登陆注册
4701500000027

第27章

Christie sat opposite him, and every time he looked off his plate he saw her rich blue eyes dwelling on him.

Everything contributed to warm his heart, he yielded to the spell, he became contented, happy, gay.

Flucker ginger-cordialed him, his sister bewitched him.

She related the day's events in a merry mood.

Mr. Gatty burst forth into singing.

He sung two light and somber trifles, such as in the present day are deemed generally encouraging to spirits, and particularly in accordance with the sentiment of supper--they were about Death and Ivy Green.

The dog's voice was not very powerful, but sweet and round as honey dropping from the comb.

His two hearers were entranced, for the creature sang with an inspiration good singers dare not indulge.

He concluded by informing Christie that the ivy was symbolical of her, and the oak prefigured Charles Gatty, Esq.

He might have inverted the simile with more truth.

In short, he never said a word to Christie about parting with her, but several about being buried in the same grave with her, sixty years hence, for which the spot he selected was Westminster Abbey.

And away he went, leaving golden opinions behind him.

The next day Christie was so affected with his conduct, coming as it did after an apparent coolness, that she conquered her bashfulness and called on the "vile count," and with some blushes and hesitation inquired, "Whether a painter lad was a fit subject of charity."

"Why not?" said his lordship.

She told him Gatty's case, and he instantly promised to see that artist's pictures, particularly an "awfu' bonny ane;" the hero of which she described as an English minister blessing the bairns with one hand, and giving orders to kill the puir Scoetch with the other.

"C'est e'gal," said Christie in Scotch, "it's awfu' bonny."

Gatty reached home late; his mother had retired to rest.

But the next morning she drew from him what had happened, and then ensued another of those dialogues which I am ashamed again to give the reader.

Suffice it to say, that she once more prevailed, though with far greater difficulty; time was to be given him to unsew a connection which he could not cut asunder, and he, with tearful eyes and a heavy heart, agreed to take some step the very first opportunity.

This concession was hardly out of his mouth, ere his mother made him kneel down and bestowed her blessing upon him.

He received it coldly and dully, and expressed a languid hope it might prove a charm to save him from despair; and sad, bitter, and dejected, forced himself to sit down and work on the picture that was to meet his unrelenting creditor's demand.

He was working on his picture, and his mother, with her needle, at the table, when a knock was heard, and gay as a lark, and fresh as the dew on the shamrock, Christie Johnstone stood in person in the apartment.

She was evidently the bearer of good tidings; but, before she could express them, Mrs. Gatty beckoned her son aside, and announcing, "she should be within hearing," bade him take the occasion that so happily presented itself, and make the first step.

At another time, Christie, who had learned from Jean the arrival of Mrs.

同类推荐
  • 鲙残篇

    鲙残篇

    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。
  • 紫阳真人悟真直指详说三乘秘要

    紫阳真人悟真直指详说三乘秘要

    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。
  • 七十二候考

    七十二候考

    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。
  • 五行大义

    五行大义

    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。
  • 五灯全书

    五灯全书

    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
  • 悠悠田野记

    悠悠田野记

    惠小幽本和师傅在山里轮回观过着惬意的生活,一场暴雨引发的意外让她回到六十年前的农村,贫困的生活,自私势力的亲戚,让她和家人一贫如洗生活更加雪上加霜,越是压迫她,她越是要奋起反抗,且看她如何同她的小伙伴们摆脱欺辱,自力更生,在田野里自由的撒欢.
  • 青铜门传奇

    青铜门传奇

    原本,我只意识到自己还不能停,我还必须走下去,因为还有一个十年。可是现在,我意识到其他人都没有停过,计划和阴谋还在继续!我必须行动了!其实只要他们活着,故事就永远不会结束,我也决不会放弃!新的探险!会让所有人、所有谜团都有一个归宿,和释怀。真正大结局!好故事正在继续!
  • 重生纯真79

    重生纯真79

    重生70年代,倒回历史,前世已经不是过去,而是未来! 新书《重生黄金时代1991》已发表,喜欢的书友可以去围观一下!)
  • 瞬间感悟·爱的智慧

    瞬间感悟·爱的智慧

    当一个人走到爱的时节,就觉得自身变成了舒展的绿叶,一种类似仙境的幸福来到你的身上。你可知道为什么?你可知道那种无边的幸福感是从哪儿来的?那都是因为想到自身已经不再是孤零零的……
  • 邪魅冷少0a

    邪魅冷少0a

    尉迟家养了个被宠坏的小少爷,别看他冷若冰霜,十项全能,实则傲娇贪玩,“谁能管的住我,哼哼。”某姐叫到:“洛浅去把邻居电脑黑了。”“得嘞,小洛子马上。”在学校他也是叱咤风云,所有人都怕他离校出走,颜值高的那是男女通吃,某男不高兴,洛浅快来哄“那我给你提个建议呗。”“什么?”“娶我”
  • 非凡教练

    非凡教练

    巴神,你想重振雄风?阿德里亚诺,你还想踢球?董芳卓,你不甘心就此退役?博尔特,你也想踢球?还那谁……你也想?OK!签下这合同。我有系统在身,保你梦想成真。那些有天赋的球员,来我的麾下吧!我会让你们成为全世界最好的球员!我会带领你们怼死大巴黎!不但怼死大巴黎,还要去英超怼曼城等一众豪门。皇马、巴萨你们别急,下一个就是你们!
  • At the Back of the North Wind

    At the Back of the North Wind

    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。
  • 星际争霸Ⅱ:天国恶魔

    星际争霸Ⅱ:天国恶魔

    对于在偏远行星上辛勤劳作,但依旧收入微薄的联邦公民们来说,凯联之战成了他们肩头沉重的负担。政府承诺的入伍奖金将这些行星上的不少年轻人诱惑到了战场上,和他们并肩作战的是一群只知道俯首听命的神秘罪犯,还有一些令人生疑的指挥官。十八岁的吉姆·雷诺带着满腔的热情和正义感进入了新兵训练营,并逐渐在战场上找到了自己的位置,但他很快就发现,这不是一场自己真正想为之而战的战争。星际迷们将在这本书中第一次了解到,毛头新兵吉姆·雷诺和兵油子老江湖泰凯斯·芬利是如何建立起他们长久的友谊,以及他们在星际战场最前线的殊死拼杀。在他们的背后,日益腐败的联邦政府正在将联邦公民的生命作为燃料,用来熔铸统治集团金库中的金条。
  • 游凤戏龙女状师

    游凤戏龙女状师

    大婚日,她光荣从王妃升华为寡妇。门前桃花朵朵开,霸道的皇帝要把她转正,战死的他突然回归,情深竹马执伴左右,异国王爷要她和亲——小青鱼,快到怀里来!可是,到底要入谁的怀?
  • 情商管理课,优秀的人如何掌控情绪

    情商管理课,优秀的人如何掌控情绪

    情商并非是一个高深莫测的哲学命题,主要是表达自我情绪、识别他人情绪、自我激励、处理人际关系等方面的情绪能力。那些情商高的人所表现的品质为:人格健全、情感稳定、身心和谐、理智豁达、内在平和。他们无论在何时何地,都能准确的掌控自己的情绪,而不是被内在的情绪所控制;在与他人共事或交流时,他们不会强迫自己和对方,而是找一个双方都能够接受的方式将自己的情绪妥善的表达出来;他们在自我认识、自我激励时,会用一种变通的方式面对眼前的现实,哪怕身处逆境或人生的低谷之中,他们不会怨天尤人、自暴自弃,而是用一种积极的心态与现实对话,相信明天会变得更加美好。