In my confidences with my dear girl I had told her neither the nature of my mission in Yorkshire, nor the fact that I was bound to leave Huxter’s Cross immediately upon an exploring expedition to nowhere in particular, in search of the archives of the Meynells. How could I bring myself to tell her that I must leave her? — how much less could I bring myself to do it?
Rendered desperately2 unmindful of the universe by reason of my all-absorbing happiness, I determined3 on giving myself a holiday boldly, in defiance4 of Sheldon and the Sheldonian interests.
“Am I a bounden slave?” I asked myself, “that I should go here or there at any man’s bidding, for the pitiful stipend5 of twenty shillings a week?”
It is to be observed that the rate of hire makes all the difference in these cases; and while it is ignominious6 for a lawyer’s clerk to hasten to and fro in the earning of his weekly wage, it is in no way dishonourable for the minister of state to obey the call of his chief, and hurry hither and thither7 in abnegation of all his own predilections8, and to the aggravation9 of his chronic10 gout.
I wrote to my Sheldon, and told him that I had met with friends in the neighbourhood of Huxter’s Cross, and that I intended to give myself a brief holiday; after which I would resume my labours, and do my uttermost to make up for wasted time. I had still the remnant of my borrowed thirty pounds, and amongst these northern hills I felt myself a millionaire.
Three thousand pounds at five per cent — one hundred and fifty pounds a year. I felt that with such an income assured to us, and the fruits of my industry, Charlotte and I might be secure from all the storms of life. Ah, what happiness it would be to work for her! And I am not too old to begin life afresh; not too old for the bar; not too old to make some mark as a writer on the press; not too old to become a respectable member of society.
After having despatched my letter to Sheldon, I made off for Newhall farm with all speed. I had received a sort of general invitation from the kindest of uncles and aunts, but I contrived11 with becoming modesty12 to arrive after Mr. Mercer’s dinner-hour. I found Charlotte alone in the dear old-fashioned parlour, aunt Dorothy being engaged in some domestic operations in the kitchen, and uncle Joseph making his usual after-dinner rounds amongst the pig-styes and the threshing-machines. I discovered afterwards that it was Miss Halliday’s wont13 to accompany her kind kinsman14 in this afternoon investigation15; but to-day she had complained of a headache and preferred to stay at home. Yet there were few symptoms of the headache when I found her standing16 in the bow-window, watching the path by which I came, and the face of Aurora17 herself could scarcely be brighter or fresher than my darling’s innocent blushes when I greeted her with the privileged kiss of betrothal18.
We sat in the bow-window talking till the twilight19 shadows crept over the greensward, and the sheep were led away to their fold, with cheerful jingling20 of bells and barking of watchful21 dog. My dearest girl told me that our secret had already been discovered by the penetrating22 eyes of aunt Dorothy and uncle Joseph. They had teased her unmercifully, it seemed, all that day, but were graciously pleased to smile upon my suit, like a pair of imprudent Arcadians as they are.
“They like you very much indeed,” my Lotta said joyously23; “but I believe they think I have known you much longer than I really have, and that you are very intimate with my stepfather. It seems almost like deceiving them to allow them to think so, but I really haven’t the courage to tell the truth. How foolish and bold they would think me if they knew how very short a time I have known you!”
“Twenty times longer than Juliet had known Romeo when they met in the Friar’s cell to be married,” I urged.
“Yes, but that was in a play,” replied Charlotte, “where everything is obliged to be hurried; and at Hyde Lodge24 we all of us thought that Juliet was a very forward young person.”
“The poets all believe in love at first sight, and I’ll wager25 our dear uncle Joe fell over head and ears in love with aunt Dorothy after having danced with her two or three times at an assize ball,” said I. After this we became intensely serious, and I told my darling girl that I hoped very soon to be in possession of a small fixed26 income, and to have begun a professional career. I told her how dear an incentive27 to work she had given me, and how little fear I had for the future.
I reminded her that Mr. Sheldon had no legal power to control her actions, and that, as her father’s will had left her entirely28 to her mother’s guardianship29, she had only her mother’s pleasure to consult.
“I believe poor mamma would let me marry a crossing-sweeper, if I cried and declared it would make me miserable30 not to marry him,” said Charlotte; “but then, you see, mamma’s wishes mean Mr. Sheldon’s wishes; she is sure to think whatever he tells her to think; and if he is strongly against our marriage —”
“As I am sure he will be,” I interjected.
“He will work upon poor mamma in that calm, persistent31, logical way of his till he makes her as much against it as himself.”
“But even your mamma has no legal power to control your actions, my love. Were you not of age on your last birthday?”
My darling replied in the affirmative.
“Then of course you are free to marry whom you please; and as I am thankful to say you don’t possess a single sixpence in your own right, there need be no fuss about settlements or pin-money. We can marry any fine morning that my dear girl pleases to name, and defy all the stern stepfathers in creation.”
“How I wish I had a fortune, for your sake!” she said with a sigh.
“Be glad for my sake that you have none,” I answered. “You cannot imagine the miserable complications and perplexities which arise in this world from the possession of money. No slave so tightly bound as the man who has what people call ‘a stake in the country’ and a balance at his banker’s. The true monarch32 of all he surveys is the penniless reprobate33 who walks down Fleet-street with his whole estate covered by the seedy hat upon his head.”
Having thus moralized, I proceeded to ask Miss Halliday if she was prepared to accept a humbler station than that enjoyed by her at the Lawn.
“No useful landau, to be an open carriage at noon and a family coach at night,” I said; “no nimble page to skip hither and thither at his fair lady’s commands, if not belated on the way by the excitement of tossing halfpence with youthful adventurers of the byways and alleys36; no trim parlour-maids, with irreproachable37 caps, dressed for the day at 11 o’clock A.M. — but instead of these, a humble34 six-roomed bandbox of a house, and one poor hardworking slavey, with perennial38 smudges from saucepan-lids upon her honest pug-nose. Consider the prospect39 seriously, Charlotte, and ask yourself whether you can endure such a descent in the social scale.”
My Charlotte laughed, as if the prospect had been the most delightful40 picture ever presented to mortal vision.
“Do you think I care for the landau or the page?” she cried. “If it were not for mamma’s sake, I should detest41 that prim42 villa43 and all its arrangements. You see me so happy here, where there is no pretence44 of grandeur45 —”
“But I am bound to warn you that I shall not be able to provide Yorkshire teas at the commencement of our domestic career,” I remarked, by way of parenthesis46.
“Aunt Dorothy will send us hampers47 of poultry48 and cakes, sir, and for the rest of our time we can live upon bread and water.”
On this I promised my betrothed49 a house in Cavendish or Portman-square, and a better-built landau than Mr. Sheldon’s, in the remote future. With those dear eyes for my pole-stars, I felt myself strong enough to clamber up the slippery ascent50 to the woolsack. The best and purest ambition must surely be that which is only a synonym51 for love.
After we had sat talking in the gloaming to our hearts’ content, aunt Dorothy appeared, followed by a sturdy handmaid with lighted candles, and a still sturdier handmaid with a ponderous52 tea-tray. The two made haste to spread a snow-white cloth, and to set forth53 the species of banquet which it is the fashion nowadays to call high tea. Anon came uncle Joseph, bringing with him some slight perfume from the piggeries, and he and aunt Dorothy were pleased to be pleasantly facetious54 and congratulatory in their conversation during the social meal which followed their advent35.
After tea we played whist again, aunt Dorothy and I obtaining a succession of easy victories over Charlotte and uncle Joe. I felt myself hourly more and more completely at home in that simple domestic circle, and enjoyed the proud position of an accepted lover. My Arcadian friends troubled themselves in nowise as to the approval or disapproval55 of Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon, or with regard either to my prospects56 or my antecedents. They saw me devoted57 to my dear girl, they saw my dearest pleased by my devotion, and they loved her so well that they were ready to open their hearts without reserve to the man who adored her and was loved by her, let him be rich or poor, noble or base-born. As they would have given her the wax-doll of her desire ten or twelve years ago without question as to price or fitness of things, so they now gave her their kindly58 smiles and approval for the lover of her choice. “I know Phil Sheldon is a man who looks to the main chance,” said uncle Joe, in the course of a discussion about his niece’s future which dyed her cheeks with blushes in the present; “and I’ll lay you’ll find him rather a difficult customer to deal with, especially as poor Tom’s will left all the money in Georgy’s hands, which of course is tantamount to saying that Sheldon has got the disposal of it.”
I assured uncle Joe that money was the very last thing which I desired.
“Then in that case I don’t see why he shouldn’t let you have Charlotte,” replied Mr. Mercer; “and if she’s cheated out of her poor dad’s money, she shan’t be cheated out of what her old aunt and uncle may have to leave her by-and-by.”
Here were these worthy59 people promising60 me an heiress with no more compunction than if they had been offering me a cup of tea.
I walked homeward once more beneath the quiet stars. O, how happy I was! Can happiness so perfect, joy so sinless, endure? I, the friendless wanderer and penniless Bohemian, asked myself this question; and again I paused upon the lonely moorland road to lift my hat as I thanked God for having given me such bright hopes.
But George Sheldon’s three thousand pounds must be mine before I can secure the humblest shelter for my sweet one; and although it would be bliss61 to me to tramp through the world barefoot with Charlotte by my side, the barefooted state of things is scarcely the sort of prospect a man would care to offer to the woman he loves. So once more to the chase. One more day in this delicious island of the lotus-eaters, Newhall farm; and then away! — hark forward! — tantivy! — and hey for the marriage-lines of Charlotte Meynell, great-granddaughter of Matthew Haygarth, and, if still in the flesh, rightful heiress to the one hundred thousand pounds at present likely to be absorbed by the ravening62 jaws63 of the Crown! One more day, one more delightful idle day, in the land where it is always afternoon, and then away to Hidling in the hybrid64 vehicle, and thence to Hull65, from Hull to York, from York to Leeds, then Bradford, Huddersfield —toute la boutique!
The rain beats against the diamond panes66 of my casement67 as I write. The day has been hopelessly wet, so I have stayed in my snug68 little chamber69 and occupied myself in writing this record. Foul70 wind or weather would have little power to keep me from my darling; but even if it had been a fine day, I could not with any grace have presented myself at Newhall farm for a third afternoon. To-morrow my immediate1 departure will afford me an excuse for presenting myself once more before my kind uncle and aunt. It will be my farewell visit. I wonder whether Charlotte will miss me this afternoon. I wonder whether she will be sorry when I tell her that I am going to leave this part of the country. Ah, shall we ever meet again under such happy auspices71? Shall I ever again find such kind friends or such a hospitable72 dwelling73 as those I shall leave amidst these northern hills?
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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desperately
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| adv.极度渴望地，绝望地，孤注一掷地 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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stipend
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| n.薪贴；奖学金；养老金 | |
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ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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predilections
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| n.偏爱，偏好，嗜好( predilection的名词复数 ) | |
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aggravation
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| n.烦恼，恼火 | |
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chronic
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| adj.(疾病)长期未愈的，慢性的；极坏的 | |
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contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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modesty
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| n.谦逊，虚心，端庄，稳重，羞怯，朴素 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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kinsman
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| n.男亲属 | |
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investigation
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| n.调查，调查研究 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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betrothal
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| n. 婚约, 订婚 | |
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twilight
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| n.暮光，黄昏；暮年，晚期，衰落时期 | |
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jingling
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| 叮当声 | |
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watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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joyously
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| ad.快乐地, 高兴地 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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wager
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| n.赌注；vt.押注，打赌 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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guardianship
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| n. 监护, 保护, 守护 | |
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miserable
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| adj.悲惨的，痛苦的；可怜的，糟糕的 | |
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persistent
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| adj.坚持不懈的，执意的；持续的 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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reprobate
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| n.无赖汉；堕落的人 | |
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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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advent
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| n.(重要事件等的)到来，来临 | |
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alleys
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| 胡同，小巷( alley的名词复数 )； 小径 | |
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irreproachable
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| adj.不可指责的，无过失的 | |
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perennial
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| adj.终年的；长久的 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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detest
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| vt.痛恨，憎恶 | |
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prim
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| adj.拘泥形式的，一本正经的；n.循规蹈矩，整洁；adv.循规蹈矩地，整洁地 | |
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villa
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| n.别墅，城郊小屋 | |
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pretence
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| n.假装，作假；借口，口实；虚伪；虚饰 | |
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grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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parenthesis
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| n.圆括号，插入语，插曲，间歇，停歇 | |
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hampers
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| 妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的第三人称单数 ) | |
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poultry
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| n.家禽，禽肉 | |
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betrothed
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| n. 已订婚者 动词betroth的过去式和过去分词 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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synonym
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| n.同义词，换喻词 | |
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ponderous
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| adj.沉重的，笨重的，(文章)冗长的 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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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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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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promising
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| adj.有希望的，有前途的 | |
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bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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ravening
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| a.贪婪而饥饿的 | |
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jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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hybrid
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| n.(动，植）杂种，混合物 | |
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hull
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| n.船身；(果、实等的)外壳；vt.去(谷物等)壳 | |
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panes
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| 窗玻璃( pane的名词复数 ) | |
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casement
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| n.竖铰链窗；窗扉 | |
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snug
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| adj.温暖舒适的，合身的，安全的；v.使整洁干净，舒适地依靠，紧贴；n.（英）酒吧里的私房 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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auspices
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| n.资助，赞助 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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