第69章

AsClennamsaidthatitwashisfavouriteway，hefeltherhandfalteronhisarm，andsawtherosesshake。

’Willyouletmegiveyouone，MrClennam？IgatheredthemasI

cameoutofthegarden。Indeed，Ialmostgatheredthemforyou，thinkingitsolikelyImightmeetyou。MrDoycearrivedmorethananhourago，andtoldusyouwerewalkingdown。’

Hisownhandshook，asheacceptedaroseortwofromhersandthankedher。Theywerenowbyanavenueoftrees。Whethertheyturnedintoitonhismovementoronhersmatterslittle。Heneverknewhowthatwas。

’Itisverygravehere，’saidClennam，’butverypleasantatthishour。Passingalongthisdeepshade，andoutatthatarchoflightattheotherend，wecomeupontheferryandthecottagebythebestapproach，Ithink。’

Inhersimplegarden-hatandherlightsummerdress，withherrichbrownhairnaturallyclusteringabouther，andherwonderfuleyesraisedtohisforamomentwithalookinwhichregardforhimandtrustfulnessinhimwerestrikinglyblendedwithakindoftimidsorrowforhim，shewassobeautifulthatitwaswellforhispeace——orillforhispeace，hedidnotquiteknowwhich——thathehadmadethatvigorousresolutionhehadsooftenthoughtabout。

Shebrokeamomentarysilencebyinquiringifheknewthatpapahadbeenthinkingofanothertourabroad？Hesaidhehadhearditmentioned。Shebrokeanothermomentarysilencebyadding，withsomehesitation，thatpapahadabandonedtheidea。

Atthis，hethoughtdirectly，’theyaretobemarried。’

’MrClennam，’shesaid，hesitatingmoretimidlyyet，andspeakingsolowthathebenthisheadtohearher。’Ishouldverymuchliketogiveyoumyconfidence，ifyouwouldnotmindhavingthegoodnesstoreceiveit。Ishouldhaveverymuchlikedtohavegivenittoyoulongago，because——Ifeltthatyouwerebecomingsomuchourfriend。’

’HowcanIbeotherwisethanproudofitatanytime!Praygiveittome。Praytrustme。’

’Icouldneverhavebeenafraidoftrustingyou，’shereturned，raisinghereyesfranklytohisface。’IthinkIwouldhavedonesosometimeago，ifIhadknownhow。ButIscarcelyknowhow，evennow。’

’MrGowan，’saidArthurClennam，’hasreasontobeveryhappy。Godblesshiswifeandhim!’

Shewept，asshetriedtothankhim。Hereassuredher，tookherhandasitlaywiththetremblingrosesinitonhisarm，tooktheremainingrosesfromit，andputittohislips。Atthattime，itseemedtohim，hefirstfinallyresignedthedyinghopethathadflickeredinnobody’sheartsomuchtoitspainandtrouble；andfromthattimehebecameinhisowneyes，astoanysimilarhopeorprospect，averymucholdermanwhohaddonewiththatpartoflife。

Heputtherosesinhisbreastandtheywalkedonforalittlewhile，slowlyandsilently，undertheumbrageoustrees。Thenheaskedher，inavoiceofcheerfulkindness，wasthereanythingelsethatshewouldsaytohimasherfriendandherfather’sfriend，manyyearsolderthanherself；wasthereanytrustshewouldreposeinhim，anyserviceshewouldaskofhim，anylittleaidtoherhappinessthatshecouldgivehimthelastinggratificationofbelievingitwasinhispowertorender？

Shewasgoingtoanswer，whenshewassotouchedbysomelittlehiddensorroworsympathy——whatcouldithavebeen？——thatshesaid，burstingintotearsagain：’OMrClennam!Good，generous，MrClennam，praytellmeyoudonotblameme。’

’Iblameyou？’saidClennam。’Mydearestgirl!Iblameyou？No!’

Afterclaspingbothherhandsuponhisarm，andlookingconfidentiallyupintohisface，withsomehurriedwordstotheeffectthatshethankedhimfromherheart(asshedid，ifitb