Thisparticularengagementlastedsevenweeks——wecalledittheSevenWeeks’War——andwasfoughtoutinchbyinchonbothsides。
A
detailedaccountwouldfillabook，andwouldbeincompletethen。
AnyonewhoknowsaboutthesethingscanfitinthedetailsforhimselfItwasasuperbfight——therewillneverbeanotherlikeitaslongasJakkostands——andPluffleswastheprizeofvictory。
PeoplesaidshamefulthingsaboutMrsHauksbeeTheydidnotknowwhatshewasplayingforMrsReiverfought，partlybecausePluffleswasusefultoher，butmainlybecauseshehatedMrs。
Hauksbee，andthematterwasatrialofstrengthbetweenthemNooneknowswhatPlufflesthoughtHehadnotmanyideasatthebestoftimes，andthefewhepossessedmadehimconceitedMrs。
Hauksbeesaid：——“Theboymustbecaught；andtheonlywayofcatchinghimisbytreatinghimwell。”
SoshetreatedhimasamanoftheworldandofexperiencesolongastheissuewasdoubtfulLittlebylittle，Plufflesfellawayfromhisoldallegianceandcameovertotheenemy，bywhomhewasmademuchofHewasneversentonout-postdutyafter’rickshawsanymore，norwashegivendanceswhichnevercameoff，norwerethedrainsonhispursecontinuedMrsHauksbeeheldhimonthesnaffle；andafterhistreatmentatMrsReiver’shands，heappreciatedthechange。
MrsReiverhadbrokenhimoftalkingabouthimself，andmadehimtalkaboutherownmeritsMrsHauksbeeactedotherwise，andwonhisconfidence，tillhementionedhisengagementtothegirlatHome，speakingofitinahighandmightywayasa“pieceofboyishfolly。”Thiswaswhenhewastakingteawithheroneafternoon，anddiscoursinginwhatheconsideredagayandfascinatingstyle。
MrsHauksbeehadseenanearliergenerationofhisstampbudandblossom，anddecayintofatCaptainsandtubbyMajors。
Atamoderateestimatetherewereaboutthreeandtwentysidestothatlady’scharacterSomemensaymoreShebegantotalktoPlufflesafterthemannerofamother，andasiftherehadbeenthreehundredyears，insteadoffifteen，betweenthemShespokewithasortofthroatyquaverinhervoicewhichhadasoothingeffect，thoughwhatshesaidwasanythingbutsoothingShepointedouttheexceedingfolly，nottosaymeanness，ofPluffles’
conduct，andthesmallnessofhisviewsThenhestammeredsomethingabout“trustingtohisownjudgmentasamanoftheworld；“andthispavedthewayforwhatshewantedtosaynextItwouldhavewitheredupPluffleshaditcomefromanyotherwoman；
butinthesoftcooingstyleinwhichMrsHauksbeeputit，itonlymadehimfeellimpandrepentant——asifhehadbeeninsomesuperiorkindofchurchLittlebylittle，verysoftlyandpleasantly，shebegantakingtheconceitoutofPluffles，asyoutaketheribsoutofanumbrellabeforere-coveringitShetoldhimwhatshethoughtofhimandhisjudgmentandhisknowledgeoftheworld；andhowhisperformanceshadmadehimridiculoustootherpeople；andhowitwashisintentionmakelovetoherselfifshegavehimthechanceThenshesaidthatmarriagewouldbethemakingofhim；anddrewaprettylittlepicture——allroseandopal——
oftheMrsPlufflesofthefuturegoingthroughliferelyingonthe“judgment“and“knowledgeoftheworld“ofahusbandwhohadnothingtoreproachhimselfwithHowshereconciledthesetwostatementsshealoneknewButtheydidnotstrikePlufflesasconflicting。
Herswasaperfectlittlehomily——muchbetterthananyclergymancouldhavegiven——anditendedwithtouchingallusionstoPluffles’
MammaandPapa，andthewisdomoftakinghisbrideHome。
ThenshesentPlufflesoutforawalk，tothinkoverwhatshehadsaidPlufflesleft，blowinghisnoseveryhardandholdinghimselfverystraightMrsHauksbeelaughed。
WhatPluffleshadintendedtodointhematteroftheengagementonlyMrsReiverknew，andshekeptherowncounse...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：