'Well, if she've charity 'tis enough for we poor men; her faith and hope
may be as please God. Now I be for on-along homeward.'
As soon as they had gone Christopher moved from his hiding, and, avoiding
the gravel-walk, returned to his coachman, telling him to drive at once
to Anglebury.
Julian was so impatient of the futility of his adventure that he wished
to annihilate its existence. On reaching Anglebury he determined to get
on at once to Melchester, that the event of the night might be summarily
ended; to be still in the neighbourhood was to be still engaged in it. He
reached home before midnight.
Walking into their house in a quiet street, as dissatisfied with himself
as a man well could be who still retained health and an occupation, he
found Faith sitting up as usual. His news was simple: the marriage had
taken place before he could get there, and he had seen nothing of either
ceremony or viscountess. The remainder he reserved for a more convenient
season.
Edith looked anxiously at him as he ate supper, smiling now and then.
'Well, I am tired of this life,' said Christopher.
'So am I,' said Faith. 'Ah, if we were only rich!'
'Ah, yes.'
'Or if we were not rich,' she said, turning her eyes to the fire. 'If we
were only slightly provided for, it would be better than nothing. How
much would you be content with, Kit?'
'As much as I could get.'
'Would you be content with a thousand a year for both of us?'
'I daresay I should,' he murmured, breaking his bread.
'Or five hundred for both?'
'Or five hundred.'
'Or even three hundred?'
'Bother three hundred. Less than double the sum would not satisfy me. We
may as well imagine much as little.'
Faith's countenance had fallen. 'O Kit,' she said, 'you always
disappoint me.'
'I do. How do I disappoint you this time?'
'By not caring for three hundred a year--a hundred and fifty each--when
that is all I have to offer you.'
'Faith!' said he, looking up for the first time. 'Ah--of course! Lucy's
will. I had forgotten.'
'It is true, and I had prepared such a pleasant surprise for you, and now
you don't care! Our cousin Lucy did leave us something after all. I
don't understand the exact total sum, but it comes to a hundred and fifty
a year each--more than I expected, though not so much as you deserved.
Here's the letter. I have been dwelling upon it all day, and thinking
what a pleasure it would be; and it is not after all!'
'Good gracious, Faith, I was only supposing. The real thing is another
matter altogether. Well, the idea of Lucy's will containing our names! I
am sure I would have gone to the funeral had I known.'
'I wish it were a thousand.'
'O no--it doesn't matter at all. But, certainly, three hundred for two
is a tantalizing sum: not enough to enable us to change our condition,
and enough to make us dissatisfied with going on as we are.'
'We must forget we have it, and let it increase.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account