put yourself in his place-第99部分

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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　anything　you　like；〃　replied　the　shameless　fellow。

All　the　old　plate　was　out；　and　blazing　in　the　light　of　candles　innumerable。

There　was　one　vacant　chair。

Dick　asked　if　there　was　anybody　expected。

〃Not　much；〃　said　Raby　dryly。　　〃That　is　Sir　Richard's　chair；　on　these　occasions。　　However；　he　may　be　sitting　in　it　now；　for　aught　I　know。　I　sincerely　hope　he　is。〃

〃If　I　thought　that；　I'd　soon　leave　mine；〃　said　Jael；　in　a　tremulous　whisper。

〃Then　stay　where　you　are；　Sir　Richard；〃　said　the　Rake；　making　an　affected　motion　with　his　handkerchief；　as　if　to　keep　the　good　Knight　down。

In　short；　this　personage；　being　young；　audacious；　witty；　and　animated　by　the　vicinity　of　the　most　beautiful　creature　he　had　ever　seen；　soon　deprived　the　anniversary　of　that　solemn　character　Mr。　Raby　desired　to　give　it。　　Yet　his　volubility；　his　gayety；　and　his　chaff　were　combined　with　a　certain　gentlemanlike　tact　and　dexterity；　and　he　made　Raby　laugh　in　spite　of　himself；　and　often　made　the　ladies　smile。　　But　Henry　Little　sat　opposite；　and　wondered　at　them　all；　and　his　sad　heart　became　very　bitter。

When　they　joined　the　ladies　in　the　drawing…room；　Henry　made　an　effort　to　speak　to　Jael　Dence。　　He　was　most　anxious　to　know　whether　she　had　heard　from　Grace　Carden。　　But　Jael　did　not　meet　him　very　promptly；　and　while　he　was　faltering　out　his　inquiries；　up　came　Richard　Raby　and　resumed　his　attentions　to　herattentions　that　very　soon　took　the　form　of　downright　love…making。　　In　fact　he　stayed　an　hour　after　his　carriage　was　announced；　and　being　a　young　man　of　great　resolution；　and　accustomed　to　please　himself；　he　fell　over　head　and　ears　in　love　with　Miss　Dence；　and　showed　it　then　and　thereafter。

It　did　not　disturb　her　composure。　　She　had　often　been　made　love　to；　and　could　parry　as　well　as　Dick　could　fence。

She　behaved　with　admirable　good　sense；　treated　it　all　as　a　polite　jest；　but　not　a　disagreeable　one。

Mrs。　Little　lost　patience　with　them　both。　　She　drew　Henry　aside；　and　asked　him　why　he　allowed　Mr。　Richard　Raby　to　monopolize　her。

〃How　can　I　help　it？〃　said　Henry。　　〃He　is　in　love　with　her；　and　no　wonder：　see　how　beautiful　she　is；　and　her　skin　like　white　satin。　She　is　ever　so　much　bigger　than　I　thought。　　But　her　heart　is　bigger　than　all。　　Who'd　think　she　had　ever　condescended　to　grind　saws　with　me？〃

〃Who　indeed？　　And　with　those　superb　arms！〃

〃Why；　that　is　it；　mother；　they　are　up　to　anything；　it　was　one　of　those　superb　arms　she　flung　round　a　blackguard's　neck　for　me；　and　threw　him　like　a　sack；　or　I　should　not　be　here。　　Poor　girl！　　Do　you　think　that　chatterbox　would　make　her　happy？〃

〃Heaven　forbid！　　He　is　not　worthy　of　her。　　No　man　is　worthy　of　her；　except　the　one　I　mean　her　to　have；　and　that　is　yourself。〃

〃Me；　mother！　are　you　mad？〃

〃No；　you　are　mad；　if　you　reject　her。　　Where　can　you　hope　to　find　her　equal？　　In　what　does　she　fail？　　In　face？　why　it　is　comeliness；　goodness；　and　modesty　personified。　　In　person？　why　she　is　the　only　perfect　figure　I　ever　saw。　　Such　an　arm；　hand；　foot；　neck；　and　bust　I　never　saw　all　in　the　same　woman。　　Is　it　sense？　why　she　is　wise　beyond　her　years；　and　beyond　her　sex。　　Think　of　her　great　self…　denial；　she　always　loved　you；　yet　aided　you；　and　advised　you　to　get　that　mad　young　thing　you　preferred　to　hermen　are　so　blind　in　choosing　women！　　Then　think　of　her　saving　your　life：　and　then　how　nearly　she　lost　her　own；　through　her　love　for　you。　　Oh；　Henry；　if　you　cling　to　a　married　woman；　and　still　turn　away　from　that　angelic　creature　there；　and　disappoint　your　poor　mother　again；　whose　life　has　been　one　long　disappointment；　I　shall　begin　to　fear　you　were　born　without　a　heart。〃


CHAPTER　XLII。


〃Better　for　me　if　I　had；　then　I　could　chop　and　change　from　one　to　another　as　you　would　have　me。　　No；　mother；　I　dare　say　if　I　had　never　seen　Grace　I　should　have　loved　Jael。　　As　it　is；　I　have　a　great　affection　and　respect　for　her；　but　that　is　all。〃

〃And　those　would　ripen　into　love　if　once　you　were　married。〃

〃They　might。　　If　it　came　to　her　flinging　that　great　arm　round　my　neck　in　kindness　she　once　saved　my　life　with　by　brute　force；　I　suppose　a　man's　heart　could　not　resist　her。　　But　it　will　never　come　to　that　while　my　darling　lives。　　She　is　my　lover；　and　Jael　my　sister　and　my　dear　friend。　　God　bless　her；　and　may　she　be　as　happy　as　she　deserves。　　I　wish　I　could　get　a　word　with　her；　but　that　seems　out　of　the　question　to…night。　　I　shall　slip　away　to　bed　and　my　own　sad　thoughts。〃

With　this　he　retired　unobserved。

In　the　morning　he　asked　Jael　if　she　would　speak　to　him　alone。

〃Why　not？〃　said　she　calmly。

They　took　a　walk　in　the　shrubbery。

〃I　tried　hard　to　get　a　word　with　you　yesterday；　but　you　were　so　taken　up　with　that　puppy。〃

〃He　is　very　good　company。〃

〃I　have　seen　the　time　when　I　was　as　good；　but　it　is　not　so　easy　to　chatter　with　a　broken　heart。〃

〃That　is　true。　　Please　come　to　the　point；　and　tell　me　what　you　want　of　me　now。〃

This　was　said　in　such　a　curious　tone；　that　Henry　felt　quite　discouraged。

He　hesitated　a　moment　and　then　said；　〃What　is　the　matter　with　you？　You　are　a　changed　girl　to　me。　　There's　something　about　you　so　cold　and　severe；　it　makes　me　fear　I　have　worn　out　my　friend　as　well　as　lost　my　love；　if　it　is　so；　tell　me；　and　I　will　not　intrude　my　sorrow　any　more　on　you。〃

There　was　a　noble　and　manly　sadness　in　the　way　he　said　this；　and　Jael　seemed　touched　a　little　by　it。

〃Mr。　Henry；〃　said　she；　〃I'll　be　frank　with　you。　　I　can't　forgive　you　leaving　the　factory　that　night　without　saying　a　word　to　me；　and　if　you　consider　what　I　had　done　before　you　used　me　so；　and　what　I　suffered　in　consequence　of　your　using　me　sonot　that　you　will　ever　know　all　I　suffered；　at　least　I　hope　notno；　I　have　tried　to　forgive　you；　for；　if　you　are　a　sinner；　you　are　a　suffererbut　it　is　no　use；　I　can't。　　I　never　shall　forgive　you　to　my　dying　day。〃

Henry　Little　hung　his　head　dejectedly。　　〃That　is　bad　news；〃　he　faltered。　　〃I　told　you　why　I　did　not　bid　you　good…by　except　by　letter：　it　was　out　of　kindness。　　I　have　begged　your　pardon　for　it　all　the　same。　　I　thought　you　were　an　angel；　but　I　see　you　are　only　a　woman；　you　think　the　time　to　hit　a　man　is　when　he　is　down。　　Well；　I　can　but　submit。　　Good…by。　　Stay　one　moment；　let　me　take　your　hand；　you　won't　refuse　me　that。〃　　She　did　not　deign　a　word；　he　took　her　hand　and　held　it。　　〃This　is　the　hand　and　arm　that　worked　with　me　like　a　good　master：　this　is　the　hand　and　arm　that　overpowered　a　blackguard　and　saved　me：　this　is　the　hand　and　arm　that　saved　my　Grace　from　a　prison　and　public　shame。　　I　must　give　them　both　one　kiss；　if　they　knock　me　down　for　it。　　Theretheregood…by；　dear　Jael；　good…by！　　I　seem　to　be　letting　go　the　last　thing　I　have　to　cling　to　in　the　deep　waters　of　trouble。〃

Melted　by　this　sad　thought；　he　held　his　best　friend's　hand　till　a　warm　tear　dropped　on　it。　　That　softened　her；　the　hand　to　which　he　owed　so　much　closed　on　his　and　detained　him。

〃Stay　where　you　are。　　I　have　told　you　my　mind；　but　I　shall　ACT　just　as　I　used　to　do。　　I'm　not　proud　of　this　spite　I　have　taken　against　you；　don't　you　fancy　that。　　Therethere；　don't　let　us　fret　about　what　can't　be　helped；　but　just　tell　me　what　I　can　DO　for　you。〃

Young　Little　felt　rather　humiliated　at　assistance　being　offered　on　these　terms。　　He　did　not　disguise　his　mortification。

〃Well；〃　said　he；　rather　sullenly；　〃beggars　must　not　be　choosers。　　Of　course　I　wanted　you　to　tell　me　where　I　am　likely　to　find　her。〃

〃I　don't　know。〃

〃But　you　left　Hillsborough　with　her？〃

〃Yes；　and　went　to　York。　　But　there　I　left　her；　and　she　told　me　she　should　travel　hundreds　of　miles　from　York。　　I　have　no　notion　where　she　is。〃

Little　sighed。　　〃She　could　not　trust　even　you。〃

〃The　fewer　one　trusts　with　a　secret　the　better。〃

〃Will　she　never　return？　　Will　she　give　up　her　father　as　well　as　me？　Did　she　fix　no　time？　　Did　she　give　you　no　hint？〃

〃No；　not　that　I　remember。　　She　said　that　depended　on　you。〃

〃On　me？〃

〃Yes。〃

Here　was　an　enigma。

They　puzzled　over　it　a　long　time。　　At　last　Jael　said；　〃She　wrote　a　letter　to　you　before　she　left：　did　she　say　nothing　in　that？　　Have　you　got　the　letter？〃

〃Have　I　got　it？the　last　letter　my　darling　ever　wrote　to　me！　　Do　you　think　it　ever　leaves　me　night　or　day？〃

He　undid　one　of　his　studs；　put　his　hand　inside；　and　drew　the　letter　out　warm　from　his　breast。　　He　kissed　it　and　gave　it　to　Jael。　　She　read　it　carefully　and　looked　surprised。　　〃Why；　you　are　making　your　own　difficulties。　　You　have　only　got　to　do　what　you　are　told。　Promise　not　to　fall　foul　of　that　Coventry；　and　not　to　tempt　her　again；　and　you　will　hear　of　her。　　You　have　her　own　word　for　it。〃

〃But　how　am　I　to　let　her　know　I　promise？〃

〃I　don't　know；　how　does　everybody　let　everybody　know　things　nowadays？　　They　advertise。〃

〃Of　course　they　doin　the　second　column　of　'The　Times。'〃

〃You　know　best。〃　　Then；　after　a　moment's　reflection；　〃Wherever　she　is；　she　takes　in　the　Hillsborough　papers　to　see　if　there's　anything　about　you　in　them。〃

〃Oh；　do　you　think　so？〃

〃Think　so？　　I　am　sure　of　it。　　I　put　myself　in　her　place。〃

〃Then　I　will　advertise　in　'The　Times'　and　the　Hillsborough　papers。〃

He　went　into　the　library　and　wrote　several　advertisements。　　This　is　the　one　Jael　preferred：


〃H。　L。　to　G。　C。　　I　see　you　are　right。　　There　shall　be　no　vengeance　except　what　the　law　may　give　me；　nor　will　I　ever　renew　that　request　which　offended　you　so　justly。　　I　will　be　patient。〃


He　had　added　an　entreaty　that　she　would　communicate　with　him；　but　this　Jael　made　him　strike　out。　　She　thought　that　might　make　Grace　suspect　his　sincerity。　　〃Time　enough　to　put　that　in　a　month　hence；　if　you　don't　hear　from　her。〃

This　was　all　I　think　worth　recording　in　the　interview　between　Jael　and　Henry；　except　that　at　parting　he　thanked　her　warmly；　and　said；　〃May　I　give　you　one　piece　of　advice　in　return？　　Mr。　Richard　Raby　has　fallen　in　love　with　you；　and　no　wonder。　　If　my　heart　was　not　full　of　Grace　I　should　have　fallen　in　love　with　you　myself；　you　are　so　good　and　so　beautiful；　but　he　bears　a　bad　character。　　You　are　wise　in　other　people's　affairs；　pray　don't　be　foolish　in　your　own。〃

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Jael；　a　li