put yourself in his place-第53部分

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　of　to　Hillsboro'。〃

〃What！　will　that　make　me　right　with　the　trade？〃

〃Pretty　near。　　We　protect　the　workmen　from　unfair　competition；　not　the　masters。　　However；　if　you　wish　to　cure　the　sore　altogether；　let　your　own　hands　grind　the　tools；　and　send　them　out　to　be　handled　by　Parkin：　he　has　got　men　on　the　box；　trade　is　dull。〃

〃Well；　I　don't　object　to　that。〃

〃Then；　I　say；　let　by…gones　be　gone…byes。〃

They　shook　hands　over　this；　and　in　a　very　few　hours　it　was　known　that　Mr。　Little　was　right　with　the　trade。

His　early　experiences　as　a　philanthropic　master　were　rather　curious；　but　I　shall　ask　leave　to　relate　them　in　a　series　of　their　own；　and　to　deal　at　present　with　matters　of　more　common　interest。

He　called　twice　on　Grace　Carden；　but　she　was　out。　　The　third　time　he　found　her　at　home；　but　there　was　a　lady　with　her；　talking　about　the　ball　Mr。　and　Miss　Carden　were　about　to　give。　　It　was　a　subject　calculated　to　excite　volubility；　and　Henry　could　not　get　in　a　word　edgewise。　　But　he　received　some　kind　glances　that　made　his　heart　beat。

The　young　lady　sat　there　and　gabbled；　for　she　felt　sure　that　no　topic　imported　by　a　male　creature　could　compete　in　interest　with　〃the　ball。〃　　So；　at　last；　Henry　rose　in　despair。　　But　Grace；　to　whom　her　own　ball　had　been　a　bore　for　the　last　half　hour；　went　with　him　to　the　door；　and　he　seized　the　opportunity　to　tell　her　he　was　a　workmen　no　longer；　but　a　master；　having　workmen　under　him。

Grace　saw　he　was　jubilant；　so　she　was　glad　directly；　and　said　so。

But　then　she　shook　her　pretty　head；　and　hoped　he　would　not　have　to　regret　Mr。　Raby's　offer。

〃Never；〃　said　he；　firmly；　〃unless　I　lose　you。　　Now　I'm　a　master；　instead　of　a　man；　won't　you　wait　two　years　for　me？〃

〃No；〃　said　Grace；　archly。　　Then；　with　a　look　that　sent　him　to　heaven；　〃Not　two；　but　TWENTY；　sooner　than　you　should　be　unhappy；　after　all　you　and　I〃

The　sentence　was　never　completed。　　She　clapped　one　hand　swiftly　before　her　scarlet　face；　and　ran　away　to　hide；　and　think　of　what　she　had　done。　　It　was　full　five　minutes　before　she　would　bring　her　face　under　the　eye　of　that　young　gossip　in　the　drawing…room。

As　for　Henry；　he　received　the　blow　full　in　his　heart；　and　it　quite　staggered　him。　　He　couldn't　believe　it　at　first；　but　when　he　realized　it；　waves　and　waves　of　joy　seemed　to　rise　inside　him；　and　he　went　off　in　such　a　rapture　he　hardly　trod　the　earth。

He　went　home；　and　kissed　his　mother；　and　told　her；　and　she　sympathized　with　him　perforce；　though　she　was　jealous　at　bottom；　poor　thing。


The　next　day　Grace　received　an　unexpected　visitorJael　Dence。

Grace　stared　at　sight　of　her；　and　received　her　very　coldly。

〃Oh；　miss；〃　said　Jael；　〃don't　look　so　at　me　that　love　you　dearly；〃　and　with　this　threw　her　arms　round　her　neck；　and　kissed　her。

Grace　was　moved　by　this；　but　felt　uncomfortable；　and　even　struggled　a　little；　but　in　vain。　　Jael　was　gentle；　but　mighty。　　〃It's　about　your　letter；　miss。〃

〃Then　let　me　go；〃　cried　Grace。　　〃I　wish　I　had　never　written　it。〃

〃Nay；　don't　say　so。　　I　should　never　have　known　how　good　you　are。〃

〃What　a　fool　I　am；　you　mean。　　How　dare　you　read　my　letter？　　Oh！　did　he　show　it　you？　　That　was　very　cruel；　if　he　did。〃

〃No；　miss；　he　never　showed　it　me；　and　I　never　read　it。　　I　call　it　mean　to　read　another　body's　letter。　　But；　you　know；　'tisn't　every　woman　thinks　so：　and　a　poor　lass　that　is　very　fond　of　meand　I　scold　her　bitterlyshe　took　the　letter　out　of　his　pocket；　and　told　me　what　was　in　it。〃

〃Very　well；　then；〃　said　Grace；　coldly；　〃it　is　right　you　should　also　read　his　answer。　　I'll　bring　it　you。〃

〃Not　to…day；　miss；　if　you　please。　　There　is　no　need。　　I　know　him：　he　is　too　much　of　a　man　to　marry　one　girl　when　he　loves　another；　and　'tis　you　he　loves；　and　I　hope　you　will　be　happy　together。〃

A　few　quiet　tears　followed　these　brave　words；　and　Grace　looked　at　her　askant；　and　began　to　do　her　justice。

〃Ah！〃　said　she；　with　a　twinge　of　jealousy。　　〃you　know　him　better　than　I。　　You　have　answered　for　him；　in　his　very　words。　　Yet　you　can't　love　him　as　I　do。　　I　hope　you　are　not　come　to　ask　me　to　give　him　up　again；　for　I　can't。〃　　Then　she　said；　with　quick　defiance；　〃Take　him　from　me；　if　you　can。〃　　Then；　piteously；　〃And　if　you　do；　you　will　kill　me。〃

〃Dear　heart；　I　came　of　no　such　errand。　　I　came　to　tell　you　I　know　how　generous　you　have　been　to　me；　and　made　me　your　friend　till　death；　and；　when　a　Dence　says　that；　she　means　it。　　I　have　been　a　little　imprudent：　but　not　so　very。　　First　word　I　said　to　him；　in　this　very　house；　was；　'Are　you　really　a　workman？'　　I　had　the　sense　to　put　that　question；　for；　the　first　moment　I　clapped　eyes　on　him；　I　saw　my　danger　like。　　Well；　he　might　have　answered　me　true；　but　you　see　he　didn't。　　I　think　I　am　not　so　much　to　blame。　　Well；　he　is　the　young　squire　now；　and　no　mate　for　me；　and　he　loves　you；　that　are　of　his　own　sort。　　That　is　sure　to　cure　meafter　a　while。　　Simple　folk　like　me　aren't　used　to　get　their　way；　like　the　gentry。　　It　takes　a　deal　of　patience　to　go　through　the　world。　　If　you　think　I'll　let　my　heart　cling　to　another　woman's　sweetheartnay；　but　I'd　tear　it　out　of　my　breast　first。　　Yes；　I　dare　say；　it　will　be　a　year　or　two　before　I　can　listen　to　another　man's　voice　without　hating　him　for　wooing　of　me；　but　time　cures　all　that　don't　fight　against　the　cure。　And　YOU'LL　love　me　a　little；　miss；　now；　won't　you？　　You　used　to　do；　before　I　deserved　it　half　as　well　as　I　do　to…day。〃

〃Of　course　I　shall　love　you；　my　poor　Jael。　　But　what　is　my　love；　compared　with　that　you　are　now　giving　up　so　nobly？〃

〃It　is　not　much；〃　said　Jael；　frankly；　〃but　'a　little　breaks　a　high　fall。'　　And　I'm　one　that　can　only　enjoy　my　own。　　Better　a　penny　roll　with　a　clear　conscience；　than　my　neighbor's　loaf。　　I'd　liever　take　your　love；　and　deserve　it；　than　try　to　steal　his。〃

All　this　time　Grace　was　silently　watching　her；　to　see　if　there　was　any　deceit；　or　self…deceit；　in　all　this；　and；　had　there　been；　it

could　not　have　escaped　so　keen　and　jealous　an　eye。　　But　no；　the　limpid　eye；　the　modest；　sober　voice；　that　trembled　now　and　then；　but　always　recovered　its　resolution；　repelled　doubt　or　suspicion。

Grace　started　to　her　feet；　and　said；　with　great　enthusiasm。　　〃I　give　you　the　love　and　respect　you　deserve　so　well；　and　I　thank　God　for　creating　such　a　character　now　and　thento　embellish　this　vile　world。〃

Then　she　flung　herself　upon　Jael；　with　wonderful　abandon　and　grace；　and　kissed　her　so　eagerly　that　she　made　poor　Jael's　tears　flow　very　fast　indeed。

She　would　not　let　her　go　back　to　Cairnhope。


Henry　remembered　about　the　ball；　and　made　up　his　mind　to　go　and　stand　in　the　road：　he　might　catch　a　glimpse　of　her　somehow。　　He　told　his　mother　he　should　not　be　home　to　supper；　and　to　get　rid　of　the　time　before　the　ball；　he　went　to　the　theater：　thence；　at　ten　o'clock；　to　〃Woodbine　Villa；〃　and　soon　found　himself　one　of　a　motley　group。　　Men；　women；　and　children　were　there　to　see　the　company　arrive；　and　as；　among　working…people；　the　idle　and　the　curious　are　seldom　well…to…do；　they　were　rather　a　scurvy　lot；　and　each　satin　or　muslin　belle；　brave　with　flowers　and　sparkling　with　gems；　had　to　pass　through　a　little　avenue　of　human　beings　in　soiled　fustian；　dislocated　bonnets；　rags；　and　unwashed　faces。

Henry　got　away　from　this　class　of　spectators；　and　took　up　his　station　right　across　the　road。　　He　leaned　against　the　lamp…post；　and　watched　the　drawing…room　windows　for　Grace。

The　windows　were　large；　and；　being　French；　came　down　to　the　balcony。　Little　saw　many　a　lady's　head　and　white　shoulders；　but　not　the　one　he　sought。

Presently　a　bedroom　window　was　opened；　and　a　fair　face　looked　out　into　the　night　for　a　moment。　　It　was　Jael　Dence。

She　had　assisted　Miss　Carden　to　dress；　and　had　then；　at　her　request；　prepared　the　room；　and　decked　it　with　flowers；　to　receive　a　few　of　the　young　lady's　more　favored　friends。　　This　done；　she　opened　the　window；　and　Henry　Little　saw　her。

Nor　was　it　long　before　she　saw　him；　for　the　light　of　the　lamp　was　full　on　him。

But　he　was　now　looking　intently　in　at　the　drawing…room　windows；　and　with　a　ghastly　expression。

The　fact　is；　that　in　the　short　interval　between　his　seeing　Jael　and　her　seeing　him；　the　quadrilles　had　been　succeeded　by　a　waltz；　and　Grace　Carden's　head　and　shoulders　were　now　flitting　at　intervals；　past　the　window　in　close　proximity　to　the　head　of　her　partner。　　What　with　her　snowy；　glossy　shoulders；　her　lovely　face；　and　her　exquisite　head　and　brow　encircled　with　a　coronet　of　pearls；　her　beauty　seemed　half…regal；　half…angelic；　yet　that　very　beauty；　after　the　first　thrill　of　joy　which　the　sudden　appearance　of　a　beloved　one　always　causes；　was　now　passing　cold　iron　through　her　lover's　heart。　　For　why？　　A　man's　arm　was　round　the　supple　waist；　a　man's　hand　held　that　delicate　palm；　a　man's　head　seemed　wedded　to　that　lovely　head；　so　close　were　the　two　together。　　And　the　encircling　arm；　the　passing　hand；　the　head　that　came　and　went；　and　rose　and　sank；　with　her；　like　twin　cherries　on　a　stalk；　were　the　arm；　the　hand；　and　the　head　of　Mr。　Frederick　Coventry。

Every　time　those　two　heads　flitted　past　the　window　together；　they　inflicted　a　spasm　of　agony　on　Henry　Little；　and；　between　the　spasms；　his　thoughts　were　bitter　beyond　expression。　　An　icy　barrier　still　between　them；　and　none　between　his　rival　and　her！　　Coventry　could　dance　voluptuously　with　her　before　all　the　world；　but　he　could　only　stand　at　the　door　of　that　Paradise；　and　groan　and　sicken　with　jealous　anguish　at　the　sight。

Now　and　then　he　looked　up；　and　saw　Jael　Dence。　　She　was　alone。　　Like　him；　she　was　excluded　from　that　brilliant　crowd。　　He　and　she　were　born　to　work；　these　butterflies　on　the　first　floor；　to　enjoy。

Their　eyes　met；　he　saw　soft　pity　in　hers。　　He　cast　a　mute；　but　touching　appeal。　　She　nodded；　and　withdrew　from　the　window。　　Then　he　knew　the　faithful　girl　would　try　and　do　something　or　other　for　him。

But　he　never　moved　from　his　pillar　of　torture。　　Jealous　agony　is　the　one　torment　men　can　not　fly　from；　it　fascinates；　it　holds；　it　maddens。

Jael　came　to　the　drawing…room　door　just　as　the　waltz　ended；　and　tried　to　get　to　Miss　Carden；　but　there　were　too　many　ladies　and　gentlemen；　especially　about　the　door。

At　last　she　caught　Grace's　eye；　but　only　for　a　moment；　and　the　young　lady　was　in　the　very　act　of　go