登陆注册
4708600000195

第195章

'Lady Arabella,' she said, 'I think that you do not understand me, and that it is not likely that you should. If so, our further talking will be worse than useless. I have taken no account of what will be given between your son and me in your sense of the word giving. But he has professed to--to love me'--as she spoke, she still looked on the lady's face, but her eyelashes screened her eyes, and her colour was a little heightened--'and I have acknowledged that I also love him, and so we are engaged. To me my promise is sacred. I will not be threatened into breaking it. If, however, he shall wish to change his mind, he can do so. I will not upbraid him; will not, if I can help it, think harshly of him. So much you may tell him if it suits you; but I will not listen to your calculations as to how much or how little each of us may have to give to the other.'

She was still standing when she finished speaking, and so she continued to stand. Her eyes were fixed on Lady Arabella, and her position seemed to say that sufficient words had been spoken, and that it was time that her ladyship should go; and so Lady Arabella felt it. Gradually she also rose; slowly, but tacitly, she acknowledged that she was in the presence of a spirit superior to her own; and so she took her leave.

'Very well,' she said, in a tone that was intended to be grandiloquent, but which failed grievously; 'I will tell him that he has your permission to think a second time on this matter. I do not doubt that he will do so.' Mary would not condescend to answer, but curtsied low as her visitor left the room. And so the interview was over.

The interview was over, and Mary was alone. She remained standing as long as she heard the footsteps of Frank's mother on the stairs; not immediately thinking of what had passed, but still buoying herself up with her hot indignation, as though her work with Lady Arabella was not yet finished; but when the footfall was no longer heard, and the sound of the closing door told her that she was in truth alone, she sank back in her seat, and, covering her face with her hands, burst into bitter tears.

All that doctrine about money was horrible to her; that insolent pretence, that she had caught at Frank because of his worldly position, made her all but ferocious; but Lady Arabella had not the less spoken much that was true. She did think of the position which the heir of Greshamsbury should hold in the county, and of the fact that such a marriage would mar that position so vitally; she did think of the old name, and the old Gresham pride; she did think of the squire and his deep distress: it was true that she had lived among them long enough to understand these things, and to know that it was not possible that this marriage should take place without deep family sorrow.

And then she asked herself whether, in consenting to accept Frank's hand, she had adequately considered this; and she was forced to acknowledge that she had not considered it. She had ridiculed Lady Arabella for saying that Frank was still a boy; but was it not true that his offer had been made with a boy's energy, rather than a man's forethought? If so, if she had been wrong to accede to that offer when made, would she not be doubly wrong to hold him to it now that she saw his error?

It was doubtless true that Frank himself could not be the first to draw back. What would people say of him? She could now calmly ask herself the question that had so angered her, when asked by Lady Arabella. If he could not do it, and if, nevertheless, it behoved them to break off this match, by whom was it to be done if not by her? Was not Lady Arabella right throughout, right in her conclusions, though so foully wrong in her manner of drawing them?

And then she did think for one moment of herself. 'You who have nothing to give in return!' Such had been Lady Arabella's main accusation against her. Was it in fact true that she had nothing to give? Her maiden love, her feminine pride, her very life, and spirit, and being--were these things nothing? Were they to be weighed against pounds sterling per annum? and, when so weighed, were they ever to kick the beam like feathers? All these things had been nothing to her when, without reflection, governed wholly by the impulse of the moment, she had first allowed his daring hand to lie for an instant in her own. She had thought nothing of these things when that other suitor came, richer far than Frank, to love whom it was impossible to her as it was not to love him.

Her love had been pure from all such thoughts; she was conscious that it ever would be pure from them. Lady Arabella was unable to comprehend this, and, therefore, was Lady Arabella so utterly distasteful to her.

同类推荐
  • 广弘明集

    广弘明集

    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。
  • 医医医

    医医医

    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。
  • Stepping Heavenward

    Stepping Heavenward

    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。
  • 汤周山

    汤周山

    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。
  • buttered side down

    buttered side down

    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
  • 毒战:中国禁毒英雄实录

    毒战:中国禁毒英雄实录

    他们是影视歌明星,为了禁毒事业,他们毅然投入到禁毒宣传中,充当禁毒形象大使,他们进戒毒所、入乡村、到社区,通过自身的影响力,撒播爱与温暖;他们是缉毒警,他们或卧底,或直面毒贩,在与毒贩的斗争中,舍生忘死,惩恶扬善,铁肩担道义;他们是禁毒志愿者或社区工作者,他们鞭鞑邪恶,感化迷途浪子,医者仁心,用爱坚守……他们的身上究竟有怎样的传奇故事?他们为了无毒中国梦进行着怎样的抗争?一切尽在《与魔共舞》,它将为您独家揭秘!
  • 佛说应法经

    佛说应法经

    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。
  • 赴陆以潺潺

    赴陆以潺潺

    这么多年来,顾溪始终想不通自己为什么会和陆叙相爱,但她却意识到,在这个世界上,能让她如溪水般擅行不顾奔向的人,除了陆叙,再无他人。
  • 幻界外传之圣杯传说

    幻界外传之圣杯传说

    一次载入史册的航行,发现了一片新的世界,也转动了命运的齿轮。暗黑,赤红,墨绿,苍白。命运的轨迹开始交织。被命运捉弄的人们,从痛苦和愤怒中抬起头来,探索存在以外的领域。骑士,亡灵,魔法师,复仇者,剑修,祭司。踏上贤者之路的人们,名为圣杯的神器,游历世间的造物者,谁是命运的主宰?世界崩塌的序曲中,造物者们开始了另一场游戏。
  • 时代正在改变:民主、市场与想象的权力

    时代正在改变:民主、市场与想象的权力

    从蒋经国到奥巴马,从俄罗斯的严冬到阿拉伯的春天,在这个改变的时代,张铁志的写作为所有期待改变的人们带去希望。在本书中,来自台湾的多面手评论家张铁志,以一贯的睿智理性的批判笔调,挑战既成的政治、商业与文化权力,强调个人抗争和参与对时代改变的作用与意义。本书前半部分是有关台湾民主化历程及其当代问题的回顾与评论,尤其关注台湾公民社会成长的曲折与艰难,以参与者与研究者的视角厘清大陆对台湾转型的部分误读;后半部分将视野推向世界,既反思民主与市场的政治经济结构,也关注反叛文化与社会运动的结合,无处不在探问时代正怎样改变,以及我们如何可以改变这个时代。
  • 宇宙未解之谜

    宇宙未解之谜

    仰望苍穹,环顾四野,人们看到的是苍茫辽阔而没有尽头的空间,这个空间被人们定义为“宇宙”。关于宇宙,《淮南子》中有语:“上下天地为宇,古往今来曰宙。”即是说宇是指空间,宙是指时间。人们置身于“上下天地”中,但是却总是无法真正地看清宇宙的真面目。人们对宇宙的探索经过了漫长的过程。最早的探索,表现在美丽的神话故事当中。中国的“盘古开天地”、“女娲补天”都是描述天地如何形成的故事。而在西方文明当中,上帝六天创造世界的故事也被世代流传,并且曾经被认为是世界的开始和起源。随着人类文明智慧的发展,人们开始掌握一些自然的规律并且学会利用这些规律。
  • 12星座人生全攻略

    12星座人生全攻略

    如今,星座学已经成为了都市男女谈笑间的时尚话题。星座学能够让大家更好地了解自己,了解他人,具有一定的科学性。需要指出的是,尽管星座学具有一定的科学性,但并不具有严谨性,更不是全能的预测学,尤其是不可将其作为占卜术进行运作。本书分为十三篇,第一篇为十二星座的总述,其余十二篇为各个星座的具体介绍与讲解。从第二篇开始,具体介绍与讲解了每一个星座的历史起源,基本的性格特征,谈情说爱的恋爱观,在工作中如何表现自己,每个星座的健康与时尚,一些有针对性的小建议以及一些好玩有趣的测试题。本书语言轻松活泼,内容通俗易懂,时尚性、娱乐性强,方便读者即查即用。
  • 重生原始变图腾

    重生原始变图腾

    重生成了一根图腾,还是那种像搅屎棍的图腾。林浩无语了,但是没办法必须收拾心情,帮助部落变得强大,只有这样自己才能更好的活下去。战斗力不够?没关系,交出信仰点你可以变的更加强大;重伤濒死?没关系,交出信仰点你可以重获新生;异兽来袭?没关系,交出信仰点我护你周全;已经死了?没关系,交出信仰点我助你灵魂转世。什么你不信仰我?看到那边的乱葬岗没,我会让手底下的人,给你留个舒服的位置。广,种田发展;缓,争霸世界。这就是林浩的图腾格言。
  • 今天也要降妖除魔

    今天也要降妖除魔

    捉鬼少女屠献献抓鬼途中悄然穿越,来到个异界大陆。秉承着师傅留下的奉献精神,举起桃木剑沿着鬼怪踪迹就是一路的降妖伏魔。捉鬼途中又意外救下个寡言的俊俏少年郎,他不置一词,屠献献反而对他兴趣更甚。“道兄,姓甚名谁啊?”“……”耳边蝈蝈叫声嘈杂,屠献献眯眯眼灵机一动“吱吱?好名字!”那边林游山一脸的黑线。俩人时而吵闹时而不着调的替天行道的日子开始了。与此同时,这片大陆也有什么在悄悄苏醒着……
  • 冲喜进门

    冲喜进门

    她不过是母亲用作报恩的狸猫,却注定倾城倾国色。她不过是他的糟糠之妻,却为他倾覆生与死。倾其一生,她为他三入未央。终至一世,她为他百般周旋。却为何,得来的却是杀身之祸?他曾是落魄的皇曾孙,更是君临天下的帝王。舞勺之年,他把她放在心底默默爱护。舞象之年,他把她娶回椒房万般恩爱。然而却在一片血色弥漫之后,他失了她……生,他为她许下故剑情深。死,他为她许下南园之约。一条命,一段恩情,一世缠绕。一代君王,一朝国母,一统天下。--情节虚构,请勿模仿