human
My lady had been summoned to the hospital to see Sir Felix who was,--as the page reported,--in a very bad way indeed. The page did not exactly know what had happened, but supposed that Sir Felix had lost most of his limbs by this time. Yes; Miss Carbury was up-stairs; and would no doubt see her cousin, though she, too, was in a very bad condition; and dreadfully put about. That poor Hetta should be
gpt
What's this about Felix?
human
Oh Roger, I am so glad to see you. Felix did not come home last night, and this morning there came a man from the hospital in the city to say that he is there.
gpt
What has happened to him?
human
Somebody,--somebody has,--beaten him, said Hetta whimpering. Then she told the story as far as she knew it. The messenger from the hospital had declared that the young man was in no danger and that none of his bones were broken, but that he was terribly bruised about the face, that his eyes were in a frightful condition, sundry of his teeth knocked out, and his lips cut open. But, the messenger had gone on to say, the house surgeon had seen no reason why the young gentleman should not be taken home.
gpt
And mamma has gone to fetch him,
human
That's John Crumb, said Roger. Hetta had never heard of John Crumb, and simply stared into her cousin's face.
gpt
You have not been told about John Crumb? No;--you would not hear of him.
human
Why should John Crumb beat Felix like that?
gpt
They say, Hetta, that women are the cause of most troubles that occur in the world. The girl blushed up to her eyes, as though the whole story of Felix's sin and folly had been told to her.
human
If it be as I suppose, continued Roger,
gpt
John Crumb has considered himself to be aggrieved and has thus avenged himself.
human
Did you--know of him before?
gpt
Yes indeed;--very well. He is a neighbour of mine and was in love with a girl, with all his heart; and he would have made her his wife and have been good to her. He had a home to offer her, and is an honest man with whom she would have been safe and respected and happy. Your brother saw her and, though he knew the story, though he had been told by myself that this honest fellow had placed his happiness on the girl's love, he thought,--well, I suppose he thought that such a pretty thing as this girl was too good for John Crumb.
human
But Felix has been going to marry Miss Melmotte!
gpt
You're old-fashioned, Hetta. It used to be the way,--to be off with the old love before you are on with the new; but that seems to be all changed now. Such fine young fellows as there are now can be in love with two at once. That I fear is what Felix has thought;--and now he has been punished.
human
You know all about it then?
gpt
No;--I don't know. But I think it has been so. I do know that John Crumb had threatened to do this thing, and I felt sure that sooner or later he would be as good as his word. If it has been so, who is to blame him?
human
It is very shocking,
gpt
Shocking;--yes. One is shocked at it all. I pity your mother, and I pity you.
human
It seems to me that nothing ever will be happy for us,
gpt
I do not know whether to wait for your mother or not,
human
Pray wait for her if you are not very busy.
gpt
I came up only to see her, but perhaps she would not wish me to be here when she brings Felix back to the house.
human
Indeed she will. She would like you always to be here when there are troubles. Oh, Roger, I wish you could tell me.
gpt
Tell you what?
human
She has written to you;--has she not?
gpt
Yes; she has written to me.
human
And about me?
gpt
Yes;--about you, Hetta. And, Hetta, Mr. Montague has written to me also.
human
He told me that he would,
gpt
Did he tell you of my answer?
human
No;--he has told me of no answer. I have not seen him since.
gpt
You do not think that it can have been very kind, do you? I also have something of the feeling of John Crumb, though I shall not attempt to show it after the same fashion.
human
Did you not say the girl had promised to love that man?
gpt
I did not say so;--but she had promised. Yes, Hetta; there is a difference. The girl then was fickle and went back from her word. You never have done that. I am not justified in thinking even a hard thought of you. I have never harboured a hard thought of you. It is not you that I reproach. But he,--he has been if possible more false than Felix.
human
Oh, Roger, how has he been false?
gpt
He should have left the place and never have come near you, said Roger,
human
But, Roger, she said--
gpt
You may think so. You may feel it. You may know it. I at any rate will not contradict you when you say that it must have been so. But he didn't feel it. He didn't know it. He was to me as a younger brother,--and he has robbed me of everything. I understand, Hetta, what you mean. I should never have succeeded! My happiness would have been impossible if Paul had never come home from America. I have told myself so a hundred times, but I cannot therefore forgive him. And I won't forgive him, Hetta. Whether you are his wife, or another man's, or whether you are Hetta Carbury on to the end, my feeling to you will be the same. While we both live, you must be to me the dearest creature living. My hatred to him--
human
Oh, Roger, do not say hatred.
gpt
My hostility to him can make no difference in my feeling to you. I tell you that should you become his wife you will still be my love. As to not coveting,--how is a man to cease to covet that which he has always coveted? But I shall be separated from you. Should I be dying, then I should send for you. You are the very essence of my life. I have no dream of happiness otherwise than as connected with you. He might have my whole property and I would work for my bread, if I could only have a chance of winning you to share my toils with me.
human
Roger, she said,
gpt
I have given it all away now. It cannot be given twice.
human
If he were unworthy would your heart never change?
gpt
I think--never. Roger, is he unworthy?
human
How can you trust me to answer such a question? He is my enemy. He has been ungrateful to me as one man hardly ever is to another. He has turned all my sweetness to gall, all my flowers to bitter weeds; he has choked up all my paths. And now you ask me whether he is unworthy! I cannot tell you.
gpt
If you thought him worthy you would tell me,
human
No;--I will tell you nothing. Go to some one else, not to me;
gpt
Roger, if you knew him to be good you would tell me,--because you yourself are so good. Even though you hated him you would say so. It would not be you to leave a false impression even against your enemies. I ask you because, however it may be with you, I know I can trust you. I can be nothing else to you, Roger; but I love you as a sister loves, and I come to you as a sister comes to a brother. He has my heart. Tell me;--is there any reason why he should not also have my hand?
human
Ask himself, Hetta.
gpt
And you will tell me nothing? You will not try to save me though you know that I am in danger? Who is--Mrs. Hurtle?
human
Have you asked him?
gpt
I had not heard her name when he parted from me. I did not even know that such a woman lived. Is it true that he has promised to marry her? Felix told me of her, and told me also that you knew. But I cannot trust Felix as I would trust you. And mamma says that it is so;--but mamma also bids me ask you. There is such a woman?
human
There is such a woman certainly.
gpt
And she has been,--a friend of Paul's?
human
Whatever be the story, Hetta, you shall not hear it from me. I will say neither evil nor good of the man except in regard to his conduct to myself. Send for him and ask him to tell you the story of Mrs. Hurtle as it concerns himself. I do not think he will lie, but if he lies you will know that he is lying.
gpt
And that is all?
human
All that I can say, Hetta. You ask me to be your brother; but I cannot put myself in the place of your brother. I tell you plainly that I am your lover, and shall remain so. Your brother would welcome the man whom you would choose as your husband. I can never welcome any husband of yours. I think if twenty years were to pass over us, and you were still Hetta Carbury, I should still be your lover,--though an old one. What is now to be done about Felix, Hetta?
gpt
Ah,--what can be done? I think sometimes that it will break mamma's heart.
human
Your mother makes me angry by her continual indulgence.
gpt
But what can she do? You would not have her turn him into the street?
human
I do not know that I would not. For a time it might serve him perhaps. Here is the cab. Here they are. Yes; you had better go down and let your mother know that I am here. They will perhaps take him up to bed, so that I need not see him.
gpt
Roger is up-stairs, mamma,
human
Has he heard about Felix;--has he come about that?
gpt
He has heard only what I have told him. He has come because of your letter. He says that a man named Crumb did it.
human
Then he does know. Who can have told him? He always knows everything. Oh, Hetta, what am I to do? Where shall I go with this wretched boy?
gpt
Is he hurt, mamma?
human
Hurt;--of course he is hurt; horribly hurt. The brute tried to kill him. They say that he will be dreadfully scarred for ever. But oh, Hetta;--what am I to do with him? What am I to do with myself and you?