登陆注册
4708600000191

第191章

'That, situated as they are, they ought not to marry.'

'That is quite another question. I have said nothing about that either to you or to anybody else. The truth is, squire, I have never interfered in this matter one way or the other; and I have no wish to do so now.'

'But should you not interfere? Is not Mary the same to you as your own child?'

Dr Thorne hardly knew how to answer this. He was aware that his argument about not interfering was in fact absurd. Mary could not marry without his interference; and had it been the case that she was in danger of making an improper marriage, of course he would interfere. His meaning was, that he would not at the present moment express any opinion; he would not declare against a match which might turn out to be in every way desirable; nor, if he spoke in favour of it, could he give his reasons for doing so. Under these circumstances, he would have wished to say nothing, could that only have been possible.

But as it was not possible, and as he must say something, he answered the squire's last question by asking another. 'What is your objection, squire?'

'Objection! Why, what on earth would they live on?'

'Then I understand, that if that difficulty were over, you would not refuse your consent merely because of Mary's birth?'

This was a manner in which the squire had by no means expected to have the affair presented to him. It seemed so impossible that any sound-minded man should take any but his view of the case, that he had not prepared himself for argument. There was every objection to his son marrying Miss Thorne; but the fact of their having no income between them did certainly justify him in alleging that first.

'But that difficulty can't be got over, doctor. You know, however, that it would be cause of grief to us all to see Frank marry much beneath his station; that is, I mean, in family. You should not press me to say this, for you know that I love Mary dearly.'

'But, my dear friend, it is necessary. Wounds sometimes must be opened in order that they may be healed. What I mean is this;--and, squire, I'm sure I need not say to you that I hope for an honest answer,--were Mary Thorne an heiress; had she, for instance, such wealth as that Miss Dunstable that we hear of; in that case would you object to this match?'

When the doctor declared that he expected an honest answer the squire listened with all his ears; but the question, when finished, seemed to have no bearing on the present case.

'Come, squire, speak your mind faithfully. There was some talk of Frank's marrying Miss Dunstable; did you mean to object to that match?'

'Miss Dunstable was legitimate; at least, I presume so.'

'Oh, Mr Gresham! has it come to that? Miss Dunstable, then, would have satisfied your ideas of high birth?'

Mr Gresham was rather posed, and regretted, at the moment, his allusion to Miss Dunstable's presumed legitimacy. But he soon recovered himself.

'No,' said he, 'it would not. And I am willing to admit, as I have admitted before, that the undoubted advantages arising from wealth are taken by the world as atoning for what otherwise would be a mesalliance.

But--'

'You admit that, do you? You acknowledge that as your conviction on the subject?'

'Yes. But--' The squire was going on to explain the propriety of this opinion, but the doctor uncivilly would not hear him.

'Then squire, I will not interfere in this matter one way or the other.'

'How on earth can such an opinion--'

'Pray excuse me, Mr Gresham; but my mind is now quite made up. It was very nearly so before. I will do nothing to encourage Frank, nor will I say anything to discourage Mary.'

'That is the most singular resolution that a man of sense like you ever came to.'

'I can't help it, squire; it is my resolution.'

'But what has Miss Dunstable's fortune to do with it?'

'I cannot say that it has anything; but, in this matter, I will not interfere.'

The squire went on for some time, but it was all to no purpose; and at last he left the house, considerably in dudgeon. The only conclusion to which he could come was, that Dr Thorne had thought the chance on his niece's behalf too good to be thrown away, and had, therefore, resolved to act in a very singular way.

'I would not have believed it of him, though all Barsetshire had told me,' he said to himself as he entered the great gates; and he went on repeating the same words till he found himself in his own room. 'No, not if all Barsetshire had told me!'

He did not, however, communicate the ill result of his visit to the Lady Arabella.

同类推荐
  • 楼居杂著

    楼居杂著

    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。
  • 颜氏家谱

    颜氏家谱

    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。
  • 长安亲故

    长安亲故

    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 Club of Queer Trades

    The Club of Queer Trades

    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。
  • 醒世恒言

    醒世恒言

    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
  • 骄傲萌徒,师傅你惨了!

    骄傲萌徒,师傅你惨了!

    她,一界之君三界之主六界之王,传言她傻白甜。一具身体换上了新的灵魂,一切都在变。但是……谁TM来给劳资解释下这亦师亦夫的美男师父是哪里捡来的便宜货?他,命运被掌控但生活靠自己,威胁?等以后你才知道什么叫做后悔莫极!但是一个“强大”的徒妻却轻易的走进了他的心。小剧场:夜黑风高,一娇小的身影艰难的爬进司渊屋里,“想这种伸手不见五指的黑夜就适合干坏事!嘿呦,嘿呦!”忆仟从某师父身上爬过来爬过去,就是没找到银子,某师父突然将她反扑,“仟儿,夜黑风高特别适合干坏事!”某徒弟死机中……“Sorry,您拨打的电话已关机,请稍候再拨!”
  • 一遇顾少误终身

    一遇顾少误终身

    原本规划好的完美人生,被一场背叛彻底摧毁。设计好好的“殉情”却没想到半路杀出个顾绍白,莫名其妙求来的婚姻,让这个男人成了她的“债主”。更崩溃的是,她竟然感觉还不错。从此以后,她许安歌人生的终极目标就是——彻底瓦解顾绍白的一本正经,把他从大家眼中的正人君子,调教成她一个人的“衣冠禽兽”。某天清晨,男人捏起怀里狐狸一样笑的灿烂的女人下巴,咬牙切齿,“许安歌,你现在心满意足了?”许安歌转了转水眸,“如果有生之年听到一声姑姑,那就人生圆满,那才叫心满意足!”“……”“来,大侄子!叫声姑姑来听听,乖。”男人脸色迅疾骤沉,“许、安、歌……”
  • 潮涌钱江

    潮涌钱江

    在那个血与火的时代,国仇家恨、亲情、爱情的交织,最终获得生与死的升华,谱写了一曲充满活力的生命之歌。
  • 现代妖怪录

    现代妖怪录

    出版公告《现代妖怪录》,作者:十二夜梦。全文字数:200千字,定价:25.00元元,由“悦读纪”-北京开维文化公司策划推出,江苏文艺出版社出版。2010年1月25日全国上市,全国各大新华书店、民营书店有售。为了便于大家购书,经“悦读纪”同意,将各地经销代理书店电话、地址公布如下。全国各大新华书店均有销售当当网上书店卓越网上书店****简介【原创作者社团『未央』出品】本以为只是普通的少女,唯一的奇异之处也就是不记得每年的六月。可是突然之间,所有的一切都不一样了,各种各样的妖兽纷纷地出现在自己的身边,而那些恐怖的事件也一一的发生着。是被爱着,还是被抛弃着?是幸福着,还是不幸着?平凡的生命已经不再相同,层层抽丝剥茧之后,竟然发现自己并不是人类,而是一只来自洪荒时代的九尾狐。——我不过就是想成为一个平凡的女孩子,偶尔替喜欢的家伙做做饭,为什么就这点希望也成了奢望呢?难道真的回不去了吗?
  • 古寺钟鼓声

    古寺钟鼓声

    知名作家张记书的作品集《古寺钟鼓声》知识性、新闻性的因素较多,作家是靠一种机智的构思来展示一种小小说的理性,进而启迪读者的。《古寺钟鼓声》所收录的小小说,尽管也有意蕴深厚,余味悠长的作品,但多数作品给人一种泾渭分明的感觉,要么直截了当,作家的态度在作品中一目了然;要么作家把无解的生活原生态地放到读者面前,交给读者由读者自己定夺。小说艺术本就是一种留白艺术,是由作者与读者来共同完成的一种艺术。
  • 盛宠之战王狂妃

    盛宠之战王狂妃

    “怎么?殿下这是怒了么?”易蔻筠笑的愈发欢快。“别用这种语气和我说话!”“您忘了,这可是您教我的,要笑。”“是吗?那今日,本王不介意再教你一样新东西。”易蔻筠还没反应过来,眼前就只能看见向夜臻渐渐被放大俊颜…于是乎,外界传言半是儒仙半战神的向夜臻华丽丽的被她最在乎的人记恨了。却不曾想,几日之后,她竟然带着一道圣旨,风风火火的闯进了战王府:“接旨把,娶我。”命运交错,时轮久转,苍穹之下步步危机的大陆,且看天命凰女易蔻筠如何一步步打坏人,历情劫,扩腰包,择贤夫,定江山!
  • 狗保姆传奇

    狗保姆传奇

    靠海市城乡结合部,有一个叫大陈屯的村子。这几天,村中原支书陈感恩吃不下饭,睡不好觉,时常一个人站在村口,望着村东那个叫“小红岗”的地方发呆。原来“小红岗”上原有的四座烈士墓,连同当年栽下的十几棵松柏树,一夜之间被人铲平了!谁如此大胆敢对烈士墓下手?此人便是本村亿万富豪由金明!由金明铲平烈士墓的理由很简单:前些天由金明的老娘死了,风水先生说这片林墓阻挡了他爹娘的风水龙脉。
  • 契约老公,别乱来

    契约老公,别乱来

    强势御姐竹若依事业得意情场失意,某日此剩女一不小心用一纸契约将自己卖给痞美男……竹若依之【乌龙契约】某日此剩女被竹爸灌醉打包送到某男房中(不料竹爸却是糊涂虫,送错了房间。)剩女脸不红耳不热,纤手捏着美男俊脸:小朋友皮肤蛮水嫩的,教姐姐如何保养……美男墨子昊表面看来青靓白净皮肤白嫩滑溜对此御姐本是兴趣乏乏却觉那只随意在他脸上吃着豆腐的滚烫玉手,掠过之处意外地让他感觉阵阵酥麻……干柴烈火,该发生的……却什么也没有发生!剩女吃完美男豆腐,毫无醉态极具条理地变出一纸契约递予美男:如无异议,签了这个吧!美男以一目十行之速度看完,大笔一挥,一脸英勇就义的悲壮。后续之【不平等契约】对老婆垂涎已久却一直吃不到口的男人:老婆,今晚我们来玩爱爱游戏……漂亮老婆一脸淡定,手指在键盘上飞快敲击,头也不抬:契约上没有这个。抓狂的男人脸部抽搐,连忙翻出十页纸厚的所谓契约,细看林林总总五十项,居然全是保障老婆大人的条款。欲哭无泪的某男不死心,拿着放大镜一条条细看。功夫不负有心人,终于让他找到最末一条是关于他的权利:除老婆之外,可和任何人发生亲密关系。某美男吐血倒地……追加之【更新契约】某美男微眯桃花眼,放出炽热电波:老婆,咱们宪法都不是完美的,更何况是咱们的契约。强烈要求更新,与时俱进!傲娇老婆被电得周身舒爽:来说说,那里要更新?如何更新?某美男飞快翻过十页,修长手指指着最末一条:这里这里!加一个“不”字!傲娇老婆眼尾扫过:哦?这条?行呀!美男老公大喜挥笔疾书,旋即:OK,给你!傲娇老婆一看:除老婆之外,不可和任何人发生亲密关系。傲娇老婆吐血倒地……【啰嗦之言】此文宠溺无限,情节温馨轻松,不喜虐者请放心入坑!*强力推荐几篇超宠文文【哥哥是只妖】墨但为嘛人交男友我交男友,人家是甜蜜温馨外加整天如糖粘豆……可我桃花,美女一只,却行情惨淡,偶尔有个帅哥抛个媚眼,隔天这帅哥准是断个胳臂折个腿……【捡来的狐妖小兽】仙人笔拒绝小三,拒绝出轨,专爱一对一。凤瑶捡到一只很萌的小狗狗,满心欢喜地抱回家圈养起来。【废帝霸妃】阿痣墨霸妃就霸妃吧,霸妃被宠着没什么不好的昂~而且废帝夫君人前各种柔弱的,可以欺负调戏各种爽昂~【娘子,夜深了】木简荨“娘子,夜深了~”月光光,光晕暧昧,醉生梦死床上,坐有美人夫君七个,各个目光如虎似狼!
  • 最强女帝在校园

    最强女帝在校园

    她是修仙界第一女帝,却没想到新婚夜被人毒死。一朝重生到地球的高中生身上,亲父不爱,继母恶毒,任谁都要踩她一脚只因她是顾家的白痴女。当白痴变为天才,重新绽放光芒,左手修仙右手医术,尔等全部跪下!当那个最最腹黑的男人,宠溺笑道:“女人,玩够了咱就回家。”
  • 侵入你的梦

    侵入你的梦

    你做过梦吗?如果有东西可以进入你的梦境,噩梦来临了……