登陆注册
4132800000056

第56章 CHAPTER III(4)

Em set to work busily to prepare her own household linen and wedding garments. Gregory was with her daily, almost hourly, and the six months which elapsed before Lyndall's return passed, as he felicitously phrased it, "like a summer night, when you are dreaming of some one you love."

Late one evening, Gregory sat by his little love, turning the handle of her machine as she drew her work through it, and they talked of the changes they would make when the Boer-woman was gone, and the farm belonged to them alone. There should be a new room here, and a kraal there. So they chatted on. Suddenly Gregory dropped the handle, and impressed a fervent kiss on the fat hand that guided the linen.

"You are so beautiful, Em," said the lover. "It comes over me in a flood suddenly how I love you."

Em smiled.

"Tant Sannie says when I am her age no one will look at me; and it is true.

My hands are as short and broad as a duck's foot, and my forehead is so low, and I haven't any nose. I can't be pretty."

She laughed softly. It was so nice to think he should be so blind.

"When my cousin comes tomorrow you will see a beautiful woman, Gregory," she added presently. "She is like a little queen: her shoulders are so upright, and her head looks as though it ought to have a little crown upon it. You must come to see her tomorrow as soon as she comes. I am sure you will love her."

"Of course I shall come to see her, since she is your cousin; but do you think I could ever think any woman as lovely as I think you?"

He fixed his seething eyes upon her.

"You could not help seeing that she is prettier," said Em, slipping her right hand into his; "but you will never be able to like any one so much as you like me."

Afterward, when she wished her lover good night, she stood upon the doorstep to call a greeting after him; and she waited, as she always did, till the brown pony's hoofs became inaudible behind the kopje.

Then she passed through the room where Tant Sannie lay snoring, and through the little room that was all draped in white, waiting for her cousin's return, on to her own room.

She went to the chest of drawers to put away the work she had finished, and sat down on the floor before the lowest drawer. In it were the things she was preparing for her marriage. Piles of white linen, and some aprons and quilts; and in a little box in the corner a spray of orange-blossom which she had bought from a smouse. There, too, was a ring Gregory had given her, and a veil his sister had sent, and there was a little roll of fine embroidered work which Trana had given her. It was too fine and good even for Gregory's wife--just right for something very small and soft. She would keep it. And she touched it gently with her forefinger, smiling; and then she blushed and hid it far behind the other things. She knew so well all that was in that drawer, and yet she turned them all over as though she saw them for the first time, packed them all out, and packed them all in, without one fold or crumple; and then sat down and looked at them.

Tomorrow evening when Lyndall came she would bring her here, and show it her all. Lyndall would so like to see it--the little wreath, and the ring, and the white veil! It would be so nice! Then Em fell to seeing pictures.

Lyndall should live with them till she herself got married some day.

Every day when Gregory came home, tired from his work, he would look about and say, "Where is my wife? Has no one seen my wife? Wife, some coffee!" and she would give him some.

Em's little face grew very grave at last, and she knelt up and extended her hands over the drawer of linen.

"Oh, God!" she said, "I am so glad! I do not know what I have done that I should be so glad. Thank you!"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 刘心武自选集:散文随笔卷

    刘心武自选集:散文随笔卷

    刘心武的作品以关注现实为特征,体现时代的脉动,意蕴深厚,充满人情美、人性美。本书精选和节选了他在散文随笔方面的各类代表性作品,包括散文随笔《王小波,晚上能来喝酒吗?》、《远去了,母亲放飞的手》,建筑评论《城市望点》、《享受“灰空间”》,《红楼梦》研究心得之《刘心武揭秘红楼梦》、《红楼心语》等篇章,全面展示了刘心武半个多世纪以来在散文创作和《红楼梦》、《金瓶梅》研究方面的艺术成就。
  • 纠结

    纠结

    杨瑟躺在床上,其实她早就醒了,或者说她压根儿就没睡踏实,更不说深睡眠了,最近几天她一直这样。她盯着头上的吊顶,那无比熟悉也略嫌简朴的吊顶,心里不停地琢磨那几件事,这些事成了她近些日子最闹心的事。她不知道,是事找她,还是她找事,反正她心里总是装着一些七七八八的事,前一拨的事还没弄清楚、整明白,后一批的事又接着来了。整个脑子,就成了一家商铺,批发的、零售的一股脑儿地涌进来,她都得接受,都得打理,都想把它们理清楚。有时她也想过,何必成天把脑子弄得满满的,该吃吃,该睡睡,但她怎么也做不到。稍一消停,那些事就来了,拼命往脑子里钻,她得马上腾出库容,迎它们进来。
  • 世界最具品味性的小品随笔(4)

    世界最具品味性的小品随笔(4)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 花哭花飞

    花哭花飞

    在如此喧闹的城市里我是多么的沉默一直站在上位者的角度去描绘着现实的可恶一个人的世界却是如此的安静聆听着这个世界的死寂摹写着这个世界的沉沦想曾经另人无比遐想的纯洁却已消逝走在布满荆棘的路上寻觅着砍伐荆棘的斧却走向另人恐惧的死亡之谷黑暗中无法安静的心一直在奔向萎缩那一丝的罅隙也在不断闭合每分每秒花哭花飞,谁知道那一份凄美的爱情会是那么短暂。。。。。。
  • 管窥《道德经》

    管窥《道德经》

    本书旨在向朋友们推荐《道德经》这部非常经典的著作。希望读者们读了它之后能够有所解,有所思,有所悟,有所得,发现和顿悟生活中的“道”,进而循“道”而行,成为“修善”,“有德”的人。
  • 第一萌婚:继承者的天价逃妻

    第一萌婚:继承者的天价逃妻

    她误惹恶魔BOSS!“那天,是不是你?”他把她逼至墙角,让她退无可退,“回答我,是、不是?”“不是!”当她知道他的真实身份,打死不肯承认。“那么,欣赏一下——”他拿出一截视频,将她彻彻底底砸醒。“我要你!”他一把捏住她的下颚,“不是地下交易,不是暧昧对象,做我女人,我娶你!”【每天固定一万字,通常晚间八点更新完】包月用户免费看!!!
  • 大学公共课系列教材:西方文化思想史

    大学公共课系列教材:西方文化思想史

    《大学公共课系列教材:西方文化思想史》是针对历史学专业、文化产业管理专业本科生编写的教材。在全球化趋势日益明显的新世纪,国际间的文化交流,国家之间和民族之间的文化相互作用日趋加强。《大学公共课系列教材:西方文化思想史》主要讲授西方文化思想的历史发展,以及在不同的历史时期所显示出的不同主题。
  • 北落师门

    北落师门

    北落师门,南天最亮的星。在父亲去世的第二天,刚刚继位的少年皇帝赵祯在星空下遇见了从现代穿越过来的少女艾悯。在他最孤单无助的时候,她给了他一个掌心的温暖。因为时空的差别,她始终是不变的少女,也一直当他是初见时的那个小弟弟,却忽视了他会在自己的面前一天天长大。她寻觅到了穿越时空的良缘,然而对方却并不是他,而是宗室中处境艰难的赵从湛。他不甘心失去那一个掌心的温暖,一句话轻易破坏了他们的幸福,并步步紧逼,不料却有了他一生都不能承受的后果……天空中燃起烟火,似乎让他想到了他们最美的初见。刚刚在前一刻,他都还觉得,他是这世上最幸福的帝王。跳樊楼,下冰池,冷漠、疏离、残忍……
  • 听经济学家讲故事

    听经济学家讲故事

    经济学就像远远挂在天边的星辰,可望而不可及吗?经济学是复杂的理论,高深的原理,抽象的数学符号吗?不,经济学是和我们现实生活密切相关、不可分离的、妙趣横生的事实。本书就是你正在寻找的通俗化的、不用费力就可读懂的“经济学”。在这本书里,你可以从大量的生活小事中明白经济学的规律,从生动风趣的描述中学到经济学的常识,却不需要去读那些高深莫测的理论,去钻研那些艰涩难懂的经济学读本。
  • 哈佛男孩心理成长枕边书

    哈佛男孩心理成长枕边书

    本书从男孩的品格、自主能力、思维能力、勇敢精神、气度、抗挫能力、自控力等多个方面进行了阐述。