登陆注册
4617600000048

第48章

To carry out his ruse, he ran swiftly to the house. Mrs. Mumpson stood before him wringing her hands and crying, "Oh, dear Mr. Holcroft, can't I do anything to help you? I would so like to help you and--""Yes, my good woman, let me get in the door and see what's the matter. Oh, here's your trunk. That's sensible. Better get it outside," and he went up the stairs two steps at a time and rushed into his room.

"Jane, Jane," ejaculated Mrs. Mumpson, sinking on a seat in the porch, "he called me his good woman!" But Jane was busy dragging the trunk out of doors.

Having secured her own and her mother's worldly possessions, she called, "Shall I bring water and carry things out?""No," he replied, "not yet. There's something the matter with the chimney,"and he hastened up to the attic room, removed the clog from the flue, put on the cover again, and threw open the window. Returning, he locked the door of the room which Mrs. Mumpson had occupied and came downstairs. "I must get a ladder and examine the chimney," he said as he passed.

"Oh, my dear Mr. Holcroft!" the widow began.

"Can't talk with you yet," and he hastened on.

"As soon as he's sure the house is safe, Jane, all will be well."But the girl had grown hopeless and cynical. She had not penetrated his scheme to restore her mother to health, but understood the man well enough to be sure that her mother's hopes would end as they had in the past. She sat down apathetically on the trunk to see what would happen next.

After a brief inspection Holcroft came down from the roof and said, "The chimney will have to be repaired," which was true enough and equally so of other parts of the dwelling. The fortunes of the owner were reflected in the appearance of the building.

If it were a possible thing Holcroft wished to carry out his ruse undetected, and he hastened upstairs again, ostensibly to see that all danger had passed, but in reality to prepare his mind for an intensely disagreeable interview.

"I'd rather face a mob of men than that one idiotic woman," he muttered. "Icould calculate the actions of a setting hen with her head cut off better than I can this widow's. But there's no help for it," and he came down looking very resolute. "I've let the fire in my stove go out, and there's no more danger," he said quietly, as he sat down on the porch opposite Mrs. Mumpson.

"Oh-h," she exclaimed, with a long breath of relief, "we've saved the dwelling. What would we have done if it had burned down! We would have been homeless.""That may be my condition soon, as it is," he said coldly. "I am very glad, Mrs. Mumpson, that you are so much better. As Jane told you, I suppose, Iwill pay you the sum I agreed to give you for three months' service--""My dear Mr. Holcroft, my nerves have been too shaken to talk business this morning," and the widow leaned back and looked as if she were going to faint.

"I'm only a poor lone woman," she added feebly, "and you cannot be so lacking in the milk of human kindness as to take advantage of me.""No, madam, nor shall I allow you and Lemuel Weeks to take advantage of me.

This is my house and I have a right to make my own arrangements.""It might all be arranged so easily in another way," sighed the widow.

"It cannot be arranged in any other way--" he began.

"Mr. Holcroft," she cried, leaning suddenly forward with clasped hands and speaking effusively, "you but now called me your good woman. Think how much those words mean. Make them true, now that you've spoken them. Then you won't be homeless and will never need a caretaker.""Are you making me an offer of marriage?" he asked with lowering brow.

"Oh, no, indeed!" she simpered. "That wouldn't be becoming in me. I'm only responding to your own words."Rising, he said sternly, "No power on earth could induce me to marry you, and that would be plain enough if you were in your right mind. I shall not stand this foolishness another moment. You must go with me at once to Lemuel Weeks'. If you will not, I'll have you taken to an insane asylum.""To an insane asylum! What for?" she half shrieked, springing to her feet.

同类推荐
  • 要药分剂

    要药分剂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 鬻子

    鬻子

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 慈悲水忏法

    慈悲水忏法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说甚希有经

    佛说甚希有经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 火吽轨别录

    火吽轨别录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 强者的觉醒

    强者的觉醒

    进入校园,他发现五大顶尖世家的公子都潜入其中。仔细调查,他发现附近竟然有一个被称为“造神基地”的隐秘存在……
  • 鬼谷子纵横智慧

    鬼谷子纵横智慧

    鬼谷子,战国时期著名的思想家、谋略家,兵家、仙道家、是纵横家的鼻祖,长于持身养性,精于心理揣摩,深明刚柔之势,透晓捭阖之术,独具通天之智,是先秦最神秘的真实历史人物。历史上正是由于他的出现,才有了纵横家的深谋,兵家的锐利,法家的霸道,儒家的刚柔并济,道家的待机而动。是古今中外领导者、财富人物、外交家、谈判家、企业高管、营销专家的枕边书。习之可修身齐家治国平天下,得时遇明主可兼济天下求富贵。不得时可逍遥一生。
  • 宠婚燃烧:媳妇太彪悍

    宠婚燃烧:媳妇太彪悍

    他是位高权重、威武霸气、不近女色的商界大鳄。据说,他凶残无情,一脚就把投怀送抱的女人给踹飞,却小心翼翼地将她捧在手心里,倾尽宠爱,人称“护妻狂魔”。而她只是一个名声不好的坏丫头,在她快堕入深渊的时候,是他拯救了她。只可惜,门不当户不对,她被迫带着肚子里的几个小球球离开。幸运的是,她得到了一个牛破天际的位面交易系统,坏丫头开启逆袭致富之路,一步一步站上高峰,成为完美人生的大赢家。【提示:架空现代,1V1,甜宠,爽文,有萌宝】
  • 鼎镌国朝名公神断详刑公案

    鼎镌国朝名公神断详刑公案

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 天才弃妃

    天才弃妃

    这年头,穿越不可怕!但是穿越醒来就在乱葬岗,那就有点可怕了!云依睁开眼睛,一双水眸潋滟生辉,自成一股绝世风华!外表弱不禁风,实则心狠手辣的侧妃,很好!表面贤良,实则阴谋不断的姨娘,很好!表象温柔善良,实则心机深沉的庶妹,很好!还有那刻薄的祖母,伪善的父亲,狂傲自负的前夫,都很好!当有一日,云依携着万千风华归来,曾经的那些人,都将被践踏到底,让那些敌人再无翻身之力。回府,斗姨娘,斗庶妹,斗祖母,总之是要斗倒一切反动派。牡丹会,她惊采绝艳,晃花了无数人的眼睛。琼花宴,她绝世风华,舞姿如仙,让多少人如痴如醉。才华出众,气质悠然,却也因此找来了无数的嫉恨与刺杀。奶奶的,她不发威,还真以为她是只温柔的小猫,人人可欺?纤手一抬,她抢了国库!素手一挥,她灭了造反的王爷!水眸一眨,她毁了当朝的相府!宁静如莲,绝世如仙,燕京第一女子,她当之无愧!异世纷乱,她以为自己可以全身而退,最终还是卷入了那局中局。心静如水,她以为自己可以独善其身,最终还是为了那个俊美如神的男子不惧生死。俊美如神,心性凉薄,最终还是为了那个突然闯入心扉的女子,倾尽天下。桃花树下,他对她说:“我愿娶你为妻,爱你一生,一生一世一双人。”推荐新文《重生之田园生活》喜欢温馨清水的,欢迎跳坑。
  • 三国之问鼎天下

    三国之问鼎天下

    重生汉末,逆天改命。在乱世中生存,只有强大,更强大,比所有敌人都强大!“碰到比你强大的呢?”“干!”带甲十万,跨蹈汉南,却要不战而降?不,这样的结局我不接受!即便不能挟天子而令诸侯,我也要据荆州以图天下!
  • 国际传媒整合营销传播

    国际传媒整合营销传播

    本书是国内第一本国际传媒整合营销传播的教材。编者立足于传播全球化的背景,探讨了整合营销传播理论在中国传媒贯彻“走出去战略”、开拓国际市场实践中的应用。本书介绍了整合营销传播基本理论,分析了国际传媒品牌内涵与构成要素、实施整合营销传播的必要性及整合营销传播主客体构成,并从战略、策略、手段、保障、评估等方面进行了阐述。本书可以作为高等院校国际新闻或国际传播专业教材,也可以为国际传播工作者提供参考,还可以为国内传媒的营销实践提供借鉴。
  • 我们也曾颠沛流离

    我们也曾颠沛流离

    时光荏苒,墨色青春里;也许我们经历过创伤,也许我们体味过幸福;但,终究,我们会失去一切;时间是个残酷的东西;不经意之间,我们就那样错过了;我们不曾携手与老,不曾开颜欢笑;但我们,曾一起颠沛流离。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 庙里好穷

    庙里好穷

    山里有座庙,庙里有几个穷和尚。郝有钱是五年前失足坠崖被庙祝在山里捡到的,每每提到这事,庙祝都要极其夸张地描述她当时命悬一线的状况,以及自己精湛非凡的医术,当然话题最后总要落在要懂得涌泉相报这个问题上。当她听到庙祝要委派她去市里赚外快的决定时简直傻眼了,而推荐她去原因无他——“有钱自己说的,她以前可是个演员呢。”
  • 尸骨未寒1:猩红

    尸骨未寒1:猩红

    夜幕下,城市的中心水晶大厦中发生了一起诡异的命案,死者被杀死后面容扭曲的泡在水族箱里。心理系的普通大学生陈木跟随导师宫教授前去协助警方破案,宫教授迅速地推断出了凶手的作案手法,就在案件看似结束的时候,陈木在死者的公文包里发现了一个神秘的计划,他突然意识到,这起杀人案绝对不简单……灵魂的救赎,黑暗尽头的真相,命运的齿轮绝望地转动起来。