登陆注册
4704700000069

第69章

"I suppose I forgot dates too, Matty, for what do you think I have brought for you from India? I have an Indian muslin gown and a pearl necklace for you somewhere in my chest at Portsmouth." He smiled as if amused at the idea of the incongruity of his presents with the appearance of his sister; but this did not strike her all at once, while the elegance of the articles did. I could see that for a moment her imagination dwelt complacently on the idea of herself thus attired; and instinctively she put her hand up to her throat - that little delicate throat which (as Miss Pole had told me) had been one of her youthful charms; but the hand met the touch of folds of soft muslin in which she was always swathed up to her chin, and the sensation recalled a sense of the unsuitableness of a pearl necklace to her age. She said, "I'm afraid I'm too old; but it was very kind of you to think of it. They are just what I should have liked years ago - when I was young."

"So I thought, my little Matty. I remembered your tastes; they were so like my dear mother's." At the mention of that name the brother and sister clasped each other's hands yet more fondly, and, although they were perfectly silent, I fancied they might have something to say if they were unchecked by my presence, and I got up to arrange my room for Mr Peter's occupation that night, intending myself to share Miss Matty's bed. But at my movement, he started up. "I must go and settle about a room at the 'George.'

My carpet-bag is there too."

"No!" said Miss Matty, in great distress - "you must not go; please, dear Peter - pray, Mary - oh! you must not go!"

She was so much agitated that we both promised everything she wished. Peter sat down again and gave her his hand, which for better security she held in both of hers, and I left the room to accomplish my arrangements.

Long, long into the night, far, far into the morning, did Miss Matty and I talk. She had much to tell me of her brother's life and adventures, which he had communicated to her as they had sat alone. She said all was thoroughly clear to her; but I never quite understood the whole story; and when in after days I lost my awe of Mr Peter enough to question him myself, he laughed at my curiosity, and told me stories that sounded so very much like Baron Munchausen's, that I was sure he was making fun of me. What I heard from Miss Matty was that he had been a volunteer at the siege of Rangoon; had been taken prisoner by the Burmese; and somehow obtained favour and eventual freedom from knowing how to bleed the chief of the small tribe in some case of dangerous illness; that on his release from years of captivity he had had his letters returned from England with the ominous word "Dead" marked upon them; and, believing himself to be the last of his race, he had settled down as an indigo planter, and had proposed to spend the remainder of his life in the country to whose inhabitants and modes of life he had become habituated, when my letter had reached him; and, with the odd vehemence which characterised him in age as it had done in youth, he had sold his land and all his possessions to the first purchaser, and come home to the poor old sister, who was more glad and rich than any princess when she looked at him. She talked me to sleep at last, and then I was awakened by a slight sound at the door, for which she begged my pardon as she crept penitently into bed; but it seems that when I could no longer confirm her belief that the long-lost was really here - under the same roof - she had begun to fear lest it was only a waking dream of hers; that there never had been a Peter sitting by her all that blessed evening - but that the real Peter lay dead far away beneath some wild sea-wave, or under some strange eastern tree. And so strong had this nervous feeling of hers become, that she was fain to get up and go and convince herself that he was really there by listening through the door to his even, regular breathing - I don't like to call it snoring, but I heard it myself through two closed doors - and by-and-by it soothed Miss Matty to sleep.

I don't believe Mr Peter came home from India as rich as a nabob; he even considered himself poor, but neither he nor Miss Matty cared much about that. At any rate, he had enough to live upon "very genteelly" at Cranford; he and Miss Matty together. And a day or two after his arrival, the shop was closed, while troops of little urchins gleefully awaited the shower of comfits and lozenges that came from time to time down upon their faces as they stood up-gazing at Miss Matty's drawing-room windows. Occasionally Miss Matty would say to them (half-hidden behind the curtains), "My dear children, don't make yourselves ill;" but a strong arm pulled her back, and a more rattling shower than ever succeeded. A part of the tea was sent in presents to the Cranford ladies; and some of it was distributed among the old people who remembered Mr Peter in the days of his frolicsome youth. The Indian muslin gown was reserved for darling Flora Gordon (Miss Jessie Brown's daughter). The Gordons had been on the Continent for the last few years, but were now expected to return very soon; and Miss Matty, in her sisterly pride, anticipated great delight in the joy of showing them Mr Peter. The pearl necklace disappeared; and about that time many handsome and useful presents made their appearance in the households of Miss Pole and Mrs Forrester; and some rare and delicate Indian ornaments graced the drawing-rooms of Mrs Jamieson and Mrs Fitz-Adam. I myself was not forgotten. Among other things, I had the handsomest-bound and best edition of Dr Johnson's works that could be procured; and dear Miss Matty, with tears in her eyes, begged me to consider it as a present from her sister as well as herself. In short, no one was forgotten; and, what was more, every one, however insignificant, who had shown kindness to Miss Matty at any time, was sure of Mr Peter's cordial regard.

同类推荐
  • 滋溪文稿

    滋溪文稿

    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 Historical Nights' Entertainment

    The Historical Nights' Entertainment

    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。
  • 台湾外记

    台湾外记

    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。
  • 饮膳正要

    饮膳正要

    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。
  • 台湾对外关系史料

    台湾对外关系史料

    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
  • 女权世界的攻略系统

    女权世界的攻略系统

    秦慕,将中庸思想发挥到极致的一名高中生,意外得到系统,在女权世界开始了天堂般的主角人生。可是,他发现事情并没有这么简单,世界的崩坏,战神的苏醒……她的目的究竟是什么?(书友群:936310570)
  • 爱情徐徐有南风

    爱情徐徐有南风

    风尘中打滚的余霜,遇上了性无能的冯知深,守了多年的清白被他夺走,却被他讥讽人尽可夫。为了母亲的医药费,她做了他的小三,意外的怀孕,让两人冰释前嫌。谁料,初恋带着患了白血病的孩子回来,求他救自己的孩子。“这是我的孩子,你不能让他去捐骨髓!”余霜哭喊着。冯知深强硬的夺过孩子,“用你的孩子,救我的孩子,我们两清!”“我恨你!”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 穿越诸天万界

    穿越诸天万界

    一花一世界,一叶一菩提,水浒三国,聊斋白蛇,蜀山斗破,遮天,封神洪荒,诸天万界……穿梭诸天万界,我为世界之主!qq群:487,914,153,欢迎大家。(已有二百万完本作品《武侠仙侠世界里的道人》,请放心收藏!)
  • 莫然的那些案子

    莫然的那些案子

    民国年间,江北地界。因为一场意外,我认识了一个人,莫然。他是一个聪明且有才华的人,我们一起工作,成为了最好的朋友。他一生只中意一件事,探案。他破了很多案子,这些案子有些很诡异,匪你所思。有些则很现实,很巧妙。太多太多,而我很荣幸参与其中。
  • 在修仙界玩网游

    在修仙界玩网游

    “说起来你可能不信,我现在是在修仙界登录的游戏。”在修仙界玩西幻网游是个什么体验?穿越成废物体质的白夏没有老爷爷,也没人来退婚,完全没有任何金手指。眼看就要当杂役直到老死,忽然有一天,他发现原来修仙界居然也有网游。当游戏对现实产生影响时,他知道,自己逆天改命的机会来了……(新书《修仙界的丧尸末日》已发布,求支持,如果你喜欢这个故事,请收藏,推荐,谢谢,群212829706)
  • 北方风味小吃

    北方风味小吃

    根据家庭的特点,科学系统地介绍了四季营养食谱、南北方风味小吃和烧腊卤熏食谱。该丛书具有经济实用、价格实惠、易学易做等特点。它帮助家庭解决了四季应吃什么、怎么吃、吃多少等科学营养进食和搭配的问题,同时也介绍了南北风味小吃和烧腊卤熏食谱,令餐桌上的菜肴更加丰富。
  • 北京绿卡(大结局)

    北京绿卡(大结局)

    尼可不知道,她的咒语还真的显灵,托尼的后院跳起了熊熊的火焰。托尼经常跟人聊,他的前世是在中国,弄得连不相信前世的人也相信了,是的,一个美国人,不远万里来到中国,学会了书法,学会了针灸,学会了《易经》,还能有板有眼唱京剧,字正腔圆,如果不是一张洋人的脸,还真有师傅收了他。亨特学中国传统文化,并不是为了今后的卖弄炫耀,他曾对尼可说过:“是一种心灵的需要。”莫非同时找两个女人也是心灵的需要?托尼一直以为,中国传统的大家庭和谐安详,妻妾虽然不能相敬如宾,也能相处无事。
  • Grocery
  • 季节已过,爱依旧

    季节已过,爱依旧

    她是不幸的,自小成为孤儿,寄人篱下,受尽人生的苦难;她又是幸运的,城中几大家族的青年才俊同时钟情于她,对她呵护备至。直到有一天,她神秘的身世被残忍揭开,幸与不幸,原来早已注定……
  • 误惹总裁(大结局)

    误惹总裁(大结局)

    茹茹的微薄,期待大家的关注:http://m.wkkk.net/u/1916624674很久之后我才知道,原来忘记一个人,只是那么一瞬间的事情。——蓝梓恩。她是平凡的女学生,如她所说没钱没家世没地位。他是天之骄子,苏氏集团太子爷,有钱有家世有地位。可这样的两人却被牵扯到一起。结果,她要面对前男友做另一个男人的妻子,这还不算,更大的麻烦接踵而来。丈夫的前女友胡搅蛮缠,想要做个称职的妻子,可是一切的一切,并非她想的这般容易。想要温暖他的心,却使自己的心变得更凉......************************茹茹每日暂且两更,但若是某天亲们多给力,日收藏过五十,茹茹就加一更,评论过二十条,茹茹再加一更。