put yourself in his place-第69部分

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〃Try　ME；　to　begin。〃

The　doctor's　eyes　sparkled　with　satisfaction。　　〃Well；　then；〃　said　he；　〃first　you　must　recollect　all　the　differences　you　have　seen　between　the　male　and　female　mind；　and　imagine　yourself　a　man。〃

〃Oh；　dear！　that　is　so　hard。　　But　I　have　studied　Henry。　　Well；　there　I　have　unsexed　myselfin　imagination。〃

〃You　are　not　only　a　man　but　a　single…minded　man；　with　a　high　and　clear　sense　of　obligation。　　You　are　a　trustee；　bound　by　honor　to　protect　the　interests　of　a　certain　woman　and　a　certain　child。　　The　lady；　under　influence；　wishes　to　borrow　her　son's　money；　and　risk　it　on　rotten　security。　　You　decline；　and　the　lady's　husband　affronts　you。　　In　spite　of　that　affront；　being　a　high…minded　man　not　to　be　warped　by　petty　irritation；　you　hurry　to　your　lawyers　to　get　two　thousand　pounds　of　your　own；　for　the　man　who　had　affronted　you。〃

〃Is　that　so？〃　said　Mrs。　Little。　　〃I　was　not　aware　of　that。〃

〃I　have　just　learned　it；　accidentally；　from　the　son　of　the　solicitor　Raby　went　to　that　fatal　night。〃

A　tear　stole　down　Mrs。　Little's　cheek。

〃Now；　remember；　you　are　not　a　woman；　but　a　brave；　high…minded　man。　In　that　character　you　pity　poor　Mr。　Little；　but　you　blame　him　a　little　because　he　fled　from　trouble；　and　left　his　wife　and　child　in　it。　　To　you；　who　are　Guy　Rabymind　that；　pleaseit　seems　egotistical　and　weak　to　desert　your　wife　and　child　even　for　the　grave。〃　　（The　widow　buried　her　face　and　wept。　　Twenty…five　years　do　something　to　withdraw　the　veil　the　heart　has　cast　over　the　judgment。）　　〃But；　whatever　you　feel；　you　utter　only　regret；　and　open　your　arms　to　your　sister。　　She　writes　back　in　an　agony；　for　which；　being　a　man；　you　can　not　make　all　the　allowance　you　would　if　you　were　a　woman；　and　denounces　you　as　her　husband's　murderer；　and　bids　you　speak　to　her　and　write　to　her　no　more；　and　with　that　she　goes　to　the　Littles。　　Can　you　blame　yourself　that；　after　all　this；　you　wait　for　her　to　review　your　conduct　more　soberly；　and　to　invite　a　reconciliation。〃

Mrs。　Little　gave　Dr。　Amboyne　her　hand；　〃Bitter；　but　wholesome　medicine！〃　she　murmured；　and　then　was　too　overcome　to　speak　for　a　little　while。

〃Ah；　my　good；　wise　friend！〃　said　she　at　last；　〃thick　clouds　seem　clearing　from　my　mind；　I　begin　to　see　I　was　the　one　to　blame。〃

〃Yes；　and　if　Raby　will　be　as　docile　as　you；　and　put　himself　in　your　place；　he　will　tell　me　he　was　the　one　to　blame。　　There's　no　such　thing　as　'the　one　to　blame；'　there　very　seldom　is。　　You　judged　him　as　if　he　was　a　woman；　he　judged　you　as　if　you　were　a　man。　　Enter　an　obese　maniac；　and　applies　the　art　of　arts；　the　misunderstanding　dissolves　under　it；　and　you　are　in　each　other's　arms。　　But；　stop〃　and　his　countenance　fell　again　a　little：　〃I　am　afraid　there　is　a　new　difficulty。　　Henry's　refusal　to　take　the　name　of　Raby　and　be　his　heir。　　Raby　was　bitterly　mortified；　and　I　fear　he　blames　me　and　my　crotchets；　for　he　has　never　been　near　me　since。　　To　be　sure　you　are　not　responsible　for　Henry's　act。〃

〃No；　indeed；　for；　between　you　and　me；　it　mortified　me　cruelly。　　And　now　things　have　taken　a　turnin　short；　what　with　his　love；　and　his　jealousy；　and　this　hopeless　failure　to　make　a　fortune　by　inventing；　I　feel　I　can　bring　him　to　his　senses。　　I　am　not　pleased　with　Grace　Carden　about　something；　but　no　matter；　I　shall　call　on　her　and　show　her　she　must　side　with　me　in　earnest。　　You　will　let　my　brother　know　I　was　always　on　his　side　in　THAT　matter；　whatever　other　offense　I　may　have　given　him　years　ago。〃

〃And　I　am　on　your　side；　too。　　Your　son　has　achieved　a　small　independence。　　Bayne　can　carry　on　the　little　factory；　and　Henry　can　sell　or　lease　his　patents；　he　can　never　sink　to　a　mere　dependent。　There；　I　throw　my　crotchets　to　the　wind；　and　we　will　Raby　your　son；　and　marry　him　to　Grace　Carden。〃

〃God　bless　you；　my　good　and　true　friend！　　How　can　I　ever　thank　you？〃　Her　cheek　flushed；　and　her　great　maternal　eye　sparkled；　and　half　the　beauty　of　her　youth　came　back。　　Her　gratitude　gave　a　turn　to　the　conversation　which　she　neither　expected　nor　desired。

〃Mrs。　Little；〃　said　Dr。　Amboyne；　〃this　is　the　first　time　you　have　entered　my　den；　and　the　place　seems　transformed　by　your　presence。　My　youth　comes　back　to　me　with　the　feelings　I　thought　time　had　blunted；　but　no；　I　feel　that；　when　you　leave　my　den　again；　it　will　be　darker　than　ever；　if　you　do　not　leave　me　a　hope　that　you　will　one　day　enter　it　for　good。〃

〃For　shame！　　At　our　age！〃　said　the　widow。

But　she　spoilt　the　remonstrance　by　blushing　like　a　girl　of　eighteen。

〃You　are　not　old　in　my　eyes；　and；　as　for　me；　let　my　years　plead　for　me；　since　all　those　years　I　have　lived　single　for　your　sake。〃

This　last　appeal　shook　Mrs。　Little。　　She　said　she　could　not　entertain　any　such　thoughts　whilst　her　son　was　unhappy。　　〃But　marry　him　to　his　Grace；　and　thenI　don't　know　what　folly　I　might　not　be　persuaded　into。〃

The　doctor　was　quite　content　with　that。　　He　said　he　would　go　to　Raby；　as　soon　as　he　could　make　the　journey　with　safety；　and　her　troubles　and　her　son's　should　end。

Mrs。　Little　drove　home；　a　happy　mother。　　As　for　the　promise　she　had　made　her　old　friend；　it　vexed　her　a　little；　she　was　so　used　to　look　at　him　in　another　light；　but　she　shrugged　her　maternal　shoulders；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃When　once　my　Henry　leaves　mewhy　not？〃

She　knew　she　must　play　the　politician　a　little　with　Henry；　so　she　opened　the　battery　cautiously。　　〃My　dear；〃　said　she；　at　breakfast；　〃good　news！　　Dr。　Amboyne　undertakes　to　reconcile　us　both　to　your　uncle。〃

〃All　the　better。　　Mr。　Raby　is　a　wrong…headed　man；　but　he　is　a　noble…　minded　one；　that　is　certain。〃

〃Yes；　and　I　have　done　him　injustice。　　Dr。　Amboyne　has　shown　me　that。〃

She　said　no　more。　　One　step　at　a　time。

Henry　went　up　to　Woodbine　Villa　and　Grace　received　him　a　little　coldly。　　He　asked　what　was　the　matter。　　She　said；　〃They　tell　me　you　were　at　the　very　door　the　other　day；　and　did　not　come　in。〃

〃It　is　true；〃　said　he。　　〃Another　had　just　come　outMr。　Coventry。〃

〃And　you　punished　ME　because　that　poor　man　had　called　on　me。　　Have　you　not　faith　in　me？　or　what　is　it？　　I　shall　be　angry　one　of　these　days。〃

〃No；　you　will　not；　if　I　can　make　you　understand　my　feelings。　　Put　yourself　in　my　place；　dearest。　　Here　am　I；　fighting　the　good　fight　for　you；　against　long　odds；　and；　at　last；　the　brickmakers　and　bricklayers　have　beat　us。　　Now　you　know　that　is　a　bitter　cup　for　me　to　drink。　　Well；　I　come　up　here　for　my　one　drop　of　comfort；　and　out　walks　my　declared　rival；　looks　into　my　face；　sees　my　trouble　there；　and　turns　off　with　a　glance　of　insolent　triumph。〃　　（Grace　flushed。）　〃And　then　consider：　I　am　your　choice；　yet　I　am　only　allowed　to　visit　you　once　a　week。〃

〃That　is　papa's　doing。〃

〃No　matter；　so　it　is。　　Yet　my　rival　can　come　when　he　pleases：　and　no　doubt　he　does　come　every　other　day。〃

〃You　fancy　that。〃

〃It　is　not　all　fancy；　forby　heaven！　there　he　is　at　the　gate。　　Two　visits　to　my　one；　there。　　Well；　all　the　better；　I'll　talk　to　HIM。〃

He　rose　from　his　seat　black　with　wrath。

Grace　turned　pale；　and　rang　the　bell　in　a　moment。

The　servant　entered　the　room；　just　as　Mr。　Coventry　knocked　at　the　door。

〃Not　at　home　to　anybody；〃　said　she。

Mr。　Coventry's　voice　was　heard　to　say　incredulously；　〃Not　at　home？〃　Then　he　retired　slowly；　and　did　not　leave　the　neighborhood。　　He　had　called　at　an　hour　when　Grace　was　always　at　home。

Henry　sat　down；　and　said；　〃Thank　you；　Grace。〃　　But　he　looked　very　gloomy　and　disturbed。

She　sat　down　too；　and　then　they　looked　at　each　other。

Henry　was　the　first　to　speak。　　〃We　are　both　pupils　of　the　good　doctor。　　Put　yourself　in　my　place。　　That　man　troubles　our　love；　and　makes　my　heavy　heart　a　sore　heart。〃

The　tears　were　in　Grace's　eyes。　　〃Dearest；〃　said　she；　〃I　will　not　put　myself　in　your　place；　you　would　lose　by　that；　for　I　love　you　better　than　myself。　　Yes；　it　is　unjust　that　you　should　be　allowed　to　visit　me　but　once　a　week；　and　he　should　visit　me　when　he　chooses。　　I　assure　you　I　have　permitted　his　visits　out　of　pure　good…nature；　and　now　I　will　put　an　end　to　them。〃

She　drew　her　desk　toward　her；　and　wrote　to　Mr。　Coventry。　　It　took　her　some　little　time。　　She　handed　Henry　the　letter　to　read。　　He　took　it　in　his　hand；　but　hesitated。　　He　inquired　what　would　be　the　effect　of　it？

〃That　he　will　never　visit　me　again　till　you　and　I　are　married；　or　engaged；　and　that　is　the　same　thing。　　Why　don't　you　read　it？〃

〃I　don't　know：　it　goes　against　me；　somehow。　　Seems　unmanly。　　I'll　take　your　word　for　it。〃

This　charmed　Grace。　　〃Ah；〃　said　she；　〃I　have　chosen　right。〃

Then　he　kissed　her　hands；　and　blessed　her：　and　then　she　told　him　it　was　nothing；　he　was　a　goose；　and　had　no　idea　what　she　would　do　for　him；　〃more　than　you　would　do　for　me；　I　know；〃　said　she。

That　he　denied；　and　then　she　said　she　might　perhaps　put　him　to　the　proof　some　day。

They　were　so　happy　together；　time　slipped　away　unheeded。　　It　was　full　three　hours　before　Henry　could　tear　himself　away；　though　he　knew　he　was　wanted　at　the　works；　and　he　went　out　at　the　gate；　glowing　with　happiness：　and　Coventry；　who　was　ready　to　drop　with　the　fatigue　of　walking　and　watching　just　above；　saw　him　come　out　triumphant。

Then　it　was　his　turn　to　feel　a　deadly　qualm。　　However；　he　waited　a　little　longer；　and　then　made　his　call。

〃Not　at　home。〃


Henry；　on　his　way　to　the　works；　looked　in　on　his　mother；　and　told　her　how　nobly　Grace　had　behaved。

Mrs。　Little　was　pleased；　and　it　smoothed　down　her　maternal　bristles；　and　made　it　much　easier　for　her　to　carry　out　her　design。　　For　the　first　time　since　Mr。　Carden　had　offended　her　by　his　cold…blooded　treatment　of　her　son；　she　called　at　Woodbine　Villa。

Grace　was　at　home　to　see　her；　and　met　her　with　a　blushing　timidity；　and　piteous；　wistful　looks；　not　easy　to　misunderstand　nor　to　resist。

They　soon　came　to　an　understanding；　and　Mrs。　Little　told　Grace　what　Dr。　Amboyne　had　promised　to　do；　and　represented　to　her　how　much　better　it　would　be　for　Henry　to　fall　into　his　uncle　Raby's　views；　than　to　engage　in　hopeless　struggles　like　that　in　which　Mr。　Bolt　and　he　had　just　been　so　signally　defeated。　　〃And　then；　you　know；　my　dear；　you　could　marry　next　monthyou　two；　that　is　to　say；　if　YOU　felt　disposed：　I　will　answer　for　Henry。〃

Grace's　red　face　and　swimming　eyes　told　how　this　shaft　went　home。　In　short；　she　made　a　coy　pro