第 27 节
作者:      更新:2021-02-18 23:15      字数:9322
  the novels; especially in those written by women; and why? because these know the perfidy and mendacity of their sex better than we do; they see them nearer; and with their souls undrest。 War; Mrs。 Dodd! war to the death! From this moment I am alone in the world with her。 I have no friend but Alfred Hardie: and my bitterest enemies are my cold…blooded father and her cold…blooded mother。〃
  The above sentences; of course; were never uttered。 But they represent his thoughts accurately; though in a condensed form; and are; as it were; a miniature of this young heart boiling over。
  From that moment he lay in wait for her; and hovered about the house day and night; determined to appeal to her personally; and undeceive her; and baffle her mother's treachery。 But at this game he was soon detected: Mrs。 Dodd lived on the watch now。 Julia; dressed to go out; went to the window one afternoon to look at the weather; but retreated somewhat hastily and sat down on the sofa。
  〃You flutter; darling;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd。 〃Ah! he is there。〃
  〃Yes。〃
  〃You had better take off your things。〃
  〃Oh; yes。 I tremble at the thoughts of meeting him。 Mamma; he is changed; sadly changed。 Poor; poor Alfred!〃 She went to her own room and prayed for him。 She informed the Omniscient that; though much greater and better in other respects than she was; he had not Patience。 She prayed; with tears; that he might have Christian patience granted Him from on high。
  〃Heart of stone! she shuns me;〃 said Alfred; outside。 He had seen her in her bonnet。
  Mrs。 Dodd waited several days to see whether this annoyance would not die of itself: waiting was her plan in most things。 Finding he was not to be tired out; she sent Sarah out to him with a note carefully sealed。
  〃Mr。 Alfred Hardie;Is it generous to confine my daughter to the house?Yours regretfully;
  LUCY DODD。〃
  A line came back instantly in pencil。
  〃Mrs。 Dodd;Is all the generosity and all the good faith to be on one side?Yours in despair;
  ALFRED HARDIE。〃
  Mrs。 Dodd coloured faintly: the reproach pricked her; but did not move her。 She sat quietly down that moment; and wrote to a friend in London; to look out for a furnished villa in a healthy part of the suburbs; with immediate possession。 〃Circumstances;〃 said she; 〃making it desirable we should leave Barkington immediately; and for some months。〃
  The Bosanquets gave a large party; Mrs。 and Miss Dodd were there。 The latter was playing a part in a charade to the admiration of all present; when in came Mr。 Peterson; introducing his friend; Alfred Hardie。
  Julia caught the name; and turned a look of alarm on her mother; but went on acting。
  Presently she caught sight of him at some distance。 He looked very pale; and his glittering eye was fixed on her with a sort of stern wonder。
  Such a glance from fiery eyes; that had always dwelt tenderly on her till then; struck her like a weapon。 She stopped short; and turned red and pale by turns。 〃There; that is nonsense enough;〃 said she bitterly; and went and sat by Mrs。 Dodd。 The gentlemen thronged round her with compliments; and begged her to sing。 She excused herself。 Presently she heard an excited voice; towards which she dared not look; it was inquiring whether any lady could sing Aileen Aroon。 With every desire to gratify the young millionaire; nobody knew Aileen Aroon; nor had ever heard of it。
  〃Oh; impossible!〃 cried Alfred。 〃Why; it is in praise of Constancy; a virtue ladies shine in: at least; they take credit for it。〃
  〃Mamma;〃 whispered Julia terrified; 〃get me away; or there will be a scene。 He is reckless。〃
  〃Be calm; love;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd; 〃there shall be none。〃 She rose and glided up to Alfred Hardie; looked coldly in his face; then said with external politeness and veiled contempt; 〃I will attempt the song; sir; since you desire it。〃 She waved her hand; and he followed her sulkily to the piano。 She sung Aileen Aroon; not with her daughter's eloquence; but with a purity and mellowness that charmed the room: they had never heard the genius sing it。
  As spirits are said to overcome the man at whose behest they rise; so this sweet air; and the gush of reminiscence it awakened; overpowered him who had evoked them; Alfred put his Hand unconsciously to his swelling heart; cast one look of anguish at Julia; and hurried away half choked。 Nobody but Julia noticed。
  A fellow in a rough great…coat and tattered white hat opened the fly door for Mrs。 Dodd。 As Julia followed her; he kissed her skirt unseen by Mrs。 Dodd; but her quick ears caught a heart…breaking sigh。 She looked and recognised Alfred in that disguise; the penitent fit had succeeded to the angry one。 Had Julia observed? To ascertain this without speaking of him; Mrs。 Dodd waited till they had got some little distance; then quietly put out her hand and rested it for a moment on her daughter's; the girl was trembling violently 〃Little wretch!〃 came to Mrs。 Dodd's lips; but she did not utter it。 They were near home before she spoke at all; and then she only said very kindly; 〃My love; you will not be subjected again to these trials:〃 a remark intended quietly to cover the last occurrence as well as Alfred's open persecution。
  They had promised to go out the very next day; but Mrs。 Dodd went alone; and made excuses for Miss Dodd。 On her return she found Julia sitting up for her; and a letter come from her friend describing a pleasant cottage; now vacant; near Maida Vale。 Mrs。 Dodd handed the open letter to Julia; she read it without comment。
  〃We will go up to…morrow and take it for three months。 Then the Oxford vacation will terminate。〃
  〃Yes; mamma。〃
  I am now about to relate a circumstance by no means without parallels; but almost impossible to account for; and; as nothing is more common and contemptible than inadequate solutions; I will offer none at all: but so it was; that Mrs。 Dodd awoke in the middle of that very night in a mysterious state of mental tremor; trouble; veiled in obscurity; seemed to sit heavy on her bosom。 So strong; though vague; was this new and mysterious oppression; that she started up in bed and cried aloud; 〃David!Julia!Oh; what is the matter?〃 The sound of her own voice dispelled the cloud in part; but not entirely。 She lay awhile; and then finding herself quite averse to sleep; rose and went to her window; and eyed the weather anxiously。 It was a fine night; soft fleecy clouds drifted slowly across a silver moon。 The sailor's wife was reassured on her husband's behalf。 Her next desire was to look at Julia sleeping; she had no particular object: it was the instinctive impulse of an anxious mother whom something had terrified。 She put on her slippers and dressing…gown; and; lighting a candle at her night…lamp; opened her door softly and stepped into the little corridor。 But she had not taken two steps when she was arrested by a mysterious sound。
  It came from Julia's room。
  What was it?
  Mrs。 Dodd glided softly nearer and nearer; all her senses on the stretch。
  The sound came again。 It was a muffled sob。
  The stifled sound; just audible in the dead stillness of the night; went through and through her who stood there listening aghast。 Her bowels yearned over her child; and she hurried to the door; but recollected herself; and knocked; very gently。 〃Don't be alarmed; love; it is only me。 May I come in?〃 She did not wait for the answer; but turned the handle and entered。 She found Julia sitting up in bed; looking wildly at her; with cheeks flushed and wet。 She sat on the bed and clasped her to her breast in silence: but more than one warm tear ran down upon Julia's bare neck; the girl felt them drop; and her own gushed in a shower。
  〃Oh; what have I done?〃 she sobbed。 〃Am I to make you wretched too?〃
  Mrs。 Dodd did not immediately reply。 She was there to console; and her admirable good sense told her that to do that she must be calmer than her patient; so even while she kissed and wept over Julia; she managed gradually to recover her composure。 〃Tell me; my child;〃 said she; 〃why do you act a part with me? Why brave it out under my eye; and spend the night secretly in tears? Are you still afraid to trust me?〃
  〃Oh no; no; but I thought I was so strong; so proud: I undertook miracles。 I soon found my pride was a molehill and my love a mountain。 I could not hold out by day if I did not ease my breaking heart at night。 How unfortunate! I kept my head under the bed…clothes; too; but you have such ears。 I thought I would stifle my grief; or else perhaps you would be as wretched as I am: forgive me pray forgive me!〃
  〃On one condition;〃 said Mrs。 Dodd; struggling with the emotion these simple words caused her。
  〃Anything to be forgiven;〃 cried Julia; impetuously。 〃I'll go to London。 I'll go to Botany Bay。 I deserve to be hanged。〃
  〃Then; from this hour; no half…confidences between us。 Dear me; you carry in your own bosom a much harsher judge; a much less indulgent friend; than I am。 Come! trust me with your heart。 Do you love him very much? Does your happiness depend on him?〃
  At this point…blank question Julia put her head over Mrs。 Dodd's shoulder; not to be seen; and; clasping her tight; murmured scarce above a whisper; 〃I don't know how much I love him。 When h