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beyond the city(城市之上)-第11部分

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that; as far as you know; there is no positive obstacle in the way。〃 

     〃As   far   as   I   know;   〃Clara   repeated;   as   the   widow   moved   away   to 



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where     the   players   were    grouped    round    the   net;  or  sauntering     slowly 

towards the house。         She rose to follow her; but her head was in a whirl 

with new thoughts; and she sat down again。              Which would be best for Ida; 

Harold   or   Charles?      She   thought   it   over   with   as   much   solicitude   as   a 

mother who plans for her only child。             Harold had seemed to her to be in 

many ways the noblest and the best young man whom she had known。                          If 

ever she was to love a man it would be such a man as that。                  But she must 

not think of herself。      She had reason to believe that both these men loved 

her   sister。   Which   would   be   the   best   for   her?  But   perhaps   the   matter 

was   already   decided。      She   could     not   forget   the   scrap  of   conversation 

which she had heard the night before; nor the secret which her sister had 

refused   to   confide   to   her。 If   Ida   would   not   tell   her;   there   was   but   one 

person   who   could。      She   raised   her   eyes   and   there   was   Harold   Denver 

standing before her。 

     〃You were lost in your thoughts;〃 said he; smiling。               〃I hope that they 

were pleasant ones。〃 

     〃Oh;   I   was   planning;〃   said   she;   rising。 〃It   seems   rather   a   waste   of 

time as a rule; for things have a way of working themselves out just as you 

least expect。〃 

     〃What were you planning; then?〃 

     〃The future。〃 

     〃Whose?〃 

     〃Oh; my own and Ida's。〃 

     〃And was I included in your joint futures? 

     〃I hope all our friends were included。〃 

     〃Don't go in;〃 said he; as she began to move slowly towards the house。 

〃I wanted to have a word。          Let us stroll up and down the lawn。            Perhaps 

you are cold。      If you are; I could bring you out a shawl。〃 

     〃Oh; no; I am not cold。〃 

     〃I   was   speaking   to   your   sister   Ida last night。〃   She noticed   that   there 

was a slight quiver in his voice; and; glancing up at his dark; clear…cut face; 

she saw that he was very grave。            She felt that it was settled; that he had 

come to ask her for her sister's hand。 

     〃She is a charming girl;〃 said he; after a pause。 



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     〃Indeed she is;〃 cried Clara warmly。            〃And no one who has not lived 

with her and known her intimately can tell how charming and good she is。 

She is like a sunbeam in the house。〃 

     〃No one who was not good could be so absolutely happy as she seems 

to be。    Heaven's last gift; I think; is a mind so pure and a spirit so high 

that it is unable even to see what is impure and evil in the world around us。 

For as long as we can see it; how can we be truly happy?〃 

     〃She has a deeper side also。         She does not turn it to the world; and it 

is not natural that she should; for she is very young。              But she thinks; and 

has aspirations of her own。〃 

     〃You cannot admire her more than I do。              Indeed; Miss Walker; I only 

ask to be brought into nearer relationship with her; and to feel that there is 

a permanent bond between us。〃 

     It had come at last。      For a moment her heart was numbed within her; 

and   then   a   flood   of   sisterly   love   carried   all   before   it。 Down   with   that 

dark   thought   which   would   still   try   to   raise   its   unhallowed   head!   She 

turned to Harold with sparkling eyes and words of pleasure upon her lips。 

     〃I should wish to be near and dear to both of you;〃 said he; as he took 

her hand。     〃I should wish Ida to be my sister; and you my wife。〃 

     She said nothing。       She only stood looking at him with parted lips and 

great; dark; questioning eyes。          The lawn had vanished away; the sloping 

gardens;     the   brick   villas;  the   darkening     sky   with   half  a   pale  moon 

beginning   to   show   over   the   chimney…tops。       All   was   gone;   and   she   was 

only conscious of a dark; earnest; pleading face; and of a voice; far away; 

disconnected   from   herself;   the   voice   of   a   man   telling   a   woman   how   he 

loved her。     He was unhappy; said the voice; his life was a void; there was 

but one thing that could save him; he had come to the parting of the ways; 

here lay happiness and honor; and all that was high and noble; there lay 

the soul…killing round; the lonely life; the base pursuit of money; the sordid; 

selfish aims。     He needed but the hand of the woman that he loved to lead 

him into the better path。       And how he loved her his life would show。               He 

loved   her   for her   sweetness;   for her   womanliness;   for her   strength。       He 

had need of her。       Would she not come to him?            And then of a sudden as 

she listened it came home to her that the man was Harold Denver; and that 



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she was the woman; and that all God's work was very beautifulthe green 

sward beneath her feet; the rustling leaves; the long orange slashes in the 

western sky。       She spoke; she scarce knew what the broken words were; 

but she saw the light of joy shine out on his face; and her hand was still in 

his as they wandered amid the twilight。             They said no more now; but only 

wandered   and   felt   each   other's   presence。       All   was   fresh   around   them; 

familiar and yet new; tinged with the beauty of their new…found happiness。 

     〃Did you not know it before?〃 he asked。              〃I did not dare to think it。〃 

     〃What a mask of ice I must wear!               How could a man feel as I have 

done without showing it?          Your sister at least knew。〃 

     〃Ida!〃 

     〃It   was   last   night。 She   began   to   praise   you;   I   said   what   I   felt;   and 

then in an instant it was all out。〃 

     〃But what could youwhat could you see in me?                   Oh; I do pray that 

you may not repent it!〃          The gentle heart was ruffled amid its joy by the 

thought of its own unworthiness。 

     〃Repent   it!    I   feel   that   I   am   a   saved   man。 You   do   not   know   how 

degrading this city life is; how debasing; and yet how absorbing。                   Money 

for   ever   clinks   in   your   ear。 You   can   think   of   nothing   else。  From   the 

bottom of my heart I hate it; and yet how can I draw back without bringing 

grief   to   my   dear   old   father?  There   was   but   one   way   in   which   I   could 

defy  the   taint;   and that   was   by  having   a home   influence so   pure   and   so 

high that it may brace me up against all that draws me down。                    I have felt 

that influence already。       I know that when I am talking to you I am a better 

man。     It   is   you   who;   must   go   with   me   through   life;  or   I   must   walk   for 

ever alone。〃 

     〃Oh;     Harold;    I  am    so   happy!〃      Still   they    wandered      amid    the 

darkening   shadows;   while   one   by   one   the   stars   peeped   out   in   the   blue 

black sky above them。          At last a chill night wind blew up from the east; 

and brought them back to the realities of life。 

     〃You must go in。        You will be cold。〃 

     〃My father will wonder where I am。              Shall I say anything to him?〃 

     〃If you like; my darling。         Or I will in the morning。           I must tell my 

mother to…night。       I know how delighted she will be。〃 



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    〃I do hope so。〃 

    〃Let me take you up the garden path。        It is so dark。   Your lamp is not 

lit yet。  There is the window。      Till to…morrow; then; dearest。〃 

    〃Till to…morrow; Harold。〃 

    〃My own darling!〃        He stooped; and their lips met for the first time。 

Then; as she pushed open the folding windows she heard his quick; firm 

step as it passed down the graveled path。        A lamp was lit as she entered 

the room; and there was Ida; dancing about like a mischievous little fairy 

in front of her。 

    〃And have you anything to tell me?〃 she asked; with a solemn   face。 

Then; suddenly throwing her arms round her sister's neck; 〃Oh; you dear; 

dear old Clara!    I am so pleased。     I am so pleased。〃 



                               
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