Lady Dashwood smiled through her tears. She had eyes of affection for this tall, handsome, earnest man who paced up and down the room now with the burning words on his lips. He was moved to the very heart; it seemed to him that his scheme was the only way. Lady Dashwood felt that she could hesitate no longer.
"You are very eloquent1, Ralph," she said, "and whatever the faults of your scheme may be, you are terribly in earnest. It is not for me to stand in the way. God knows the family pride that I did so much to foster has done harm enough. It drove your father away from home, it came between me and my son and my husband, and rendered all the best years of my life a blank and a desolation. Some day, when I have the courage, I will tell you why your father left home, and the shameful2 deceit that I put upon him. And all to save the family dignity! And now Mary is as hard as I ever was. Still, the good that lies in that girl of mine----"
"I know it," Ralph cried. "Mary's is, in reality, a beautiful nature. But the fires will go out one by one if the cinders3 are not cleared away, so that by the time Mary comes to middle age she will be a cold and distant woman with none to love her. This is why I have practically turned her out of house and home. Her proper pride will not permit her to be dependent upon anyone; you may offer her a home here, but she will never accept it. She will elect to go, out into the world and get her own living."
"Which she is not the least fitted to do, Ralph."
"Of course she isn't," Ralph exclaimed. "With all her courage and pride and beauty, she has no equipment to battle with the world. And yet it is the best thing that could happen to her. She will realise her own helplessness, she will come to acknowledge that the typewriting girls and the shop assistants have qualities and virtues4 that she does not possess. Oh, those lovely blue eyes will come to see at last, the mind come to learn that there is dignity in labour and cheerfulness in the struggle that put family pride to shame. And then Mary will be the bride for me, the noblest and sweetest mistress that ever yet ruled at Dashwood. You may laugh at me, grandmother, but that is my dream. Wherever Mary is, I shall not be far off, she will have a friend in me."
Lady Dashwood's tears were falling fast now. For the first time she fully5 understood the breadth and beauty of Ralph's scheme. It seemed hard that the misfortune should fall upon Mary, and yet it was all for the best. Still, tradition and training are not to be put lightly aside, and the idea of Mary taking her place with the working women of the county was a vision that caused Lady Dashwood a pang6.
"Let us hope that everything will turn out right," she murmured. "I will not betray your secret, Ralph; I am an old woman, and you are a strong, masterful man. Still, I shall be bound to offer Mary a home here, and I am afraid that I shall be glad if she accepts it."
"She won't," Ralph said confidently, "she is too proud. Besides, after what has happened, she could not stay so near to Dashwood Hall. Remember, she has reigned7 there, she has looked for homage8 as naturally as a queen. She will go away; probably she will try to obtain some occupation in London. Anyway, I will see that she does not starve. And when the lesson is learned and the clouds have cleared away----"
Ralph paused, there was a strange, tender thrill in his voice. Lady Dashwood seemed to catch some of his enthusiasm, for a smile lighted her face.
"You are a clever lad, my dear," she said, "you are one of those who compel Fate to work for them. Well, it shall be as you desire, so far as I am concerned. And now let us go down and see what the others are doing."
Mary was nowhere to be seen, but Mr. Dashwood was in the library. He seemed more calm and resigned now; he was reading a letter which appeared to give him some satisfaction.
"From--from Sir Vincent," he said, getting the name out with some difficulty. "I suppose we must call the young fellow by his proper title now. Still, he will of course, have to satisfy the family solicitors9 first."
"I have one or two further proofs that will induce the family solicitors to maintain a policy of silence," Ralph said. "The best thing to do is quietly to accept the new situation. People will talk for a day or two, and then the incident will be forgotten."
"I suppose so," Dashwood muttered. "Anyway, this is from--er--Sir Vincent. I am bound to confess that it is not at all a bad letter. Between ourselves, the fellow is by no means a gentleman. Still, that's not quite his own fault, probably his mother was quite a common sort of person. I beg your pardon, Lady Dashwood."
"We need not go into that," Ralph said hastily. "Sir Vincent has written to you----"
"Really quite a nice letter. He has a suggestion to make. It appears that he is by no means disposed to stay quietly here and live the life of a country landlord. He does not care for sport to begin with, in fact, he dislikes a rural life. And he seems to think that marriage is--is not good enough. He therefore proposes that Mary and myself should look upon Dashwood as our present home, that Mary should take her place as mistress there. Really, this gets us out of a great difficulty. I have no money beyond a pittance10 of a hundred or so a year, and Mary has nothing whatever. As a sensible girl, she will accept this offer."
Ralph said nothing. It was not for him to persuade George Dashwood one way or another. He rather despised the weak creature who had posed as the head of the family. But Ralph could give a shrewd guess at Mary's answer.
Mary came back presently a little before tea-time. She had been over at the Hall, she said, looking after certain belongings11 of her own. The trace of tears was still on her face, but her small mouth had a steely purpose. She lay back in her chair in the great hall, sipping12 her tea, and looking out into the garden beyond. Ever and again there came a yearning13 look in her eyes. She said nothing, and vouchsafed14 no information, when a footman brought her a telegram presently. With a guilty air her father placed Vincent Dashwood's letter in her hand.
"I want you to read that, my dear," he said blandly15. "To my mind, it is an admirable letter and the sentiments in it are beyond question; in fact, I may admit that I was quite touched by it. The fellow is evidently a gentleman at heart. I want you to read the letter carefully and send a reply on behalf of both of us."
Dashwood spoke16 glibly17 enough, but he was obviously ill at ease. He seemed to have lost all his dignity, his haggard face looked almost mean as he glanced furtively18 at Mary as she read the letter through, very slowly. Her face grew hard and bitter, though something like a contemptuous smile flickered19 over her lips.
"This is generosity20 indeed," she said. "So the beggars are to be offered a home, with board and lodging21 and perhaps wages. I am to be mistress of the house where for two years I have had my own way, in a house where you have been master. We are to humble22 our pride and take the place of the housekeeper23 and steward24, to be polite to a man whom, from the bottom of my heart, I loathe25 and despise. Oh, the situation would be farcical but for the note of bitter tragedy in it. So you want me to answer this letter. So far as I am concerned I answer thus."
With fierce energy Mary tore the letter across and then across again, and flung the fragments amongst the flowers on the great hearthstone.
"My dear," Dashwood protested, "really, Mary. Have you considered what you are going to do, that you are practically penniless?"
"There is always a home for Mary and her father here," Lady Dashwood murmured.
"That--that is very good of you," Dashwood stammered26, "but I could not think of putting you to so much inconvenience. Mary may do what she pleases, but for my part I am going to accept the offer so kindly27 made by the new--er--head of the family. I presume that Mary means to stay here for the present, at any rate, and----"
"No," Mary cried. She had risen to her feet, and was glaring from one to the other of the little group with eyes filled with resolution. She was very pale, her lips were trembling, but she contrived28 to keep her voice steady. "No, I will not remain here, I will not stay anywhere to eat the bread of charity. Dear Lady Dashwood, you will forgive me if I seem to be harsh or ungrateful after all your loving kindness to me. But I have been troubled and humiliated29 enough, and I could not stand any more of it. My father can do as he chooses: if he likes to humble himself in this way it is no business of mine. But I am going away to London; everything has been arranged. The telegram I had just now confirms it. And I have got my belongings together. My plans are made, and it only remains30 for me to say goodbye."
Lady Dashwood rose hastily to her feet. She felt vaguely31 alarmed and agitated32, now that matters had come to this pass. She gripped Mary by the hand.
"There has been nothing hasty about it," Mary said as she kissed the speaker. "Believe me, I am not doing anything that is rash. And as to the rest, I am going very soon indeed. In fact I expect to sleep in London tonight."
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1
eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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shameful
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| adj.可耻的，不道德的 | |
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3
cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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4
virtues
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| 美德( virtue的名词复数 )； 德行； 优点； 长处 | |
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5
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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pang
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| n.剧痛，悲痛，苦闷 | |
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7
reigned
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| vi.当政，统治（reign的过去式形式） | |
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8
homage
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| n.尊敬，敬意，崇敬 | |
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9
solicitors
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| 初级律师( solicitor的名词复数 ) | |
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10
pittance
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| n.微薄的薪水，少量 | |
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11
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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12
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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13
yearning
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| a.渴望的；向往的；怀念的 | |
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14
vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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15
blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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16
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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17
glibly
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| adv.流利地，流畅地；满口 | |
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18
furtively
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| adv. 偷偷地, 暗中地 | |
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19
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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20
generosity
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| n.大度，慷慨，慷慨的行为 | |
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21
lodging
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| n.寄宿，住所；(大学生的)校外宿舍 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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23
housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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24
steward
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| n.乘务员，服务员；看管人；膳食管理员 | |
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25
loathe
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| v.厌恶，嫌恶 | |
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26
stammered
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| v.结巴地说出( stammer的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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28
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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29
humiliated
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| 感到羞愧的 | |
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30
remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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31
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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32
agitated
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| adj.被鼓动的，不安的 | |
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33
faltered
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| （嗓音）颤抖( falter的过去式和过去分词 )； 支吾其词； 蹒跚； 摇晃 | |
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