put yourself in his place-第48部分

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〃

This　was　like　oil　on　all　the　waters。

〃Well；　certainly　I　oughtn't　to　forget　that；〃　said　Henry；　apologetically。　　Then　he　appealed　piteously　to　Jael；　whose　power　over　him　struck　every　body　directly；　including　Grace　Carden。　　〃Look　here；　you　mustn't　think；　because　I　don't　keep　howling；　I'm　all　right。　　My　arm　is　disabled：　my　back　is　almost　broken：　my　thigh　is　cut。　　I'm　in　sharp　pain；　all　this　time：　and　that　makes　a　fellow　impatient　of　being　lectured　on　the　back　of　it　all。　　Why　doesn't　he　let　me　go？　　I　don't　want　to　affront　him　now。　　All　I　want　is　to　go　and　get　nursed　a　bit　somewhere。〃

〃Now　that　is　the　first　word　of　reason　and　common　sense　you　have　uttered；　young　man。　　It　decides　me　not　to　detain　you。　　All　I　shall　do；　under　the　circumstances；　is　to　clear　your　rubbish　out　of　that　holy　building；　and　watch　it　by　night　as　well　as　day。　　Your　property；　however；　shall　be　collected；　and　delivered　to　you　uninjured：　so　oblige　me　with　your　name　and　address。〃

Henry　made　no　reply。

Raby　turned　his　eye　full　upon　him。

〃Surely　you　do　not　object　to　tell　me　your　name。〃

〃I　do。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Excuse　me。〃

〃What　are　you　afraid　of？　　Do　you　doubt　my　word；　when　I　tell　you　I　shall　not　proceed　against　you？〃

〃No：　it　is　not　that　at　all。　　But　this　is　no　place　for　me　to　utter　my　father's　name。　　We　all　have　our　secrets；　sir。　　You　have　got　yours。　There's　a　picture；　with　its　face　to　the　wall。　　Suppose　I　was　to　ask　you　to　tell　all　the　world　whose　face　it　is　you　insult　and　hide　from　the　world？〃

Raby　turned　red　with　wrath　and　surprise；　at　this　sudden　thrust。　〃You　insolent　young　scoundrel！〃　he　cried。　　〃What　is　that　to　you；　and　what　connection　can　there　be　between　that　portrait　and　a　man　in　your　way　of　life？〃

〃There's　a　close　connection；〃　said　Henry；　trembling　with　anger；　in　his　turn：　〃and　the　proof　is　that；　when　that　picture　is　turned　to　the　light；　I'll　tell　you　my　name：　and；　till　that　picture　is　turned　to　the　light；　I'll　not　tell　you　my　name；　and　if　any　body　here　knows　my　name；　and　tells　it　you；　may　that　person's　tongue　be　blistered　at　the　root！〃

〃Oh；　how　fearful！〃　cried　Grace；　turning　very　pale。　　〃But　I'll　put　an　end　to　it　all。　　I've　got　the　key；　and　I've　his　permission；　and　I'll　oh；　Mr。　Raby；　there's　something　more　in　this　than　we　know。〃　　She　darted　to　the　picture；　and　unlocked　the　padlock；　and；　with　Jael's　assistance；　began　to　turn　the　picture。　　Then　Mr。　Raby　rose　and　seemed　to　bend　his　mind　inward；　but　he　neither　forbade；　nor　encouraged；　this　impulsive　act　of　Grace　Carden's。

Now　there　was　not　a　man　nor　a　woman　in　the　room　whose　curiosity　had　not　been　more　or　less　excited　about　this　picture；　so　there　was　a　general　movement　toward　it；　of　all　but　Mr。　Raby；　who　stood　quite　still；　turning　his　eye　inward；　and　evidently　much　moved；　though　passive。

There　happened　to　be　a　strong　light　upon　the　picture；　and　the　lovely　olive　face；　the　vivid　features；　and　glorious　black　eyes　and　eyebrows；　seemed　to　flash　out　of　the　canvas　into　life。

Even　the　living　faces；　being　blondes；　paled　before　it；　in　the　one　particular　of　color。　　They　seemed　fair　glittering　moons；　and　this　a　glowing　sun。

Grace's　first　feelings　were　those　of　simple　surprise　and　admiration。　But；　as　she　gazed；　Henry's　words　returned　to　her；　and　all　manner　of　ideas　struck　her　pell…mell。　　〃Oh；　beautiful！　beautiful！〃　she　cried。　Then；　turning　to　Henry；　〃You　are　right；　it　was　not　a　face　to　hide　from　the　worldoh！　the　likeness！　just　look　at　HIM；　and　then　at　her！　can　I　be　mistaken？〃

This　appeal　was　made　to　the　company；　and　roused　curiosity　to　a　high　pitch；　every　eye　began　to　compare　the　dark…skinned　beauty　on　the　wall　with　the　swarthy　young　man；　who　now　stood　there；　and　submitted　in　haughty　silence　to　the　comparison。

The　words　caught　Mr。　Raby's　attention。　　He　made　a　start；　and　elbowing　them　all　out　of　his　way；　strode　up　to　the　picture。

〃What　do　you　say；　Miss　Carden？　　What　likeness　can　there　be　between　my　sister　and　a　smith？〃　and　he　turned　and　frowned　haughtily　on　Henry　Little。

Henry　returned　his　look　of　defiance　directly。

But　that　very　exchange　of　defiance　brought　out　another　likeness；　which　Grace's　quick　eye　seized　directly。

〃Why；　he　is　still　liker　you；〃　she　cried。　　〃Look；　good　people！　　Look　at　all　three。　　Look　at　their　great　black　eyes；　and　their　brown　hair。　Look　at　their　dark　skins；　and　their　haughty　noses。　　Oh；　you　needn't　blow　your　nostrils　out　at　me；　gentlemen；　I　am　not　a　bit　afraid　of　either　of　you。And　then　look　at　this　lovely　creature。　　She　is　a　Raby　too；　only　softened　down　by　her　sweet　womanliness。　　Look　at　them　all　three；　if　they　are　not　one　flesh　and　blood；　I　have　no　eyes。〃

〃Oh　yes；　miss；　and　this　lady　is　his　mother。　　For　I　have　SEEN　her；　and　she　is　a　sweet　lady；　and　she　told　me　I　had　a　Cairnhope　face；　and　kissed　me　for　it。〃

Upon　this　from　Jael；　the　general　conviction　rose　into　a　hum　that　buzzed　round　the　room。

Mr。　Raby　was　struck　with　amazement。　　At　last　he　turned　slowly　upon　Henry；　and　said；　with　stiff　politeness；　〃Is　your　name　Little；　sir？〃

〃Little　is　my　name；　and　I'm　proud　of　it。〃

〃Your　name　may　be　Little；　but　your　face　is　Raby。　　All　the　better　for　you；　sir。〃

He　then　turned　his　back　to　the　young　man；　and　walked　right　in　front　of　the　picture；　and　looked　at　it　steadily　and　sadly。

It　was　a　simple　and　natural　action；　yet　somehow　done　in　so　imposing　a　way；　that　the　bystanders　held　their　breath；　to　see　what　would　follow。

He　gazed　long　and　steadily　on　the　picture；　and　his　features　worked　visibly。

〃Ay！〃　he　said。　　〃Nature　makes　no　such　faces　nowadays。　　Poor　unfortunate　girl！〃　　And　his　voice　faltered　a　moment。

He　then　began　to　utter；　in　a　low　grave　voice；　some　things　that　took　every　body　by　surprise；　by　the　manner　as　well　as　the　matter；　for；　with　his　never　once　taking　his　eyes　off　the　picture；　and　speaking　in　a　voice　softened　by　the　sudden　presence　of　that　womanly　beauty；　the　companion　of　his　youth；　it　was　just　like　a　man　speaking　softly　in　a　dream。

〃Thomas；　this　picture　will　remain　as　it　is　while　I　live。〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃I　find　I　can　bear　the　sight　of　you。　　As　we　get　older　we　get　tougher。　　You　look　as　if　you　didn't　want　me　to　quarrel　with　your　son？　　Well；　I　will　not：　there　has　been　quarreling　enough。　　Any　of　the　loyal　Dences　here？〃　　But　he　never　even　turned　his　head　from　the　picture　to　look　for　them。

〃Only　me；　sir；　Jael　Dence；　at　your　service。　　Father's　not　very　well。〃

〃Nathan；　or　Jael；　it　is　all　one；　so　that　it　is　Dence。　　You'll　take　that　young　gentleman　home　with　you；　and　send　him　to　bed。　　He'll　want　nursing：　for　he　got　some　ugly　blows；　and　took　them　like　a　gentleman。　The　young　gentleman　has　a　fancy　for　forging　thingsthe　Lord　knows　what。　　He　shall　not　forge　things　in　a　church；　and　defile　the　tombs　of　his　own　forefathers；　but〃　（with　a　groan）　〃he　can　forge　in　your　yard。　　All　the　snobs　in　Hillsborough　sha'n't　hinder　him；　if　that　is　his　cursed　hobby。　　Gentlemen　are　not　to　be　dictated　to　by　snobs。　Arm　three　men　every　night　with　guns；　load　the　guns　with　ball；　not　small　shot；　as　I　did；　and　if　those　ruffians　molest　him　again；　kill　them；　and　then　come　to　me　and　complain　of　them。　　But；　mind　you　kill　them　firstcomplain　afterward。　　And　now　take　half…a…dozen　of　these　men　with　you；　to　carry　him　to　the　farm；　if　he　needs　it。　　THERE；　EDITH！〃

And　still　he　never　moved　his　eyes　from　the　picture；　and　the　words　seemed　to　drop　out　of　him。

Henry　stood　bewildered；　and；　ere　he　could　say　anything　that　might　revive　the　dormant　irritation　of　Mr。　Raby　against　him；　female　tact　interposed。　　Grace　clasped　her　hands　to　him；　with　tears　in　her　eyes；　and　as　for　Jael　Dence；　she　assumed　the　authority　with　which　she　had　been　invested　and　hurried　him　bodily　away；　and　the　sword…dancers　all　gathered　round　him；　and　they　carried　him　in　triumphant　procession；　with　the　fiddler　playing；　and　George　whistling；　the　favorite　tune　of　〃Raby　come　home　again；〃　while　every　sturdy　foot　beat　the　hard　and　ringing　road　in　admirable　keeping　with　that　spirit…stirring　march。

When　he　was　gone；　Grace　crept　up　to　Mr。　Raby；　who　still　stood　before　the　picture；　and　eyed　it　and　thought　of　his　youth。　　She　took　his　arm　wondrous　softly　with　her　two　hands；　rested　her　sweet　head　against　his　shoulder；　and　gazed　at　it　along　with　him。

When　she　had　nestled　to　him　some　time　in　this　delicate　attitude；　she　turned　her　eyes　up　to　him；　and　murmured；　〃how　good；　how　noble　you　are：　and　how　I　love　you。〃　　Then；　all　in　a　moment；　she　curled　round　his　neck；　and　kissed　him　with　a　tender　violence；　that　took　him　quite　by　surprise。

As　for　Mr。　Coventry；　he　had　been　reduced　to　a　nullity；　and　escaped　attention　all　this　time：　he　sat　in　gloomy　silence；　and　watched　with　chilled　and　foreboding　heart　the　strange　turn　events　had　taken；　and　were　taking；　events　which　he；　and　no　other　man；　had　set　rolling。


CHAPTER　XVII。


Frederick　Coventry；　being　still　unacquainted　with　the　contents　of　Grace's　letter；　was　now　almost　desperate。　　Grace　Carden；　inaccessible　to　an　unknown　workman；　would　she　be　inaccessible　to　a　workman　whom　Mr。　Raby；　proud　as　he　was；　had　publicly　recognized　as　his　nephew？　　This　was　not　to　be　expected。　　But　something　was　to　be　expected；　viz。；　that　in　a　few　days　the　door　would　be　closed　with　scorn　in　the　face　of　Frederick　Coventry；　the　miserable　traitor；　who　had　broken　his　solemn　pledge；　and　betrayed　his　benefactor　to　those　who　had　all　but　assassinated　him。　　Little　would　be　sure　to　suspect　him；　and　the　prisoner；　when　he　came　to　be　examined；　would　furnish　some　clew。

A　cold　perspiration　bedewed　his　very　back；　when　he　recollected　that　the　chief　constable　would　be　present　at　Cole's　examination；　and　supply　the　link；　even　if　there　should　be　one　missing。　　He　had　serious　thoughts　of　leaving　the　country　at　once。

Finding　himself　unobserved；　he　walked　out　of　the　room；　and　paced　up　and　down　the　hall。

His　thoughts　now　took　a　practical　form。　　He　must　bribe　the　prisoner　to　hold　his　tongue。

But　how？　and　when？　and　where？

After　to…night　there　might　be　no　opportunity　of　saying　a　word　to　him。

While　he　was　debating　this　in　his　mind；　Knight　the　butler　crossed　the　hall。

Coventry　stopped　him；　and　asked　where　the　prisoner　was。

〃Where　Squire　told　us　to　put　him；　sir。〃

〃No　chance　of　his　escapingI　hope？〃

〃Not　he；　sir。

〃I　should　like　to　take　a　look　at　him。〃

Knight　demurred。　　〃Well；　sir；　you　see　the　or