put yourself in his place-第54部分

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At　last　she　caught　Grace's　eye；　but　only　for　a　moment；　and　the　young　lady　was　in　the　very　act　of　going　out　on　the　balcony　for　air；　with　her　partner。

She　did　go　out；　accompanied　by　Mr。　Coventry；　and　took　two　or　three　turns。　　Her　cheek　was　flushed；　her　eye　kindled；　and　the　poor　jealous　wretch　over　the　way　saw　it；　and　ascribed　all　that　to　the　company　of　his　rival。

While　she　walked　to　and　fro　with　fawn…like　grace；　conversing　with　Mr。　Coventry；　yet　secretly　wondering　what　that　strange　look　Jael　had　given　her　could　mean；　Henry　leaned；　sick　at　heart；　against　the　lamp…　post　over　the　way；　and；　at　last；　a　groan　forced　its　way　out　of　him。

Faint　as　the　sound　was；　Grace's　quick　ear　caught　it；　and　she　turned　her　head。　　She　saw　him　directly；　and　blushed　high；　and　turned　pale；　all　in　a　moment；　for；　in　that　single　moment；　her　swift　woman's　heart　told　her　why　he　was　so　ghastly；　and　why　that　sigh　of　distress。

She　stopped　short　in　her　walk；　and　began　to　quiver　from　head　to　foot。

But；　after　a　few　moments　of　alarm；　distress；　and　perplexity；　love　and　high　spirit　supplied　the　place　of　tact；　and　she　did　the　best　and　most　characteristic　thing　she　could。　　Just　as　Mr。　Coventry；　who　had　observed　her　shiver；　was　asking　her　if　she　found　it　too　cold；　she　drew　herself　up　to　her　full　height；　and；　turning　round；　kissed　her　hand　over　the　balcony　to　Henry　Little　with　a　sort　of　princely　grandeur；　and　an　ardor　of　recognition　and　esteem　that　set　his　heart　leaping；　and　his　pale　cheek　blushing；　and　made　Coventry　jealous　in　his　turn。　　Yes；　one　eloquent　gesture　did　that　in　a　moment。

But　the　brave　girl　was　too　sensitive　to　prolong　such　a　situation：　the　music　recommenced　at　that　moment；　and　she　seized　the　opportunity；　and　retired　to　the　room；　she　courtesied　to　Little　at　the　window；　and　this　time　he　had　the　sense　to　lift　his　hat　to　her。

The　moment　she　entered　the　room　Grace　Carden　slipped　away　from　Mr。　Coventry；　and　wound　her　way　like　a　serpent　through　the　crowd；　and　found　Jael　Dence　at　the　door。　　She　caught　her　by　the　arm；　and　pinched　her。　　She　was　all　trembling。　　Jael　drew　her　up　the　stairs　a　little　way。

〃You　have　seen　him　out　there？〃

〃Yes；　and　Ioh！〃

〃There！　there。　　Think　of　the　folk。　　Fight　it　down。〃

〃I　will。　　Go　to　him；　and　say　I　can't　bear　it。　　Him　to　stand　there　while　those　I　don't　care　a　pin　foroh；　Jael；　for　pity's　sake　get　him　home　to　his　mother。〃

〃There；　don't　you　fret。　　I　know　what　to　say。〃

Jael　went　down；　borrowed　the　first　shawl　she　could　lay　her　hand　on；　hooded　herself　with　it；　and　was　across　the　road　in　a　moment。

〃You　are　to　go　home　directly。〃

〃Who　says　so？〃

〃She　does。〃

〃What；　does　she　tell　me　to　go　away；　and　leave　her　to　him？〃

〃What　does　that　matter？　her　heart　goes　with　you。〃

〃No；　no。〃

〃Won't　you　take　my　word　for　it？　　I'm　not　given　to　lying。〃

〃I　know　that。　　Oh；　Jael；　sweet；　pretty；　good…hearted　Jael；　have　pity　on　me；　and　tell　me　the　truth：　is　it　me　she　loves；　or　that　Coventry？〃

〃It　is　you。〃

〃Oh；　bless　you！　bless　you！　　Ah；　if　I　could　only　be　sure　of　that；　what　wouldn't　I　do　for　her？　　But；　if　she　loves　me；　why；　why　send　me　away？　　It　is　very　cruel　that　so　many　should　be　in　the　same　room　with　her；　and　HE　should　dance　with　her；　and　I　must　not　even　look　on　and　catch　a　glimpse　of　her　now　and　then。　　I　won't　go　home。〃

〃Ah！〃　said　Jael；　〃you　are　like　all　the　young　men：　you　think　only　of　yourself。　　And　you　call　yourself　a　scholar　of　the　good　doctor's。〃

〃And　so　I　am。〃

〃Then　why　don't　you　go　by　his　rule；　and　put　yourself　in　a　body's　place？　　Suppose　you　was　in　her　place；　master　of　this　house　like；　and　dancing　with　a　pack　of　girls　you　didn't　care　for；　and　SHE　stood　out　here；　pale　and　sighing；　and　suppose　things　were　so　that　you　couldn't　come　out　to　her；　nor　she　come　in　to　you；　wouldn't　it　cut　you　to　the　heart　to　see　her　stand　in　the　street　and　look　so　unhappypoor　lad？　Be　good；　now；　and　go　home　to　thy　mother。　　Why　stand　here　and　poison　the　poor　young　lady's　pleasuresuch　as　'tisand　torment　thyself。〃　Jael's　own　eyes　filled；　and　that　proof　of　sympathy　inclined　Henry　all　the　more　to　listen　to　her　reason。

〃You　are　wise；　and　good；　and　kind；〃　he　said。　　〃But　oh；　Jael；　I　adore　her　so；　I'd　rather　be　in　hell　with　her　than　in　heaven　without　her。　Half　a　loaf　is　better　than　no　bread。　　I　can't　go　home　and　turn　my　back　on　the　place　where　she　is。　　Yes；　I'm　in　torments；　but　I　see。　They　can't　rob　my　EYES　of　her。〃

〃To　oblige　HER！〃

〃Yes；　I'll　do　anything　to　oblige　HER。　　If　I　could　only　believe　she　loves　me。〃

〃Put　it　to　the　proof；　if　you　don't　believe　me。〃

〃I　will。　　Tell　her　I'd　much　rather　stay　all　night；　and　catch　a　glimpse　of　her　now　and　then；　but　yet；　tell　her　I'll　go　home；　if　she　will　promise　me　not　to　dance　with　that　Coventry　again。〃

〃There　is　a　condition！〃　said　Jael。

〃It　is　a　fair　one；〃　said　Henry；　doggedly；　〃and　I　won't　go　from　it。〃

Jael　looked　at　him；　and　saw　it　was　no　use　arguing　the　matter。　　So　she　went　in　to　the　house　with　his　ultimatum。

She　soon　returned；　and　told　him　that　Miss　Grace；　instead　of　being　angry；　as　she　expected；　had　smiled　and　looked　pleased；　and　promised　not　to　dance　with　Mr。　Coventry　nor　any　body　else　any　more　that　night；　〃if　he　would　go　straight　home　and　consult　his　beautiful　mother。〃　　〃Those　were　her　words；〃　said　the　loyal　Dence。　　〃She　did　say　them　twice　over　to　make　sure。〃

〃God　bless　her！〃　cried　Henry；　warmly；　〃and　bless　you　too；　my　best　friend。　　I'll　go　this　moment。〃

He　cast　a　long；　lingering　look　at　the　window；　and　went　slowly　down　the　street。

When　he　got　home；　his　mother　was　still　up　and　secretly　anxious。

He　sat　down　beside　her；　and　told　her　where　he　had　been　and　how　it　had　all　ended。　　〃I'm　to　consult　my　beautiful　mother；〃　said　he；　kissing　her。

〃What；　does　she　think　I　am　like　my　picture　now？〃

〃I　suppose　so。　　And　you　are　as　beautiful　as　ever　in　my　eyes；　mother。　And　I　do　consult　you。〃

Mrs。　Little's　black　eyes　flashed；　but　she　said；　calmly；

〃What　about；　dearest？〃

〃I　really　don't　know。　　I　suppose　it　was　about　what　happened　tonight。　Perhaps　about　it　all。〃

Mrs。　Little　leaned　her　head　upon　her　hand　and　thought。

After　a　moment's　reflection；　she　said　to　Henry；　rather　coldly；　〃If　she　is　not　a　very　good　girl；　she　must　be　a　very　clever　one。〃

〃She　is　both；〃　said　Henry；　warmly。

〃Of　that　I　shall　be　the　best　judge；〃　said　Mrs。　Little；　very　coldly　indeed。

Poor　Henry　felt　quite　chilled。　　He　said　no　more；　nor　did　his　mother　return　to　the　subject　till　they　parted　for　the　night；　and　then　it　was　only　to　ask　him　what　church　Miss　Carden　went　toa　question　that　seemed　to　be　rather　frivolous；　but　he　said　he　thought　St。　Margaret's。

Next　Sunday　evening；　Mrs。　Little　and　he　being　at　tea　together；　she　said　to　him　quietly〃Well；　Harry；　I　have　seen　her。〃

〃Oh　mother！　where？〃

〃At　St。　Margaret's　Church。〃

〃But　how　did　you　know　her？　　By　her　beauty？〃

Mrs。　Little　smiled；　and　took　a　roll　of　paper　out　of　her　muff；　that　lay　on　the　sofa。　　She　unfolded　it；　and　displayed　a　drawing。　　It　represented　Grace　Carden　in　her　bonnet；　and　was　a　very　good　likeness。

The　lover　bounced　on　it；　and　devoured　it　with　astonishment　and　delight。

〃Taken　from　the　bust；　and　retouched　from　nature；〃　said　Mrs。　Little。　〃Yes；　dear；　I　went　to　St。　Margaret's；　and　asked　a　pew…opener　where　she　sat。　　I　placed　myself　where　I　could　command　her　features；　and　you　may　be　sure；　I　read　her　very　closely。　　Well；　dear；　she　bears　examination。　　It　is　a　bright　face；　a　handsome　face；　and　a　good　face；　and　almost　as　much　in　love　as　you　are。〃

〃What　makes　you　fancy　that？　　Oh；　you　spoke　to　her？〃

〃Certainly　not。　　But　I　observed　her。　　Restless　and　listless　by　turnsher　body　in　one　place；　her　mind　in　another。　　She　was　so　taken　up　with　her　own　thoughts　she　could　not　follow　the　service。　　I　saw　the　poor　girl　try　very　hard　several　times；　but　at　last　she　gave　it　up　in　despair。　　Sometimes　she　knitted　her　brow　and　a　young　girl　seldom　does　that　unless　she　is　thwarted　in　her　love。　　And　I'll　tell　you　a　surer　sign　still：　sometimes　tears　came　for　no　visible　reason；　and　stood　in　her　eyes。　　She　is　in　love；　and　it　can　not　be　with　Mr。　Coventry　of　Bollinghope；　for；　if　she　loved　him；　she　would　have　nothing　to　brood　on　but　her　wedding…dress；　and　they　never　knit　their　brows；　nor　bedew　their　eyes；　thinking　of　that；　that's　a　smiling　subject。　　No；　it　is　true　love　on　both　sides；　I　do　believe；　and　that　makes　my　woman's　heart　yearn。　　Harry；　dear；　I'll　make　you　a　confession。　　You　have　heard　that　a　mother's　love　is　purer　and　more　unselfish　than　any　other　love：　and　so　it　is。　　But　even　mothers　are　not　quite　angels　always。　　Sometimes　they　are　just　a　little　jealous：　not；　I　think；　where　they　are　blessed　with　many　children；　but　you　are　my　one　child；　my　playmate；　my　companion；　my　friend；　my　only　love。　That　sweet　girl　has　come；　and　I　must　be　dethroned。　　I　felt　this；　andno；　nothing　could　ever　make　me　downright　thwart　your　happiness；　but　a　mother's　jealousy　made　me　passive；　where　I　might　have　assisted　you　if　I　had　been　all　a　mother　should　be。〃

〃No；　no；　mother；　I　am　the　one　to　blame。　　You　see；　it　looked　so　hopeless　at　first；　I　used　to　be　ashamed　to　talk　freely　to　you。　　It's　only　of　late　I　have　opened　my　heart　to　you　as　I　ought。〃

〃Well；　dear；　I　am　glad　you　think　the　blame　is　not　all　with　me。　　But　what　I　see　is　my　own　fault；　and　mean　to　correct　it。　　She　gave　you　good　advice；　dearto　consult　your　mother。　　But　you　shall　have　my　assistance　as　well；　and　I　shall　begin　at　once；　like　a　zealous　ally。　When　I　say　at　oncethis　is　SundayI　shall　begin　to…morrow　at　one　o'clock。〃

Then　Henry　sat　down　at　her　knee；　and　took　her　white　hand　in　his　brown　ones。

〃And　what　shall　you　do　at　one　o'clock；　my　beautiful　mother？〃

〃I　shall　return　to　society。〃


CHAPTER　XXII。


Next　morning　Mrs。　Little　gave　her　son　the　benefit　of　her　night's　reflections。

〃You　must　let　me　have　some　moneyall　you　can　spare　from　your　business；　and　whilst　I　am　doing　something　with　it　for　you；　you　must　go　to　London；　and　do　exactly　what　I　tell　you　to　do。〃

〃Exactly？　　Then　please　write　it　down。〃

〃A　very　good　plan。　　Can　you　go　by　the　express　this　morning？〃

〃Why；　yes；　I　could；　only　then　I　must　run　down　to　the　works　this　minute　and　speak　to　the　foreman。〃

〃Well；　dear；　when　you　come　back；　your　instructions　shall　be　written；　and　your　bag　packed。〃

〃I　say；　mother；　you　are　going　i