hard cash-第21节

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re　she　will　not　say　or　do　something　extravagant　or　unusual：　she　seems　to　suspect　sobriety　and　good　taste　of　being　in　league　with　impiety。　Here　I　succeed　in　bridling　her　a　little；　but　encounter　a　female　enthusiast　in　her　own　house？　_merci！_　After　all；　there　must　be　something　good　in　her；　since　she　is　your　friend；　and　you　are　hers。　But　I　have　something　more　serious　to　say　before　you　go　there：　it　is　about　her　brother。　He　is　a　flirt：　in　fact；　a　notorious　one；　more　than　one　lady　tells　me。〃

Julia　was　silent；　but　began　to　be　very　uneasy；　they　were　sitting　and　talking　after　sunset；　yet　without　candles。　She　profited　for　once　by　that　prodigious　gap　in　the　intelligence　of　〃the　sex。〃

〃I　hear　he　pays　you　compliments；　and　I　have　seen　a　disposition　to　single　you　out。　Now；　my　love；　you　have　the　good　sense　to　know　that；　whatever　a　young　gentleman　of　that　age　says　to　you；　he　says　to　many　other　ladies；　but　your　experience　is　not　equal　to　your　sense；　so　profit　by　mine。　A　girl　of　your　age　must　never　be　talked　of　with　a　person　of　the　other　sex：　it　is　fatal；　fatal！　but　if　you　permit　yourself　to　be　singled　out；　you　will　be　talked　of；　and　distress　those　who　love　you。　It　is　easy　to　avoid　injudicious　duets　in　society；　oblige　me　by　doing　so　to…night。〃　To　show　how　much　she　was　in　earnest；　Mrs。　Dodd　hinted　that；　were　her　admonition　neglected；　she　should　regret　for　once　having　kept　clear　of　an　enthusiast。

Julia　had　no　alternative；　she　assented　in　a　faint　voice。　After　a　pause　she　faltered　out；　〃And　suppose　he　should　esteem　me　seriously？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　replied　quickly；　〃Then　that　would　be　much　worse。　But；〃　said　she；　〃I　have　no　apprehensions　on　that　score；　you　are　a　child；　and　he　is　a　precocious　boy；　and　rather　a　flirt。　But　forewarned　is　forearmed。　So　now　run　away　and　dress；　sweet　one：　my　lecture　is　quite　ended。〃

The　sensitive　girl　went　up　to　her　room　with　a　heavy　heart。　All　the　fears　she　had　lulled　of　late　revived。　She　saw　plainly　now　that　Mrs。　Dodd　only　accepted　Alfred　as　a　pleasant　acquaintance：　as　a　son…in…law　he　was　out　of　the　question。　〃Oh；　what　will　she　say　when　she　knows　all？〃　thought　Julia。

Next　day；　sitting　near　the　window；　she　saw　him　coming　up　the　road。　After　the　first　movement　of　pleasure　at　the　bare　sight　of　him；　she　was　sorry　he　had　come。　Mamma's　suspicions　awake　at　last；　and　here　he　was　again；　the　third　call　in　one　fortnight！　She　dared　not　risk　an　interview　with　him；　ardent　and　unguarded；　under　that　penetrating　eye；　which　she　felt　would　now　be　on　the　watch。　She　rose　hurriedly；　said　as　carelessly　as　she　could；　〃I　am　going　to　the　school；〃　and　tying　her　bonnet　on　all　in　a　flurry；　whipped　out　at　the　back…door　with　her　shawl　in　her　hand　just　as　Sarah　opened　the　front　door　to　Alfred。　She　then　shuffled　on　her　shawl；　and　whisked　through　the　little　shrubbery　into　the　open　field；　and　reached　a　path　that　led　to　the　school；　and　so　gratified　was　she　at　her　dexterity　in　evading　her　favourite；　that　she　hung　her　head；　and　went　murmuring；　〃Cruel；　cruel；　cruel！〃

Alfred　entered　the　drawing…room　gaily；　with　a　good…sized　card　and　a　prepared　speech。　His　was　not　the　visit　of　a　friend；　but　a　functionary；　the　treasurer　of　the　cricket…ground　come　to　book　two　of　his　eighteen　to　play　against　the　All…England　Eleven　next　month。　〃As　for　you；　my　worthy　sir　（turning　to　Edward）；　I　shall　just　put　you　down　without　ceremony。　But　I　must　ask　leave　to　book　Captain　Dodd。　Mrs。　Dodd；　I　come　at　the　universal　desire　of　the　club；　they　say　it　is　sure　to　be　a　dull　match　without　Captain　Dodd。　Besides；　he　is　a　capital　player。〃

〃Mamma；　don't　you　be　caught　by　his　chaff；〃　said　Edward；　quietly。　〃Papa　is　no　player　at　all。　Anything　more　unlike　cricket　than　his　way　of　making　runs！〃

〃But　he　makes　them；　old　fellow；　now　you　and　I；　at　Lord's　the　other　day；　played　in　first…rate　form；　left　shoulder　well　up；　and　achievedwith　neatness；　precision；　dexterity；　and　despatchthe　British　duck's…egg。

_〃Misericorde！_　What　is　that？〃　inquired　Mrs。　Dodd。

Why；　a　round　O；〃　said　the　other　Oxonian；　coming　to　his　friend's　aid。

〃And　what　is　that；　pray？〃

Alfred　told　her　〃the　round　O；〃　which　had　yielded　to　〃the　duck's　egg；〃　and　was　becoming　obsolete；　meant　the　cypher　set　by　the　scorer　against　a　player's　name　who　is　out　without　making　a　run。

〃I　see；〃　sighed　Mrs。　Dodd。　〃The　jargon　of　the　day　penetrates　to　your　very　sports　and　games。　And　why　British？〃

〃Oh；　'British'　is　redundant：　thrown　in　by　the　universities。〃

〃But　what　does　it　mean？〃

〃It　means　nothing。　That　is　the　beauty　of　it。　British　is　inserted　in　imitation　of　our　idols；　the　Greeks；　they　adored　redundancy。〃

In　short；　poor　Alfred；　though　not　an　M。　P。；　was　talking　to　put　off　time；　till　Julia　should　come　in：　so　he　now　favoured　Mrs。　Dodd；　of　all　people；　with　a　flowery　description　of　her　husband's　play；　which　I；　who　have　not　his　motive　for　volubility；　suppress。　However；　he　wound　up　with　the　captains　〃moral　influence。〃　〃Last　match；〃　said　he；　〃Barkington　did　not　do　itself　justice。　Several；　that　could　have　made　a　stand；　were　frightened　out；　rather　than　bowled；　by　the　London　professionals。　Then　Captain　Dodd　went　in；　and　treated　those　artists　with　the　same　good…humoured　contempt　he　would　a　parish　bowler；　and；　in　particular；　sent　Mynne's　over…tossed　balls　flying　over　his　head　for　five；　or　to　square　leg　for　four；　and；　on　his　retiring　with　twenty…five；　scored　in　eight　minutes；　the　remaining　Barkingtonians　were　less　funky；　and　made　some　fair　scores。〃

Mrs。　Dodd　smiled　a　little　ironically　at　this　tirade；　but　said　she　thought　she　might　venture　to　promise　Mr。　Dodd's　co…operation；　should　he　reach　home　in　time。　Then；　to　get　rid　of　Alfred　before　Julia's　return；　the　amiable　worldling　turned　to　Edward。　〃Your　sister　will　not　be　back；　so　you　may　as　well　ring　the　bell　for　luncheon　at　once。　Perhaps　Mr。　Hardie　will　join　us。〃

Alfred　declined；　and　took　his　leave　with　far　less　alacrity　than　he　had　entered；　Edward　went　down…stairs　with　him。

〃Miss　Dodd　gone　on　a　visit？〃　asked　Alfred；　affecting　carelessness。

〃Only　to　the　school。　By…the…bye；　I　will　go　and　fetch　her。〃

〃No；　don't　do　that；　call　on　my　sister　instead；　and　then　you　will　pull　me　out　of　a　scrape。　I　promised　to　bring　her　here；　but　her　saintship　was　so　long　adorning　'the　poor　perishable　body；'　that　I　came　alone。〃

〃I　don't　understand　you；〃　said　Edward。　〃I　am　not　the　attraction　here；　it　is　Julia。〃

〃How　do　you　know　that？　When　a　young　lady　interests　herself　in　an　undergraduate's　soul；　it　is　a　pretty　sure　sign　she　likes　the　looks　of　him。　But　perhaps　you　don't　want　to　be　converted；　if　so；　keep　clear　of　_her。_　'Bar　the　fell　dragon's　blighting　way；　but　shun　that　lovely　snare。'〃

〃On　the　contrary；〃　said　Edward　calmly；　〃　I　only　wish　she　could　make　me　as　good　as　she　is；　or　half　as　good。〃

〃Give　her　the　chance；　old　fellow；　and　then　it　won't　be　your　fault　if　she　makes　a　mess　of　it。　Call　at　two；　and　Jenny　will　receive　you　very　kindly；　and　will　show　you　you　are　in　the　'gall　of　bitterness　and　the　bond　of　iniquity。'　Now；　won't　that　be　nice？〃

〃I　will　go；〃　said　Edward　gravely。

They　parted。　Where　Alfred　went　the　reader　can　perhaps　guess；　Edward　to　luncheon。

〃Mamma；〃　said　he；　with　that　tranquillity　which　sat　so　well　on　him；　〃don't　you　think　Alfred　Hardie　is　spoony　upon　our　Julia？〃

Mrs。　Dodd　suppressed　a　start；　and　（perhaps　to　gain　time　before　replying　sincerely）　said　she　had　not　the　honour　of　knowing　what　〃spoony〃　meant。

〃Why；　sighs　for　her；　and　dies　for　her；　and　fancies　she　is　prettier　than　Miss　Hardie。　He　must　be　over　head　and　ears　to　think　that。〃

〃Fie；　child！　〃　was　the　answer。　〃If　I　thought　so；　I　should　withdraw　from　their　acquaintance。　Excuse　me；　I　must　put　on　my　bonnet　at　once；　not　to　lose　this　fine　afternoon。〃

Edward　did　not　relish　her　remark：　it　menaced　more　Spoons　than　one。　However；　he　was　not　the　man　to　be　cast　down　at　a　word：　he　lighted　a　cigar；　and　strolled　towards　Hardie's　house。　Mr。　Hardie；　senior；　had　left　three　days　ago　on　a　visit　to　London；　Miss　Hardie　received　him；　he　passed　the　afternoon　in　calm　complacency；　listening　reverently　to　her　admonitions；　and　looking　her　softly　out　of　countenance；　and　into　earthly　affections；　with　his　lion　eyes。

Meantime　his　remark；　so　far　from　really　seeming　foolish　to　Mrs。　Dodd；　was　the　true　reason　for　her　leaving　him　so　abruptly　〃Even　this　dear　slow　Thing　sees　it；〃　thought　she。　She　must　talk　to　Julia　more　seriously；　and　would　go　to　the　school　at　once。　She　went　up…stairs；　and　put　on　her　bonnet　and　shawl　before　the　glass；　then　moulded　on　her　gloves；　and　came　down　equipped。　On　the　stairs　was　a　large　window；　looking　upon　the　open　field；　she　naturally　cast　her　eyes　through　it　in　the　direction　she　was　going；　and　what　did　she　see　but　a　young　lady　and　gentleman　coming　slowly　down　the　path　towards　the　villa。　Mrs。　Dodd　bit　her　lip　with　vexation；　and　looked　keenly　at　them；　to　divine　on　what　terms　they　were。　And　the　more　she　looked　the　more　uneasy　she　grew。

The　head；　the　hand；　the　whole　body　of　a　sensitive　young　woman　walking　beside　him　she　loves；　betray　her　heart　to　experienced　eyes　watching　unseen；　and　especially　to　female　eyes。　And　why　did　Julia　move　so　slowly；　especially　after　that　warning　？　Why　was　her　head　averted　from　that　encroaching　boy；　and　herself　so　near　him？　Why　not　keep　her　distance；　and　look　him　full　in　the　face？　Mrs。　Dodd's　first　impu