Stranica 270 [270]
206
said Harry, taking her hand. " "Think,
dear Rose, what you have heard to-night."
c And what have Í heard? what have
I heard?" cried Rose. " That a sense
of his deep disgrace so worked upon my
own father that he shunned all — there ;
we have said enough, Harry, we have
said enough.”
s Not yet, not yet,” said the young
man, detaining her as she rose. “M
hopes, my wishes, prospects, feelings,
every thought in life—except my love for
you—have undergone a change. I offer
you now no distinction among a bustling
crowd, no mingling with a world of
malice and detraction, where the blood is
called into honest cheeks by aught but
real disgrace and shame: but a home—a
heart and home—yes, dearest Rose, and
_those, and those alone, are all I have to
. offer.”
2" What does this mean?” faltered the
young lady.
you last, I left you with the firm deter¬
mination to level all fancied barriers be¬
tween yourself and me; resolved that if
my world could not be yours, I would
make yours mine; that no pride of birth
should curl the lip at you, for I would
turn from it. This I have done. Those
who have shrunk from mc because of this,
have shrunk from you and proved you so
far right. Such power and patronage—
such relatives of influence and rank, as
smiled upon me then, look coldly now,
but there are smiling friends and waving
trees in England’s richest county, and by
one village church—mine, Rose, my own
—there stands a rustic dwelling, which
you can make me prouder of than all the
hopes I have renounced, increased a thou¬
sand-fold. This is my rank and station
now, and here I lay it down.”
we ee Sea eee ere ¥
“It’s a trying thing waiting supper
for lovers,” said Mr. Grimwig, waking up,
and pulling his pocket-handkerchief from
over his head.
Truth to tell, the supper had been
waiting a most unreasonable time. Nei¬
ther Mrs. Maylie, nor Harry, nor Rose
(who all came in together,) could offer a
word in extenuation.
‘“T had serious thoughts of eating my
head off to-night,” said Mr. Grimwig,
: for I began to think I should get nothing
else. I’Il take the liberty, if you’ll al¬
low me, of saluting the bride that is to
be."
Mr. Grimwig lost no time in carrying
girl, and the example being contagious,
was followed both by the Doctor and Mr.
Brownlow. Some people affirm that
Harry Maylie had been observed to set it
the best authorities consider this down¬
right scandal, he being young and a
clergyman.
“Oliver, my child,” said Mrs. Maylie,
“where have you been? and why do you
look so sad? There are tears stealing
What
is the matter?" |
It is a world of disappointnent—often
to hopes we most cherish, and hopes that
do our nature the greatest honour. Poor
Dick was dead!
——38Umm .
CIIAPTER THE FOURTEENTH.
The Jew’s last night alive.
THE court was paved from floor to
roof with human faces. Inquisitive and
eager eyes peered from every inch of
space; from the rail before the dock,
away into the sharpest angle of the small¬
est corner in the galleries. All looks
were fixed upon one man—the Jew.
Before him and behind, above, below, on
the right and on the left—he seemed to
stand surrounded by a firmament . all
bright with gleaming eyes. He stood
there in all this elare of living light, with
one hand resting on the wooden slab be.
fore him, the other held to his ear, and
his head thrust forward to enable him to
catch with greater distinctness every
word that fell from the presiding judge,
who was delivering his charge to the
jury. At times he turned his eyes upon
them to observe the effect of the slightest
feather-weight in his favour; and when
the points against him were stated with
terrible distinctness, looked towards his
counsel in mute appeal that he would
even then urge something in his behalf.
Beyond these manifestations of anxiety,
he stirred not hand or foot. He had
scarcely moved since the trial began, and
now that the judge ceased to speak, he
tude of close attention, with his gaze bent
on him as though he listened still.
A slight bustle in the court recalled
him to himself, and looking round, he saw
that the jurymen had turned together to
consider of their verdict. As his eyes
wandered to the gallery, he could see the
people rising above. each other to see his