put yourself in his place-第62部分

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Mr。　Carden　was　so　touched；　that　he　pressed　his　hand　in　return；　and　said；　〃Courage！　my　poor　fellow；　the　case　is　not　desperate；　you　know。〃

Mr。　Coventry　shook　his　head；　and　sat　down。　　Mr。　Carden　sat　down　beside　him。

〃Why；　Coventry；　it　is　not　as　if　there　was　another　attachment。〃

〃There　IS　another　attachment；　at　least　I　have　too　much　reason　to　fear　so。　　But　you　shall　judge　for　yourself。　　I　have　long　paid　my　respectful　addresses　to　Miss　Carden；　and　I　may　say　without　vanity　that　she　used　to　distinguish　me　beyond　her　other　admirers；　I　was　not　the　only　one　who　thought　so；　Mr。　Raby　has　seen　us　together；　and　he　asked　me　to　meet　her　at　Raby　Hall。　　There　I　became　more　particular　in　my　attentions；　and　those　attentions；　sir；　were　well　received。〃

〃But　were　they　UNDERSTOOD？　that　is　the　question。〃

〃Understood　and　received；　upon　my　honor。〃

〃Then　she　will　marry　you；　soon　or　late：　for　I'm　sure　there　is　no　other　man。　　Grace　was　never　deceitful。〃

〃All　women　are　deceitful。〃

〃Oh；　come！〃

〃Let　me　explain：　all　women；　worthy　of　the　name；　are　cowards；　and　cowardice　drives　them　to　deceit；　even　against　their　will。　　Pray　bear　me　to　an　end。　　On　the　fifth　of　last　December；　I　took　Miss　Carden　to　the　top　of　Cairnhope　hill。　　I　showed　her　Bollinghope　in　the　valley；　and　asked　her　to　be　its　mistress。〃

〃And　what　did　she　say？　　Yes；　or　no？〃

〃She　made　certain　faint　objections；　such　as　a　sweet；　modest　girl　like　her　makes　as　a　matter　of　course；　and　then　she　yielded。〃

〃What！　consented　to　be　your　wife？〃

〃Not　in　those　very　words；　but　she　said　she　esteemed　me；　and　she　knew　I　loved　her；　and；　when　I　asked　her　whether　I　might　speak　to　you；　she　said　'Yes。'〃

〃But　that　was　as　good　as　accepting　you。〃

〃I　am　glad　you　agree　with　me。　　You　know；　Mr。　Carden；　thousands　have　been　accepted　in　that　very　form。　　Well；　sir；　the　next　thing　was　we　were　caught　in　that　cursed　snow…storm。〃

〃Yes；　she　has　told　me　all　about　that。〃

〃Not　all；　I　suspect。　　We　got　separated　for　a　few　minutes；　and　I　found　her　in　an　old　ruined　church；　where　a　sort　of　blacksmith　was　working　at　his　forge。　　I　found　her；　sir；　I　might　say　almost　in　the　blacksmith's　arms。　　I　thought　little　of　that　at　first：　any　man　has　a　right　to　succor　any　woman　in　distress：　but；　sir；　I　discovered　that　Miss　Carden　and　this　man　were　acquaintances：　and；　by　degrees；　I　found；　to　my　horror；　that　he　had　a　terrible　power　over　her。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　sir？　　Do　you　intend　to　affront　us？〃

〃No。　　And；　if　the　truth　gives　you　pain；　pray　remember　it　gives　me　agony。　　However；　I　must　tell　you　the　man　was　not　what　he　looked；　a　mere　blacksmith；　he　is　a　sort　of　Proteus；　who　can　take　all　manner　of　shapes：　at　the　time　I'm　speaking　of；　he　was　a　maker　of　carving　tools。　　Well；　sir；　you　could　hardly　believe　the　effect　of　this　accidental　interview　with　that　man：　the　next　day；　when　I　renewed　my　addresses；　Miss　Carden　evaded　me；　and　was　as　cold　as　she　had　been　kind：　she　insisted　on　it　she　was　not　engaged　to　me；　and　said　she　would　not　marry　anybody　for　two　years；　and　this；　I　am　sorry　to　say；　was　not　her　own　idea；　but　this　Little's；　for　I　overheard　him　ask　her　to　wait　two　years　for　him。〃

〃Little！　　What；　Raby's　new　nephew？〃

〃That　is　the　man。〃

Mr。　Carden　was　visibly　discomposed　by　this　communication。　　He　did　not　choose　to　tell　Coventry　how　shocked　he　was　at　his　own　daughter's　conduct；　but；　after　a　considerable　pause；　he　said；　〃If　what　you　have　told　me　is　the　exact　truth；　I　shall　interpose　parental　authority；　and　she　shall　keep　her　engagement　with　you；　in　spite　of　all　the　Littles　in　the　world。〃

〃Pray　do　not　be　harsh；〃　said　Coventry。

〃No；　but　I　shall　be　firm。〃

〃Insanity　in　his　family；　for　one　thing；〃　suggested　Coventry；　scarcely　above　a　whisper。

〃That　is　true；　his　father　committed　suicide。　　But　really　that　consideration　is　not　needed。　　My　daughter　must　keep　her　engagements；　as　I　keep　mine。〃

With　this　understanding　the　friends　parted。


CHAPTER　XXVI。


Grace　happened　to　have　a　headache　next　morning；　and　did　not　come　down　to　breakfast：　but　it　was　Saturday；　and　Mr。　Carden　always　lunched　at　home　on　that　day。　　So　did　Grace；　because　it　was　one　of　Little's　days。　　This　gave　Mr。　Carden　the　opportunity　he　wanted。　When　they　were　alone　he　fixed　his　eyes　on　his　daughter；　and　said　quietly；　〃What　is　your　opinion　ofa　jilt？〃

〃A　heartless；　abominable　creature；〃　replied　Grace；　as　glibly　as　if　she　was　repeating　some　familiar　catechism。

〃Would　you　like　to　be　called　one？〃

〃Oh；　papa！〃

〃Is　there　nobody　who　has　the　right　to　apply　the　term　to　you？〃

〃I　hope　not。〃　　（Red。）

〃You　encouraged　Mr。　Coventry's　addresses？〃

〃I　am　afraid　I　did　not　discourage　them；　as　I　wish　I　had。　　It　is　so　hard　to　foresee　every　thing。〃

〃Pray　do　you　remember　the　fifth　day　of　last　December？〃

〃Can　I　ever　forget　it？〃　　（Redder。）

〃Is　it　true　that　Mr。　Coventry　proposed　for　you；　that　day？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃And　you　accepted　him。〃

〃No；　no。　　Then　he　has　told　you　so？　　How　ungenerous！　　All　I　did　was；　I　hesitated；　and　cried；　and　didn't　say　'no；'　downrightlike　a　fool。　Oh；　papa；　have　pity　on　me；　and　save　me。〃　　And　now　she　was　pale。

Mr。　Carden's　paternal　heart　was　touched　by　this　appeal；　but　he　was　determined　to　know　the　whole　truth。　　〃You　could　love　him；　in　time；　I　suppose？〃

〃Never。〃

〃Why？〃

〃Because〃

〃Now　tell　me　the　truth。　　Have　you　another　attachment？〃

〃Yes；　dear　papa。〃　　（In　a　whisper　and　as　red　as　fire。）

〃Somebody　of　whom　you　are　not　proud。〃

〃I　AM　proud　of　him。　　He　is　Mr。　Coventry's　superior。　　He　is　everybody's　superior　in　everything　in　the　world。〃

〃No；　Grace；　you　can　hardly　be　proud　of　your　attachment；　if　you　had　been；　you　would　not　have　hidden　it　all　this　time　from　your　father。〃　And　Mr。　Carden　sighed。

Grace　burst　out　crying；　and　flung　herself　on　her　knees　and　clung；　sobbing；　to　him。

〃There；　there；〃　said　he；　〃I　don't　want　to　reproach　you；　but　to　advise　you。〃

〃Oh；　papa！　　Take　and　kill　me。　　Do：　I　want　to　die。〃

〃Foolish　child！　　Be　calm　now；　and　let　us　talk　sense。〃

At　this　moment　there　was　a　peculiar　ring　at　the　door；　a　ring　not　violent；　but　vigorous。

Grace　started　and　looked　terrified：　〃Papa！〃　said　she；　〃say　what　you　like　to　me；　but　do　not　affront　HIM；　for　you　might　just　as　well　take　that　knife　and　stab　your　daughter　to　the　heart。　　I　love　him　so。　Have　pity　on　me。〃

The　servant　announced　〃Mr。　Little！〃

Grace　started　up；　and　stood　with　her　hand　gripping　the　chair；　her　cheek　was　pale；　and　her　eyes　glittered；　she　looked　wild；　and　evidently　strained　up　to　defend　her　lover。

All　this　did　not　escape　Mr。　Carden。　　He　said　gently；　〃Show　him　into　the　library。〃　　Then　to　Grace　as　soon　as　the　servant　had　retired；　〃Come　here；　my　child。〃

She　knelt　at　his　knees　again；　and　turned　her　imploring；　streaming　eyes　up　to　him。

〃Is　it　really　so　serious　as　all　this？〃

〃Papa；　words　cannot　tell　you　how　I　love。　　But　if　you　affront　him；　and　he　leaves　me；　you　will　see　how　I　love　him；　you　will　know；　by　my　grave…side；　how　I　love　him。〃

〃Then　I　suppose　I　must　swallow　my　disappointment　how　I　can。〃

〃It　shall　be　no　disappointment；　he　will　do　you　honor　and　me　too。〃

〃But　he　can't　make　a　settlement　on　his　wife；　and　no　man　shall　marry　my　daughter　till　he　can　do　that。〃

〃We　can　wait；〃　said　Grace；　humbly。

〃Yes；　waittill　you　and　your　love　are　both　worn　out。〃

〃I　shall　wear　out　before　my　love。〃

Mr。　Carden　looked　at　her；　as　she　knelt　before　him；　and　his　heart　was　very　much　softened。　　〃Will　you　listen　to　reason　at　all？〃　said　he。

〃From　you；　I　will；　dear　papa。〃　　She　added；　swiftly；　〃and　then　you　will　listen　to　affection；　will　you　not？〃

〃Yes。　　Promise　me　there　shall　be　no　formal　engagement；　and　I　will　let　him　come　now　and　then。〃

This　proposal；　though　not　very　pleasant；　relieved　Grace　of　such　terrible　fears；　that　she　consented　eagerly。

Mr。　Carden　then　kissed　her；　and　rose；　to　go　to　young　Little；　but；　before　he　had　taken　three　steps；　she　caught　him　by　the　arm；　and　said；　imploringly；　〃Pray　remember　while　you　are　speaking　to　him　that　you　would　not　have　me　to　bestow　on　any　man　but　for　him；　for　he　saved　my　life；　and　Mr。　Coventry's　too。　　Mr。　Coventry　forgets　that：　but　don't　you：　and；　if　you　wound　him；　you　wound　me；　he　carries　my　heart　in　his　bosom。〃

Mr。　Carden　promised　he　would　do　his　duty　as　kindly　as　possible；　and　with　that　Grace　was　obliged　to　content　herself。

When　he　opened　the　library　door；　young　Little　started　up；　his　face　irradiated　with　joy。　　Mr。　Carden　smiled　a　little　satirically；　but　he　was　not　altogether　untouched　by　the　eloquent　love　for　his　daughter；　thus　showing　itself　in　a　very　handsome　and　amiable　face。　　He　said；　〃It　is　not　the　daughter　this　time；　sir；　it　is　only　the　father。〃

Little　colored　up　and　looked　very　uneasy。

〃Mr。　Little；　I　am　told　you　pay　your　addresses　to　Miss　Carden。　　Is　that　so？〃

〃Yes；　sir。〃

〃You　have　never　given　me　any　intimation。〃

Little　colored　still　more。　　He　replied；　with　some　hesitation；　〃Why；　sir；　you　see　I　was　brought　up　amongst　workmen；　and　they　court　the　girl　first；　and　make　sure　of　her；　before　they　trouble　the　parents；　and；　besides；　it　was　not　ripe　for　your　eye　yet。〃

〃Why　not？〃

〃Because　I'm　no　match　for　Miss　Carden。　　But　I　hope　to　be；　some　day。〃

〃And　she　is　to　wait　for　you　till　then？〃

〃She　says　she　will。〃

〃Well；　Mr。　Little；　this　is　a　delicate　matter；　but　you　are　a　straightforward　man；　I　see；　and　it　is　the　best　way。　　Now　I　must　do　my　duty　as　a　parent；　and　I　am　afraid　I　shall　not　be　able　to　do　that　without　mortifying　you　a　little；　but　believe　me；　it　is　not　from　any　dislike　or　disrespect　to　you；　but　only　because　it　IS　my　duty。〃

〃I　am　much　obliged　to　you；　sir；　and　I'll　bear　more　from　you　than　I　would　from　any　other　man。　　You　are　her　father；　and　I　hope　you'll　be　mine　one　day。〃

〃Well；　then；　Mr。　Little；　I　always　thought　my　daughter　would　marry　a　gentleman　in　this　neighborhood；　who　has　paid　her　great　attention　for　years；　and　is　a　very　suitable　match　for　her。　　You　are　the　cause　of　that　match　being　broken　off；　and　I　am　disappointed。　　But　although　I　am　disappointed；　I　will　not　be　harsh　nor　unreasonable　to　you。　　All　I　say　is　this：　my　daughter　shall　never　marry　any　man；　nor　engage　herself　to　any　man；　who　cannot　make　a　proper　settlement　on　her。　　Can　YOU　make　a　proper　settlement　on　her？〃

〃Not　at　present；〃　said　Little；　with　a　sigh。

〃Then　I　put　it　to　y