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！
that as lang's my mither has onything； she'll be blyth to share the
same wi' you an' yours。〃
He said his mother； but she had nothing save what he provided her
with。
〃I thank ye； Stephen；〃 said Eppy； touched with his goodness； 〃but
there's nae necessity； we hae plenty。〃
She moved on； her apron still to her eyes。 Kennedy followed her。
〃Gien the yoong lord hae wranged ye ony gait；〃 he said from behind
her； 〃an' gien there be ony amen's ye wad hae o' him；〃
She turned with a quickness that was fierce； and in the dim light
Kennedy saw her eyes blazing。
〃I want naething frae your han'； Stephen Kennedy；〃 she said。 〃My
lord's naething to younor yet muckle to me！〃 she added； with
sudden reaction and an outburst of self…pity； and again fell a
weepingand sobbing now。
With the timidity of a strong man before the girl he loves and
therefore fears； Kennedy once more tried to comfort her； wiping her
eyes with her apron。 While he did so； a man； turning a corner
quickly； came almost upon them。 He started back； then came nearer；
looked hard at them； and spoke。 It was lord Forgue。
〃Eppy！〃 he exclaimed； in a tone in which indignation blended with
surprise。
Eppy gave a cry； and ran to him。 He pushed her away。
〃My lord；〃 said Kennedy； 〃the lass will nane o' me or mine。 I sair
doobt there's nane but yersel' can please her。 But I sweir by God；
my lord； gien ye du her ony wrang； I'll no rest； nicht nor day； till
I hae made ye repent it。〃
〃Go to the devil！〃 said Forgue； 〃there's an old crow； I suspect； yet
to pluck between us！ For me you may take her； though。 I don't go
halves。〃
Eppy laid her hand timidly on his arm； but again he pushed her away。
〃Oh； my lord！〃 she sobbed； and could say no more for weeping。
〃How is it I find you here with this man？〃 he asked。 〃I don't want
to be unfair to you； but it looks rather bad！〃
〃My lord；〃 said Kennedy。
〃Hold your tongue； let her speak for herself。〃
〃I had no tryst wi' him； my lord！ I never said come nigh me；〃 sobbed
Eppy。 〃Ye see what ye hae dune！〃 she cried； turning in anger on
Kennedy； and her tears suddenly ceasing。 〃Never but ill hae ye
brocht me！ What business had ye to come efter me this gait； makin'
mischief 'atween my lord an' me？ Can a body no set fut ayont the
door…sill； but they maun be followt o' them they wud see far
eneuch！〃
Kennedy turned and went； and Eppy with a fresh burst of tears turned
to go also。 But she had satisfied Forgue that there was nothing
between them； and he was soon more successful than Kennedy in
consoling her。
While absent he had been able enough to get on without her； but no
sooner was he home than； in the weary lack of interest； the feelings
which； half lamenting； half rejoicing； he had imagined extinct；
began to revive； and he went to the town vaguely hoping to get a
sight of Eppy。 Coming upon her t阾e ？t阾e with her old lover； first
a sense of unpardonable injury possessed him； and next the
conviction that he was as madly in love with her as ever。 The tide
of old tenderness came throbbing and streaming back over the ghastly
sands of jealousy； and ere they parted he had made with her an
appointment to meet the next night in a more suitable spot。
Donal was seated by Andrew's bedside reading： he had now the
opportunity of bringing many things before him such as the old man
did not know to exist。 Those last days of sickness and weakness were
among the most blessed of his life； much that could not be done for
many a good man with ten times his education； could be done for a
man like Andrew Comin。
Eppy had done her best to remove all traces of emotion ere she
re…entered the house； but she could not help the shining of her
eyes： the joy…lamp relighted in her bosom shone through them： and
Andrew looking up when she entered； Donal； seated with his back to
her； at once knew her secret： her grandfather read it from her face；
and Donal read it from his。
〃She has seen Forgue！〃 he said to himself。 〃I hope the old man will
die soon。〃
CHAPTER XLIV。
HIGH AND LOW。
When lord Morven heard of his son's return； he sent for Donal；
received him in a friendly way； gave him to understand that； however
he might fail to fall in with his views； he depended thoroughly on
his honesty； and begged he would keep him informed of his son's
proceedings。
Donal replied that； while he fully acknowledged his lordship's right
to know what his son was doing； he could not take the office of a
spy。
〃But I will warn lord Forgue；〃 he concluded； 〃that I may see it
right to let his father know what he is about。 I fancy； however； he
understands as much already。〃
〃Pooh！ that would be only to teach him cunning；〃 said the earl。
〃I can do nothing underhand；〃 replied Donal。 〃I will help no man to
keep an unrighteous secret； but neither will I secretly disclose
it。〃
Meeting him a few days after； Forgue would have passed him without
recognition； but Donal stopped him； and said
〃I believe； my lord； you have seen Eppy since your return。〃
〃What the deuce is that to you？〃
〃I wish your lordship to understand that whatever comes to my
knowledge concerning your proceedings in regard to her； I will
report to your father if I see fit。〃
〃The warning is unnecessary。 Few informers； however； would have
given me the advantage； and I thank you： so far I am indebted to
you。 None the less the shame of the informer remains！〃
〃Your lordship's judgment of me is no more to me than that of yon
rook up there。〃
〃You doubt my honour？〃 said Forgue with a sneer。
〃I do。 I doubt you。 You do not know yourself。 Time will show。 For
God's sake； my lord； look to yourself！ You are in terrible danger。〃
〃I would rather do wrong for love than right for fear。 I scorn such
threats。〃
〃Threats； my lord！〃 echoed Donal。 〃Is it a threat to warn you that
your very consciousness may become a curse to you？ that to know
yourself may be your hell？ that you may come to make it your first
care to forget what you are？ Do you know what Shakspere says of
Tarquin
Besides； his soul's fair temple is defaced；
To whose weak ruins muster troops of cares；
To ask the spotted princess how she fares？〃
〃Oh； hang your preaching！〃 cried Forgue； and turned away。
〃My lord；〃 said Donal； 〃if you will not hear me； there are preachers
you must。〃
〃They will not be quite so long…winded then！〃 Forgue answered。
〃You are right；〃 said Donal； 〃they will not。〃
All Forgue's thoughts were now occupied with the question how with
least danger Eppy and he were to meet。 He did not contemplate
treachery。 At this time of his life he could not have respected
himself； little as was required for that； had he been consciously
treacherous； but no man who in love yet loves himself more； is safe
from becoming a traitor： potentially he is one already。 Treachery to
him who is guilty of it seems only natural self…preservation； the
man who can do a vile thing is incapable of seeing it as it is； and
that ought to make us doubtful of our judgments of ourselves；
especially defensive judgments。 Forgue did not suspect himselfnot
although he knew that his passion had but just regained a lost
energy； revived at the idea of another man having the girl！ It did
not shame him that he had begun to forget her； or that he had been
so roused to fresh desire。 If he had stayed away six months； he
would practically have forgotten her altogether。 Some may think
that； if he had devotion enough to surmount the vulgarities of her
position and manners and ways of thought； his love could hardly be
such as to yield so soon； but Eppy was not in herself vulgar。 Many
of even humbler education than she are far less really vulgar than
some in the forefront of society。 No doubt the conventionalities of
a man like Forgue must have been sometimes shocked in familiar
intercourse with one like Eppy； but while he was merely flirting
with her； the very things that shocked would also amuse himfor I
need hardly say he was not genuinely refined； and by and by the
growing passion obscured them。 There is no doubt that； had she been
confronted as his wife with the common people of society； he would
have become aware of many things as vulgarities which were only
simplicities； but in the meantime she was no more vulgar to him than
a lamb or a baby is vulgar； however unfit either for a Belgravian
drawing…room。 Vulgar； at the same time； he would have thought and
felt her； but for the love that made him do her justice。 Love is the
opener as well as closer of eyes。 But men who； having seen； become
blind again； think they have had their eyes finally opened。
For some time there was no change in Eppy's behaviour but that she
was not tearful as before。 She continued diligent； never grumbled at
the hardest work； and seemed desirous of making up for remissness in
the past； when in truth she was trying to make up for something else
in the present： she would atone for what she would not tell； by
doing immediate duty with the greater devotion。 But by and by she
began occasionally to show； both in manner and countenance； a little
of the old pertness； mingled with uneasiness。 The phenomenon；
however； was so intermittent and unpronou