put yourself in his place-第98部分

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rbs　my　mind；　and　takes　off　my　attention　from　my　duties。〃

Ransome　adhered　to　this　resolution　for　more　than　a　month；　during　which　time　he　followed　out　every　indication　with　the　patience　of　a　beagle；　and；　at　last；　he　called　one　day　and　told　Little　Hill　had　forfeited　his　bail；　and　gone　to　Canada　at　the　expense　of　the　trade；　but　had　let　out　strange　things　before　he　left。　　There　was　a　swell　concerned　in　his　attempt　with　the　bow　and　arrow：　there　was　a　swell　concerned　in　the　explosion；　with　some　workman；　whose　name　he　concealed；　he　had　seen　them　on　the　bridge；　and　had　seen　the　workman　receive　a　bag　of　gold；　and　had　collared　him；　and　demanded　his　share；　this　had　been　given　him；　but　not　until　he　threatened　to　call　the　bobbies。　　〃Now；　if　we　could　find　Hill；　and　get　him　to　turn　Queen's　evidence；　this；　coupled　with　what　you　and　I　could　furnish；　would　secure　your　man　ten　years　of　penal　servitude。　　I　know　an　able　officer　at　Quebec。　　Is　it　worth　while　going　to　the　expense？〃

Little；　who　had　received　the　whole　communication　in　a　sort　of　despondent；　apathetic　way；　replied　that　he　didn't　think　it　was　worth　while。　　〃My　good　friend；〃　said　he；　〃I　am　miserable。　　Vengeance；　I　find；　will　not　fill　a　yearning　heart。　　And　the　truth　is；　that　all　this　time　I　have　been　secretly　hoping　she　would　return；　and　that　has　enabled　me　to　bear　up；　and　chatter　about　revenge。　　Who　could　believe　a　young　creature　like　that　would　leave　her　father　and　all　her　friends　for　good？　　I　made　sure　she　would　come　back　in　a　week　or　two。　And　to　think　that　it　is　I　who　have　driven　her　away；　and　darkened　my　own　life。　　I　thought　I　had　sounded　the　depths　of　misery。　　I　was　a　fool　to　think　so。　　No；　no；　life　would　be　endurable　if　I　could　only　see　her　face　once　a　day；　and　hear　her　voice；　though　it　was　not　even　speaking　to　me。　　Oh！　oh！〃

Now　this　was　the　first　time　Little　had　broken　down　before　Ransome。　Hitherto　he　had　spoken　of　Coventry；　but　not　of　Grace；　he　had　avoided　speaking　of　her；　partly　from　manly　delicacy；　partly　because　he　foresaw　his　fortitude　would　give　way　if　he　mentioned　her。

But　now　the　strong　man's　breast　seemed　as　if　it　would　burst；　and　his　gasping　breath；　and　restless　body；　betrayed　what　a　price　he　must　have　paid　for　the　dogged　fortitude　he　had　displayed　for　several　weeks；　love…sick　all　the　time。

Ransome　was　affected：　he　rose　and　walked　about　the　room；　ashamed　to　look　at　a　Spartan　broken　down。

When　he　had　given　Little　time　to　recover　some　little　composure；　he　said；　〃Mr。　Little；　you　were　always　too　much　of　a　gentleman　to　gossip　about　the　lady　you　love；　and　it　was　not　my　business　to　intrude　upon　that　subject；　it　was　too　delicate。　　But；　of　course；　with　what　I　have　picked　up　here　and　there；　and　what　you　have　let　drop；　without　the　least　intending　it；　I　know　pretty　well　how　the　land　lies。　　And；　sir；　a　man　does　not　come　to　my　time　of　life　without　a　sore　and　heavy　heart；　if　I　was　to　tell　you　how　I　came　to　be　a　bachelorbut；　no；　even　after　ten　years　I　could　not　answer　for　myself。　　All　I　can　say　is　that；　if　you　should　do　me　the　honor　to　consult　me　on　something　that　is　nearer　your　heart　than　revenge；　you　would　have　all　my　sympathy　and　all　my　zeal。〃

〃Give　me　your　hand；　old　fellow；〃　said　Little；　and　broke　down　again。

But；　this　time；　he　shook　it　off　quickly；　and；　to　encourage　him；　Mr。　Ransome　said；　〃To　begin；　you　may　take　my　word　Mr。　Carden　knows；　by　this　time；　where　his　daughter　is。　　Why　not　sound　him　on　the　matter？〃

Henry　acted　on　this　advice；　and　called　on　Mr。　Carden。

He　was　received　very　coldly　by　that　gentleman。

After　some　hesitation；　he　asked　Mr。　Carden　if　he　had　any　news　of　his　daughter。

〃I　have。〃

The　young　man's　face　was　irradiated　with　joy　directly。

〃Is　she　well；　sir？〃

〃Yes。〃

〃Is　she　happier　than　she　was？〃

〃She　is　content。〃

〃Has　she　friends　about　her？　　Kind；　good　people；　any　persons　of　her　own　sex；　whom　she　can　love？〃

〃She　is　among　people　she　takes　for　angels；　at　present。　　She　will　find　them　to　be　petty；　mean；　malicious　devils。　　She　is　in　a　Protestant　convent。〃

〃In　a　convent？　　Where？〃

〃Where？　　Where　neither　the　fool　nor　the　villain；　who　have　wrecked　her　happiness　between　them；　and　robbed　me　of　her；　will　ever　find　her。　　I　expected　this　visit；　sir；　the　only　thing　I　doubted　was　which　would　come　first；　the　villain　or　the　fool。　　The　fool　has　come　first；　and　being　a　fool；　expects　ME　to　tell　him　where　to　find　his　victim；　and　torture　her　again。　　Begone；　fool；　from　the　house　you　have　made　desolate　by　your　execrable　folly　in　slipping　away　by　night　like　a　thief；　or　rather　like　that　far　more　dangerous　animal；　a　fool。〃

The　old　man　delivered　these　insults　with　a　purple　face；　and　a　loud　fury；　that　in　former　days　would　have　awakened　corresponding　rage　in　the　fiery　young　fellow。　　But　affliction　had　tempered　him；　and　his　insulter's　hairs　were　gray。

He　said；　quietly；　〃You　are　her　father。　　I　forgive　you　these　cruel　words。〃　　Then　he　took　his　hat　and　went　away。

Mr。　Carden　followed　him　to　the　passage；　and　cried　after　him；　〃The　villain　will　meet　a　worse　reception　than　the　fool。　　I　promise　you　that　much。〃

Little　went　home　despondent；　and　found　a　long　letter　from　his　mother；　telling　him　he　must　dine　and　sleep　at　Raby　Hall　that　day。

She　gave　him　such　potent　reasons；　and　showed　him　so　plainly　his　refusal　would　infuriate　his　uncle；　and　make　her　miserable；　that　he　had　no　choice。　　He　packed　up　his　dress　suit；　and　drove　to　Raby　Hall；　with　a　heavy　heart　and　bitter　reluctance。

O　caeca　mens　hominum。


CHAPTER　XLI。


It　was　the　great　anniversary。　　On　that　day　Sir　Richard　Raby　had　lost　for　the　Stuarts　all　the　head　he　possessed。　　His　faithful　descendent　seized　the　present　opportunity　to　celebrate　the　event　with　more　pomp　than　ever。　　A　month　before　the　fatal　day　he　came　in　from　Hillsborough　with　sixty　yards　of　violet…colored　velvet；　the　richest　that　could　be　got　from　Lyons；　he　put　this　down　on　a　table；　and　told　his　sister　that　was　for　her　and　Jael　to　wear　on　the　coming　anniversary。　　〃Don't　tell　me　there's　not　enough；〃　said　he；　〃for　I　inquired　how　much　it　would　take　to　carpet　two　small　rooms；　and　bought　it；　now　what　will　carpet　two　little　libraries　will　clothe　two　large　ladies；　and　you　are　neither　of　you　shrimps。〃

While　he　was　thus　doing　the　cynical；　nobody　heeded　him；　quick　and　skillful　fingers　were　undoing　the　parcel；　and　the　ladies'　cheeks　flushed　and　their　eyes　glistened；　and　their　fingers　felt　the　stuff　inside　and　out：　in　which　occupation　Raby　left　them；　saying；　〃Full　dress；　mind！　　We　Rabys　are　not　beheaded　every　day。〃

Mrs。　Little　undertook　to　cut　both　dresses；　and　Jael　was　to　help　sew　them。

But；　when　they　came　to　be　tried　on；　Jael　was　dismayed。　　〃Why；　I　shall　be　half　naked；〃　said　she。　　〃Oh；　Mrs。　Little；　I　couldn't：　I　should　sink　with　shame。〃

Mrs。　Little　pooh…poohed　that；　and　an　amusing　dialogue　followed　between　these　two　women；　both　of　them　equally　modest；　but　one　hardened；　and　perhaps　a　little　blinded；　by　custom。

Neither　could　convince　the　other；　but　Mrs。　Little　overpowered　Jael　by　saying；　〃I　shall　wear　mine　low；　and　you　will　mortally　offend　my　brother　if　you　don't。〃

Then　Jael　succumbed；　but　looked　forward　to　the　day　with　a　simple　terror　one　would　hardly　have　expected　from　the　general　strength　of　her　character。

Little　arrived；　and　saw　his　mother　for　a　minute　or　two　before　dinner。　　She　seemed　happy　and　excited；　and　said；　〃Cheer　up；　darling；　we　will　find　a　way　to　make　you　happy。　　Mark　my　words；　a　new　era　in　your　life　dates　from　to…day：　I　mean　to　open　your　eyes　tonight。　There；　don't　question　me；　but　give　me　one　kiss；　and　let　us　go　and　make　ourselves　splendid　for　poor　Sir　Richard。〃

When　Little　came　down…stairs　he　found　his　uncle　and　a　distinguished…　looking　young　gentleman　standing　before　the　fire；　both　were　in　full　dress。　　Raby　had　the　Stuart　orders　on　his　breast　and　looked　a　prince。　　He　introduced　Little　to　Mr。　Richard　Raby　with　high　formality；　but；　before　they　had　time　to　make　acquaintance；　two　ladies　glided　into　the　room；　and　literally　dazzled　the　young　men；　especially　Dissolute　Dick；　who　knew　neither　of　them。

Mrs。　Little；　with　her　oval　face；　black　brow　and　hair；　and　stately　but　supple　form；　was　a　picture　of　matronly　beauty　and　grace；　her　rich　brunette　skin；　still　glossy　and　firm；　showed　no　signs　of　age；　but　under　her　glorious　eyes　were　the　marks　of　trouble；　and　though　her　face　was　still　striking　and　lovely；　yet　it　revealed　what　her　person　concealed；　that　she　was　no　longer　young。　　That　night　she　looked　about　eight…and…thirty。

The　other　lady　was　blonde；　and　had　a　face　less　perfect　in　contour；　but　beautiful　in　its　way；　and　exquisite　in　color　and　peach…like　bloom；　but　the　marvel　was　her　form；　her　comely　head；　dignified　on　this　occasion　with　a　coronet　of　pearls；　perched　on　a　throat　long　yet　white　and　massive；　and　smooth　as　alabaster；　and　that　majestic　throat　sat　enthroned　on　a　snowy　bust　and　shoulders　of　magnificent　breadth；　depth；　grandeur；　and　beauty。　　Altogether　it　approached　the　gigantic；　but　so　lovely　was　the　swell　of　the　broad　white　bosom；　and　so　exquisite　the　white　and　polished　skin　of　the　mighty　shoulders　adorned　with　two　deep　dimples；　that　the　awe　this　grand　physique　excited　was　mingled　with　profound　admiration。

Raby　and　Henry　Little　both　started　at　the　sudden　grandeur　and　brilliance　of　the　woman　they　thought　they　knew；　but　in　reality　had　never　seen；　and　Raby；　dazzled　himself；　presented　her；　quite　respectfully；　to　Dissolute　Dick。

〃This　is　Miss　Dence；　a　lady　descended；　like　the　rest　of　us；　from　poor　Sir　Richard；　Miss　Dence；　Mr。　Richard　Raby。〃

Jael　blushed　more　deeply　than　ladies　with　white　and　antique　busts　are　in　the　habit　of　doing；　and　it　was　curious　to　see　the　rosy　tint　come　on　her　white　neck；　and　then　die　quietly　away　again。　　Yet　she　courtesied　with　grace　and　composure。　　（Mrs。　Little　had　trained　her　at　all　points；　and　grace　comes　pretty　readily；　where　nature　has　given　perfect　symmetry。）

Dinner　was　announced；　and　Raby　placed　the　Dissolute　between　his　sister　and　the　magnificent　Beauty　dead　Sir　Richard　had　developed。　He　even　gave　a　reason　for　this　arrangement。

〃All　you　ladies　like　a　rake：　you　PRAISE　sober　fellows　like　me；　but　what　you　PREFER　is　a　Rake。〃

As　they　were　rustling　into　their　places；　Mrs。　Little　said　to　Dick；　with　a　delicious　air　of　indifference；　〃ARE　you　a　rake；　Mr。　Raby？〃

〃I　am　a