put yourself in his place-第64部分

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。　　He　is　a　worker；　and　an　inventor；　and　now；　instead　of　succumbing　tamely　to　his　disorder；　he　is　working　double　tides；　and　inventing　with　all　his　might；　in　order　to　remove　an　obstacle　between　him　and　one　he　loves　with　all　his　manly　soul。　　A　contest　so　noble　and　so　perpetual　sustains　and　fortifies　the　mind。　　He　is　indomitable；　only；　at　times；　his　heart　of　steel　will　soften；　and　then　he　has　fits　of　deep　dejection　and　depression；　which　I　mourn　to　see；　for　his　manly　virtues；　and　his　likeness　to　one　I　loved　deeply　in　my　youth；　have　made　him　dear　to　me。〃

During　this　Grace　turned　her　head　away；　and；　ere　the　doctor　ended；　her　tears　were　flowing　freely；　for　to　her；　being　a　woman；　this　portrait　of　a　male　struggle　with　sorrow　was　far　more　touching　than　any　description　of　feminine　and　unresisted　grief　could　be：　and；　when　the　doctor　said　he　loved　his　patient；　she　stole　her　little　hand　into　his　in　a　way　to　melt　Old　Nick；　if　he　is　a　male。　　Ladies；　forgive　the　unchivalrous　doubt。

〃Doctor；〃　said　she；　affecting　all　of　a　sudden　a　little　air　of　small　sprightliness；　very　small；　〃now；　doyouthinkit　would　do　your　patientthe　least　good　in　the　worldif　you　were　to　take　him　this？〃

She　handed　him　her　work；　and　then　she　blushed　divinely。

〃Why；　it　is　a　figure　of　Hope。〃

〃Yes。〃

〃I　think　it　might　do　him　a　great　deal　of　good。〃

〃You　could　say　I　painted　it　for　him。〃

〃So　I　will。　　That　will　do　him　no　harm　neither。　　Shall　I　say　I　found　you　crying　over　it？〃

〃Oh；　no！　no！　　That　would　make　him　cry　too；　perhaps。〃

〃Ah；　I　forgot　that。　　Grace；　you　are　an　angel。〃

〃Ah；　no。　　But　you　can　tell　him　I　amif　you　think　so。　　That　will　do　him　no　great　harmwill　it？〃

〃Not　an　atom　to　him；　but　it　will　subject　me　to　a　pinch　for　stale　news。　　There；　give　me　my　patient's　picture；　and　let　me　go。〃

She　kissed　the　little　picture　half…furtively；　and　gave　it　him；　and　let　him　go；　only；　as　he　went　out　at　the　door；　she　murmured；　〃Come　often。〃

Now；　when　this　artful　doctor　got　outside　the　door；　his　face　became　grave　all　of　a　sudden；　for　he　had　seen　enough　to　give　him　a　degree　of　anxiety　he　had　not　betrayed　to　his　interesting　patient　herself。

〃Well；　doctor？〃　said　Mr。　Carden；　affecting　more　cheerfulness　than　he　felt。　　〃Nothing　there　beyond　your　skill；　I　suppose？〃

〃Her　health　is　declining　rapidly。　　Pale；　hollow…eyed；　listless；　languidnot　the　same　girl。〃

〃Is　it　bodily　do　you　think；　or　only　mental？〃

〃Mental　as　to　its　cause；　but　bodily　in　the　result。　　The　two　things　are　connected　in　all　of　us；　and　very　closely　in　Miss　Carden。　　Her　organization　is　fine；　and；　therefore；　subtle。　　She　is　tuned　in　a　high　key。　　Her　sensibility　is　great；　and　tough　folk；　like　you　and　me；　must　begin　by　putting　ourselves　in　her　place　before　we　prescribe　for　her；　otherwise　our　harsh　hands　may　crush　a　beautiful；　but　too　tender；　flower。〃

〃Good　heavens！〃　said　Carden；　beginning　to　be　seriously　alarmed；　〃do　you　mean　to　say　you　think；　if　this　goes　on；　she　will　be　in　any　danger？〃

〃Why；　if　it　were　to　go　on　at　the　same　rate；　it　would　be　very　serious。　　She　must　have　lost　a　stone　in　weight　already。〃

〃What；　my　child！　my　sweet　Grace！　　Is　it　possible　her　life〃

〃And　do　you　think　your　daughter　is　not　mortal　like　other　people？　The　young　girls　that　are　carried　past　your　door　to　the　churchyard　one　after　another；　had　they　no　fathers？〃

At　this　blunt　speech　the　father　trembled　from　head　to　foot。


CHAPTER　XXVIII。


〃Doctor；〃　said　Mr。　Carden；　〃you　are　an　old　friend；　and　a　discreet　man；　I　will　confide　the　truth　to　you。〃

〃You　may　save　yourself　the　trouble。　　I　have　watched　the　whole　progress　of　this　amour　up　to　the　moment　when　you　gave　them　the　advantage　of　your　paternal　wisdom；　and　made　them　both　miserable。〃

〃It　is　very　unreasonable　of　them；　to　be　miserable。〃

〃Oh；　lovers　parted　could　never　yet　make　themselves　happy　with　reason。〃

〃But　why　do　you　say　parted？　　All　I　said　was；　'No　engagement　till　you　can　make　a　settlement：　and　don't　compromise　her　in　the　meanwhile。'　I　did　not　mean　to　interdict　occasional　visits。〃

〃Then　why　not　say　so？　　That　is　so　like　people。　　You　made　your　unfavorable　stipulation　plain　enough；　but　the　little　bit　of　comfort；　you　left　that　in　doubt。　　This　comes　of　not　putting　yourself　in　his　place。　　I　have　had　a　talk　with　him　about　it；　and　he　thinks　he　is　not　to　show　his　face　here　till　he　is　rich　enough　to　purchase　your　daughter　of　you。〃

〃But　I　tell　you　he　has　misunderstood　me。〃

〃Then　write　to　him　and　say　so。〃

〃No；　no；　you　take　an　opportunity　to　let　him　know　he　has　really　rather　overrated　my　severity；　and　that　I　trust　to　his　honor；　and　do　not　object　to　a　visitsay　once　a　week。〃

〃It　is　a　commission　I　will　undertake　with　pleasure。〃

〃And　do　you　really　think　that　will　do　her　bodily　health　any　good？〃

Before　Doctor　Amboyne　could　reply；　the　piano　was　suddenly　touched　in　the　next　room；　and　a　sweet　voice　began　to　sing　a　cheerful　melody。　〃Hush！〃　said　Doctor　Amboyne。　　〃Surely　I　know　that　tune。　　Yes；　I　have　heard　THE　OTHER　whistle　it。〃

〃She　has　not　sung　for　ever　so　long；〃　remarked　Mr。　Carden。

〃And　I　think　I　can　tell　you　why　she　is　singing　now：　look　at　this　picture　of　Hope；　I　just　told　her　I　had　a　male　patient　afflicted　with　her　complaint；　and　the　quick…witted　creature　asked　me　directly　if　I　thought　this　picture　would　do　him　any　good。　　I　said　yes；　and　I'd　take　it　to　him。〃

〃Come；　doctor；　that　couldn't　make　her　SING。〃

〃Why　not？　　Heart　can　speak　to　heart；　even　by　a　flower　or　a　picture。　The　separation　was　complete；　sending　this　symbol　has　broken　it　a　little；　and　so　she　is　singing。　　This　is　a　lesson　for　us　ruder　and　less　subtle　spirits。　　Now　mind；　thwarted　love　seldom　kills　a　busy　man；　but　it　often　kills　an　idle　woman；　and　your　daughter　is　an　idle　woman。　　He　is　an　iron　pot；　she　is　a　china　vase。　　Please　don't　hit　them　too　hard　with　the　hammer　of　paternal　wisdom；　or　you　will　dent　my　iron　pot；　and　break　your　china　vase　to　atoms。〃

Having　administered　this　warning；　Dr。　Amboyne　went　straight　from　Woodbine　Villa　to　Little's　factory；　but　Little　was　still　in　London；　he　had　gone　there　to　take　out　patents。　　Bayne　promised　to　send　the　doctor　a　line　immediately　on　his　return。　　Nevertheless；　a　fortnight　elapsed；　and　then　Dr。　Amboyne　received　a　short；　mysterious　line　to　tell　him　Mr。　Little　had　come　home；　and　would　be　all　the　better　of　a　visit。　　On　receipt　of　this　the　doctor　went　at　once　to　the　works；　and　found　young　Little　lying　on　his　carpenter's　bench　in　a　sort　of　gloomy　apathy。　　〃Hallo！〃　said　the　doctor；　in　his　cheerful　way；　〃why　what's　the　matter　now？〃

〃I'm　fairly　crushed；〃　groaned　the　inventor。

〃And　what　has　crushed　you？〃

〃The　roundabout　swindle。〃

〃There；　now；　he　invents　words　as　well　as　things。　　Come；　tell　me　all　about　the　roundabout　swindle。〃

〃No；　no；　I　haven't　the　heart　left　to　go　through　it　all　again；　even　in　words。　　One　would　think　an　inventor　was　the　enemy　of　the　human　race。　　Yes；　I　will　tell　you；　the　sight　of　you　has　revived　me　a　bit；　it　always　does。　　Well；　then；　you　know　I　am　driven　to　invention　now；　it　is　my　only　chance；　and；　ever　since　Mr。　Carden　spoke　to　me；　I　have　given　my　whole　soul　to　the　best　way　of　saw…grinding　by　machinery。　The　circular　saws　beat　me　for　a　while；　but　I　mastered　them；　see；　there's　the　model。　　I'm　going　to　burn　it　this　very　afternoon。　　Well；　a　month　ago；　I　took　the　other　modelthe　long…saw　grinderup　to　London；　to　patent　the　invention；　as　you　advised　me。　　I　thought　I'd　just　have　to　exhibit　the　model；　and　lodge　the　description　in　some　Government　office；　and　pay　a　fee；　of　course；　to　some　swell；　and　so　be　quit　of　it。　　Lord　bless　youfirst　I　had　to　lay　the　specification　before　the　Court　of　Chancery；　and　write　a　petition　to　the　Queen；　and　pay；　and；　what　is　worse；　wait。　　When　I　had　paid　and　waited；　I　got　my　petition　signed；　not　by　the　Queen；　but　by　some　go…between；　and　then　I　must　take　it　to　the　Attorney…general。　　He　made　me　payand　wait。　When　I　had　waited　ever　so　long；　I　was　sent　back　to　where　I　had　come　fromthe　Home　Office。　　But　even　then　I　could　not　get　to　the　Queen。　Another　of　her　go…betweens　nailed　me；　and　made　me　pay；　and　wait：　these　locusts　steal　your　time　as　well　as　your　money。　　At　last；　a　copy　of　a　copy　of　a　copy　of　my　patent　got　to　the　Queen；　and　she　signed　it　like　a　lady　at　once；　and　I　got　it　back。　　Then　I　thought　I　was　all　right。　　Not　a　bit　of　it：　the　Queen's　signature　wasn't　good　till　another　of　her　go…betweens　had　signed　it。　　I　think　it　was　the　Home　Secretary　this　time。　　This　go…between　bled　me　again；　and　sent　me　with　my　hard…earned　signatures　to　the　Patent　Office。　　There　they　drafted；　and　copied；　and　docketed；　and　robbed　me　of　more　time　and　money。　　And；　when　all　was　done；　I　had　to　take　the　document　back　to　one　of　the　old　go…betweens　that　I　hoped　I　had　worn　out；　the　Attorney…general。　　He　signed；　and　bled　me　out　of　some　more　money。　From　him　to　the　other　go…betweens　at　Whitehall。　　From　them　to　the　Stamp　Office；　if　I　remember　right；　and　oh　Lord；　didn't　I　fall　among　leeches　there？　　They　drafted；　they　copied；　they　engrossed；　they　juggled　me　out　of　time　and　money　without　end。　　The　first　leech　was　called　the　Lord　Keeper　of　the　Seal；　the　second　leech　was　called　the　Lord　Chancellor；　it　was　some　go…between　that　acted　in　his　name；　the　third　leech　was　the　Clerk　of　the　Patents。　　They　demanded　more　copies；　and　then　employed　more　go…betweens　to　charge　ten　times　the　value　of　a　copy；　and　nailed　the　balance；　no　doubt。　　'Stand　and　deliver　thirty　pounds　for　this　stamp。'　　'Stand　and　deliver　to　me　that　call　myself　the　Chancellor's　purse…bearerand　there's　no　such　creaturetwo　guineas。'　　'Stand　and　deliver　seven；　thirteen；　to　the　clerk　of　the　Hanaper'and　there's　no　such　thing　as　a　Hanaper。　'Stand　and　deliver　three；　five；'　to　a　go…between　that　calls　himself　the　Lord　Chancellor　again；　and　isn't。　　'Stand　and　deliver　six；　naught；　to　a　go…between　that　acts　for　the　deputy；　that　ought　to　put　a　bit　of　sealing…wax　on　the　patent；　but　hasn't　the　brains　to　do　it　himself；　so　you　must　pay　ME　a　fancy　price　for　doing　it；　and　then　I　won't　do　it；　it　will　be　done　by　a　clerk　at　twenty…five　shillings　a　week。'　　And；　all　this　time；　mind　you；　no　disposition　to　soften　all　this　official　peculation　by　civility；　no　misgiving　that　the　next　wave　of　civilization　may　sweep　nil　these　go…betweens　and　leeches　out　of　the　path　of　progress；　no；　the　deputy…vice…go…betweens　all　scowled；　a