put yourself in his place-第92部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！



Dr。　Amboyne　stared；　and　stepped　aside　into　an　open　pew　to　let　them　pass。

They　swept　by；　he　looked　after　them；　and　remained　glued　to　his　seat　till　the　church　was　clear　of　the　procession。

He　went　into　the　vestry；　and　found　the　curate　there。

〃Are　that　couple　really　married；　sir？〃　said　he。

The　curate　looked　amazed。　　〃As　fast　as　I　can　make　them；〃　said　he；　rather　flippantly。

〃Excuse　me；〃　said　the　doctor；　faintly。　　〃It　was　a　foolish　question　to　ask。〃

〃I　think　I　have　the　honor　of　speaking　to　Dr。　Amboyne？〃

Dr。　Amboyne　bowed　mechanically。

〃You　will　be　at　the　wedding…breakfast；　of　course？〃

〃Humph！〃

〃Why；　surely；　you　are　invited？〃

〃Yes〃　（with　an　equally　absent　air）。

Finding　him　thus　confused；　the　sprightly　curate　laughed　and　bade　him　good…morning；　jumped　into　a　hansom；　and　away　to　Woodbine　Villa。

Dr。　Amboyne　followed　him　slowly。

〃Drive　me　to　Woodbine　Villa。　　There's　no　hurry　now。〃

On　the　way；　he　turned　the　matter　calmly　over；　and　put　this　question　to　himself：　Suppose　he　had　reached　the　villa　in　time　to　tell　Grace　Carden　the　news！　　Certainly　he　would　have　disturbed　the　wedding；　but　would　it　have　been　put　off　any　the　more？　　The　bride's　friends　and　advisers　would　have　replied；　〃But　that　is　no　positive　proof　that　he　is　alive；　and；　if　he　is　alive；　he　has　clearly　abandoned　her。　　Not　a　line　for　all　these　months。〃

This　view　of　the　matter　appeared　to　him　unanswerable；　and　reconciled　him；　in　a　great　degree；　to　what　seemed　inevitable。

He　uttered　one　deep　sigh　of　regret；　and　proceeded　now　to　read　his　letters；　for　he　was　not　likely　to　have　another　opportunity　for　an　hour　or　two　at　least；　since　he　must　be　at　the　wedding　breakfast。　His　absence　would　afflict　the　bride。

The　third　letter　he　took　out　of　his　breast…pocket　bore　an　American　postmark。　　At　the　first　word　of　it　he　uttered　an　ejaculation；　and　his　eye　darted　to　the　signature。

Then　he　gave　a　roar　of　delight。　　It　was　signed　〃Henry　Little；〃　and　the　date　only　twelve　days　old。

His　first　thought　was　the　poor　lady　who；　at　this　moment；　lay　on　a　sofa　in　his　house；　a　prey　to　doubts　and　fears　he　could　now　cure　in　a　moment。

But　no　sooner　had　he　cast　his　eyes　over　the　contents；　than　his　very　flesh　began　to　creep　with　dire　misgivings　and　suspicions。

To　these　succeeded　the　gravest　doubts　as　to　the　course　he　ought　to　pursue　at　Woodbine　Villa。

He　felt　pretty　sure　that　Grace　Carden　had　been　entrapped　into　marrying　a　villain；　and　his　first　impulse　was　to　denounce　the　bridegroom　before　the　assembled　guests。

But　his　cooler　judgment　warned　him　against　acting　in　hot　blood；　and　suggested　it　would　be　better　to　try　and　tell　her　privately。

And　then　he　asked　himself　what　would　be　the　consequence　of　telling　her。

She　was　a　lady　of　great　spirit；　fire；　and　nobility。　　She　would　never　live　with　this　husband　of　hers。

And　then　came　the　question；　What　would　be　her　life？

She　might　be　maid；　wife；　and　widow　all　her　days。

Horrible　as　it　was；　he　began　almost　to　fear　her　one　miserable　chance　of　happiness　might　lie　in　ignorance。

But　then　how　long　could　she　be　in　ignorance？

Little　was　coming　home；　he　would　certainly　speak　out。

Dr。　Amboyne　was　more　tormented　with　doubts　than　a　man　of　inferior　intellect　would　have　been。　　His　was　an　academic　mind；　accustomed　to　look　at　every　side　of　a　question；　and；　when　he　reached　Woodbine　Villa；　he　was　almost　distracted　with　doubt　and　perplexity。　　However；　there　was　one　person　from　whom　the　news　must　not　be　kept　a　moment。　He　took　an　envelope　out　of　his　pocket…book；　and　sent　the　cabman　to　Mrs。　Little　with　this　line：


〃Thank　God；　I　have　a　letter　from　Henry　Little　by　this　day's　post。　He　is　well。　　Wait　an　hour　or　two　for　me。　　I　can　not　leave　Woodbine　Villa　at　present。〃


He　sent　this　off　by　his　cabman；　and　went　into　the　breakfast…room　in　a　state　of　mind　easier　to　imagine　than　to　describe。

The　party　were　all　seated；　and　his　the　only　vacant　place。

It　was　like　a　hundred　other　weddings　at　which　he　had　been；　and；　seeing　the　bride　and　bridegroom　seated　together　as　usual；　and　the　pretty　bridemaids　tittering；　as　usual；　and　the　gentle　dullness　lighted　up　with　here　and　there　a　feeble　jest；　as　usual；　he　could　hardly　realize　that　horrible　things　lay　beneath　the　surface　of　all　this　snowy　bride…cake；　and　flowers；　and　white　veils；　and　weak　jocoseness。

He　stared；　bowed；　and　sunk　into　his　place　like　a　man　in　a　dream。

Bridemaids　became　magnetically　conscious　that　an　incongruous　element　had　entered；　so　they　tittered。　　At　what　does　sweet　silly　seventeen　not　titter？

Knives　and　forks　clattered；　champagne　popped；　and　Dr。　Amboyne　was　more　perplexed　and　miserable　than　he　had　ever　been。　　He　had　never　encountered　a　more　hopeless　situation。

Presently　Lally　came　and　touched　the　bridegroom。　　He　apologized；　and　left　the　room　a　moment。

Lally　then　told　him　to　be　on　his　guard；　for　the　fat　doctor　knew　something。　　He　had　come　tearing　up　in　a　fly；　and　had　been　dreadfully　put　out　when　he　found　Miss　Carden　was　gone　to　the　church。

〃Well；　but　he　might　merely　wish　to　accompany　her　to　the　church：　he　is　an　old　friend。〃

Lally　shook　his　head　and　said　there　was　much　more　in　it　than　that；　he　could　tell　by　the　man's　eye；　and　his　uneasy　way。　　〃Master；　dear；　get　out　of　this；　for　heaven's　sake；　as　fast　as　ye　can。〃

〃You　are　right；　go　and　order　the　carriage　round；　as　soon　as　the　horses　can　be　put　to。〃

Coventry　then　went　hastily　back　to　the　bridal　guests；　and　Lally　ran　to　the　neighboring　inn　which　furnished　the　four　post…horses。

Coventry　had　hardly　settled　down　in　his　chair　before　he　cast　a　keen　but　furtive　glance　at　Dr。　Amboyne's　face。

Then　he　saw　directly　that　the　doctor's　mind　was　working；　and　that　he　was　secretly　and　profoundly　agitated。

But；　after　all；　he　thought；　what　could　the　man　know？　　And　if　he　had　known　any　thing；　would　he　have　kept　it　to　himself？

Still　he　judged　it　prudent　to　propitiate　Dr。　Amboyne；　so；　when　the　time　came　for　the　usual　folly　of　drinking　healths；　he　leaned　over　to　him；　and；　in　the　sweetest　possible　voice；　asked　him　if　he　would　do　them　both　the　honor　to　propose　the　bride's　health。

At　this　unexpected　call　from　Mr。　Coventry；　Dr。　Amboyne　stared　in　the　bridegroom's　face。　　He　stared　at　him　so　that　other　people　began　to　stare。　　Recovering　himself　a　little；　he　rose　mechanically；　and　surprised　every　body　who　knew　him。

Instead　of　the　easy　gayety　natural　to　himself　and　proper　to　the　occasion；　he　delivered　a　few　faltering　words　of　affection　for　the　bride；　then　suddenly　stopped；　and；　after　a　pause；　said；　〃But　some　younger　man　must　foretell　her　the　bright　career　she　deserves。　　I　am　unfit。　　We　don't　know　what　an　hour　may　bring　forth。〃　　With　this　he　sunk　into　his　chair。

An　uneasy　grin；　and　then　a　gloom；　fell　on　the　bright　company　at　these　strange　words；　and　all　looked　at　one　another　uncomfortably。

But　this　situation　was　unexpectedly　relieved。　　The　young　curate　rose；　and　said；　〃I　accept　the　honor　Dr。　Amboyne　is　generous　enough　to　transfer　to　the　younger　gentlemen　of　the　partyaccept　it　with　pride。〃

Starting　from　this　exordium；　he　pronounced；　with　easy　volubility；　a　charming　panegyric　on　the　bride；　congratulated　her　friends；　and　then　congratulated　himself　on　being　the　instrument　to　unite　her　in　holy　wedlock　with　a　gentleman　worthy　of　her　affection。　　Then；　assuming　for　one　moment　the　pastor；　he　pronounced　a　blessing　on　the　pair；　and　sat　down；　casting　glances　all　round　out　of　a　pair　of　singularly　restless　eyes。

The　loud　applause　that　followed　left　him　in　no　doubt　as　to　the　favorable　effect　he　had　produced。　　Coventry；　in　particular；　looked　most　expressively　grateful。

The　bridegroom's　health　followed；　and　Coventry　returned　thanks　in　a　speech　so　neat　and　well　delivered　that　Grace　felt　proud　of　his　performance。

Then　the　carriage　and　four　came　round；　and　Coventry　gave　Grace　an　imploring　glance　on　which　she　acted　at　once；　being　herself　anxious　to　escape　from　so　much　publicity。　　She　made　her　courtesies；　and　retired　to　put　on　her　traveling…dress。

Then　Dr。　Amboyne　cursed　his　own　indecision；　but　still　could　not　make　up　his　mind；　except　to　tell　Raby；　and　make　him　the　judge　what　course　was　best。

The　gayety；　never　very　boisterous；　began　to　flag　altogether；　when　suddenly　a　noise　was　heard　outside；　and　one　or　two　young　people；　who　darted　unceremoniously　to　the　window；　were　rewarded　by　the　sight　of　a　man　and　a　woman　struggling　and　quarreling　at　the　gate。　　The　disturbance　in　question　arose　thus：　Jael　Dence；　looking　out　of　Grace's　window；　saw　the　postman　coming；　and　ran　to　get　Grace　her　letters　（if　any）　before　she　went。

The　postman；　knowing　her　well；　gave　her　the　one　letter　there　was。

Lally；　returning　from　the　inn；　where　he　had　stopped　one　unlucky　minute　to　drain　a　glass；　saw　this；　and　ran　after　Jael　and　caught　her　just　inside　the　gate。

〃That　is　for　me；〃　said　he；　rudely。

〃Nay；　it's　for　thy　betters；　young　man；　'tis　for　Miss　Grace　Carden。〃

〃She　is　Mrs。　Coventry　now；　so　give　it　me。〃

〃I'll　take　her　orders　first。〃

On　this　Lally　grabbed　at　it　and　caught　Jael's　right　hand；　which　closed　directly　on　the　letter　like　a　vise。

〃Are　these　your　manners？〃　said　she。　　〃Give　over　now。〃

〃I　tell　you　I　will　have　it！〃　said　he；　fiercely；　for　he　had　caught　sight　of　the　handwriting。

He　seized　her　hand　and　applied　his　knuckles　to　the　back　of　it　with　all　his　force。　　That　hurt　her；　and　she　gave　a　cry；　and　twisted　away　from　him　and　drew　back；　then；　putting　her　left　hand　to　his　breast；　she　gave　a　great　yaw；　and　then　a　forward　rush　with　her　mighty　loins；　and　a　contemporaneous　shove　with　her　amazing　left　arm；　that　would　have　pushed　down　some　brick　walls；　and　the　weight　and　strength　so　suddenly　applied　sent　Lally　flying　like　a　feather。　　His　head　struck　the　stone　gate…post；　and　he　measured　his　length　under　it。

Jael　did　not　know　how　completely　she　had　conquered　him；　and　she　ran　in　with　a　face　as　red　as　fire；　and　took　the　letter　up　to　Grace；　and　was　telling　her；　all　in　a　heat；　about　the　insolence　of　her　new　husband's　Irish　servant；　when　suddenly　she　half　recognized　the　handwriting；　and　stood　staring　at　it；　and　began　to　tremble。

〃Why；　what　is　the　matter？〃　said　Grace。

〃Oh；　nothing；　miss。　　I'm　foolish。　　The　writing　seems　to　me　like　a　writing　we　shall　never　see　again。〃　　And　she　stood　and　trembled　still　more；　for　the　han