[Pg 132]
But Cromwell's timid nature shrank from the audacity7 of the crime which suggested itself to his mind. Besides, though he was fascinated by Clara Manton, he was not clear about settling so large a sum as five thousand dollars upon her. He would have done it if in his power, rather than lose her, but if he could obtain her on any easier terms he thought that it would be better. He decided8, therefore, to see Clara herself, to communicate to her her father's answer, and prevail upon her, if possible, to marry him without her father's sanction.
Had he known Clara better, he would not have ventured to hope for success, but he was wholly unaware9 that the mercenary condition had been affixed10 by Clara herself. He fancied that she loved him for himself, and believed her incapable11 of being swayed by self-interest.
Chance, as he thought, favored him, for only a short distance from the house he met Clara, herself. She had left the house considerately, in order to allow him an opportunity to call upon her father, and was now returning.
"Mr. Cromwell?" she said, with affected12 surprise. "I supposed you were in your shop. I fear you are becoming inattentive to business."
[Pg 133]
"I cannot attend to my business until one matter is decided," said Cromwell.
"What is that?"
"How can you ask? Clara, I have just called upon your father. I asked his permission to marry you."
"What did he say?" inquired the young lady.
"He told me he would consent on certain conditions."
"Certain conditions!" repeated Clara, innocently. "What could they be?"
"He said that I must prove to him that I was worth ten thousand dollars, and must consent to settle half that amount upon you."
"I hope," said Clara, quickly, "that you don't think I had anything to do with such conditions?"
"No; I am sure you had not," said Cromwell; and he believed what he said, for no one, to look in the face of the young lady, would have supposed her mercenary.
"No, I don't blame him. It is natural that he should wish to make sure of his daughter's comfort."
[Pg 134]
"And what did you say in reply?" asked Clara, considerably14 interested.
"I told him that at present my circumstances would not permit me to comply with his conditions."
"That's a pity."
"But that I was expecting a legacy from a near relative that may possibly fall to me very soon, which would remove every difficulty."
"What did he say then?"
"That when I received the legacy he would give me your hand, provided you were still willing."
The young lady cast her eyes upon the ground. She did not think much of waiting for dead men's shoes, and doubted whether her lover had any such relative as he referred to. In her own mind she looked upon the matter as at an end; and began to consider for whom she had better angle next. She did not, however, mean to say this to Cromwell, for she had no objection to keeping him dancing attendance upon her. It would gratify her vanity, and perhaps he might serve, unconsciously, to help her in snaring15 some other fish. She thought her best policy in the present case, was to remain silent, unless she was called upon to say something.
[Pg 135]
"What do you say to that, Clara?" asked Cromwell.
"I suppose it is fair," she said.
"No; it is not fair," he said, "to make me wait so long. I have a good income; I am careful, and not extravagant16, and I know I can support you comfortably. Do not make me wait. Tell me will you marry me at once?"
"I cannot disobey my father," said the young lady, who had all at once become very dutiful.
"He does it for my good."
"He thinks so; but do you agree with him?"
"Perhaps not; but I have always been taught to obey my father. I suppose he knows better than I what I ought to do."
"Surely, you are not afraid that I should be unable to support you comfortably?" said Cromwell, reproachfully.
"Oh, no," answered Clara. "I never think of money. My father often tells me that I ought to think more of it. As far as I am concerned, I should never think of asking whether you were worth one thousand dollars or ten."
James Cromwell listened to Clara as she spoke18[Pg 136] with assumed simplicity19, her eyes downcast, and he was so infatuated by his love for her that he never thought of doubting her. In his inexperience of female wiles20 he was by no means a match for Clara, who was already, though yet under twenty, a finished female coquette. So he accepted her for what she chose to appear and the flame of his passion was increased.
"I am sure," he pleaded, "that if we were once married your father would not object. The legacy I spoke of is sure to come to me in a year or two, for my relative is very old and in very poor health, and there is no fear of his changing his will."
"I have no doubt what you say is all true," said Clara, though in her own heart she had very serious doubts; "but then it will not be very long to wait a year or two, as the money will come to you then."
"A year or two!" repeated Cromwell. "It seems to me like waiting forever."
"I am afraid you have not the gift of patience, Mr. Cromwell," said Clara, smiling archly.
"No; I have not in this case, for I do not think there is any occasion for waiting."
"But my father thinks so, unfortunately. If[Pg 137] you can succeed in persuading him to the contrary, you will find me ready to do as you desire."
"Then you are determined21 to abide22 by your father's decision," said Cromwell, in accents of disappointment.
"I must," said Clara, mildly, "however much my own heart suffers in consequence," and she put on the air of a victim of parental23 tyranny; "unless," she added, "I am able to make my father regard it in a different light."
"Promise me that you will try," said her lover, grasping her hand.
"I will do what I can," she said. "But, really, I must go now. My father will not know what has become of me."
With a sweet smile, she left him, and returned to the house. He turned, and went back slowly to his shop.
"Well, that's all over," said Clara, to herself. "I should be a fool to marry such a stupid gawky, unless he could settle money upon me. I don't mean to throw myself away just at present."
"Well, Clara, I have had an offer for your hand," said her father, as she entered his presence.
"Well?"
[Pg 138]
"I said what you told me, and found he could not comply with the conditions."
"So you refused the honor of a son-in-law?"
"Yes."
"That was right."
"He said he was expecting a legacy of ten thousand dollars in a year or two."
"You don't seem inclined to break your heart about the disappointment," said Mr. Manton, with a smile.
"No; he is the last man I would break my heart about, if I were fool enough to break my heart about anybody. I must look out for somebody else."
"And meanwhile?"
"I'll keep a hold on him. There might be something in the story of the legacy, you know."
"I see you are well able to look out for your own interests, Clara."
"So I ought to be."
Thus spoke the unselfish Clara Manton, who was above all mercenary considerations.
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1
alluded
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| 提及，暗指( allude的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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7
audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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8
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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10
affixed
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| adj.[医]附着的，附着的v.附加( affix的过去式和过去分词 )；粘贴；加以；盖（印章） | |
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11
incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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13
prudence
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| n.谨慎，精明，节俭 | |
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14
considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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snaring
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| v.用罗网捕捉，诱陷，陷害( snare的现在分词 ) | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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18
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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wiles
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| n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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parental
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| adj.父母的；父的；母的 | |
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humbug
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| n.花招，谎话，欺骗 | |
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