barnaby rudge(巴纳比·卢杰)-第54节
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again。 During this tedious process； Dolly beguiled the time in the
most improving manner that occurred to her； by curling her hair
on her fingers； with the aid of the looking…glass before mentioned；
and giving it some killing twists。
Everything has an end。 Even young ladies in love cannot read
their letters for ever。 In course of time the packet was folded up；
and it only remained to write the answer。
But as this promised to be a work of time likewise； Emma said
she would put it off until after dinner； and that Dolly must dine
with her。 As Dolly had made up her mind to do so beforehand； she
required very little pressing； and when they had settled this point；
they went to walk in the garden。
They strolled up and down the terrace walks； talking
incessantly—at least； Dolly never left off once—and making that
quarter of the sad and mournful house quite gay。 Not that they
talked loudly or laughed much； but they were both so very
handsome； and it was such a breezy day； and their light dresses
and dark curls appeared so free and joyous in their abandonment；
and Emma was so fair； and Dolly so rosy； and Emma so delicately
shaped； and Dolly so plump； and—in short； there are no flowers
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for any garden like such flowers； let horticulturists say what they
may； and both house and garden seemed to know it； and to
brighten up sensibly。
After this； came the dinner and the letter writing； and some
more talking； in the course of which Miss Haredale took occasion
to charge upon Dolly certain flirtish and inconstant propensities；
which accusations Dolly seemed to think very complimentary
indeed； and to be mightily amused with。 Finding her quite
incorrigible in this respect； Emma suffered her to depart； but not
before she had confided to her that important and never…
sufficiently…to…be…taken…care…of answer； and endowed her
moreover with a pretty little bracelet as a keepsake。 Having
clasped it on her arm； and again advised her half in jest and half in
earnest to amend her roguish ways； for she knew she was fond of
Joe at heart （which Dolly stoutly denied； with a great many
haughty protestations that she hoped she could do better than that
indeed！ and so forth）； she bade her farewell； and after calling her
back to give her more supplementary messages for Edward； than
anybody with tenfold the gravity of Dolly Varden could be
reasonably expected to remember； at length dismissed her。
Dolly bade her good bye； and tripping lightly down the stairs
arrived at the dreaded library door； and was about to pass it again
on tiptoe； when it opened； and behold！ there stood Mr Haredale。
Now； Dolly had from her childhood associated with this gentleman
the idea of something grim and ghostly； and being at the moment
conscience…stricken besides； the sight of him threw her into such a
flurry that she could neither acknowledge his presence nor run
away； so she gave a great start； and then with downcast eyes stood
still and trembled。
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‘Come here； girl；’ said Mr Haredale； taking her by the hand。 ‘I
want to speak to you。’
‘If you please； sir； I’m in a hurry；’ faltered Dolly； ‘and—you have
frightened me by coming so suddenly upon me； sir—I would
rather go； sir； if you’ll be so good as to let me。’
‘Immediately；’ said Mr Haredale； who had by this time led her
into the room and closed the door。 You shall go directly。 You have
just left Emma？’
‘Yes； sir； just this minute。—Father’s waiting for me； sir； if you’ll
please to have the goodness—’
I know。 I know；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Answer me a question。
What did you bring here to…day？’
‘Bring here； sir？’ faltered Dolly。
‘You will tell me the truth； I am sure。 Yes。’
Dolly hesitated for a little while； and somewhat emboldened by
his manner； said at last； ‘Well then； sir。 It was a letter。’
‘From Mr Edward Chester； of course。 And you are the bearer of
the answer？’
Dolly hesitated again； and not being able to decide upon any
other course of action； burst into tears。
‘You alarm yourself without cause；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘Why are
you so foolish？ Surely you can answer me。 You know that I have
but to put the question to Emma and learn the truth directly。 Have
you the answer with you？’
Dolly had what is popularly called a spirit of her own； and being
now fairly at bay； made the best of it。
‘Yes； sir；’ she rejoined； trembling and frightened as she was。
‘Yes； sir； I have。 You may kill me if you please； sir； but I won’t give
it up。 I’m very sorry；—but I won’t。 There； sir。’
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‘I commend your firmness and your plain…speaking；’ said Mr
Haredale。 ‘Rest assured that I have as little desire to take your
letter as your life。 You are a very discreet messenger and a good
girl。’
Not feeling quite certain； as she afterwards said； whether he
might not be ‘coming over her’ with these compliments； Dolly kept
as far from him as she could； cried again； and resolved to defend
her pocket （for the letter was there） to the last extremity。
‘I have some design；’ said Mr Haredale after a short silence；
during which a smile； as he regarded her； had struggled through
the gloom and melancholy that was natural to his face； ‘of
providing a companion for my niece； for her life is a very lonely
one。 Would you like the office？ You are the oldest friend she has；
and the best entitled to it。’
‘I don’t know； sir；’ answered Dolly； not sure but he was
bantering her； ‘I can’t say。 I don’t know what they might wish at
home。 I couldn’t give an opinion； sir。’
‘If your friends had no objection； would you have any？’ said Mr
Haredale。 ‘Come。 There’s a plain question； and easy to answer。’
‘None at all that I know of sir；’ replied Dolly。 ‘I should be very
glad to be near Miss Emma of course； and always am。’
‘That’s well；’ said Mr Haredale。 ‘That is all I had to say。 You are
anxious to go。 Don’t let me detain you。’
Dolly didn’t let him； nor did she wait for him to try； for the
words had no sooner passed his lips than she was out of the room；
out of the house； and in the fields again。
The first thing to be done； of course； when she came to herself
and considered what a flurry she had been in； was to cry afresh；
and the next thing； when she reflected how well she had got over
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it； was to laugh heartily。 The tears once banished gave place to the
smiles； and at last Dolly laughed so much that she was fain to lean
against a tree； and give vent to her exultation。 When she could
laugh no longer； and was quite tired； she put her head…dress to
rights； dried her eyes； looked back very merrily and triumphantly
at the Warren chimneys； which were just visible； and resumed her
walk。
The twilight had come on； and it was quickly growing dusk； but
the path was so familiar to her from frequent traversing that she
hardly thought of this； and certainly felt no uneasiness at being left
alone。 Moreover； there was the bracelet to admire； and when she
had given it a good rub； and held it out at arm’s length； it sparkled
and glittered so beautifully on her wrist； that to look at it in every
point of view and with every possible turn of the arm； was quite an
absorbing business。 There was the letter too； and it looked
