put yourself in his place-第82部分

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at　only　goes　with　power。

The　doctor　lowered　his　voice　to　a　whisper。　　〃She　is　a　good　Christian；　and　most　likely　she　will　be　penitent；　and　then　she　will　cry　her　heart　out。　　Any　way；　she　is　pretty　sure　to　be　hysterical；　so　mind　and　be　firm　as　well　as　kind。　　There；　her　color　is　coming　back。　Now　put　yourself　in　her　place。　　You　and　I　must　call　this　an　accident。　　Stick　to　that　through　thick　and　thin。　　Ah；　she　is　coming　round　safe。　　She　shall　see　you　first。　　You　take　her　right　hand；　and　look　at　her　with　all　the　pity　and　kindness　I　am　sure　you　feel。〃

Mr。　Raby　took　Jael's　hand　in　both　his；　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　her　with　pity　and　anxiety。

She　came　to　her　senses；　and　stared　at　him　a　long　time。

Then　she　looked　down　at　her　wet　clothes。　　Then　she　snatched　her　hand　away；　and　covered　her　face　with　both　hands；　and　began　to　rock　and　moan；　and　finally　turned　round　and　hid　her　face　against　the　very　floor　as　if　she　would　grovel　and　burrow　into　it。

〃Are　you　better；　my　dear？〃　said　the　doctor；　quietly。

No　reply。　　And　the　face　still　crushed　against　the　floor。

〃The　next　time　you　faint　away；　don't　let　it　be　on　the　banks　of　a　river。　　You　have　been　going　too　long　without　food；　and　you　fainted　away　and　fell　into　the　river。　　Luckily　it　was　not　very　deep　or　it　might　have　been　serious。　　You　have　given　us　a　fine　fright；　I　can　tell　you。〃

While　these　words　were　being　uttered；　Jael；　who　did　not　miss　a　syllable；　began　to　look　very；　very　slowly　round　with　scared　and　troubled　eyes；　and　to　defend　herself。　　〃I　remember　naught；〃　said　she；　doggedly。　　Who　took　me　out？〃

〃Mr。　Raby。〃

She　looked　timidly　at　him；　and　saw　his　wet　clothes。

〃Oh；　squire；　why　did　you　spoil　your　clothes　for　me？〃　and　she　laid　her　head　on　his　knee　and　began　to　cry。

〃My　clothes！〃　said　Raby。　　〃The　girl　wants　to　break　my　heart。〃

〃Eh；　dear！　and　I've　spoiled　the　beautiful　carpet；〃　said　Jael；　piteously。

〃Dn　the　carpet！〃　said　Raby；　nearly　blubbering。

All　this　time　Amboyne　was　putting　himself　in　Jael's　Dence's　place。

〃Is　there　a　good　fire　in　her　room？〃　asked　he；　with　a　significant　look。

Raby　took　the　hint；　and　said　he　would　go　and　see。

As　soon　as　he　was　out　of　the　room；　the　transmigrator　began　to　talk　very　fast　to　Jael。　　〃Now　look　here；　Jael；　that　poor　man　is　alone　in　the　world　now；　and　very　sad；　he　wants　you　to　keep　his　house　for　him。　He　has　been　sending　messages　all　day　after　you；　and　your　room　has　been　ready　ever　so　long。〃

〃My　room　in　this　house？〃

〃Yes。　　But　we　could　not　find　you。　　However；　here　you　are。　　Now　you　must　not　go　back　to　the　farm。　　The　poor　squire　won't　be　quite　so　sad　if　he　sees　you　about　him。　　You　know　he　was　always　fond　of　you　Dences。　　You　should　have　seen　him　cry　over　you　just　now　when　he　thought　you　were　dead。〃

〃I　am　more　cared　for　than　I　thought；〃　said　Jael；　softly。

〃Yes；　but　not　more　than　you　deserve；　my　dear。〃　　He　dipped　a　sponge…　cake　in　wine。　　〃Oblige　me　by　eating　that。〃

She　took　it　submissively。

〃Now　another。〃

She　ate　another；　and　a　third。

〃It's　a　very　wicked　lass　you　are　so　good　to；〃　said　she；　softly；　and　some　gentle　tears　began　to　flow。

〃Stuff　and　nonsense！〃　said　the　doctor。　　〃What　do　you　know　about　wickedness？　　I'm　a　better　judge　of　that　than　you；　and　I　say　you　are　the　best　girl　and　the　most　unselfish　girl　in　the　world；　and　the　proof　is　that；　instead　of　sitting　down　and　nursing　your　own　griefs；　you　are　going　to　pluck　up　courage；　and　be　a　comfort　to　poor　Mr。　Raby　in　his　lonely　condition。〃

These　words　appeared　to　sink　into　Jael's　mind：　she　put　her　hands　to　her　head；　and　pondered　them。　　Perhaps　she　might　have　replied　to　them；　but　Raby　came　down；　and　ordered　her　to　her　apartment。

She　took　a　step　or　two　in　that　direction；　but　presently　drew　back　and　would　not　move。　　〃The　women…folk！　　They'll　see　me　on　the　stair；　this　figure。〃

〃Not　they。　　They　are　all　in　bed。〃

〃Are　they　so？　　Then　please　let　me　go　to　the　kitchen　for　a　dry　cloth　or　two。〃

〃What　to　do？〃

〃To　dry　the　rug　a　bit。　　Just　lookwhat　a　mess　I've　made！〃

〃I'll　say　it　was　the　dog。〃

〃Will　you；　though？　　Oh；　but　you　are　a　good　friend　to　me　this　night。　Then　I'll　go。　　Let　me　wring　my　gown　a　bit；　not　to　mess　the　stairs　as　well。〃

〃No；　no；　I'll　take　all　the　blame。　　Will　you　go；　or　must　the　doctor　and　I　carry　you？〃

〃Nay；　nay；　there's　no　need。　　Your　will　is　my　pleasure；　sir。〃

So　Mr。　Raby　showed　Jael　to　her　room；　and　opened　a　great　wardrobe；　and　took　out　several　armfuls　of　antique　female　habiliments；　and　flung　them　on　the　floor；　rich　velvets；　more　or　less　faded；　old　brocades；　lace　scarves；　chemises　with　lace　borders；　in　short；　an　accumulation　of　centuries。　　He　soon　erected　a　mound　of　these　things　in　the　middle　of　the　floor；　and　told　her　to　wear　what　she　liked；　but　to　be　sure　and　air　the　things　well　first；　〃for；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　a　hundred　years　or　so　since　they　went　on　any　woman's　back。　　Now；　say　your　prayers　like　a　good　girl；　and　go　to　bed。〃

〃Ay；〃　said　Jael；　solemnly；　〃I　shall　say　my　prayers；　you　may　be　sure。〃

As　he　left　the　room　she　said；　in　a　sort　of　patient　way；　〃Good　squire；　I　am　willing　to　live；　since　you　are　so　lonely。〃


CHAPTER　XXXVI。


Early　next　morning　Mr。　Raby　was　disturbed　by　female　voices　in　a　high　key。　　He　opened　his　window　quietly；　intending　to　throw　in　his　bass　with　startling　effect；　when；　to　his　surprise；　he　found　the　disputants　were　his　dairymaid　and　Jael　Dence。

〃And　who　are　you　that　interferes　with　me　in　my　work？　　Where　do　you　come　from？　　Did　ye　get　in　over　the　wall？　for　ye　never　came　in　at　no　door。　　Who　are　you？〃

〃I　am　one　who　won't　see　the　good　squire　wronged。　　Aren't　ye　ashamed？　What；　eat　his　bread；　and　take　his　wage；　and　then　steal　his　butter！〃

〃If　ye　call　me　a　thief；　I'll　law　ye。　　Thief　yourself！　you　don't　belong　to　the　house；　whose　gown　have　you　got　on　your　back？　　Here；　James！　Tom！　here's　a　strange　woman　making　off　with　the　squire's　lady's　clothes；　and　two　pounds　of　butter　to　boot。〃

Jael　was　taken　aback　for　a　moment　by　this　audacious　attack；　and　surveyed　her　borrowed　habiliments　with　a　blush　of　confusion。　Several　servants　came　about　at　the　noise；　and　her　situation　bade　fair　to　be　a　very　unpleasant　one：　but　Mr。　Raby　put　in　his　word；　〃Hold　your　tongues；　all　of　ye。　　Now；　Jael　Dence；　what　is　the　matter？〃

Instantly　all　eyes　were　turned　up　to　the　window　with　a　start；　and　Jael　told　her　tale：　〃Sir；〃　said　she；　〃I　did　see　this　young　woman　take　out　something　from　under　her　apron　and　give　it　to　a　little　girl。　　I　thought　there　was　something　amiss；　and　I　stopped　the　girl　at　the　gate；　and　questioned　her　what　she　was　carrying　off　so　sly。　She　gives　a　squeak　and　drops　it　directly；　and　takes　to　her　heels。　　I　took　it　up　and　brought　it　in；　and　here　it　is；　two　beautiful　pounds　of　butter；　fresh　churned；　look　else！〃here　she　undid　a　linen　wrap；　and　displayed　the　butter〃so　I　challenged　the　dairymaid　here。　　She　says　I'm　a　thiefand　that　I　leave　to　you；　Squire；　you　know　whether　I　come　of　thieves　or　honest　folk；　but　what　I　want　to　know　from　her　is；　why　her　lass　dropped　the　butter　and　took　to　her　heels　at　a　word？〃

〃Now；　my　good　Jael；〃　said　the　Squire；　〃if　you　are　going　to　interfere　every　time　you　catch　my　servants　pilfering；　you　will　have　a　hard　time　of　it。　　However；　zeal　is　too　rare　a　thing　for　me　to　discourage　it。　　I　must　make　an　example。　　Hy；　you　young　woman：　I　dare　say　you　are　no　worse　than　the　rest；　but　you　are　the　one　that　is　found　out；　so　you　must　pack　up　your　clothes　and　begone。〃

〃Not　without　a　month's　warning；　or　a　month's　wage；　sir；　it　you　please；〃　said　the　dairymaid；　pertly。

〃If　I　catch　you　in　the　house　when　I　come　down；　I'll　send　you　to　prison　on　my　own　warrant；　with　the　butter　tied　round　your　neck。〃

At　this　direful　threat　the　offender　began　to　blubber；　and　speedily　disappeared　to　pack　her　box。

Mr。　Raby　then　told　the　other　servants　that　Jael　Dence　was　the　new　housekeeper；　and　that　a　person　of　her　character　was　evidently　required　in　the　house；　they　must　all　treat　her　with　respect；　or　leave　his　service。　　Thereupon　two　gave　warning；　and　Mr。　Raby；　who　never　kept　a　servant　a　day　after　that　servant　had　given　him　warning；　had　them　up　to　his　room；　and　paid　them　a　month's　wages。　　〃And　now；〃　said　he；　〃for　the　honor　of　the　house；　don't　leave　us　fasting；　but　eat　a　good　breakfast；　and　then　go　to　the　devil。〃

At　his　own　breakfast　he　related　the　incident　to　Dr。　Amboyne；　with　a　characteristic　comment：　〃And　the　fools　say　there　is　nothing　in　race。　So　likely；　that　of　all　animals　man　alone　should　be　exempt　from　the　law　of　nature！　　Take　a　drowning　watch…dog　out　of　the　water　and　put　him　in　a　strange　house；　he　is　scarcely　dry　before　he　sets　to　work　to　protect　it。　　Take　a　drowning　Dence　into　your　house；　and　she　is　up　with　the　lark　to　look　after　your　interests。　　That　girl　connive　and　let　the　man　be　robbed　whose　roof　shelters　her？　　She　COULDN'T；　it　is　not　in　her　blood。　　I'm　afraid　there's　to　be　a　crusade　against　petty　larceny　in　this　house；　and　more　row　about　it　than　it　is　worth。　　No　matter；　I　shall　support　the　crusader；　on　principle。　　It　is　not　for　me　to　check　honest　impulses；　nor　to　fight　against　nature　in　almost　the　only　thing　where　she　commands　my　respect。〃

〃Very　well；〃　said　the　doctor；　〃that　is　settled：　so　now　let　us　talk　of　something　more　important。　　How　are　we　to　get　your　sister；　in　her　delicate　state；　from　Wales　to　this　place？〃


〃Why；　I　will　go　for　her　myself；　to　be　sure。〃

〃Raby；　your　heart　is　in　the　right　place；　after　all。　　But　when　she　is　here；　how　are　we　to　conceal　her　unhappy　son's　fate　from　her？　　It　will　be　more　difficult　than　ever；　now　Jael　Dence　is　in　the　house。〃

〃Why　so？　　We　must　take　the　girl　into　our　confidencethat　is　all。〃

〃The　sooner　the　better　then。　　Let　us　have　her　in　here。〃

Jael　was　sent　for；　and　Mr。　Raby　requested　her　to　take　a　seat；　and　give　all　her　attention　to　something　Dr。　Amboyne　had　to　say。

Dr。　Amboyne　then　told　her；　with　quiet　earnestness；　that　Mrs。　Little　was　at　present　so　ill　and　weak　he　felt　sure　the　news　of　Henry's　death　would　kill　her。

〃Ay；　poor　soul！〃　said　Jael；　and　began　to　cry　bitterly。

The　doctor　held　his　peace；　and　cast　a　disconsolate　look　on　Raby；　as　much　as　to　say；　〃We　shall　get　no　efficient　aid　in　this　quarter。〃

After　a　little　while　Jael　dried　her　eyes；　and　said；　〃Go　on；　sir。　　I　must　needs　cry　before　you　now　and　then：　'tisn't　to　say　I　shall　ever　cry　befo