第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"A House to Let",免费读到尾

  \"Beginagain,Jarber,\"saidI。

  \"Wouldyoubemuchsurprised,ifthisHousetoLetshouldturnouttobethepropertyofarelationofyourown?\"

  \"Ishouldindeedbeverymuchsurprised。\"

  \"ThenitbelongstoyourfirstcousinIlearn,bytheway,thatheisillatthistimeGeorgeForley。\"

  \"Thenthatisabadbeginning。IcannotdenythatGeorgeForleystandsintherelationoffirstcousintome;butIholdnocommunicationwithhim。GeorgeForleyhasbeenahard,bitter,stonyfathertoachildnowdead。GeorgeForleywasmostimplacableandunrelentingtooneofhistwodaughterswhomadeapoormarriage。GeorgeForleybroughtalltheweightofhisbandtobearasheavilyagainstthatcrushedthing,ashebroughtittobearlightly,favouringly,andadvantageouslyuponhersister,whomadearichmarriage。Ihopethat,withthemeasureGeorgeForleymeted,itmaynotbemeasuredouttohimagain。IwillgiveGeorgeForleynoworsewish。\"

  Iwasstronguponthesubject,andIcouldnotkeepthetearsoutofmyeyes;for,thatyounggirl\'swasacruelstory,andIhaddroppedmanyatearoveritbefore。

  \"ThehousebeingGeorgeForley\'s,\"saidI,\"isalmostenoughtoaccountfortherebeingaFateuponit,ifFatethereis。IsthereanythingaboutGeorgeForleyinthosesheetsofpaper?\"

  \"Notaword。\"

  \"Iamgladtohearit。Pleasetoreadon。Trottle,whydon\'tyoucomenearer?Whydoyousitmortifyingyourselfinthosearcticregions?Comenearer。\"

  \"Thankyou,ma\'am;IamquitenearenoughtoMr。Jarber。\"

  Jarberroundedhischair,togethisbackfulltomyopinionatedfriendandservant,and,beginningtoread,tossedthewordsathimoverhisJabezJarber\'sownearandshoulder。

  Hereadwhatfollows:

  THEMANCHESTERMARRIAGE

  Mr。andMrs。OpenshawcamefromManchestertoLondonandtooktheHouseToLet。Hehadbeen,whatiscalledinLancashire,aSalesmanforalargemanufacturingfirm,whowereextendingtheirbusiness,andopeningawarehouseinLondon;whereMr。Openshawwasnowtosuperintendthebusiness。Heratherenjoyedthechangeofresidence;havingakindofcuriosityaboutLondon,whichhehadneveryetbeenabletogratifyinhisbriefvisitstothemetropolis。Atthesametimehehadanodd,shrewd,contemptfortheinhabitants;whomhehadalwayspicturedtohimselfasfine,lazypeople;caringnothingbutforfashionandaristocracy,andloungingawaytheirdaysinBondStreet,andsuchplaces;ruininggoodEnglish,andreadyintheirturntodespisehimasaprovincial。Thehoursthatthemenofbusinesskeptinthecityscandalisedhimtoo;accustomedashewastotheearlydinnersofManchesterfolk,andtheconsequentlyfarlongerevenings。Still,hewaspleasedtogotoLondon;thoughhewouldnotfortheworldhaveconfessedit,eventohimself,andalwaysspokeofthesteptohisfriendsasonedemandedofhimbytheinterestsofhisemployers,andsweetenedtohimbyaconsiderableincreaseofsalary。HissalaryindeedwassoliberalthathemighthavebeenjustifiedintakingamuchlargerHousethanthisone,hadhenotthoughthimselfboundtosetanexampletoLondonersofhowlittleaManchestermanofbusinesscaredforshow。Inside,however,hefurnishedtheHousewithanunusualdegreeofcomfort,and,inthewintertime,heinsistedonkeepingupaslargefiresasthegrateswouldallow,ineveryroomwherethetemperaturewasintheleastchilly。Moreover,hisnorthernsenseofhospitalitywassuch,that,ifhewereathome,hecouldhardlysufferavisitortoleavethehousewithoutforcingmeatanddrinkuponhim。Everyservantinthehousewaswellwarmed,wellfed,andkindlytreated;fortheirmasterscornedallpettysavinginaughtthatconducedtocomfort;

  whileheamusedhimselfbyfollowingoutallhisaccustomedhabitsandindividualwaysindefianceofwhatanyofhisnewneighboursmightthink。

  Hiswifewasapretty,gentlewoman,ofsuitableageandcharacter。

  Hewasforty-two,shethirty-five。Hewasloudanddecided;shesoftandyielding。Theyhadtwochildrenorrather,Ishouldsay,shehadtwo;fortheelder,agirlofeleven,wasMrs。Openshaw\'schildbyFrankWilsonherfirsthusband。Theyoungerwasalittleboy,Edwin,whocouldjustprattle,andtowhomhisfatherdelightedtospeakinthebroadestandmostunintelligibleLancashiredialect,inordertokeepupwhathecalledthetrueSaxonaccent。

  Mrs。Openshaw\'sChristian-namewasAlice,andherfirsthusbandhadbeenherowncousin。Shewastheorphannieceofasea-captaininLiverpool:aquiet,gravelittlecreature,ofgreatpersonalattractionwhenshewasfifteenorsixteen,withregularfeaturesandabloomingcomplexion。Butshewasveryshy,andbelievedherselftobeverystupidandawkward;andwasfrequentlyscoldedbyheraunt,herownuncle\'ssecondwife。Sowhenhercousin,FrankWilson,camehomefromalongabsenceatsea,andfirstwaskindandprotectivetoher;secondly,attentiveandthirdly,desperatelyinlovewithher,shehardlyknewhowtobegratefulenoughtohim。Itistrueshewouldhavepreferredhisremaininginthefirstorsecondstagesofbehaviour;forhisviolentlovepuzzledandfrightenedher。Heruncleneitherhelpednorhinderedtheloveaffairthoughitwasgoingonunderhisowneyes。Frank\'sstep-

  motherhadsuchavariabletemper,thattherewasnoknowingwhetherwhatshelikedonedayshewouldlikethenext,ornot。Atlengthshewenttosuchextremesofcrossness,thatAlicewasonlytoogladtoshuthereyesandrushblindlyatthechanceofescapefromdomestictyrannyofferedherbyamarriagewithhercousin;and,likinghimbetterthananyoneintheworldexceptherunclewhowasatthistimeatseashewentoffonemorningandwasmarriedtohim;heronlybridesmaidbeingthehousemaidatheraunt\'s。Theconsequencewas,thatFrankandhiswifewentintolodgings,andMrs。Wilsonrefusedtoseethem,andturnedawayNorah,thewarm-

  heartedhousemaid;whomtheyaccordinglytookintotheirservice。

  WhenCaptainWilsonreturnedfromhisvoyage,hewasverycordialwiththeyoungcouple,andspentmanyaneveningattheirlodgings;

  smokinghispipe,andsippinghisgrog;buthetoldthemthat,forquietness\'sake,hecouldnotaskthemtohisownhouse;forhiswifewasbitteragainstthem。Theywerenotveryunhappyaboutthis。

  TheseedoffutureunhappinesslayratherinFrank\'svehement,passionatedisposition;whichledhimtoresenthiswife\'sshynessandwantofdemonstrationasfailuresinconjugalduty。Hewasalreadytormentinghimself,andhertoo,inaslighterdegree,byapprehensionsandimaginationsofwhatmightbefallherduringhisapproachingabsenceatsea。AtlasthewenttohisfatherandurgedhimtoinsistuponAlice\'sbeingoncemorereceivedunderhisroof;

  themoreespeciallyastherewasnowaprospectofherconfinementwhileherhusbandwasawayonhisvoyage。CaptainWilsonwas,ashehimselfexpressedit,\"breakingup,\"andunwillingtoundergotheexcitementofascene;yethefeltthatwhathissonsaidwastrue。

  Sohewenttohiswife。AndbeforeFrankwenttosea,hehadthecomfortofseeinghiswifeinstalledinheroldlittlegarretinhisfather\'shouse。TohaveplacedherintheonebestspareroomwasastepbeyondMrs。Wilson\'spowersofsubmissionorgenerosity。Theworstpartaboutit,however,wasthatthefaithfulNorahhadtobedismissed。Herplaceashousemaidhadbeenfilledup;and,evenhaditnot,shehadforfeitedMrs。Wilson\'sgoodopinionforever。Shecomfortedheryoungmasterandmistressbypleasantpropheciesofthetimewhentheywouldhaveahouseholdoftheirown;ofwhich,inwhateverserviceshemightbeinthemeantime,sheshouldbesuretoformpart。AlmostthelastactionFrankWilsondid,beforesettingsail,wasgoingwithAlicetoseeNorahoncemoreathermother\'shouse。Andthenhewentaway。

  Alice\'sfather-in-lawgrewmoreandmorefeebleaswinteradvanced。

  Shewasofgreatusetoherstep-motherinnursingandamusinghim;

  and,althoughtherewasanxietyenoughinthehousehold,therewasperhapsmoreofpeacethantherehadbeenforyears;forMrs。Wilsonhadnotabadheart,andwassoftenedbythevisibleapproachofdeathtoonewhomsheloved,andtouchedbythelonelyconditionoftheyoungcreature,expectingherfirstconfinementinherhusband\'sabsence。TothisrelentingmoodNorahowedthepermissiontocomeandnurseAlicewhenherbabywasborn,andtoremaintoattendonCaptainWilson。

  BeforeoneletterhadbeenreceivedfromFrankwhohadsailedfortheEastIndiesandChina,hisfatherdied。Alicewasalwaysgladtorememberthathehadheldherbabyinhisarms,andkissedandblesseditbeforehisdeath。Afterthat,andtheconsequentexaminationintothestateofhisaffairs,itwasfoundthathehadleftfarlesspropertythanpeoplehadbeenledbyhisstyleoflivingtoimagine;and,whatmoneytherewas,wasallsettleduponhiswife,andatherdisposalafterherdeath。ThisdidnotsignifymuchtoAlice,asFrankwasnowfirstmateofhisship,and,inanothervoyageortwo,wouldbecaptain。Meanwhilehehadlefthersomehundredsallhissavingsinthebank。

  ItbecametimeforAlicetohearfromherhusband。OneletterfromtheCapeshehadalreadyreceived。ThenextwastoannouncehisarrivalinIndia。Asweekafterweekpassedover,andnointelligenceoftheship\'sarrivalreachedtheofficeoftheowners,andtheCaptain\'swifewasinthesamestateofignorantsuspenseasAliceherself,herfearsgrewmostoppressive。Atlengththedaycamewhen,inreplytoherinquiryattheShippingOffice,theytoldherthattheownershadgivenupHopeofeverhearingmoreoftheBetsy-Jane,andhadsentintheirclaimupontheunderwriters。Nowthathewasgoneforever,shefirstfeltayearning,longingloveforthekindcousin,thedearfriend,thesympathisingprotector,whomsheshouldneverseeagain,——firstfeltapassionatedesiretoshowhimhischild,whomshehadhithertorathercravedtohavealltoherself——herownsolepossession。Hergriefwas,however,noiseless,andquiet——rathertothescandalofMrs。Wilson;whobewailedherstep-sonasifheandshehadalwayslivedtogetherinperfectharmony,andwhoevidentlythoughtitherdutytoburstintofreshtearsateverystrangefaceshesaw;dwellingonhispooryoungwidow\'sdesolatestate,andthehelplessnessofthefatherlesschild,withanunction,asifshelikedtheexcitementofthesorrowfulstory。

  SopassedawaythefirstdaysofAlice\'swidowhood。Bye-and-byethingssubsidedintotheirnaturalandtranquilcourse。But,asifthisyoungcreaturewasalwaystobeinsomeheavytrouble,herewe-

  lambbegantobeailing,piningandsickly。Thechild\'smysteriousillnessturnedouttobesomeaffectionofthespinelikelytoaffecthealth;butnottoshortenlife——atleastsothedoctorssaid。ButthelongdrearysufferingofonewhomamotherlovesasAlicelovedheronlychild,ishardtolookforwardto。OnlyNorahguessedwhatAlicesuffered;noonebutGodknew。

  Andsoitfellout,thatwhenMrs。Wilson,theelder,cametoheronedayinviolentdistress,occasionedbyaverymaterialdiminutioninthevaluethepropertythatherhusbandhadlefther,——

  adiminutionwhichmadeherincomebarelyenoughtosupportherself,muchlessAlice——thelattercouldhardlyunderstandhowanythingwhichdidnottouchhealthorlifecouldcausesuchgrief;

  andshereceivedtheintelligencewithirritatingcomposure。Butwhen,thatafternoon,thelittlesickchildwasbroughtin,andthegrandmother——whoafterallloveditwell——beganafreshmoanoverherlossestoitsunconsciousears——sayinghowshehadplannedtoconsultthisorthatdoctor,andtogiveitthisorthatcomfortorluxuryinafteryearnbutthatnowallchanceofthishadpassedaway——Alice\'sheartwastouched,andshedrewneartoMrs。Wilsonwithunwontedcaresses,and,inaspiritnotunliketothatof,Ruth,entreated,thatcomewhatwould,theymightremaintogether。

  Aftermuchdiscussioninsucceedingdays,itwasarrangedthatMrs。

  WilsonshouldtakeahouseinManchester,furnishingitpartlywithwhatfurnitureshehad,andprovidingtherestwithAlice\'sremainingtwohundredpounds。Mrs。WilsonwasherselfaManchesterwoman,andnaturallylongedtoreturntohernativetown。Someconnectionsofherownatthattimerequiredlodgings,forwhichtheywerewillingtopayprettyhandsomely。Aliceundertooktheactivesuperintendenceandsuperiorworkofthehousehold。Norah,willingfaithfulNorah,offeredtocook,scour,doanythinginshort,sothat,shemightbutremainwiththem。

  Theplansucceeded。Forsomeyearstheirfirstlodgersremainedwiththem,andallwentsmoothly,——withtheonesadexceptionofthelittlegirl\'sincreasingdeformity。Howthatmotherlovedthatchild,isnotforwordstotell!

  Thencameabreakofmisfortune。Theirlodgersleft,andnoonesucceededtothem。Aftersomemonthstheyhadtoremovetoasmallerhouse;andAlice\'stenderconsciencewastornbytheideathatsheoughtnottobeaburdentohermother-in-law,butoughttogooutandseekherownmaintenance。Andleaveherchild!Thethoughtcamelikethesweepingboomofafuneralbelloverherheart。

  Bye-and-bye,Mr。Openshawcametolodgewiththem。Hehadstartedinlifeastheerrand-boyandsweeper-outofawarehouse;hadstruggledupthroughallthegradesofemploymentintheplace,fightinghiswaythroughthehardstrivingManchesterlifewithstrongpushingenergyofcharacter。Everysparemomentoftimehadbeensternlygivenuptoself-teaching。Hewasacapitalaccountant,agoodFrenchandGermanscholar,akeen,far-seeingtradesman;understandingmarkets,andthebearingofevents,bothnearanddistant,ontrade:andyet,withsuchvividattentiontopresentdetails,thatIdonotthinkheeversawagroupofflowersinthefieldswithoutthinkingwhethertheircolourswould,orwouldnot,formharmoniouscontrastsinthecomingspringmuslinsandprints。Hewenttodebatingsocieties,andthrewhimselfwithallhisheartandsoulintopolitics;esteeming,itmustbeowned,everymanafooloraknavewhodifferedfromhim,andoverthrowinghisopponentsratherbytheloudstrengthofhislanguagethanthecalmstrengthifhislogic。TherewassomethingoftheYankeeinallthis。IndeedhistheoryranparalleltothefamousYankeemotto——

  \"Englandflogscreation,andManchesterflogsEngland。\"Suchaman,asmaybefancied,hadhadnotimeforfallinginlove,oranysuchnonsense。Attheagewhenmostyoungmengothroughtheircourtingandmatrimony,hehadnotthemeansofkeepingawife,andwasfartoopracticaltothinkofhavingone。Andnowthathewasineasycircumstances,arisingman,heconsideredwomenalmostasincumbrancestotheworld,withwhomamanhadbetterhaveaslittletodoaspossible。HisfirstimpressionofAlicewasindistinct,andhedidnotcareenoughabouthertomakeitdistinct。\"Aprettyyea-naykindofwoman,\"wouldhavebeenhisdescriptionofher,ifhehadbeenpushedintoacorner。Hewasratherafraid,inthebeginning,thatherquietwaysarosefromalistlessnessandlazinessofcharacterwhichwouldhavebeenexceedinglydiscordanttohisactiveenergeticnature。But,whenhefoundoutthepunctualitywithwhichhiswisheswereattendedto,andherworkwasdone;whenhewascalledinthemorningattheverystrokeoftheclock,hisshaving-waterscaldinghot,hisfirebright,hiscoffeemadeexactlyashispeculiarfancydictated,forhewasamanwhohadhistheoryabouteverything,baseduponwhatheknewofscience,andoftenperfectlyoriginal——thenhebegantothink:notthatAlicehadanypeculiarmerit;butthathehadgotintoremarkablygoodlodgings:hisrestlessnessworeaway,andhebegantoconsiderhimselfasalmostsettledforlifeinthem。

  Mr。Openshawhadbeentoobusy,allhislife,tobeintrospective。

  Hedidnotknowthathehadanytendernessinhisnature;andifhehadbecomeconsciousofitsabstractexistence,hewouldhaveconsidereditasamanifestationofdiseaseinsomepartofhisnature。Buthewasdecoyedintopityunawares;andpityledontotenderness。Thatlittlehelplesschild——alwayscarriedaboutbyoneofthethreebusywomenofthehouse,orelsepatientlythreadingcolouredbeadsinthechairfromwhich,bynoeffortofitsown,coulditevermove;thegreatgraveblueeyes,fullofserious,notuncheerful,expression,givingtothesmalldelicatefacealookbeyonditsyears;thesoftplaintivevoicedroppingoutbutfewwords,sounlikethecontinualprattleofachild——caughtMr。

  Openshaw\'sattentioninspiteofhimself。Oneday——hehalfscornedhimselffordoingso——hecutshorthisdinner-hourtogoinsearchofsometoywhichshouldtaketheplaceofthoseeternalbeads。I

  forgetwhathebought;but,whenhegavethepresentwhichhetookcaretodoinashortabruptmanner,andwhennoonewasbytoseehimhewasalmostthrilledbytheflashofdelightthatcameoverthatchild\'sface,andcouldnothelpallthroughthatafternoongoingoverandoveragainthepictureleftonhismemory,bythebrighteffectofunexpectedjoyonthelittlegirl\'sface。Whenhereturnedhome,hefoundhisslippersplacedbyhissitting-roomfire;andevenmorecarefulattentionpaidtohisfanciesthanwashabitualinthosemodellodgings。WhenAlicehadtakenthelastofhistea-thingsaway——shehadbeensilentasusualtillthen——shestoodforaninstantwiththedoorinherhand。Mr。Openshawlookedasifheweredeepinhisbook,thoughinfacthedidnotseealine;butwasheartilywishingthewomanwouldbegone,andnotmakeanypalaverofgratitude。Butsheonlysaid:

  \"Iamverymuchobligedtoyou,sir。Thankyouverymuch,\"andwasgone,evenbeforehecouldsendherawaywitha\"There,mygoodwoman,that\'senough!\"

  Forsometimelongerhetooknoapparentnoticeofthechild。Heevenhardenedhisheartintodisregardinghersuddenflushofcolour,andlittletimidsmileofrecognition,whenhesawherbychance。But,afterall,thiscouldnotlastforever;and,havingasecondtimegivenwaytotenderness,therewasnorelapse。Theinsidiousenemyhavingthusenteredhisheart,intheguiseofcompassiontothechild,soonassumedthemoredangerousformofinterestinthemother。Hewasawareofthischangeoffeeling,despisedhimselfforit,struggledwithitnay,internallyyieldedtoitandcherishedit,longbeforehesufferedtheslightestexpressionofit,byword,action,orlook,toescapehim。HewatchedAlice\'sdocileobedientwaystoherstepmother;thelovewhichshehadinspiredintheroughNorahroughenedbythewearandtearofsorrowandyears;butaboveall,hesawthewild,deep,passionateaffectionexistingbetweenherandherchild。Theyspokelittletoanyoneelse,orwhenanyoneelsewasby;but,whenalonetogether,theytalked,andmurmured,andcooed,andchatteredsocontinually,thatMr。Openshawfirstwonderedwhattheycouldfindtosaytoeachother,andnextbecameirritatedbecausetheywerealwayssograveandsilentwithhim。Allthistime,hewasperpetuallydevisingsmallnewpleasuresforthechild。Histhoughtsran,inapertinaciousway,uponthedesolatelifebeforeher;andoftenhecamebackfromhisday\'sworkloadedwiththeverythingAlicehadbeenlongingfor,buthadnotbeenabletoprocure。

  Onetimeitwasalittlechairfordrawingthelittlesuffereralongthestreets,andmanyaneveningthatensuingsummerMr。Openshawdrewheralonghimself,regardlessoftheremarksofhisacquaintances。Onedayinautumnheputdownhisnewspaper,asAlicecameinwiththebreakfast,andsaid,inasindifferentavoiceashecouldassume:

  \"Mrs。Frank,isthereanyreasonwhywetwoshouldnotputupourhorsestogether?\"

  Alicestoodstillinperplexedwonder。Whatdidhemean?Hehadresumedthereadingofhisnewspaper,asifhedidnotexpectanyanswer;soshefoundsilencehersafestcourse,andwentonquietlyarranginghisbreakfastwithoutanotherwordpassingbetweenthem。

  Justashewasleavingthehouse,togotothewarehouseasusual,heturnedbackandputhisheadintothebright,neat,tidykitchen,whereallthewomenbreakfastedinthemorning:

  \"You\'llthinkofwhatIsaid,Mrs。Frank\"thiswashernamewiththelodgers,\"andletmehaveyouropinionuponitto-night。\"

  AlicewasthankfulthathermotherandNorahweretoobusytalkingtogethertoattendmuchtothisspeech。Shedeterminednottothinkaboutitatallthroughtheday;and,ofcourse,theeffortnottothinkmadeherthinkallthemore。AtnightshesentupNorahwithhistea。ButMr。OpenshawalmostknockedNorahdownasshewasgoingoutatthedoor,bypushingpastherandcallingout\"Mrs。

  Frank!\"inanimpatientvoice,atthetopofthestairs。

  Alicewentup,ratherthanseemtohaveaffixedtoomuchmeaningtohiswords。

  \"Well,Mrs。Frank,\"hesaid,\"whatanswer?Don\'tmakeittoolong;

  forIhavelotsofoffice-worktogetthroughto-night。\"

  \"Ihardlyknowwhatyoumeant,sir,\"saidtruthfulAlice。

  \"Well!Ishouldhavethoughtyoumighthaveguessed。You\'renotnewatthissortofwork,andIam。However,I\'llmakeitplainthistime。Willyouhavemetobethyweddedhusband,andserveme,andloveme,andhonourme,andallthatsortofthing?Becauseifyouwill,Iwilldoasmuchbyyou,andbeafathertoyourchild——

  andthat\'smorethanisputintheprayer-book。Now,I\'mamanofmyword;andwhatIsay,Ifeel;andwhatIpromise,I\'lldo。Now,foryouranswer!\"

  Alicewassilent。Hebegantomakethetea,asifherreplywasamatterofperfectindifferencetohim;but,assoonasthatwasdone,hebecameimpatient。

  \"Well?\"saidhe。

  \"Howlong,sir,mayIhavetothinkoverit?\"

  \"Threeminutes!\"lookingathiswatch。\"You\'vehadtwoalready——

  thatmakesfive。Beasensiblewoman,sayYes,andsitdowntoteawithme,andwe\'lltalkitovertogether;for,aftertea,Ishallbebusy;sayNo\"hehesitatedamomenttotryandkeephisvoiceinthesametone,\"andIshan\'tsayanotherwordaboutit,butpayupayear\'srentformyroomsto-morrow,andbeoff。Time\'sup!Yesorno?\"

  \"Ifyouplease,sir,——youhavebeensogoodtolittleAilsie——\"

  \"There,sitdowncomfortablybymeonthesofa,andletushaveourteatogether。IamgladtofindyouareasgoodandsensibleasI

  tookfor。\"

  AndthiswasAliceWilson\'ssecondwooing。

  Mr。Openshaw\'swillwastoostrong,andhiscircumstancestoogood,forhimnottocarryallbeforehim。HesettledMrs。Wilsoninacomfortablehouseofherown,andmadeherquiteindependentoflodgers。ThelittlethatAlicesaidwithregardtofutureplanswasinNorah\'sbehalf。

  \"No,\"saidMr。Openshaw。\"Norahshalltakecareoftheoldladyaslongasshelives;and,afterthat,sheshalleithercomeandlivewithus,or,ifshelikesitbetter,sheshallhaveaprovisionforlife——foryoursake,missus。Noonewhohasbeengoodtoyouorthechildshallgounrewarded。Buteventhelittleonewillbebetterforsomefreshstuffabouther。Getherabright,sensiblegirlasanurse:onewhowon\'tgorubbingherwithcalf\'s-footjellyasNorahdoes;wastinggoodstuffoutsidethatoughttogoin,butwillfollowdoctors\'directions;which,asyoumustseeprettyclearlybythistime,Norahwon\'t;becausetheygivethepoorlittlewenchpain。Now,I\'mnotabovebeingneshforotherfolksmyself。Icanstandagoodblow,andneverchangecolour;but,setmeintheoperating-roomintheinfirmary,andIturnassickasagirl。Yet,ifneedwere,Iwouldholdthelittlewenchonmykneeswhileshescreechedwithpain,ifitweretodoherpoorbackgood。Nay,nay,wench!keepyourwhitelooksforthetimewhenitcomes——Idon\'tsayiteverwill。ButthisIknow,Norahwillsparethechildandcheatthedoctorifshecan。Now,Isay,givethebairnayearortwo\'schance,andthen,whenthepackofdoctorshavedonetheirbest——

  and,maybe,theoldladyhasgone——we\'llhaveNorahback,ordobetterforher。\"

  ThepackofdoctorscoulddonogoodtolittleAilsie。Shewasbeyondtheirpower。Butherfatherforsoheinsistedonbeingcalled,andalsoonAlice\'snolongerretainingtheappellationofMama,butbecominghenceforwardMother,byhishealthycheerfulnessofmanner,hiscleardecisionofpurpose,hisoddturnsandquirksofhumour,addedtohisrealstrongloveforthehelplesslittlegirl,infusedanewelementofbrightnessandconfidenceintoherlife;and,thoughherbackremainedthesame,hergeneralhealthwasstrengthened,andAlice——nevergoingbeyondasmileherself——hadthepleasureofseeingherchildtaughttolaugh。

  AsforAlice\'sownlife,itwashappierthanithadeverbeen。Mr。

  Openshawrequirednodemonstration,noexpressionsofaffectionfromher。Indeed,thesewouldratherhavedisgustedhim。Alicecouldlovedeeply,butcouldnottalkaboutit。Theperpetualrequirementoflovingwords,looks,andcaresses,andmisconstruingtheirabsenceintoabsenceoflove,hadbeenthegreattrialofherformermarriedlife。Now,allwentonclearandstraight,undertheguidanceofherhusband\'sstrongsense,warmheart,andpowerfulwill。Yearbyyeartheirworldlyprosperityincreased。AtMrs。

  Wilson\'sdeath,Norahcamebacktothem,asnursetothenewly-bornlittleEdwin;intowhichpostshewasnotinstalledwithoutaprettystrongorationonthepartoftheproudandhappyfather;whodeclaredthatifhefoundoutthatNorahevertriedtoscreentheboybyafalsehood,ortomakehimnesheitherinbodyormind,sheshouldgothatveryday。NorahandMr。Openshawwerenotonthemostthoroughlycordialterms;neitherofthemfullyrecognisingorappreciatingtheother\'sbestqualities。

  ThiswastheprevioushistoryoftheLancashirefamilywhohadnowremovedtoLondon,andhadcometooccupytheHouse。

  Theyhadbeenthereaboutayear,whenMr。Openshawsuddenlyinformedhiswifethathehaddeterminedtoheallong-standingfeuds,andhadaskedhisuncleandauntChadwicktocomeandpaythemavisitandseeLondon。Mrs。Openshawhadneverseenthisuncleandauntofherhusband\'s。Yearsbeforeshehadmarriedhim,therehadbeenaquarrel。Allsheknewwas,thatMr。ChadwickwasasmallmanufacturerinacountrytowninSouthLancashire。Shewasextremelypleasedthatthebreachwastobehealed,andbeganmakingpreparationstorendertheirvisitpleasant。

  Theyarrivedatlast。GoingtoseeLondonwassuchaneventtothem,thatMrs。Chadwickhadmadeallnewlinenfreshfortheoccasion-fromnight-capsdownwards;and,asforgowns,ribbons,andcollars,shemighthavebeengoingintothewildsofCanadawhereneverashopis,solargewasherstock。AfortnightbeforethedayofherdepartureforLondon,shehadformallycalledtotakeleaveofallheracquaintance;sayingsheshouldneedalltheintermediatetimeforpackingup。Itwaslikeasecondweddinginherimagination;and,tocompletetheresemblancewhichanentirelynewwardrobemadebetweenthetwoevents,herhusbandbroughtherbackfromManchester,onthelastmarket-daybeforetheysetoff,agorgeouspearlandamethystbrooch,saying,\"LunnonshouldseethatLancashirefolksknewahandsomethingwhentheysawit。\"

点击下载App,搜索"A House to Let",免费读到尾