。〃　　Her　voice　faltered；　and　her　sweet　eyes　filled。

〃Miss　Carden；〃　said　the　young　man；　gravely；　〃I　can't　do　that。　　Mr。　Raby　is　no　friend　of　mine；　and　he　is　a　bigoted　old　man；　who　would　turn　me　out　of　this　place　if　he　knew。　　Come；　now；　when　you　talk　about　gratitude　to　me　for　not　letting　you　be　starved　to　death；　you　make　me　blush。　　Is　there　a　man　in　the　world　that　wouldn't？　　But　this　I　do　say；　it　would　be　rather　hard　if　you　two　were　to　go　away；　and　cut　my　throat　in　return；　and；　if　you　open　your　mouths　ever　so　little；　either　of　you；　you　WILL　cut　my　throat。　　Why；　ask　yourselves；　have　I　set　up　my　workshop　in　such　a　place　as　thisby　choice？　　It　takes　a　stout　heart　to　work　here；　I　can　tell　you；　and　a　stout　heart　to　sleep　here　over　dead　bones。〃

〃I　see　it　all。　　The　Trades　Unions！〃

〃That　is　it。　　So；　now；　there　are　only　two　ways。　　You　must　promise　me　never　to　breathe　a　word　to　any　living　soul；　or　I　must　give　up　my　livelihood；　and　leave　the　country。〃

〃What　can　not　you　trust　me？　　Oh；　Mr。　Little！〃

〃No；　no；　it's　this　gentleman。　　He　is　a　stranger　to　me；　you　know；　and；　you　see；　my　life　may　be　at　stake；　as　well　as　my　means。〃

〃Mr。　Coventry　is　a　gentleman；　and　a　man　of　honor。　　He　is　incapable　of　betraying　you。〃

〃I　should　hope　so；〃　said　Coventry。　　〃I　pledge　you　the　word　of　a　gentleman　I　will　never　let　any　human　creature　know　that　you　are　working　here。〃

〃Give　me　your　hand　on　that；　if　you　please。〃

Coventry　gave　him　his　hand　with　warmth　and　evident　sincerity。

Young　Little　was　reassured。　　〃Come；〃　said　he；　〃I　feel　I　can　trust　you　both。　　And；　sir；　Miss　Carden　will　tell　you　what　happened　to　me　in　Cheetham's　works；　and　then　you　will　understand　what　I　risk　upon　your　honor。〃

〃I　accept　the　responsibility；　and　I　thank　you　for　giving　me　this　opportunity　to　show　you　how　deeply　I　feel　indebted　to　you。〃

〃That　is　square　enough。　　Well；　now　my　mind　is　at　ease　about　that；　I'll　tell　you　what　I'll　do；　I　won't　take　you　quite　to　Raby　Hall；　but　I'll　take　you　so　near　to　it；　you　can't　miss　it；　and　then　I'll　go　back　to　my　work。〃

He　sighed　deeply　at　the　lonely　prospect；　and　Grace　heard　him。

〃Come；〃　said　he；　almost　violently；　and　led　the　way　out　of　church。　But　he　stayed　behind　to　lock　the　door；　and　then　joined　them。

They　all　three　went　together；　Grace　in　the　middle。

There　was　now　but　little　snow　falling；　and　the　air　was　not　so　thick；　but　it　was　most　laborious　walking；　and　soon　Mr。　Coventry；　who　was　stiff　and　in　pain；　fell　a　little　behind；　and　groaned　as　he　hobbled　on。

Grace　whispered　to　Henry：　〃Be　generous。　　He　has　hurt　himself　so。〃

This　made　Henry　groan　in　return。　　But　he　said　nothing。　　He　just　turned　back　to　Coventry〃You　can't　get　on　without　help；　sir；　lean　on　me。〃

The　act　was　friendly；　the　tone　surly。　　Coventry　accepted　the　act；　and　noted　the　tone　in　his　memory。

When　Grace　had　done　t