下载辰思小说免费APP
’Buttheytellyouyoumaytakeit？’
’Yes，theSMUGGLERS:buttheBUYERSmustnotknowthatthesmugglershavebeenkindtomeattheirexpense。’
’Isee，’saidStockdaledoubtfully。’Imuchquestionthehonestyofthisproceeding。’
Byherdirectionheheldthetubwiththeholeupwards，andwhilehewentthroughtheprocessofalternatelypressingandceasingtopress，sheproducedabottleofwater，fromwhichshetookmouthfuls，conveyingeachtothekegbyputtingherprettylipstothehole，whereitwassuckedinateachrecoveryofthecaskfrompressure。Whenitwasagainfullhepluggedthehole，knockedthehoopdowntoitsplace，andburiedthetubinthelumberasbefore。
’Aren’tthesmugglersafraidthatyouwilltell？’heasked，astheyrecrossedthechurchyard。
’Ono；theyarenotafraidofthat。Icouldn’tdosuchathing。’
’Theyhaveputyouintoaveryawkwardcorner，’saidStockdaleemphatically。’Youmust，ofcourse，asanhonestperson，sometimesfeelthatitisyourdutytoinform——reallyyoumust。’
’Well，Ihaveneverparticularlyfeltitasaduty；and，besides，myfirsthusband——’Shestopped，andtherewassomeconfusioninhervoice。Stockdalewassohonestandunsophisticatedthathedidnotatoncediscernwhyshepaused:butatlasthedidperceivethatthewordswereaslip，andthatnowomanwouldhaveuttered’firsthusband’byaccidentunlessshehadthoughtprettyfrequentlyofasecond。Hefeltforherconfusion，andallowedhertimetorecoverandproceed。’Myhusband，’shesaid，inaself-correctedtone，’usedtoknowoftheirdoings，andsodidmyfather，andkeptthesecret。Icannotinform，infact，againstanybody。’
’Iseethehardnessofit，’hecontinued，likeamanwholookedfarintothemoralofthings。’Anditisverycruelthatyoushouldbetossedandtantalizedbetweenyourmemoriesandyourconscience。I
dohope，Mrs。Newberry，thatyouwillsoonseeyourwayoutofthisunpleasantposition。’
’Well，Idon’tjustnow，’shemurmured。
Bythistimetheyhadpassedoverthewallandenteredthehouse，whereshebroughthimaglassandhotwater，andlefthimtohisownreflections。Helookedafterhervanishingform，askinghimselfwhetherhe，asarespectableman，andaminister，andashininglight，eventhoughasyetonlyofthehalfpenny-candlesort，werequitejustifiedindoingthisthing。Asneezesettledthequestion；
andhefoundthatwhenthefieryliquorwasloweredbytheadditionoftwiceorthricethequantityofwater，itwasoneoftheprettiestcuresforacoldintheheadthathehadeverknown，particularlyatthischillytimeoftheyear。
Stockdalesatinthedeepchairabouttwentyminutessippingandmeditating，tillheatlengthtookwarmerviewsofthings，andlongedforthemorrow，whenhewouldseeMrs。Newberryagain。Hethenfeltthat，thoughchronologicallyatashortdistance，itwouldinanemotionalsensebeverylongbeforeto-morrowcame，andwalkedrestlesslyroundtheroom。Hiseyewasattractedbyaframedandglazedsamplerinwhicharunningornamentoffir-treesandpeacockssurroundedthefollowingprettybitofsentiment:-
’Rose-leavessmellwhenrosesthrive，Here’smyworkwhileI’malive；
Rose-leavessmellwhenshrunkandshed，Here’smyworkwhenIamdead。
’LizzySimpkins。FearGod。HonourtheKing。
’Aged11years。
’’Tishers，’hesaidtohimself。’Heavens，howIlikethatname！’
BeforehehaddonethinkingthatnoothernamefromAbigail
