little novels-第51部分

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red　me。　I　just　managed　to　answer；　〃Wait　till　tomorrow〃　and　hurried　out　of　doors　to　recover　my　self…respect；　if　the　thing　was　to　be　anywise　done。　I　took　my　way　through　the　valley。　The　sun　was　shining；　for　a　wonder。　When　I　saw　my　shadow　on　the　hillside；　I　saw　the　Golden　Calf　as　an　integral　part　of　me；　bearing　this　inscription　in　letters　of　flame〃Here's　another　of　them！〃



_November　30th。_I　have　made　amends　for　yesterday's　backsliding；　I　have　acted　as　becomes　my　parental　dignity　and　my　sacred　calling。

The　temptation　to　do　otherwise；　has　not　been　wanting。　Here　is　sister　Judith's　advice：　〃Make　sure　that　he　has　got　the　money　first；　and；　for　Heaven's　sake；　nail　him！〃　Here　is　Mr。　Marmaduke's　proposal：　〃Make　any　conditions　you　please；　so　long　as　you　give　me　your　daughter。〃　And；　lastly；　here　is　Felicia's　confession：　〃Father；　my　heart　is　set　on　him。　Oh；　don't　be　unkind　to　me　for　the　first　time　in　your　life！〃

But　I　have　stood　firm。　I　have　refused　to　hear　any　more　words　on　the　subject　from　any　one　of　them；　for　the　next　six　months　to　come。

〃So　serious　a　venture　as　the　venture　of　marriage；〃　I　said；　〃is　not　to　be　undertaken　on　impulse。　As　soon　as　Mr。　Marmaduke　can　travel；　I　request　him　to　leave　us；　and　not　to　return　again　for　six　months。　If；　after　that　interval；　he　is　still　of　the　same　mind；　and　my　daughter　is　still　of　the　same　mind；　let　him　return　to　Cauldkirk；　and　（premising　that　I　am　in　all　other　respects　satisfied）　let　him　ask　me　for　his　wife。〃

There　were　tears；　there　were　protestations；　I　remained　immovable。　A　week　later；　Mr。　Marmaduke　left　us；　on　his　way　by　easy　stages　to　the　south。　I　am　not　a　hard　man。　I　rewarded　the　lovers　for　their　obedience　by　keeping　sister　Judith　out　of　the　way；　and　letting　them　say　their　farewell　words　（accompaniments　included）　in　private。

III。

May　28th。A　letter　from　Mr。　Marmaduke；　informing　me　that　I　may　expect　him　at　Cauldkirk；　exactly　at　the　expiration　of　the　six　months'　intervalviz。；　on　June　the　seventh。

Writing　to　this　effect；　he　added　a　timely　word　on　the　subject　of　his　family。　Both　his　parents　were　dead；　his　only　brother　held　a　civil　appointment　in　India；　the　place　being　named。　His　uncle　（his　father's　brother）　was　a　merchant　resident　in　London；　and　to　this　near　relative　he　referred　me；　if　I　wished　to　make　inquiries　about　him。　The　names　of　his　bankers；　authorized　to　give　me　every　information　in　respect　to　his　pecuniary　affairs；　followed。　Nothing　could　be　more　plain　and　straightforward。　I　wrote　to　his　uncle；　and　I　wrote　to　his　bankers。　In　both　cases　the　replies　were　perfectly　satisfactorynothing　in　the　slightest　degree　doubtful；　no　prevarications；　no　mysteries。　In　a　word；　Mr。　Marmaduke　himself　was　thoroughly　well　vouched　for；　and　Mr。　Marmaduke's　income　was　invested　in　securities　beyond　fear　and　beyond　reproach。　Even　sister　Judith；　bent　on　picking　a　hole　in　the　record　somewhere；　tried　hard；　and　could　make　nothing　of　it。

The　last　sentence　in　Mr。　Marmaduke's　letter　was　the　only　part　of　it　which　I　failed　to　read　with　pleasure。

He　left　it　to　me　to　fix　the　day　for　the　marriage；　and　he　entreated　that　I　would　make　it　as　early　a　day　as　possible。　I　had　a　touch　of　the　heartache　when　I　thought　of　parting　with　Felicia；　and　being　left　at　home　with　nobody　but　Judith。　However；　I　got　over　it　for　that　time；　and；　after　consulting　my　daughter；　we　decided　on　naming　a　fortnight　after　Mr。　Marmaduke's　arrivalthat　is　to　say；　the　twenty…first　of　June。　This　gave　Felicia　time　for　her　preparations；　besides　offering　to　me　the　opportunity　of　becoming　better　acquainted　with　my　son…in…law's　disposition。　The　happiest　marriage　does　indubitably　make　its　demands　on　human　forbearance；　and　I　was　anxious；　among　other　things；　to　assure　myself　of　Mr。　Marmaduke's　good　temper。

IV。

June　22d。The　happy　change　in　my　daughter's　life　（let　me　say　nothing　of　the　change　in　_my_　life）　has　come：　they　were　married　yesterday。　The　manse　is　a　desert；　and　sister　Judith　was　never　so　uncongenial　a　companion　to　me　as　I　feel　her　to　be　now。　Her　last　words　to　the　married　pair；　when　they　drove　away；　were：　〃Lord　help　you　both；　you　have　all　your　troubles　before　you！〃

I　had　no　heart　to　write　yesterday's　record；　yesterday　evening；　as　usual。　The　absence　of　Felicia　at　the　supper…table　completely　overcame　me。　I；　who　have　so　often　comforted　others　in　their　afflictions；　could　find　no　comfort　for　myself。　Even　now　that　the　day　has　passed；　the　tears　come　into　my　eyes；　only　with　writing　about　it。　Sad；　sad　weakness！　Let　me　close　my　Diary；　and　open　the　Bibleand　be　myself　again。



June　23d。More　resigned　since　yesterday；　a　more　becoming　and　more　pious　frame　of　mindobedient　to　God's　holy　will；　and　content　in　the　belief　that　my　dear　daughter's　married　life　will　be　a　happy　one。

They　have　gone　abroad　for　their　holidayto　Switzerland；　by　way　of　France。　I　was　anything　rather　than　pleased　when　I　heard　that　my　son…in…law　proposed　to　take　Felicia　to　that　sink　of　iniquity；　Paris。　He　knows　already　what　I　think　of　balls　and　playhouses；　and　similar　devils'　diversions；　and　how　I　have　brought　up　my　daughter　to　think　of　themthe　subject　having　occurred　in　conversation　among　us　more　than　a　week　since。　That　he　could　meditate　taking　a　child　of　mine　to　the　headquarters　of　indecent　jiggings　and　abominable　stage…plays；　of　spouting　rogues　and　painted　Jezebels；　was　indeed　a　heavy　blow。

However；　Felicia　reconciled　me　to　it　in　the　end。　She　declared　that　her　only　desire　in　going　to　Paris　was　to　see　the　picture…galleries；　the　public　buildings；　and　the　fair　outward　aspect　of　the　city　generally。　〃Your　opinions；　father；　are　my　opinions；〃　she　said；　〃and　Marmaduke；　I　am　sure；　will　so　shape　our　arrangements　as　to　prevent　our　passing　a　Sabbath　in　Paris。〃　Marmaduke　not　only　consented　to　this　（with　the　perfect　good　temper　of　which　I　have　observed　more　than　one　gratifying　example　in　him）；　but　likewise　assured　me　that；　speaking　for　himself　personally；　it　would　be　a　relief　to　him　when　they　got　to　the　mountains　and　the　lakes。　So　that　matter　was　happily　settled。　Go　where　they　may；　God　bless　and　prosper　them！

Speaking　of　relief；　I　must　record　that　Judith　has　gone　away　to　Aberdeen　on　a　visit　to　some　friends。　〃You'll　be　wretched　enough　here；〃　she　said　at　parting；　〃all　by　yourself。〃　Pure　vanity　and　self…complacence！　It　may　be　resignation　to　her　absence；　or　it　may　be　natural　force　of　mind；　I　began　to　be　more　easy　and　composed　the　moment　I　was　alone；　and　this　blessed　state　of　feeling　has　continued　uninterruptedly　ever　since。

V。

September　5th。A　sudden　change　in　my　life；　which　it　absolutely　startles　me　to　record。　I　am　going　to　London！

My　purpose　in　taking　this　most　serious　step　is　of　a　twofold　nature。　I　have　a　greater　and　a　lesser　object　in　view。

The　greater　object　is　to　see　my　daughter；　and　to　judge　for　myself　whether　certain　doubts　on　the　vital　question　of　her　happiness；　which　　now　torment　me　night　and　day；　are　unhappily　founded　on　truth。　She　and　her　husband　returned　in　August　from　their　wedding…tour；　and　took　up　their　abode　in　Marmaduke's　new　residence　in　London。　Up　to　this　time；　Felicia's　letters　to　me　were；　in　very　truth；　the　delight　of　my　lifeshe　was　so　entirely　happy；　so　amazed　and　delighted　with　all　the　wonderful　things　she　saw；　so　full　of　love　and　admiration　for　the　best　husband　that　ever　lived。　Since　her　return　to　London；　I　perceive　a　complete　change。

She　makes　no　positive　complaint；　but　she　writes　in　a　tone　of　weariness　and　discontent；　she　says　next　to　nothing　of　Marmaduke；　and　she　dwells　perpetually　on　the　one　idea　of　my　going　to　London　to　see　her。　I　hope　with　my　whole　heart　that　I　am　wrong；　but　the　rare　allusions　to　her　husband；　and　the　constantly　repeated　desire　to　see　her　father　（while　she　has　not　been　yet　three　months　married）；　seem　to　me　to　be　bad　signs。　In　brief；　my　anxiety　is　too　great　to　be　endured。　I　have　so　arranged　matters　with　one　of　my　brethren　as　to　be　free　to　travel　to　London　cheaply　by　steamer；　and　I　begin　the　journey　tomorrow。

My　lesser　object　may　be　dismissed　in　two　words。　Having　already　decided　on　going　to　London；　I　propose　to　call　on　the　wealthy　nobleman　who　owns　all　the　land　hereabouts；　and　represent　to　him　the　discreditable；　and　indeed　dangerous；　condition　of　the　parish　kirk　for　want　of　means　to　institute　the　necessary　repairs。　If　I　find　myself　well　received；　I　shall　put　in　a　word　for　the　manse；　which　is　almost　in　as　deplorable　a　condition　as　the　church。　My　lord　is　a　wealthy　manmay　his　heart　and　his　purse　be　opened　unto　me！

Sister　Judith　is　packing　my　portmanteau。　According　to　custom；　she　forbodes　the　worst。　〃Never　forget；〃　she　says；　〃that　I　warned　you　against　Marmaduke；　on　the　first　night　when　he　entered　the　house。〃

VI。

September　10th。After　more　delays　than　one；　on　land　and　sea；　I　was　at　last　set　ashore　near　the　Tower；　on　the　afternoon　of　yesterday。　God　help　us；　my　worst　anticipations　have　been　realized！　My　beloved　Felicia　has　urgent　and　serious　need　of　me。

It　is　not　to　be　denied　that　I　made　my　entry　into　my　son…in…law's　house　in　a　disturbed　and　irritated　frame　of　mind。　First；　my　temper　was　tried　by　the　almost　interminable　journey；　in　the　noisy　and　comfortless　vehicle　which　they　call　a　cab；　from　the　river…wharf　to　the　west…end　of　London；　where　Marmaduke　lives。　In　the　second　place；　I　was　scandalized　and　alarmed　by　an　incident　which　took　placestill　on　the　endless　journey　from　east　to　westin　a　street　hard　by　the　market　of　Covent　Garden。

We　had　just　approached　a　large　building；　most　profusely　illuminated　with　gas；　and　exhibiting　prodigious　colored　placards　having　inscribed　on　them　nothing　but　the　name　of　Barrymore。　The　cab　came　suddenly　to　a　standstill；　and　looking　out　to　see　what　the　obstacle　might　be；　I　discovered　a　huge　concourse　of　men　and　women；　drawn　across　the　pavement　and　road　alike；　so　that　it　seemed　impossible　to　pass　by　them。　I　inquired　of　my　driver　what　this　assembling　of　the　people　meant。　〃Oh；〃　says　he；　〃Barrymore　has　made　another　hit。〃　This　answer　being　perfectly　unintelligible　to　me；　I　requested　some　further　explanation；　and　discovered　that　〃Barrymore〃　was　the　name　of　a　stage…player　favored　by　the　populace；　that　the　building　was　a　theater；　and　that　all　these　creatures　with　immortal　souls　were　waiting；　before　the　doors　opened；　to　get　places　at　the　show！

The　emotions　of　sorrow　and　indignation　caused　by　this　discovery　so　abso