The Squire's Daughter. Hocking Silas Kitto

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      "I really don't know. He may have been on the common."

      Sir John frowned. "Do you know," he said, after a pause, "that I dislike that young man exceedingly."

      "Indeed?"

      "He is altogether above his station. I believe he is clever, mind you, and all that, but what does a working-man's son want to bother himself with mechanics and chemistry for?"

      "Why not?" the doctor asked, with slightly raised eyebrows.

      "Why? Because this higher education, as it is called, is bringing the country to the dogs. Get an educated proletariat, and the reign of the nobility and gentry is at an end. You see the thin end of the wedge already. Your Board-school boys and girls are all cursed with notions; they are too big for their jackets, too high for their station; they have no respect for squire or parson, and they are too high and mighty to do honest work."

      "I cannot say that has been my experience," the doctor said quietly; and he rose from his chair and began to pull on his gloves.

      "You are not going?" Sir John questioned anxiously.

      "For an hour or two. I should like, with your permission, to telegraph to Dr. Roscommon. You know he is regarded now as the most famous surgeon in the county."

      "But surely, doctor – " Sir John began, with a look of consternation in his eyes.

      "I should like to have his opinion," the doctor said quietly.

      "Of course – of course! Get the best advice you can. No expense must be spared. My child must be saved at all costs."

      "Rest assured we shall do our best," the doctor answered, and quietly left the room.

      For the best part of another hour Sir John paced restlessly up and down the room, then he dropped into an easy-chair and fell fast asleep.

      He was aroused at length by a timid knock at the door.

      "Come in!" he answered sleepily, fancying for a moment that he was in bed, and that his servant had brought him his shaving-water.

      The next moment he was on his feet, with an agitated look in his eyes.

      A servant entered, followed by Ralph Penlogan, who looked as if he had not slept for the night.

      Instead of waiting to know if Sir John would see him, Ralph had stalked into the room on the servant's heels. He was too anxious to stand on ceremony, too eager to unburden his mind. He had never had a moment's peace since his meeting with Dorothy Hamblyn the previous afternoon. He felt like a criminal, and would have given all he possessed if he could have lived over the previous afternoon again.

      Sir John recognised him in a moment, and drew himself up stiffly. He never felt altogether at ease in the presence of the Penlogans. He knew that he had "done" the father, driven a most unfair bargain with him, and it is said a man never forgives a fellow-creature he has wronged.

      "I have come to speak to you about the accident to your daughter," Ralph said, plunging at once into the subject that filled his mind.

      "Yes, yes; I am glad you have called," Sir John said, walking to the mantelpiece and leaning his elbow on it.

      "I hope she is better?" Ralph went on. "You think she will recover?"

      "I am sorry to say she is very seriously injured," Sir John answered slowly; "but, naturally, we hope for the best."

      Ralph dropped his eyes to the floor, and for a moment was silent.

      "Dr. Barrow tells me that you were near the spot at the time of the accident," Sir John went on; "for that reason I am glad you have called."

      "There isn't much to tell," Ralph answered, without raising his eyes, "but I am anxious to tell what there is."

      "Ah!" Sir John gasped, glancing across at his visitor suspiciously.

      "After what has happened, you can't blame me more than I blame myself," Ralph went on; "though, of course, I never imagined for a moment that she would attempt to leap the gate."

      "I don't quite understand," Sir John said stiffly.

      "Well, it was this way. I was leaning on the stile leading down into Dingley Bottom, when someone rode up and ordered me to open the gate leading into Treliskey Plantation. If the lady had asked me to open the gate I should have done it in a minute."

      "So you refused to do a neighbourly act, did you?"

      "I told her I was not her servant, at which she got very indignant, and ordered me to do as I was told."

      "And you refused a second time?"

      "I did. In fact, I felt very bitter. People in our class suffer so many indignities from the rich that we are apt to be soured."

      "Soured, indeed! Your accursed Board-school pride not only makes cads of you, but criminals!" And Sir John's eyes blazed with passion.

      "I am not going to defend myself any further," Ralph said, raising his eyes and looking him full in the face. "I am sorry now that I did not open the gate – awfully sorry. I would give anything if I could live over yesterday afternoon again!"

      "I should think so, indeed!" Sir John said, in his most biting tones. "And understand this, young man, if my daughter dies I shall hold you responsible for her death!"

      Ralph's face grew very white, but he did not reply.

      Sir John, however, was in no mood to be silent. He had a good many things bottled up in his mind, and Ralph's visit gave him an excuse for pulling the cork out.

      "I want to say this also to you," he said, "now that you have given me an opportunity of opening my mind – that I consider young men of your stamp a danger and a menace to the neighbourhood!"

      Ralph looked at him without flinching, but he did not speak.

      "There was a time," Sir John went on, "when people knew how to respect their betters, when the working classes kept their place and did not presume, and when such as you would never have ventured into this house by the front door!"

      "I came by the nearest way," Ralph answered, "and did not trouble to inquire which door it was."

      "Your father no doubt thinks he has been doing a wise thing in keeping himself on short commons to give you what he foolishly imagines is an education."

      "Excuse me, but we are all kept on short commons because you took advantage of my father's ignorance. If he had had a little better education he would not have allowed himself to be duped by you!" And he turned and made for the door.

      But Sir John intercepted him, with flashing eyes and passion-lined face.

      "Have you come here to insult me?" he thundered. "By Heaven, I've a good mind to call my servants in and give you a good horsewhipping!"

      Ralph stood still and scowled angrily.

      "I neither came here to insult you nor to be insulted by you! I came here to express my regret that I did not pocket my pride and open the gate for your daughter. I have made the best amends in my power, and now, if you will let me, I will go home."

      "I am not sure СКАЧАТЬ