按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
he instrument to unite her in holy wedlock with a gentleman worthy of her affection。 Then； assuming for one moment the pastor； he pronounced a blessing on the pair； and sat down； casting glances all round out of a pair of singularly restless eyes。
The loud applause that followed left him in no doubt as to the favorable effect he had produced。 Coventry； in particular； looked most expressively grateful。
The bridegroom's health followed； and Coventry returned thanks in a speech so neat and well delivered that Grace felt proud of his performance。
Then the carriage and four came round； and Coventry gave Grace an imploring glance on which she acted at once； being herself anxious to escape from so much publicity。 She made her courtesies； and retired to put on her traveling…dress。
Then Dr。 Amboyne cursed his own indecision； but still could not make up his mind； except to tell Raby； and make him the judge what course was best。
The gayety； never very boisterous； began to flag altogether； when suddenly a noise was heard outside； and one or two young people； who darted unceremoniously to the window； were rewarded by the sight of a man and a woman struggling and quarreling at the gate。 The disturbance in question arose thus： Jael Dence； looking out of Grace's window； saw the postman coming； and ran to get Grace her letters （if any） before she went。
The postman； knowing her well； gave her the one letter there was。
Lally； returning from the inn； where he had stopped one unlucky minute to drain a glass； saw this； and ran after Jael and caught her just inside the gate。
〃That is for me；〃 said he； rudely。
〃Nay； it's for thy betters； young man； 'tis for Miss Grace Carden。〃
〃She is Mrs。 Coventry now； so give it me。〃
〃I'll take her orders first。〃
On this Lally grabbed at it and caught Jael's right hand； which closed directly on the letter like a vise。
〃Are these your manners？〃 said she。 〃Give over now。〃
〃I tell you I will have it！〃 said he； fiercely； for he had caught sight of the handwriting。
He seized her hand and applied his knuckles to the back of it with all his force。 That hurt her； and she gave a cry； and twisted away from him and drew back； then； putting her left hand to his breast； she gave a great yaw； and then a forward rush with her mighty loins； and a contemporaneous shove with her amazing left arm； that would have pushed down some brick walls； and the weight and strength so suddenly applied sent Lally flying like a feather。 His head struck the stone gate…post； and he measured his length under it。
Jael did not know how completely she had conquered him； and she ran in with a face as red as fire； and took the letter up to Grace； and was telling her； all in a heat； about the insolence of her new husband's Irish servant； when suddenly she half recognized the handwriting； and stood staring at it； and began to tremble。
〃Why； what is the matter？〃 said Grace。
〃Oh； nothing； miss。 I'm foolish。 The writing seems to me like a writing we shall never see again。〃 And she stood and trembled still more； for the handwriting struck her more and more。
Grace ran to her； and at the very first glance uttered a shriek of recognition。 She caught it from Jael； tore it open； saw the signature； and sunk into a chair； half fainting； with the letter pressed convulsively to her breast
Jael； trembling； but comparatively self…possessed； ran to the door directly and locked it。
〃My darling！ my darling！ he is alive！ The dear words； they swim before my eyes。 Read！ read！ tell me what he says。 Why has he abandoned me？ He has not abandoned me！ O God！ what have I done？ what have I done？〃
Before that letter was half read； or rather sobbed； out to her； Grace tore off all her bridal ornaments and trampled them under her feet； and moaned； and twisted； and writhed as if her body was being tortured as well as her heart； for Henry was true as ever； and she had married a villain。
She took the letter from Jael； and devoured every word； though she was groaning and sobbing with the wildest agony all the time。
〃NEW YORK； July 18th。
〃MY OWN DEAREST GRACE；I write you these few lines in wonder and pain。 I have sent you at least fifteen letters； and in most of them I have begged you to write to me at the Post…office； New York； yet not one line is here to greet me in your dear handwriting。 Yet my letters must have all reached Woodbine Villa； or why are they not sent back？ Of three letters I sent to my mother； two have been returned from Aberystwith； marked； 'Gone away； and not left her address。'
〃I have turned this horrible thing every way in my mind； and even prayed God to assist my understanding； and I come back always to the same idea that some scoundrel has intercepted my letters。
〃The first of these I wrote at the works on the evening I left Hillsborough； the next I wrote from Boston； after my long illness； in great distress of mind on your account； for I put myself in your place； and thought what agony it would be to me if nine weeks passed； and no word from you。 The rest were written from various cities； telling you I was making our fortune； and should soon be home。 Oh； I can not write of such trifles now！
〃My own darling； let me find you alive； that is all I ask。 I know I shall find you true to me； if you are alive。
〃Perhaps it would have been better if my heart had not been so entirely filled by you。 God has tried me hard in some things； but He has blessed me with true friends。 It was ungrateful of me not to write to such true friends as Dr。 Amboyne and Jael Dence。 But； whenever I thought of England； I saw only you。
〃By this post I write to Dr。 Amboyne； Mr。 Bolt； Mr。 Bayne； and Jael Dence。
〃This will surely baffle the enemy who has stopped all my letters to you； and will stop this one； I dare say。
〃I say no more； beloved one。 What is the use？ You will perhaps never see this letter； and you know more than I can say； for you know how I love you： and that is a great deal more than ever I can put on paper。
〃I sail for England in four days。 God help me to get over the interval。
〃I forget whether I told you I had made my fortune。 Your devoted and most unhappy lover；
〃Henry。〃
Grace managed to read this； in spite of the sobs and moans that shook her； and the film that half blinded her； and； when she had read it； sank heavily down； and sat all crushed together； with hands working like frenzy。
Jael kneeled beside her； and kissed and wept over her； unheeded。
Then Jael prayed aloud beside her； unheeded。
At last she spoke； looking straight before her； as if she was speaking to the wall。
〃Bring my godfather here。〃
〃Won't you see your father first？〃 said Jael； timidly。
〃I have no father。 I want something I can lean on over the gulfa man of honor。 Fetch Mr。 Raby to me。〃
Jael kissed her tenderly； and wept over her once more a minute； then went softly down…stairs and straight into the breakfast…room。
Here； in the meantime； considerable amusement had been created by the contest between Lally and Jael Dence； the more so on account of the triumph achieved by the weaker vessel。
When Lally got up； and looked about him ruefully； great was the d