Matt put his hand on her wrist. "You couldn't. You--you must let me go."

"You?"

"Me. I can get into Boston in time for that half-past-seven train, and I

can do all the things when I get to Wellwater that you couldn't do.

Come; be reasonable! You must see that what I propose is best. I

solemnly promise you that nothing shall be left undone, or omitted or

forgotten, that could set your mind at rest. Whatever you would wish

done, I will do. Go home; your sister needs you; you need yourself; if

you have a trial to meet greater than this suspense, which you've borne

with such courage, you want all your strength for it. I beg you to trust

me to do this for you. I know that it seems recreant to let another go

in your place on such an errand, but it really isn't so. You ought to

know that I wouldn't offer to go if I were not sure that I could do all

that you could do, and more. Come! Let me go for you!"

He poured out his reasons vehemently, and she sat like one without

strength to answer. When he stopped, she still waited before she

answered simply, almost dryly, "Well," and she gave no other sign of

assent in words. But she turned over the hand, on which he was keeping

his, and clutched his hand hard; the tears, the first she had shed that

day, gushed into her eyes. She lifted the reins and drove away, and he

stood in the road gazing after her, till her sleigh vanished over the

rise of ground to the southward.

The Quality of Mercy · 第 19 / 93 题