put yourself in his place-第52部分

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〃Then　I　retract　my　observation。〃

〃As　to　its　being　folly；　or　as　to　Little　being　the　fool？〃

〃Whichever　you　like　best。〃

〃Thank　you。　　Well；　but　to　be　serious；　this　young　man　is　very　anxious　to　be　a　master；　instead　of　a　man。　　What　do　you　say？　　Will　you　help　his　ambition；　and　my　sacred　hobby？〃

〃What；　plunge　you　deeper　in　folly；　and　him　in　trade？　　Not　I。　　I　don't　approve　folly；　I　hate　trade。　　But　I　tell　you　what　I'll　do。　　If　he　and　his　mother　can　see　my　conduct　in　its　proper　light；　and　say　so；　they　can　come　to　Raby；　and　he　can　turn　gentleman；　take　the　name　of　Raby；　as　he　has　got　the　face；　and　be　my　heir。〃

〃Are　you　serious；　Raby？〃

〃Perfectly。〃

〃Then　you　had　better　write　it；　and　I'll　take　it　to　him。〃

〃Certainly。〃　　He　sat　down　and　wrote　as　follows：


〃SIR；What　has　recently　occurred　appears　calculated　to　soften　one　of　those　animosities　which；　between　persons　allied　in　blood；　are　always　to　be　regretted。　　I　take　the　opportunity　to　say；　that　if　your　mother；　under　your　advice；　will　now　reconsider　the　duties　of　a　trustee；　and　my　conduct　in　that　character；　and　her　remarks　on　that　conduct；　I　think　she　will　do　me　justice；　and　honor　me　once　more　with　her　esteem。　　Should　this　be　the　result；　I　further　hope　that　she　and　yourself　will　come　to　Raby；　and　that　you　will　change　that　way　of　life　which　you　have　found　so　full　of　thorns；　and　prepare　yourself　to　succeed　to　my　name　and　place。　　I　am；　your　obedient　servant；

〃GUY　RABY。〃


〃There　read　that。〃

Amboyne　read　it；　and　approved　it。　　Then　he　gave　a　sigh；　and　said；　〃And　so　down　goes　my　poor　hobby。〃

〃Oh；　never　mind；〃　said　Raby；　〃you've　got　one　or　two　left　in　your　stable。〃

Dr。　Amboyne　went　out；　and　passed　through　the　hall。　　There　he　found　Mr。　Coventry　and　Miss　Carden：　the　latter　asked　him；　rather　keenly；　if　the　conference　was　over。

〃Yes；　and　not　without　a　result：　I'll　read　it　to　you。〃　　He　did　so；　and　Grace's　cheek　was　dyed　with　blushes；　and　her　eyes　beamed　with　joy。

〃Oh；　how　noble　is；　and　how　good　you　are。　　Run！　　Fly！〃

〃Such　movements　are　undignified；　and　unsuited　to　my　figure。　　Shall　I　roll　down　the　hill？　　That　would　be　my　quickest　way。〃

This　discussion　was　cut　short　by　a　servant；　who　came　to　tell　the　doctor　that　a　carriage　was　ordered　for　him；　and　would　be　round　in　a　minute。　　Dr。　Amboyne　drove　off；　and　Miss　Carden　now　avoided　Coventry：　she　retired　to　her　room。　　But；　it　seems；　she　was　on　the　watch；　for；　on　the　doctor's　return；　she　was　the　person　who　met　him　in　the　hall。

〃Well？〃　said　she；　eagerly。

〃Well；　would　you　believe　it？　he　declines。　　He　objects　to　leave　his　way　of　life；　and　to　wait　for　dead　men's　shoes。〃

〃Oh；　Dr。　Amboyne！　　And　you　were　there　to　advise　him！〃

〃I　did　not　venture　to　advise　him。　　There　was　so　much　to　be　said　on　both　sides。〃　　Then　he　went　off　to　Raby　with　the　note；　but；　as　he　went；　he　heard　Grace　say；　in　a　low　voice；　〃Ah；　you　never　thought　of　me。〃

Little's　note　ran　thus：


〃SIR；I　thank　you　for　your　proposal；　and　as　to　the　first　part　of　it；　I　quite　agree；　and　should　be　glad　to　see　my　mother　and　you　friends　again。　　But；　as　to　my　way　of　life；　I　have　chosen　my　path；　and　mean　to　stick　to　it。　　I　hope　soon　to　be　a　master；　instead　of　a　workman；　and　I　shall　try　and　behave　like　a　gentleman；　so　that　you　may　not　have　to　blush　for　me。　　Should　blush　for　myself　if　I　were　to　give　up　industry　and　independence；　and　take　to　waiting　for　dead　men's　shoes；　that　is　a　baser　occupation　than　any　trade　in　Hillsborough；　I　think。　　This　is　not　as　politely　written　as　I　could　wish；　but　I　am　a　blunt　fellow；　and　I　hope　you　will　excuse　it。　　I　am　not　ungrateful　to　you　for　shooting　those　vermin；　nor　for　your　offer；　though　I　can　not　accept　it。　　Yours　respectfully；

〃HENRY　LITTLE。〃


Raby　read　this；　and　turned　white　with　rage。

He　locked　the　letter　up　along　with　poor　Mrs。　Little's　letters；　and　merely　said；　〃I　have　only　one　request　to　make。　　Never　mention　the　name　of　Little　to　me　again。〃

Dr。　Amboyne　went　home　very　thoughtful。

That　same　day　Mr。　Carden　wrote　from　London　to　his　daughter　informing　her　he　should　be　at　Hillsborough　next　day　to　dinner。　　She　got　the　letter　next　morning；　and　showed　it　to　Mr。　Raby。　　He　ordered　his　carriage　after　breakfast　for　Hillsborough。

This　was　a　blow　to　Grace。　　She　had　been　hoping　all　this　time　a　fair　opportunity　might　occur　for　saying　something　to　young　Little。

She　longed　to　write　to　him；　and　set　his　heart　and　her　own　at　rest。　But　a　great　shyness　and　timidity　paralyzed　her；　and　she　gave　up　the　idea　of　writing；　and　had　hitherto　been　hoping　they　might　meet；　and　she　might　reinstate　herself　by　some　one　cunning　word。　　And　now　the　end　of　it　all　was；　that　she　was　driven　away　from　Raby　Hall　without　doing　any　thing　but　wish；　and　sigh；　and　resolve；　and　give　up　her　resolutions　with　a　blush。

The　carriage　passed　the　farm　on　its　way　to　Hillsborough。　　This　was　Grace's　last　chance。

Little　was　standing　at　the　porch。

A　thrill　of　delight　traversed　Grace's　bosom。

It　was　followed；　however；　by　a　keen　pang。　　Jael　Dence　sat　beside　him；　sewing；　and　Grace　saw；　in　a　moment；　she　was　sewing　complacently。　　It　was　more　than　Grace　could　bear。　　She　pulled　the　check…string；　and　the　carriage　stopped。


CHAPTER　XXI。


Henry　Little；　at　this　moment；　was　in　very　low　spirits。　　His　forge　was　in　the　yard；　and　a　faithful　body…guard　at　his　service；　but　his　right　arm　was　in　a　sling；　and　so　he　was　brought　to　a　stand…still；　and　Coventry　was　with　Grace　at　the　house；　and　he；　like　her；　was　tortured　with　jealousies；　and　neither　knew　what　the　other　suffered。

But　everything　vanished　in　a　flood　of　joy　when　the　carriage　stopped　and　that　enchanting　face　looked　out　at　him；　covered　with　blushes；　that　told　him　he　could　not　be　indifferent　to　her。

〃Oh；　Mr。　Little；　are　you　better？〃

〃I'm　all　right。　　But；　you　see；　I　can't　work。〃

〃Ah；　poor　arm。　　But　why　should　you　work？　　Why　not　accept　Mr。　Raby's　offer？　　How　proud　you　are！〃

〃Should　you　have　thought　any　better　of　me　if　I　had？〃

〃No。　　I　don't　want　you　altered。　　It　would　spoil　you。　　You　will　come　and　see　us　at　Woodbine　Villa！　　Only　think　how　many　things　we　have　to　talk　of　now。〃

〃May　I？〃

〃Why；　of　course。〃

〃And　will　you　wait　two　years　for　me？〃

〃Two　years！〃　（blushing　like　a　rose。）　　〃Why；　I　hope　it　will　not　be　two　days　before　you　come　and　see　us。〃

〃Ah；　you　mock　me。〃

〃No；　no。　　But　suppose　you　should　take　the　advice　I　gave　you　in　my　mad　letter？〃

〃There's　no　fear　of　that。〃

〃Are　you　sure？〃　（with　a　glance　at　Jael。）

〃Quite　sure。〃

〃Thengood…by。　　Please　drive　on。〃

She　wouldn't　answer　his　question；　but　her　blushes　and　her　radiant　satisfaction；　and　her　modest　but　eloquent　looks　of　love；　fully　compensated　her　silence　on　that　head；　and　the　carriage　left　him　standing　there；　a　figure　of　rapture。

Next　day　Dr。　Amboyne　rode　up　to　the　farm　with　a　long　envelope；　and　waved　it　over　his　head　in　triumph。　　It　contained　a　communication　from　the　Secretary　of　the　Philanthropic　Society。　　The　committee　were　much　struck　with　Mr。　Little's　report；　but　feared　that　no　manufacturer　would　act　on　his　suggestions。　　They　were　willing　to　advance　L500　toward　setting　Mr。　Little　himself　up　as　a　manufacturer；　if　he　would　bind　himself　to　adopt　and　carry　out　the　improvements　suggested　in　his　report。　　The　loan　to　bear　no　interest；　and　the　return　of　the　capital　to　depend　upon　the　success　of　the　scheme。　　Dr。　Amboyne　for　the　society；　to　have　the　right　of　inspecting　Mr。　Little's　books；　if　any　doubt　should　arise　on　that　head。　　An　agreement　was　inclosed；　and　this　was　more　full；　particular；　and　stringent　in　form　than　the　above；　but　the　purport　substantially　the　same。

Little　could　not　believe　his　good　fortune　at　first。　　But　there　was　no　disbelieving　it；　the　terms　were　so　cold；　precise；　and　business…　like。

〃Ah；　doctor；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　made　a　man　of　me；　for　this　is　your　doing；　I　know。〃

〃Of　course　I　used　my　influence。　　I　was　stimulated　by　two　spurs；　friendship　and　my　hobby。　　Now　shake　hands　over　it；　and　no　fine　speeches；　but　tell　me　when　you　can　begin。　　'My　soul's　in　arms；　and　eager　for　the　fray。'〃

〃Begin？　　Why　as　soon　as　I　get　the　money。〃

〃That　will　come　down　directly；　if　I　telegraph　that　you　accept　the　terms。　　Call　in　a　witness；　and　sign　the　agreement。〃

Jael　Dence　was　called　in；　and　the　agreement　signed　and　witnessed；　and　away　went　the　doctor　in　high　spirits；　after　making　an　appointment　with　Henry　in　Hillsborough　for　the　next　day。

Henry　and　Jael　Dence　talked　eagerly　over　his　new　prospects。　　But　though　they　were　great　friends；　there　was　nothing　to　excite　Grace's　jealousy。　　No　sooner　was　Little　proved　to　be　Raby's　nephew　than　Jael　Dence；　in　her　humility；　shrank　back；　and　was　inwardly　ashamed　of　herself。　　She　became　respectful　as　well　as　kind；　called　him　〃the　young　master〃　behind　his　back；　and　tried　to　call　him　〃Sir〃　to　his　face；　only　he　would　not　let　her。

Next　day　Little　went　to　his　mother　and　told　her　all。　　She　was　deeply　interested；　but　bitterly　disappointed　at　Henry's　refusal　of　Raby's　offer。　　〃He　will　never　forgive　us　now；〃　she　said。　　〃And　oh；　Henry；　if　you　love　Grace　Carden；　that　was　the　way　to　marry　her。〃　　This　staggered　him；　but　he　said　he　had　every　reason　to　hope　she　would　marry　him　without　his　sacrificing　his　independence；　and　waiting　with　his　hands　in　his　pockets　for　dead　men's　shoes。

Then　he　went　to　Dr。　Amboyne；　and　there　were　the　five　hundred　pounds　waiting　for　him；　but；　never　having　possessed　such　a　sum　before；　he　begged　the　doctor　to　give　him　only　L100　at　a　time。　　To　finish　for　the　present　with　this　branch　of　the　story；　he　was　lucky　enough　to　make　an　excellent　bargain；　bought　the　plant　and　stock　of　a　small　master…grinder　recently　deceased。　　He　then　confined　the　grinding　to　saws　and　razors；　and　this　enabled　him　to　set　up　his　own　forge　on　the　premises；　and　to　employ　a　few　file…cutters。　　It　was　all　he　could　do　at　starting。　　Then　came　the　important　question；　What　would　the　Trades　say？　　He　was　not　long　in　suspense；　Grotait　called　on　him；　expressed　his　regret　at　the　attack　that　had　been　made　on　him；　and　his　satisfaction　that　now　the　matter　could　be　happily　arranged。　〃This；〃　said　he；　〃is　the　very　proposal　I　was　going　to　make　to　you　（but　you　wouldn't　hear　me）；　to　set　up　as　a　small　master；　and　sell　your　carving…tools　to　London　instead　of　to　Hillsboro'。〃

〃What！　will　that　make　me　right　with　the　tra