登陆注册
4702300000051

第51章

Jerome was silent, but the fountain of mingled grief and joy stole out from beneath his eyelashes, and glistened like pearls upon his ebony cheeks.

At this juncture, the lady again entered the room. With an enthusiasm that can be better imagined than described, Jerome sprang from the sofa, and they rushed into each other's arms, to the great surprise of the old gentleman and little Autoine, and to the amusement of the servants who had crept up, one by one and were hid behind the doors or loitering in the hall. When they had given vent to their feelings and sufficiently recovered their presence of mind, they resumed their seats.

"How did you find out my name and address?" inquired Jerome.

"After you had left the grave-yard," replied Clotelle, "our little boy said, 'Oh, mamma! if there ain't a book!' I opened the book, and saw your name written in it, and also found a card of the Hotel de Leon. Papa wished to leave the book, and said it was only a fancy of mine that I had ever seen you before; but I was perfectly convinced that you were my own dear Jerome."

As she uttered the last words, tears--the sweet bright tears that love alone can bring forth--bedewed her cheeks.

"Are you married?" now inquired Clotelle, with a palpitating heart and trembling voice.

"No, I am not, and never have been," was Jerome's reply.

"Then, thank God!" she exclaimed, in broken accents.

It was then that hope gleamed up amid the crushed and broken flowers of her heart, and a bright flash darted forth like a sunbeam.

"Are you single now?" asked Jerome.

"Yes, I am," was the answer.

"Then you will be mine after all?" said he with a smile.

Her dark, rich hair had partly come down, and hung still more loosely over her shoulders than when she first appeared; and her eyes, now full of animation and vivacity, and her sweet, harmonious, and well-modulated voice, together with her modesty, self-possession, and engaging manners, made Clotelle appear lovely beyond description. Although past the age when men ought to think of matrimony, yet the scene before Mr. Devenant brought vividly to his mind the time when he was young and had a loving bosom companion living, and tears were wiped from the old man's eyes. A new world seemed to unfold itself before the eyes of the happy lovers, and they were completely absorbed in contemplating the future. Furnished by nature with a disposition to study, and a memory so retentive that all who knew her were surprised at the ease with which she acquired her education and general information, Clotelle might now be termed a most accomplished lady. After her marriage with young Devenant, they proceeded to India, where the husband's regiment was stationed. Soon after their arrival, however, a battle was fought with the natives, in which several officers fell, among whom was Captain Devenant. The father of the young captain being there at the time, took his daughter-in-law and brought her back to France, where they took up their abode at the old homestead.

Old Mr. Devenant was possessed of a large fortune, all of which he intended for his daughter-in-law and her only child.

Although Clotelle had married young Devenant, she had not forgotten her first love, and her father-in-law now willingly gave his consent to her marriage with Jerome. Jerome felt that to possess the woman of his love, even at that late hour, was compensation enough for the years that he had been separated from her, and Clotelle wanted no better evidence of his love for her than the fact of his having remained so long unmarried. It was indeed a rare instance of devotion and constancy in a man, and the young widow gratefully appreciated it.

It was late in the evening when Jerome led his intended bride to the window, and the magnificent moonlight illuminated the countenance of the lovely Clotelle, while inward sunshine, emanating from a mind at ease, and her own virtuous thoughts, gave brightness to her eyes and made her appear a very angel. This was the first evening that Jerome had been in her company since the night when, to effect his escape from prison, she disguised herself in male attire. How different the scene now. Free instead of slaves, wealthy instead of poor, and on the eve of an event that seemed likely to result in a life of happiness to both.

同类推荐
  • AN ICELAND FISHERMAN

    AN ICELAND FISHERMAN

    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。
  • 修真十书金丹大成集

    修真十书金丹大成集

    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。
  • 寓意编

    寓意编

    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。
  • The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse

    The Life and Perambulations of a Mouse

    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。
  • 三昧弘道广显定意经

    三昧弘道广显定意经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 可爱的你

    可爱的你

    它静静卧于一大片繁茂却寂静的蒲草中。烈日跟它无关,只在快傍晚时会从它清蓝边缘那角经过,撒下柔和金色光圈。头顶,被高速公路横切的大桥在车辆与虫鸣的聒噪中,更加缄默。正是蒙城这年最喧嚣的八月。稚嫩的声音由远及近。“志雨哥哥,它真在这里吗?”雪儿噘着嘴,拉住了面前正专注拨弄蒲草的男孩。这是高速公路下的秘密,早年废弃的水田如今成为块状分布的沼泽地,前不久蒙城接连暴雨,被滋润得叶面肥大的蒲草们正懒洋洋地晒太阳,鲜少有人能找到这里。
  • 醉禛不过黛玉心

    醉禛不过黛玉心

    她,清冷如月他,冷漠傲然她是前朝皇嗣遗留的血脉。他是当朝尊贵的皇子。为她,他终究喋血后宫,弑杀兄弟。为他,她乔装改扮,夺回密诏。他可以为她夺取江山,放弃江山。她可以为他颠沛流利,辗转尘世。一时的相遇,几十年的相守,不需要太多的言语,有的只是彼此眼中的那一眸的温馨。片段:傲绝宫中:“为什么要为我做这么多事情?”她清冷的双眸中有的是不解。“自己去想。”他依旧一脸冷漠。雍亲王府:“你好似从来都不会怀疑我的决定。”他的眼中闪过一丝柔和。“自己去想。”她的嘴角泛起同样柔和。紫禁城前:“为什么你们就一定要选择离开呢。”作为他们的儿子,不掩饰脸上有一丝的不满。两人相视一笑:“自己去想。”这是正剧文,也是红楼文,喜欢小白的童鞋们,就千万别来挑刺。推荐好友作品《再嫁为后》
  • 让学生尊老爱幼的故事

    让学生尊老爱幼的故事

    他的妹妹15岁,怀念姥姥,舅舅,我的哥哥,大哥回家,哥哥,你是一株月光下的向日葵,大哥那个,3分钱的朵拉,忘不了奶奶的谎言。
  • 哈怂王爷捣蛋妃

    哈怂王爷捣蛋妃

    “衠王爷!自重……”“本王爷调戏自己的王妃,还用自重……”“如果没错我应该还叫你一声皇叔吧,衠王爷”“反正本王爷跟那皇帝老儿又没有什么关系,只是个挂名的王爷罢了!”说完就把阿九压在了身下。“衠椠,你这样欺负我真的好吗?”“娘子难道不是拿来‘欺负’的吗?”“……”“问你个问题你说不说?”“不说,你又能把我怎么滴!”“信不信老子当场把你上了!”“有种你就来呀!谁怕谁?谁人不知你有龙阳之癖,TM的不举!”“……”就这样本姑娘手撕了当朝宰相一家,顺道捉了位夫君在家养着!
  • 与魔鬼的谈话

    与魔鬼的谈话

    宏大的善,亦即人间的爱,同时也是重大的诱惑,能够在我们心中引发出像“上帝是否软弱无力、是否邪恶”这样的问题,因而引发出怀疑之罪。这一罪恶又引发出骄傲,从骄傲中产生出下一轮的罪过。但是,也有相反的情况,恶能够转变为善。撒旦的王国不仅仅是阴暗的中世纪。在今天,恶也在我们周围设置陷阱,不断地把我们拖拉进去。
  • 舌尖上的心跳

    舌尖上的心跳

    食物的用途——女主:填饱肚子。男主:艺术。对对方的感觉——女主:变态。男主:太蠢。有没有可能和对方谈恋爱——女主:谁,谁想和变态在一起啊!男主:这么蠢,也就我能接受了。这就是个高冷男神PK掉女主的腹黑青梅竹马,带着女主称霸美食界的故事。
  • 助攻莫得感情

    助攻莫得感情

    一切命运的开始和结束,似乎早已注定。在时间和空间的乱流中,命盘在缓缓转动,大千世界无数人来了又去、浑浑噩噩,如果你有幸遇见一个喜欢粉色、掌心有痣的女人,记得,她不是怪胎,是你的保护神......
  • 狐儿眼

    狐儿眼

    很多人都不晓得我曾经是个哑巴,因为在课堂上的侃侃而谈,绝不会让任何人听出我曾经口不能言。但我的的确确曾是个哑巴,在我十六岁之前。自出生时起,我就因先天的疾病导致声带失效,虽然耳朵能听,但口不能言。十六岁后,一场突然而来的变故令我突然间能说话了,至今都没人能说出原因,唯有姥姥,她必然知道些什么,毕竟,若不是因为她,我不可能去槐莽村,也完全不可能见到那种被称作“狐二爷”的动物。
  • 女主领便当之后

    女主领便当之后

    特效化妆师秦予希重生了。没事没事,大不了从头再来就是,只是……被表妹坑了怎么办?画只丧尸吓唬她;被极品亲戚缠着去相亲?来个病入膏肓人见人憎妆;然鹅,夜路走多了,总能踢到铁板,这位帅锅锅,请你别对着半张被炸烂了的脸,流露出一副痴迷的表情,好吗?祁子涵:自秦予希交往第一任男朋友开始,他就心怀恶意的希望秦予希和她男朋友某一天会分手,直到有一天,他发现秦予希和杜书墨之间,出了点问题。祁子涵想都没想就暗戳戳的冲了上去……(年代架空,不要较真儿,哈哈哈)
  • 咸也好,淡也好

    咸也好,淡也好

    本书以“小故事”(或精品美文或寓言说理)+“咸淡指数”+“咸言淡语”的形式,演绎生活中的咸与淡,而在这咸与淡中你还可以品尝出种种不同的滋味,它们就是每天与我们常见却往往又擦肩而过的种种生活哲理。它们始终高扬着人性的温情,同时又带给我们最为睿智的思考。