put yourself in his place-第96部分

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〃Tell　him　all；〃　said　Grace。　　〃Don't　let　him　think　I　do　not　love　him　at　all。〃

〃I　will；〃　said　Jael。　　〃Well；　the　wedding　was　at　eleven；　your　letter　came　at　half…past　twelve；　and　I　took　it　her。　　Soon　after　that　the　villain　came　to　her；　and　she　stabbed　him　directly　with　this　stiletto。　　Look　at　it；　there's　his　blood　up　on　it；　I　kept　it　to　show　you。　　I　caught　her　arm；　or　she　would　have　killed　him；　I　believe。　　He　lost　so　much　blood；　the　doctor　would　not　let　him　be　moved。　　Then　she　thought　of　you　still；　and　would　not　pass　a　night　under　the　same　roof　with　him；　at　two　o'clock　she　was　on　the　way　to　Raby；　but　Mr。　Coventry　was　too　much　of　a　man　to　stay　in　the　house　and　drive　her　out；　so　he　went　off　next　morning；　and；　as　soon　as　she　heard　that；　she　came　home。　　She　is　wife　and　no　wife；　as　the　saying　is；　and　how　it　is　all　to　end　Heaven　only　knows。〃

〃It　will　end　the　moment　I　meet　the　man；　and　that　won't　be　long。〃

〃There！　there！〃　cried　Grace；　〃that　is　what　I　feared。　　Ah；　Jael！　Jael！　why　did　you　hold　my　hand？　　They　would　not　have　hung　ME。　　I　told　you　so　at　the　time：　I　knew　what　I　was　about。〃

〃Jael；〃　said　the　young　man；　〃of　all　the　kind　things　you　have　done　for　me；　that　was　the　kindest。　　You　saved　my　poor　girl　from　worse　trouble　than　she　is　now　in。　　No；　Grace；　you　shall　not　dirty　your　hand　with　such　scum　as　that：　it　is　my　business；　and　mine　only。〃

In　vain　did　Jael　expostulate；　and　Grace　implore。　　In　vain　did　Jael　assure　him　that　Coventry　was　in　a　worse　position　than　himself；　and　try　to　make　him　see　that　any　rash　act　of　his　would　make　Grace　even　more　miserable　than　she　was　at　present。　　He　replied　that　he　had　no　intention　of　running　his　neck　into　a　halter；　he　should　act　warily；　like　the　Hillsborough　Trades；　and　strike　his　blow　so　cunningly　that　the　criminal　should　never　know　whence　it　came。　　〃I've　been　in　a　good　school　for　homicide；〃　said　he；　〃and　I　am　an　inventor。　No　man　has　ever　played　the　executioner　so　ingeniously　as　I　will　play　it。　　Think　of　all　this　scoundrel　has　done　to　me：　he　owes　me　a　dozen　lives；　and　I'll　take　one。　　Man　shall　never　detect　me：　God　knows　all；　and　will　forgive　me；　I　hope。　　If　He　doesn't；　I　can't　help　it。〃

He　kissed　Grace　again　and　again；　and　comforted　her；　said　she　was　not　to　blame；　honest　people　were　no　match　for　villains：　if　she　had　been　twice　as　simple；　he　would　have　forgiven　her　at　sight　of　the　stiletto；　that　cleared　her；　in　his　mind；　better　than　words。

He　was　now　soft　and　gentle　as　a　lamb。　　He　begged　Jael's　pardon　humbly　for　leaving　Hillsborough　without　telling　her。　　He　said　he　had　gone　up　to　her　room；　but　all　was　still；　and　he　was　a　working　man；　and　the　sleep　of　a　working…woman　was　sacred　to　him（he　would　have　awakened　a　fine　lady　without　ceremony）。　　Be　assured　her　he　had　left　a　note　for　her　in　his　box；　thanking　and　blessing　her　for　all　her　goodness。　　He　said　that　he　hoped　he　might　yet　live　to　prove　by　acts；　and　not　by　idle　words；　how　deeply　he　felt　all　she　had　done　and　suffered　for　him。

Jael　received　these　excuses　in　hard　silence。　　〃That　is　enough　about　me；〃　said　she；　coldly。　　〃If　you　are　grateful　to　me；　show　it　by　taking　my　advice。　　Leave　vengeance　to　Him　who　has　said　that　vengeance　is　His。〃

The　man's　whole　manner　changed　directly；　and　he　said　doggedly：

〃Well；　I　will　be　His　instrument。〃

〃He　will　choose　His　own。〃

〃I'll　lend　my　humble　co…operation。〃

〃Oh；　do　not　argue　with　him；〃　said　Grace；　piteously。　　〃When　did　a　man　ever　yield　to　our　arguments？　　Dearest；　I　can't　argue：　but　I　am　full　of　misery；　and　full　of　fears。　　You　see　my　love；　you　forgive　my　folly。　　Have　pity　on　me；　think　of　my　condition：　do　not　doom　me　to　live　in　terror　by　night　and　day：　have　I　not　enough　to　endure；　my　own　darling？　　There；　promise　me　you　will　do　nothing　rash　to…night；　and　that　you　will　come　to　me　the　first　thing　to…morrow。　　Why；　you　have　not　seen　your　mother　yet；　she　is　at　Raby　Hall。〃

〃My　dear　mother！〃　said　he：　〃it　would　be　a　poor　return　for　all　your　love　if　I　couldn't　put　off　looking　for　that　scum　till　I　have　taken　you　in　my　arms。〃

And　so　Grace　got　a　reprieve。

They　parted　in　deep　sorrow；　but　almost　as　lovingly　as　ever；　and　Little　went　at　once　to　Raby　Hall；　and　Grace；　exhausted　by　so　many　emotions；　lay　helpless　on　a　couch　in　her　own　room　all　the　rest　of　the　day。

For　some　time　she　lay　in　utter　prostration；　and　only　the　tears　that　trickled　at　intervals　down　her　pale　cheeks　showed　that　she　was　conscious　of　her　miserable　situation。

Jael　begged　and　coaxed　her　to　take　some　nourishment：　but　she　shook　her　head　with　disgust　at　the　very　idea。

For　all　that　at　nine　o'clock；　her　faithful　friend　almost　forced　a　few　spoonfuls　of　tea　down　her　throat；　feeding　her　like　a　child：　and；　when　she　had　taken　it；　she　tried　to　thank　her；　but　choked　in　the　middle；　and；　flinging　her　arm　round　Jael's　neck；　burst　into　a　passion　of　weeping；　and　incoherent　cries　of　love；　and　pity；　and　despair。　　〃Oh；　my　darling！　so　great！　so　noble！　so　brave！　so　gentle！　And　I　have　destroyed　us　both！　he　forgave　me　as　soon　as　he　SAW　me！　So　terrible；　so　gentle！　　What　will　be　the　next　calamity？　　Ah；　Jael！　save　him　from　that　rash　act；　and　I　shall　never　complain；　for　he　was　dead；　and　is　alive　again。〃

〃We　will　find　some　way　to　do　that　between　usyou；　and　I；　and　his　mother。〃

〃Ah；　yes：　she　will　be　on　my　side　in　that。　　But　she　will　be　hard　upon　me。　　She　will　point　out　all　my　faults；　my　execrable　folly。　　Ah；　if　I　could　but　live　my　time　over　again；　I'd　pray　night　and　day　for　selfishness。　　They　teach　us　girls　to　pray　for　this　and　that　virtue；　which　we　have　too　much　of　already；　and　what　we　ought　to　pray　for　is　selfishness。　　But　no！　I　must　think　of　my　father；　and　think　of　that　hypocrite：　but　the　one　person　whose　feelings　I　was　too　mean；　and　base；　and　silly　to　consult；　was　myself。　　I　always　abhorred　this　marriage。　　I　feared　it；　and　loathed　it；　yet　I　yielded　step　by　step；　for　want　of　a　little　selfishness；　we　are　slaves　without　itmean；　pitiful；　contemptible　slaves。　　O　God；　in　mercy　give　me　selfishness！　Ah　me；　it　is　too　late　now。　　I　am　a　lost　creature；　nothing　is　left　me　but　to　die。〃


Jael　got　her　to　bed；　and　sleep　came　at　last　to　her　exhausted　body；　but；　even　when　her　eyes　were　closed；　tears　found　their　way　through　the　lids；　and　wetted　her　pillow。

So　can　great　hearts　and　loving　natures　suffer。

Can　they　enjoy　in　proportion？

Let　us　hope　so。　　But　I　have　my　doubts。


Henry　Little　kept　his　word；　and　came　early　next　morning。　　He　looked　hopeful　and　excited：　he　said　he　had　thought　the　matter　over；　and　was　quite　content　to　let　that　scoundrel　live；　and　even　to　dismiss　all　thought　of　him；　if　Grace　really　loved　him。

〃If　I　love　you！〃　said　Grace。　　〃Oh；　Henry；　why　did　I　ask　you　to　do　nothing　rash；　but　that　I　love　you？　　Why　did　I　attempt　his　life　myself？　because　you　said　in　your　letter　　It　was　not　to　revenge　myself；　but　to　save　you　from　more　calamity。　　Cruel；　cruel！　　Do　I　love　him？〃

〃I　know　you　love　me；　Grace：　but　do　you　love　me　enough？　　Will　you　give　up　the　world　for　me；　and　let　us　be　happy　together；　the　only　way　we　can？　　My　darling　Grace；　I　have　made　our　fortune；　all　the　world　lies　before　us；　I　left　England　alone；　for　you；　now　leave　it　with　me；　and　let　us　roam　the　world　together。〃

〃Henry！what！when　I　can　not　be　your　wife！〃

〃You　can　be　my　wife；　my　wife　in　reality；　as　you　are　his　in　name　and　nothing　else。　　It　is　idle　to　talk　as　if　we　were　in　some　ordinary　situation。　　There　are　plenty　of　countries　that　would　disown　such　a　marriage　as　yours；　a　mere　ceremony　obtained　by　fraud；　and　canceled　by　a　stroke　with　a　dagger　and　instant　separation。　　Oh；　my　darling；　don't　sacrifice　both　our　lives　to　a　scruple　that　is　out　of　place　here。　　Don't　hesitate；　don't　delay。　　I　have　a　carriage　waiting　outside；　end　all　our　misery　by　one　act　of　courage；　and　trust　yourself　to　me；　did　I　ever　fail　you？〃

〃For　shame；　Henry！　for　shame！〃

〃It　is　the　only　way　to　happiness。　　You　were　quite　right；　if　I　kill　that　wretch　we　shall　be　parted　in　another　way；　always　parted；　now　we　can　be　together　for　life。　　Remember；　dearest；　how　I　begged　you　in　this　very　room　to　go　to　the　United　States　with　me：　you　refused：　well；　have　you　never　been　sorry　you　refused？　　Now　I　once　more　implore　you　to　be　wise　and　brave；　and　love　me　as　I　love　you。　　What　is　the　world　to　us？　　You　are　all　the　world　to　me。〃

〃Answer　him；　Jael；　oh；　answer　him！〃

〃Nay；　these　are　things　every　woman　must　answer　for　herself。〃

〃And　I'll　take　no　answer　but　yours。〃　　Then　he　threw　himself　at　her　feet；　and　clasping　her　in　his　arms　implored　her；　with　all　the　sighs　and　tears　and　eloquence　of　passion；　to　have　pity　on　them　both；　and　fly　at　once　with　him。

She　writhed　and　struggled　faintly；　and　turned　away　from　him；　and　fell　tenderly　toward　him；　by　turns；　and　still　he　held　her　tight；　and　grew　stronger；　more　passionate；　more　persuasive；　as　she　got　weaker　and　almost　faint。　　Her　body　seemed　on　the　point　of　sinking；　and　her　mind　of　yielding。

But　all　of　a　sudden　she　made　a　desperate　effort。　　〃Let　me　go！〃　she　cried。　　〃So　this　is　your　love！　　With　all　my　faults　and　follies；　I　am　truer　than　you。　　Shame　on　your　love；　that　would　dishonor　the　creature　you　love！　　Let　me　go；　sir；　I　say；　or　I　shall　hate　you　worse　than　I　do　the　wretch　whose　name　I　bear。〃

He　let　her　go　directly；　and　then　her　fiery　glance　turned　to　one　long　lingering　look　of　deep　but　tender　reproach；　and　she　fled　sobbing。

He　sank　into　a　chair；　and　buried　his　face　in　his　hands。

After　a　while　he　raised　his　head；　and　saw　Jael　Dence　looking　gravely　at　him。

〃Oh；　speak　your　mind；〃　said　he；　bitterly。

〃You　are　like　the　world。　　You　think　only　of　yourself；　that's　all　I　have　to　say。〃

〃You　are　very　unkind　to　say　so。　　I　think　for　us　both：　and　she　will　think　with　me；　in　time。　　I　shall　come　again　to…morrow。〃

He　said　this　with　an　iron　resolution　that　promised　a　long　and　steady　struggle；　to　which　Grace；　even　in　this　first　encounter；　had　shown　herself　hardly　equal。

Jael　went　to　her　room；　expecting　to　find　her　as　much　broken　down　as　she　was　by　Henry's　first　visit；　but；　instead　of　that；　the　young　lady　was　walking　rapidly　to　and　fro。

At　sight　of　Jael；　she　caught　her　by　the　hand；　and　said；　〃Well！〃

〃He　is　coming　again　to…morrow。〃

〃Is　he　sorry？〃

〃Not　he。〃

〃Who　would　have　thought　he　was　so　wicked？〃

This　seemed　rather　exaggerated　to　Jael；　for　with　all　Mrs。　Little's　teaching