登陆注册
4619100000064

第64章 A Rock and a Flame(4)

"You wouldn't accept this little addition to your study as a gift from Henry and me?" he asked lightly. "It would be a great pleasure to us if you would.""I could accept stones that Henry Anderson had gathered from the mountains and canyons, and I could accept a verse carved on stone, and be delighted with the gift; but I couldn't accept hours of day labor at the present price of labor, so you will have to give me the bill, Peter."Peter did not have the bill, but he had memoranda, and when Linda paid him she reflected that the current talk concerning the inflated price of labor was greatly exaggerated.

For two evenings as Linda returned from school and went to her room she glanced down the hall and smiled at the decoration remaining on Eileen's rug. The third evening it was gone, sothat she knew Eileen was either in her room or had been there.

She did not meet her sister until dinnertime. She was prepared to watch Eileen, to study her closely. She was not prepared to admire her, but in her heart she almost did that very thing.

Eileen had practiced subterfuges so long, she was so accomplished, that it would have taken an expert to distinguish reality from subterfuge. She entered the dining room humming a gay tune. She was carefully dressed and appealingly beautiful.

She blew a kiss to Linda and waved gaily to Katy.

"I was rather afraid," she said lightly, "that I might find you two in mourning when I got back. I never stayed so long before, did I? Seemed as if every friend I had made special demand on my time all at once. Hope you haven't been dull without me.""Oh, no," said Linda quietly. "Being away at school all day, of course I wouldn't know whether you were at home or not, and Ihave grown so accustomed to spending my evenings alone that Idon't rely on you for entertainment at any time.""In other words," said Eileen, "it doesn't make any difference to you where I am.""Not so far as enjoying your company is concerned," said Linda.

"Otherwise, of course it makes a difference. I hope you had a happy time.""Oh, I always have a happy time," answered Eileen lightly. "Icertainly have the best friends.""That's your good fortune," answered Linda.

At the close of the meal Linda sat waiting. Eileen gave Katy instructions to have things ready for a midnight lunch for her and John Gilman and then, humming her tune again, she left the dining room and went upstairs. Linda stood looking after her.

"Now or never," she said at last. "I have no business to let her meet John until I have recovered my self-respect. But the Lord help me to do the thing decently !"So she followed Eileen up the stairway. She tapped at the door, and without waiting to hear whether she was invited or not, opened it and stepped inside. Eileen was sitting before the window, a big box of candy beside her, a magazine in her fingers.

Evidently she intended to keep her temper in case the coming interview threatened to become painful.

"I was half expecting you," she said, "you silly hothead. Ifound the cheque I wrote you when I got home this afternoon.

That was a foolish thing to do. Why did you tear it up? If it were too large or if it were not enough why didn't you use it and ask for another? Because I had to be away that was merely to leave you something to go on until I got back."Then Linda did the most disconcerting thing possible. In her effort at self-control she went too far. She merely folded her hands in her lap and sat looking straight at Eileen without saying one word. It did not show much on the surface, but Eileen really had a conscience, she really had a soul; Linda's eyes, resting rather speculatively on her, were honest eyes, and Eileen knew what she knew. She flushed and fidgeted, and at last she broke out impatiently: "Oh, for goodness' sake, Linda, don't play 'Patience-on-a-monument.' Speak up and say what it is that you want. If that cheque was not big enough, what will satisfy you?""Come to think of it," said Linda quietly, "I can get along with what I have for the short time until the legal settlement of our interests is due. You needn't bother any more about a cheque."Eileen was surprised and her face showed it; and she was also relieved. That too her face showed.

"I always knew," she said lightly, "that I had a little sister with a remarkably level head and good common sense. I am glad that you recognize the awful inflation of prices during the war period, and how I have had to skimp and scheme and save in order to make ends meet and to keep us going on Papa's meager income."All Linda's good resolutions vanished. She was under strong nervous tension. It irritated her to have Eileen constantly referring to their monetary affairs as if they were practically paupers, as if their father's life had been a financial failure, as if he had not been able to realize from achievements recognized around the world a comfortable living for two women.

同类推荐
  • 老学庵笔记

    老学庵笔记

    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。
  • 老子秘旨例略

    老子秘旨例略

    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。
  • 佛说菩萨内戒经

    佛说菩萨内戒经

    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。
  • Four Short Plays

    Four Short Plays

    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。
  • 小室六门

    小室六门

    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
  • 薛定谔之猫

    薛定谔之猫

    据资料显示,中日战争中是没有关中国战俘的战俘营的,中国战俘都是直接杀了或者送去做苦力。唯一的战俘营在沈阳,只关押欧美战俘。故事发生在1940年初,抗战爆发三年以后,正是中日抗战拉锯期,以雷子为首的八名战俘成功逃出日军战俘营,进入了战俘营旁巨大的原始森林山脉。战俘怀着喜悦和对未知前途的忐忑,在森林中不断深入,可迎接他们的却是一系列诡异的遭遇:没有活物的环境;异常漫长的白昼与黑夜;沉满腐尸的水潭;潜伏在身边的吸血怪物;以及一个不应该出现在原始森林中,却又确实存在的神秘机构……战俘营伪军军官邵德带领几个日军士官和一个排的伪军紧随其后进入这片森林,所遭遇到的各种奇怪现象也接踵而来:与外界离奇地没了联系;士兵接二连三死亡并消失。而紧跟着战俘逃亡路线,越来越多不可以解释的疑团出现。在这追捕过程中,邵德发现整个战俘逃亡事件与三年前同样发生在战俘营的另一起事件竟惊人般的雷同!并近乎绝望地察觉到自己和这一切有着千丝万缕的联系。甚至自己与正被追捕的战俘雷子,和三年前同样逃出战俘营的战俘曹正等人正在慢慢重合……
  • 约战之鸢一羽落

    约战之鸢一羽落

    总而言之,这是一本糟糕的小说。“但你得告诉他们你写了什么啊!”“自己去书里看啊!”……“看不懂”“所以都说了这是一本非常糟糕的小说啊啊啊!!!”
  • 恋时你不懂风

    恋时你不懂风

    走出校门的那一刻,花以甄如释重负,自嘲的笑了笑,感叹似水流年,她终究还是放下了…
  • 洪荒天子(2)

    洪荒天子(2)

    洪荒中,毒虫遍地,异兽出没,危机无处不在,这便是始前的死亡之地。然而人类以天生的本能存于天地间,而他们之中的强者以神自居,用智慧与力量瓜分洪荒,分别统治着这片危机四伏的土地,从而形成了洪荒万国。而就在这血腥与杀劫之间,一位在蛇腹中、沼泽内、神剑下、陷阱里生存下来的少年,就在这野蛮与文明、毁灭与建设的洪流中崛起。他得到了苍天的眷恋,与神龙之丹融为一体,在广成洞府内开启心灵之门,悟透了天地的玄机,看遍了人世的杀戮争斗,孕育出无穷的智慧和能量,终铸就其不死之身,超越了凡尘的一切,游历于洪荒万国之间,组成“龙之旅”,横扫八荒,一统万国,创下了神州大地的千秋功业。他就是战神轩辕——洪荒天子!
  • 邪王的逆妃

    邪王的逆妃

    失去她后,才明白。原来爱从来不会等人……至此经年,他无数次改变身份,容貌。只希望记忆中的姑娘能回头再看看他!即便会失去记忆,却依旧能第一时间爱上她。后来的后来,他才知道。原来,最远的距离不是爱与不爱。而是,他明明深爱,她却早已葬掉了曾今的相爱!
  • 风骨犹情

    风骨犹情

    十六岁的少女宁北北,被自己每天喂食的一只神奇的流浪猫带到了一个未知的时代。穿越进入了一个古代女孩子的内。当时她本以为又是一个受气包,没想到意外的是,她却发现这副身子的主人在这副清秀的脸庞下原掩藏了一颗多么恶毒的心。前世的东方素坏事做尽,以至于终于众叛亲离,被她的对头当朝太子处死。宁北北来了之后,本想扭转乾坤“重新做人”但是她却发现自己错的离谱……
  • 佛说八师经

    佛说八师经

    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。
  • 穿越之帝国传奇

    穿越之帝国传奇

    什么叫做饥饿,易子而食,饿殍遍野。什么叫做乱世,兽人横行,烟尘四起,到处是烽烟到处是战火。什么叫做英雄,起身于草莽,以天下苍生为念,骑着天下最烈的马,拿天下最好的刀,娶天下最美的女人。打了个喷嚏,一不小心征服了最桀骜的兽人,收复了失去的故土三万里,建立世界上最强大的帝国,从此世界上只要有太阳的地方就有帝国的商队,只要有海水的地方就有帝国的炮舰。无限精彩尽在:穿越之帝国传奇。
  • 武侠霸业之我命由我不由天

    武侠霸业之我命由我不由天

    江湖中人未识你,而你已是江湖人。皇图霸业未尤命,我命由我不由天。这是一个波澜壮阔,江湖浩渺,走马天下,快意恩仇的宏大武侠世界。这里百家争鸣,高手如云,更有锦绣江山,美人无数,秘籍宝典,武林神话……无一不令人无限向往。
  • 重生美人吟

    重生美人吟

    春秋战国,金戈铁马,说不尽的征战,道不尽的杀伐。注定被做为牺牲品,被和亲送入一个男人,一个坐拥天下男人的怀中。但是她的心里早已情根深种,她心里的不是大王,却是一个治世能臣。她又怎会不知道,自己是被利用,重生而来的她,以血还血,以牙还牙。--情节虚构,请勿模仿