put yourself in his place-第4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！


be　L9　clear　to　us。〃

〃The　sight　of　the　place！〃　objected　Mrs。　Little；　hiding　her　face　in　her　hands　instinctively。

He　kissed　her；　and　talked　good　manly　sense　to　her；　and　begged　her　to　have　more　courage。

She　was　little　able　to　deny　him；　and　she　consented；　but　cried；　out　of　his　sight；　a　good　many　times　about　it。

As　for　Henry；　strong　in　the　consciousness　of　power　and　skill；　he　felt　glad　he　was　going　to　Hillsborough。　　〃Many　a　workman　has　risen　to　the　top　of　the　tree　in　that　place；〃　said　he。　　〃Why；　this　very　Cheetham　was　grinding　saws　in　a　water…wheel　ten　years　ago；　I've　heard　uncle　Joe　say。　　Come；　mother；　don't　you　be　a　baby！　　I'll　settle　you　in　a　cottage　outside　the　smoke；　you　shall　make　a　palace　of　it；　and　we'll　rise　in　the　very　town　where　we　fell；　and　friends　and　foes　shall　see　us。〃

Mr。　Cheetham　purchased　both　the　carving　and　the　tools　to　exhibit　in　Hillsborough；　and　the　purchase…money；　less　a　heavy　commission；　was　paid　to　Henry。　　He　showed　Mrs。　Little　thirty　pounds；　and　helped　her　pack　up；　and　next　day　they　reached　Hillsborough　by　train。

Henry　took　a　close　cab；　and　carried　his　mother　off　to　the　suburbs　in　search　of　a　lodging。　　She　wore　a　thick　veil；　and　laid　her　head　on　her　son's　shoulder；　and　held　his　brown　though　elegant　hand　with　her　white　fingers；　that　quivered　a　little　as　she　passed　through　the　well…known　streets。

As　for　Henry；　he　felt　quite　triumphant　and　grand；　and　consoled　her　in　an　off…hand；　hearty　way。　　〃Come；　cheer　up；　and　face　the　music。　They　have　all　forgotten　you　by　this　time；　and；　when　they　do　see　you　again；　you　shall　be　as　good　as　the　best　of　them。　　I　don't　drink；　and　I've　got　a　trade　all　to　myself　here；　and　I'd　rather　make　my　fortune　in　this　town　than　any　other；　and；　mother；　you　have　been　a　good　friend　to　me；　I　won't　ever　marry　till　I　have　done　you　justice；　and　made　you　the　queen　of　this　very　town。〃

And　so　he　rattled　on；　in　such　high　spirits；　that　the　great　soft　thing　began　to　smile　with　motherly　love　and　pride　through　her　tears；　ere　they　found　a　lodging。

Next　day　to　the　works；　and　there　the　foreman　showed　him　a　small　forge　on　the　ground　floor；　and　a　vacant　room　above　to　make　his　handles　in　and　put　the　tools　together；　the　blades　were　to　be　ground；　whetted；　and　finished　by　cheaper　hands。

A　quick…eared　grinder　soon　came　up　to　them；　and　said　roughly；　〃Ain't　we　to　wet　new　forge？〃

〃They　want　their　drink　out　of　you；〃　said　the　foreman；　and　whispered；　in　great　anxiety；　〃Don't　say　no；　or　you　might　as　well　work　in　a　wasp's　nest　as　here。〃

〃All　right；〃　said　Henry；　cheerfully。　　〃I'm　no　drinker　myself；　but　I'll　stand　what　is　customary。〃

〃That　is　right；〃　said　Foreman　Bayne。　　〃'Twill　cost　you　fifteen　shillings。　　But　Peace　is　cheap　at　as　many　guineas。〃

The　word　was　given；　and　every　man　who　worked　on　the　same　floor　with　Henry　turned　out　to　drink　at　his　expense；　and　left　off　work　for　a　good　hour。　　With　some　exceptions　they　were　a　rough　lot；　and　showed　little　friendliness　or　good…humor　over　it。　　One　even　threw　out　a　hint　that　no　cockney　forges　were　wanted　in　Hillsborough。　　But　another　took　him　up；　and　said；　〃Maybe　not；　but　you　are　not　much　of　a　man　to　drink　his　liquor　and　grudge　him　his　bread。〃

After　this　waste　of　time　and　money；　Henry　went　back　to　the　works；　and　a　workman　told　him　rather　sulkily；　he　was　wanted　in　the　foreman's　office。

He　went　in；　and　there　was　a　lovely　girl　of　eighteen；　who　looked　at　him　with　undisguised　curiosity；　and　addressed　him　thus：　〃Sir；　is　it　you　that　carve　wood　so　beautifully？〃

Henry　blushed；　and　hesitated；　and　that　made　the　young　lady　blush　herself　a　very　little；　and　she　said；　〃I　wished　to　take　lessons　in　carving。〃　　Then；　as　he　did　not　reply；　she　turned　to　Mr。　Bayne。　　〃But　perhaps　he　objects　to　teach　other　people？〃

〃WE　should　object　to　his　teaching　other　workmen；〃　said　the　foreman；　〃but；〃　turning　to　Henry；　〃there　is　no　harm　in　your　giving　her　a　lesson　or　two；　after　hours。　　You　will　want　a　set　of　the　tools；　miss？〃

〃Of　course　I　shall。　　Please　put　them　into　the　carriage；　andwhen　will　he　come　and　teach　me；　I　wonder？　for　I　am　wild　to　begin。〃

Henry　said　he　could　come　Saturday　afternoon；　or　Monday　morning　early。

〃Whichever　you　please；〃　said　the　lady；　and　put　down　her　card　on　the　desk；　then　tripped　away　to　her　carriage；　leaving　Henry　charmed　with　her　beauty　and　ease。

He　went　home　to　his　mother；　and　told　her　he　was　to　give　lessons　to　the　handsomest　young　lady　he　had　ever　seen。　　〃She　has　bought　the　specimen　tools　too；　so　I　must　forge　some　more；　and　lose　no　time　about　it。〃

〃Who　is　she；　I　wonder？〃

〃Here　is　her　card。　　'Miss　Carden；　Woodbine　Villa；　Heath　Hill。'〃

〃Carden！〃　said　the　widow。　　Then；　after　a　moment's　thought；　〃Oh；　Henry；　don't　go　near　them。　　Ah；　I　knew　how　it　would　be。　Hillsborough　is　not　like　London。　　You　can't　be　long　hid　in　it。〃

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter？　　Do　you　know　the　lady？〃

〃Oh；　yes。　　Her　papa　is　director　of　an　insurance　company　in　London。　I　remember　her　being　born　very　well。　　The　very　day　she　was　christenedher　name　is　Graceyou　were　six　years　old；　and　I　took　you　to　her　christening；　and　oh；　Harry；　my　brother　is　her　godfather。　Don't　you　go　near　that　Grace　Carden；　don't　visit　any　one　that　knew　us　in　better　days。〃

〃Why；　what　have　we　to　be　ashamed　of？〃　said　Henry。　　〃'Tisn't　as　if　we　sat　twiddling　our　thumbs　and　howling；　'We　have　seen　better　days。'　And　'tisn't　as　if　we　asked　favors　of　anybody。　　For　my　part　I　don't　care　who　knows　I　am　here；　and　can　make　three　hundred　a　year　with　my　own　hands　and　wrong　no　man。　　I'd　rather　be　a　good　workman　in　wood　and　steel　than　an　arrogant　old　fool　like　your　b。　　No；　I　won't　own　him　for　yours　or　mine　eithercall　him　Raby。　　Well；　I　wouldn't　change　places　with　him；　nor　any　of　his　sort：　I'm　a　British　workman；　and　worth　a　dozen　Rabysuseless　scum！〃

〃That　you　are；　dear；　so　don't　demean　yourself　to　give　any　of　them　lessons。　　Her　godfather　would　be　sure　to　hear　of　it。〃

〃Well；　I　won't；　to　please　you。　　But　you　have　no　more　pluck　than　a　chickenbegging　your　pardon；　mother。〃

〃No；　dear；〃　said　Mrs。　Little；　humbly；　quite　content　to　gain　her　point　and　lose　her　reputation　for　pluck；　if　any。

Henry　worked　regularly；　and　fast；　and　well；　and　in　less　than　a　fortnight　a　new　set　of　his　carving…tools　were　on　view　in　Hillsborough；　and　another　in　London；　for　it　was　part　of　Mr。　Cheetham's　strategy　to　get　all　the　London　orders；　and　even　make　London　believe　that　these　superior　instruments　had　originated　in　Hillsborough。

One　day　Miss　Carden　called　and　saw　Bayne　in　the　office。　　Her　vivid　features　wore　an　expression　of　vexation；　and　she　complained　to　him　that　the　wood…carver　had　never　been　near　her。

Bayne　was　surprised　at　that；　but　he　was　a　man　who　always　allayed　irritation　on　the　spot。　　〃Rely　on　it；　there's　some　reason；〃　said　he。　〃Perhaps　he　has　not　got　settled。　　I'll　go　for　him　directly。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　the　young　lady。　　Then　in　the　same　breath；　〃No；　take　me　to　him；　and　perhaps　we　may　catch　him　carvingcross　thing！〃

Bayne　assented　cheerfully；　and　led　the　way　across　a　yard；　and　up　a　dirty　stone　stair；　which；　solid　as　it　was；　vibrated　with　the　powerful　machinery　that　steam　was　driving　on　every　side　of　it。　　He　opened　a　door　suddenly；　and　Henry　looked　up　from　his　work；　and　saw　the　invaders。

He　stared　a　little　at　first；　and　then　got　up　and　looked　embarrassed　and　confused。

〃You　did　not　keep　your　word；　sir；〃　said　Grace；　quietly。

〃No；〃　he　muttered；　and　hung　his　head。

He　seemed　so　confused　and　ashamed；　that　Bayne　came　to　his　assistance。　　〃The　fact　is；　no　workman　likes　to　do　a　hand's…turn　on　Saturday　afternoon。　　I　think　they　would　rather　break　Sunday　than　Saturday。〃

〃It　is　not　that；〃　said　Henry；　in　a　low　voice。

Grace　heard　him；　but　answered　Mr。　Bayne：　〃Oh　dear；　I　wish　I　had　known。　　I　fear　I　have　made　an　unreasonable　request：　for；　of　course；　after　working　so　hard　all　the　weekbut　then　why　did　you　let　me　purchase　the　tools　to　carve　with？　　Papa　says　they　are　very　dear；　Mr。　Bayne。　　But　that　is　what　gentlemen　always　say　if　one　buys　anything　that　is　really　good。　　But　of　course　they　WILL　be　dear；　if　I　am　not　to　be　taught　how　to　use　them。〃　　She　then　looked　in　Mr。　Bayne's　face　with　an　air　of　infantine　simplicity：　〃Would　Mr。　Cheetham　take　them　back；　I　wonder；　under　the　circumstances？〃

At　this　sly　thrust；　Bayne　began　to　look　anxious；　but　Henry　relieved　him　the　next　moment　by　saying；　in　a　sort　of　dogged　way；　〃There；　there；　I'll　come。〃　　He　added；　after　a　pause；　〃I　will　give　you　six　lessons；　if　you　like。〃

〃I　shall　be　so　much　obliged。　　When　will　you　come；　sir？〃

〃Next　Saturday；　at　three　o'clock。〃

〃I　shall　be　sure　to　be　at　home；　sir。〃

She　then　said　something　polite　about　not　disturbing　him　further；　and　vanished　with　an　arch　smile　of　pleasure　and　victory；　that　disclosed　a　row　of　exquisite　white　teeth；　and　haunted　Henry　Little　for　many　a　day　after。

He　told　his　mother　what　had　happened；　and　showed　so　much　mortified　pride　that　she　no　longer　dissuaded　him　from　keeping　his　word。　　〃Only　pray　don't　tell　her　your　name；〃　said　she。

〃Well；　but　what　am　I　to　do　if　she　asks　it？〃

〃Say　Thompson；　or　Johnson；　or　anything　you　like；　except　Little。〃

This　request　roused　Henry's　bile。　　〃What；　am　I　a　criminal　to　deny　my　name？　　And　how　shall　I　look；　if　I　go　and　give　her　a　false　name；　and　then　she　comes　to　Bayne　and　learns　my　right　one？　　No；　I'll　keep　my　name　back；　if　I　can；　but　I'll　never　disown　it。　　I'm　not　ashamed　of　it；　if　you　are。〃

This　reduced　poor　Mrs。　Little　to　silence；　followed；　in　due　course；　by　a　few　meek；　clandestine　tears。

Henry　put　on　his　new　tweed　suit　and　hat；　and　went　up　to　the　villa。　He　announced　himself　as　the　workman　from　Cheetham's；　and　the　footman；　who　had　probably　his　orders；　ushered　him　into　the　drawing…　room　at　once。　　There　he　found　Grace　Carden　seated；　reading；　and　a　young　woman　sewing　at　a　respectful　distance。　　This　pair　were　types；　Grace；　of　a　young　English　gentlewoman；　and　Jael　Dence　of　a　villager　by　unbroken　descent。　　Grace　was　tall；　supple；　and　serpentine；　yet　not　thin；　Jael　was　robust　and　ample；　without　being　fat；　she　was　of　the　same　height；　though　Grace　looked　the　taller。　　Grace　had　dark　brown　eyes　and　light　brown　hair；　and　her　blooming　cheek　and　bewitching　mouth　shone　with　expression　so　varied；　yet　vivid；　and　always　appropriate　to　the　occasion；　grave　or　gay；　playful　or　dignified；　that　he