put yourself in his place-第50部分

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〃To　my　trade？〃

〃You　know　better　than　that；　Ned。　　You　are　a　freeman；　but　he　won't　be　a　freeman's　son　by　our　law；　thou　knowst。　　But　there's　plenty　of　outside　trades　in　Hillsbro'。　　We'll　bind　him　to　one　of　those；　and　keep　an　eye　on　him；　for　thy　sake。〃

〃Well；　I　must　take　what　I　can　get。〃

〃And　little　enough　too；〃　said　Eliza　Watney。　　〃Now　do　you　know　that　they　have　set　upon　Mr。　Little　and　beaten　him　within　an　inch　of　his　life？　　Oh；　Ned；　you　can't　approve　that；　and　him　our　best　friend。〃

〃Who　says　I　approve　it；　thou　fool？〃

〃Then　tell　the　gentleman　who　the　villain　was；　for　I　believe　you　know。〃

〃I'll　tell　'em　summut　about　it。〃

Grotait　turned　pale；　but　still　kept　his　glittering　eye　fixed　on　the　sick　man。

〃The　job　was　offered　to　me；　but　I　wouldn't　be　in　it。　　I　know　that　much。　　Says　I；　'He　has　had　his　squeak。'〃

〃Who　offered　you　the　job？〃　asked　Mr。　Holdfast。　　And　at　this　moment　Ransome　came　in。

〃What；　another　black　coat！〃　said　Simmons。　　〃；　if　you　are　not　like　so　many　crows　over　a　dead　horse。〃　　He　then　began　to　wander；　and　Holdfast's　question　remained　unanswered。

This　aberration　continued　so　long；　and　accompanied　with　such　interruptions　of　the　breathing；　that　both　Holdfast　and　Ransome　despaired　of　ever　hearing　another　rational　word　from　the　man's　lips。

They　lingered　on；　however；　and　still　Grotait　sat　at　the　foot　of　the　bed；　with　his　glittering　eye　fixed　on　the　dying　man。

Presently　Simmons　became　silent；　and　reflected。

〃Who　offered　me　the　job　to　do　Little？〃　said　he；　in　a　clear　rational　voice。

〃Yes；〃　said　Mr。　Holdfast。　　〃And　who　paid　you　to　blow　up　the　forge？〃　Simmons　made　no　reply。　　His　fast　fleeting　powers　appeared　unable　now　to　hold　an　idea　for　above　a　second　or　two。

Yet；　after　another　short　interval；　he　seemed　to　go　back　a　second　time　to　the　subject　as　intelligibly　as　ever。

〃Master　Editor！〃　said　he；　with　a　sort　of　start。

〃Yes。〃　　And　Holdfast　stepped　close　to　his　bedside。

〃Can　you　keep　a　secret？〃

Grotait　started　up。

〃Yes！〃　said　Holdfast；　eagerly。

〃THEN　SO　CAN　I。〃

These　were　the　last　words　of　Ned　Simmons。　　He　died；　false　to　himself；　but　true　to　his　fellows；　and　faithful　to　a　terrible　confederacy；　which；　in　England　and　the　nineteenth　century；　was　Venice　and　the　middle　ages　over　again。


CHAPTER　XIX。


Mr。　Coventry；　relieved　of　a　great　and　immediate　anxiety；　could　now　turn　his　whole　attention　to　Grace　Carden；　and　she　puzzled　him。　　He　expected　to　see　her　come　down　beaming　with　satisfaction　at　the　great　event　of　last　night。　　Instead　of　that　she　appeared　late；　with　cheeks　rather　pale；　and　signs　of　trouble　under　her　fair　eyes。

As　the　day　wore　on；　she　showed　positive　distress　of　mind；　irritable　and　dejected　by　turns；　and　quite　unable　to　settle　to　anything。

Mr。　Coventry；　with　all　his　skill；　was　quite　at　fault。　　He　could　understand　her　being　in　anxiety　for　news　about　Little；　but　why　not　relieve　her　anxiety　by　sending　a　servant　to　inquire？　　Above　all；　why　this　irritation？　this　positive　suffering？

A　mystery　to　him；　there　is　no　reason　why　it　should　be　one　to　my　readers。　　Grace　Carden；　for　the　first　time　in　her　life；　was　in　the　clutches　of　a　fiend；　a　torturing　fiend；　called　jealousy。

The　thought　that　another　woman　was　nursing　Henry　Little　all　this　time　distracted　her。　　It　would　have　been　such　heaven　to　her　to　tend　him；　after　those　cruel　men　had　hurt　him　so；　but　that　pure　joy　was　given　to　another；　and　that　other　loved　him；　and　could　now　indulge　and　show　her　love。　　Show　it？　　Why；　she　had　herself　opened　his　eyes　to　Jael's　love；　and　advised　him　to　reward　it。

And　now　she　could　do　nothing　to　defend　herself。　　The　very　improvement　in　Henry's　circumstances　held　her　back。　　She　could　not　write　to　him　and　say；　〃Now　I　know　you　are　Mr。　Raby's　nephew；　that　makes　all　the　difference。〃　　That　would　only　give　him　fresh　offense；　and　misrepresent　herself；　for　in　truth　she　had　repented　her　letter　long　before　the　relationship　was　discovered。

No；　all　she　could　do　was　to　wait　till　Jael　Dence　came　up；　and　then　charge　her　with　some　subtle　message；　that　might　make　Henry　Little　pause　if　he　still　loved　her。

She　detected　Coventry　watching　her。　　She　fled　directly　to　her　own　room；　and　there　sat　on　thorns；　waiting　for　her　rival　to　come　and　give　her　an　opportunity。

But　afternoon　came；　and　no　Jael；　evening　came；　and　no　Jael。

〃Ah！〃　thought　Grace；　bitterly；　〃she　is　better　employed　than　to　come　near　me。　　She　is　not　a　self…sacrificing　fool　like　me。　　When　I　had　the　advantage；　I　gave　it　up；　now　she　has　got　it；　she　uses　it　without　mercy；　decency；　or　gratitude。　　And　that　is　the　way　to　love。　　Oh！　if　my　turn　could　but　come　again。　　But　it　never　will。〃

Having　arrived　at　this　conclusion；　she　lay　on　the　couch　in　her　own　room；　and　was　thoroughly　miserable。

She　came　down　to　dinner；　and　managed　to　take　a　share　in　the　conversation；　but　was　very　languid；　and　Coventry　detected　that　she　had　been　crying。

After　dinner；　Knight　brought　in　a　verbal　message　from　Jael　to　Mr。　Raby；　to　the　effect　that　the　young　gentleman　was　stiff　and　sore；　and　she　had　sent　into　Hillsborough　for　Dr。　Amboyne。

〃Quite　right　of　her；〃　said　the　squire。　　〃You　needn't　look　so　alarmed；　Grace；　there　are　no　bones　broken；　and　he　is　in　capital　hands：　he　couldn't　have　a　tenderer　nurse　than　that　great　strapping　lass；　nor　a　better　doctor　than　my　friend　and　maniac；　Amboyne。〃

Next　morning；　soon　after　breakfast；　Raby　addressed　his　guests　as　follows：〃I　was　obliged　to　go　into　Hillsborough　yesterday；　and　postpone　the　purification　of　that　sacred　building。　　But　I　set　a　watch　on　it；　and　this　day　I　devote　to　a　pious　purpose；　I'm　going　to　un…Little　the　church　of　my　forefathers；　and　you　can　come　with　me；　if　you　choose。〃　　This　invitation；　however；　was　given　in　a　tone　so　gloomy；　and　so　little　cordial；　that　Coventry；　courtier…like；　said　in　reply；　he　felt　it　would　be　a　painful　sight　to　his　host；　and　the　fewer　witnesses　the　better。　　Raby　nodded　assent；　and　seemed　pleased。　Not　so　Miss　Carden。　　She　said：　〃If　that　is　your　feeling；　you　had　better　stay　at　home。　　I　shall　go。　　I　have　something　to　tell　Mr。　Raby　when　we　get　there；　and　I'm　vain　enough　to　think　it　will　make　him　not　quite　so　angry　about　the　poor　dear　old　church。〃

〃Then　come；　by　all　means；〃　said　Raby；　〃for　I'm　angry　enough　at　present。〃

Before　they　got　half　way　to　the　church；　they　were　hailed　from　behind：　and　turning　round；　saw　the　burly　figure　of　Dr。　Amboyne　coming　after　them。

They　waited　for　him；　and　he　came　up　with　them。　　He　had　heard　the　whole　business　from　Little；　and　was　warm　in　the　praises　of　his　patient。

To　a　dry　inquiry　from　Raby；　whether　he　approved　of　his　patient　desecrating　a　church；　he　said；　with　delicious　coolness；　he　thought　there　was　not　much　harm　in　that；　the　church　not　being　used　for　divine　service。

At　this；　Raby　uttered　an　inarticulate　but　savage　growl；　and　Grace；　to　avert　a　hot　discussion；　begged　the　doctor　not　to　go　into　that　question；　but　to　tell　her　how　Mr。　Little　was。

〃Oh；　he　has　received　some　severe　contusions；　but　there　is　nothing　serious。　　He　is　in　good　hands；　I　assure　you。　　I　met　him　out　walking　with　his　nurse；　and　I　must　say　I　never　saw　a　handsomer　couple。　　He　is　dark；　she　is　fair。　　She　is　like　the　ancient　statues　of　Venus；　massive　and　grand；　but　not　clumsy；　he　is　lean　and　sinewy；　as　a　man　ought　to　be。〃

〃Oh；　doctor；　this　from　you？〃　said　Grace；　with　undisguised　spite。

〃Well；　it　WAS　a　concession。　　He　was　leaning　on　her　shoulder；　and　her　face　and　downcast　eyes　were　turned　toward　him　so　sweetlysaid　I　to　myselfHum！〃

〃What！〃　said　Raby。　　〃Would　you　marry　him　to　a　farmer's　daughter？〃

〃No；　I'd　let　him　marry　whom　he　likes；　only；　having　seen　him　and　his　nurse　together；　it　struck　me　that；　between　two　such　fine　creatures　of　the　same　age；　the　tender　relation　of　patient　and　nurse；　sanctioned；　as　I　hear　it　is；　by　a　benevolent　uncle〃

〃Confound　your　impudence！〃

〃Would　hardly　stop　there。　　What　do　you　think；　Miss　Carden？〃

〃I'll　tell　you；　if　you　will　promise；　on　your　honor；　never　to　repeat　what　I　say。〃　　And　she　slackened　her　pace；　and　lingered　behind　Mr。　Raby。

He　promised　her。

〃Then；〃　she　whispered　in　his　ear；　〃I　HATE　YOU！〃

And　her　eyes　flashed　blue　fire　at　him；　and　startled　him。

Then　she　darted　forward；　and　took　Mr。　Raby's　arm；　with　a　scarlet　face；　and　a　piteous　deprecating　glance　shot　back　at　the　sagacious　personage　she　had　defied。

Dr。　Amboyne　proceeded　instantly　to　put　himself　in　this　young　lady's　place；　and　so　divine　what　was　the　matter。　　The　familiar　process　soon　brought　a　knowing　smile　to　his　sly　lip。

They　entered　the　church；　and　went　straight　to　the　forge。

Raby　stood　with　folded　arms；　and　contemplated　the　various　acts　of　sacrilege　with　a　silent　distress　that　was　really　touching。

Amboyne　took　more　interest　in　the　traces　of　the　combat。　　〃Ah！〃　said　he；　〃this　is　where　he　threw　the　hot　coals　in　their　faceshe　has　told　me　all　about　it。　　And　look　at　this　pool　of　blood　on　the　floor！　Here　he　felled　one　of　them　with　his　shovel。　　What　is　this？　traces　of　blood　leading　up　to　this　chest！〃

He　opened　the　chest；　and　found　plain　proofs　inside　that　the　wounded　man　had　hid　himself　in　it　for　some　time。　　He　pointed　this　out　to　Raby；　and　gave　it　as　his　opinion　that　the　man's　confederates　had　come　back　for　him；　and　carried　him　away。　　〃These　fellows　are　very　true　to　one　another。　　I　have　often　admired　them　for　that。〃

Raby　examined　the　blood…stained　interior　of　the　chest；　and　could　not　help　agreeing　with　the　sagacious　doctor。

〃Yes；〃　said　he；　sadly；　〃if　we　had　been　sharp；　we　might　have　caught　the　blackguard。　　But　I　was　in　a　hurry　to　leave　the　scene　of　sacrilege。　　Look　here；　the　tomb　of　a　good　knight　defiled　into　an　oven；　and　the　pews　mutilatedand　all　for　the　base　uses　of　trade。〃　And　in　this　strain　he　continued　for　a　long　time　so　eloquently　that；　at　last；　he　roused　Grace　Carden's　ire。

〃Mr。　Raby；〃　said　she；　firmly；　〃please　add　to　those　base　uses　one　more。　　One　dismal　night；　two　poor　creatures；　a　man　and　a　woman；　lost　their　way　in　the　snow；　and；　after　many　a　hard　struggle；　the　cold　and　the　snow　overpowered　them；　and　death　was　upon　them。　　But；　just　at　her　last　gasp；　the　girl　saw　a　light；　and　heard　the　tinkling　of　a　hammer。　　She　tottered　toward　it；　and　it　was　a　church。　　She　just　managed　to　strike　the　door　with　her　benumbed　hands；　and　then　fell　insensible。　　When