hard cash-第8节
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Left to herself； Mrs。 Dodd would have broken the bad news to Edward at once； and taken the line of consoling him under her own vexation： it would not have been the first time that she had played that card。 But young Mr。 Hardie had said it would be unkind to poison Edward's day： and it is sweet woman's nature to follow suit； so she and Julia put bright faces on； and Edward passed a right jocund afternoon with them。 He was not allowed to surprise one of the looks they interchanged to relieve their secret mortification。 But； after dinner； as the time drew near for him to go back to Oxford； Mrs。 Dodd became silent； and a little _distraite；_ and at last drew her chair away to a small table； and wrote a letter。
In directing it she turned it purposely； so that Julia could catch the address： _〃Edward Dodd； Esq。； Exeter College； Oxford。_〃
Julia was naturally startled at first； and her eye roved almost comically to and fro the letter and its Destination； seated calm and unconscious of woman's beneficent wiles。 But her heart soon divined the mystery： it was to reach him the first thing in the morning； and spare him the pain of writing the news to them； and； doubtless； so worded as not to leave him a day in doubt of their forgiveness and sympathy。
Julia took the missive unobserved by the Destination； and glided out of the room to get it quietly posted。
The servant…girl was waiting on the second…floor lodgers； and told her so； with a significant addition； viz。； that the post was in this street； and only a few doors off。 Julia was a little surprised at her coolness； but took the hint with perfect good temper； and just put on her shawl and bonnet； and went with it herself。 The post…office was not quite so near as represented； but she was soon there； for she was eager till she had posted it。 But she came back slowly and thoughtfully； here in the street； lighted only by the moon； and an occasional gaslight； there was no need for self…restraint； and soon her mortification betrayed itself in her speaking countenance。 And to think that her mother； on whom she doted； should have to write to her son； there present； and post the letter！ This made her eyes fill； and before she reached the door of the lodging； they were brimming over。
As shine put her foot on the step； a timid voice addressed her in a low tone of supplication。 〃May I venture to speak one word to you； Miss Dodd？one single word？〃
She looked up surprised； and it was young Mr。 Hardie。
His tall figure was bending towards her submissively； and his face； as well as his utterance； betrayed considerable agitation。
And what led to so unusual a rencontre between a young gentleman and lady who had never been introduced？
〃The Tender Passion；〃 says a reader of many novels。
Why； yes； the tenderest in all our nature：
Wounded Vanity。
Naturally proud and sensitive； and inflated by success and flattery； Alfred Hardie had been torturing himself ever since he fled Edward's female relations。 He was mortified to the core。 He confounded 〃the fools〃 （his favourite synonym for his acquaintance） for going and calling Dodd's mother an elder sister； and so not giving him a chance to divine her。 And then that he； who prided himself on his discrimination； should take them for ladies of rank； or； at all events； of the highest fashion and； climax of humiliation； that so great a man as he should go and seem to court them by praising Dodd of Exeter； by enlarging upon Dodd of Exeter； by offering to grind Logic with Dodd of Exeter。 Who would believe that this was a coincidence； a mere coincidence？ They could not be expected to believe it； female vanity would not let them。 He tingled； and was not far from hating the whole family； so bitter a thing is that which I have ventured to dub 〃The Tenderest Passion。〃 He itched to soothe his irritation by explaining to Edward。 Dodd was a frank； good…hearted fellow； he would listen to facts； and convince the ladies in turn。 Hardie learned where Dodd's party lodged； and waited about the door to catch him alone： Dodd must be in college by twelve； and would leave Henley before ten。 He waited till he was tired of waiting。 But at last the door opened； he stepped forward； and out tripped Miss Dodd。 〃Confound it！〃 muttered Hardie； and drew back。 However； he stood and admired her graceful figure and action； her ladylike speed without bustling。 Had she come back at the same pace； he would never have ventured to stop her： on such a thread do things hang： but she returned very slowly； hanging her head。 Her look at him and his headache recurred to hima look brimful of goodness。 She would do as well as Edward； better perhaps。 He yielded to impulse； and addressed her； but with all the trepidation of a youth defying the giant Etiquette for the first time in his life。
Julia was a little surprised and fluttered； but did not betray it； she had been taught self…command by example； if not by precept。
〃Certainly； Mr。 Hardie；〃 said she； within a modest composure a young coquette might have envied under the circumstances。
Hardie had now only to explain himself； but instead of that； he stood looking at her within silent concern。 The fair face she raised to him was wet with tears； so were her eyes； and even the glorious eyelashes were fringed with that tender spray； and it glistened in the moonlight。
This sad and pretty sight drove the vain but generous youth's calamity clean out of his head。 〃Why； you are crying！ Miss Dodd； what is the matter？ I hope nothing has happened。〃
Julia turned her head away a little fretfully； with a 〃No； no！〃 But soon her natural candour and simplicity prevailed； a simplicity not without dignity； she turned round to him and looked him in the face。 〃Why should I deny it to you； sir； who have been good enough to sympathise with us？ We are mortified； sadly mortified； at dear Edward's disgrace； and it has cost us a struggle not to disobey you； and _poison his triumphal cup_ within sad looks。 And mamma had to write to him； and console him against to…morrow： but I hope he will not feel it so severely as she does： and I have just posted it myself； and； when I thought of our dear mamma being driven to such expedients； IOh！〃 And the pure young heart； having opened itself by words； must flow a little more。
〃Oh； pray don't cry；〃 said young Hardie tenderly； 〃don't take such a trifle to heart so。 You crying makes me feel guilty for letting it happen。 It shall never occur again。 If I had only known； it should never have happened at all。〃
〃Once is enough；〃 sighed Julia。
〃Indeed； you take it too much to heart。 It is only out of Oxford a plough is thought much of； especially a single one； that is so very common。 You see； Miss Dodd； an university examination consists of several items： neglect but one； and Crichton himself would be ploughed； because brilliancy in your other papers is not allowed to count； that is how the most distinguished man of our day got ploughed for Smalls。 I had a narrow escape； I know； for one。 But； Miss Dodd； if you knew how far your brother's performance on the river outweighs a mere slip in the schools； in all university men's eyes； the dons' and all； you would not make this bright day end sadly to Oxford by crying。 Why； I could find you a thousand men who would be ploughed to…morrow with glory and delight to win one such race as your brother has won two。〃
Julia sighed again。 But it sounded now half like a sigh of reliefthe final sigh； with which the fair consent to be consoled。
And indeed this improvement in the music did not escape Hardie。 He felt he was on the right tack： he enumerated fluently； and by name； many good men； besides Dean Swift； who had been ploughed； yet had cultivated the field of letters in their turn； and； in short； he was so earnest and plausible； that something like a smile hovered about his hearer's lips； and she glanced askant at him with furtive gratitude from under her silky lashes。 But it soon recurred to her that this was rather a long interview to accord to 〃a stranger；〃 and under the moon； so she said a little stiffly； 〃And was this what you were good enough to wish to say to me； Mr。 Hardie？〃
〃No； Miss Dodd； to be frank； it was not。 My motive in addressing you； without the right to take such a freedom； was egotistical。 I came here to clear myself； II was afraid you must think me a humbug； you know。〃
〃I do not understand you； indeed。〃
〃Well； I feared you and Mrs。 Dodd might think I praised Dodd so； and did what little I did for him； knowing who you were； and wishing to curry favour with you by all that； and that is so underhand and paltry a way of going to work； I should despise myself。〃
〃Oh； Mr。 Hardie；〃 said the young lady； smiling； 〃How foolish： why； of course； we knew you had no idea。〃
〃Indeed I had not； but how could you know it？〃
〃Why； we saw it。 Do you think we have no eyes？ Ah； and much keener ones than gentlemen have。 It is mamma and I who are to blame； if anybody； we ought to have declared ourselves： it would have been more generous； moremanly。 But we cannot all be gentlemen； you know。 It was so sweet to hear Edward praised by one who did not know us； it was like stolen fruit； and by one whom others praise： so； if you can forgive us our slyness； there is a
