登陆注册
4709000000023

第23章

Both disappeared among the foliage. Dona Perfecta watched them until they were out of sight and then busied herself with the parrot. As she changed its food she said to herself with a contemplative air:

"How different he is! He has not even given a caress to the poor bird."

Then, thinking it possible that she had been overheard by her brother-in-law, she said aloud:

"Cayetano, what do you think of my nephew? Cayetano!"

A low grunt gave evidence that the antiquary was returning to the consciousness of this miserable world.

"Cayetano!"

"Just so, just so!" murmured the scientist in a sleepy voice. "That young gentleman will maintain, as every one does, that the statues of Mundogrande belong to the first Phoenician immigration. But I will convince him—-"

"But, Cayetano!"

"But, Perfecta! There! Now you will insist upon it again that I have been asleep."

"No, indeed; how could I insist upon any thing so absurd! But you haven't told me what you think about that young man."

Don Cayetano placed the palm of his hand before his mouth to conceal a yawn; then he and Dona Perfecta entered upon a long conversation. Those who have transmitted to us the necessary data for a compilation of this history omit this dialogue, no doubt because it was entirely confidential. As for what the engineer and Rosarito said in the garden that afternoon, it is evident that it was not worthy of mention.

On the afternoon of the following day, however, events took place which, being of the gravest importance, ought not to be passed over in silence. Late in the afternoon the two cousins found themselves alone, after rambling through different parts of the garden in friendly companionship and having eyes and ears only for each other.

"Pepe," Rosario was saying, "all that you have been telling me is pure fancy, one of those stories that you clever men know so well how to put together. You think that because I am a country girl I believe every thing I am told."

"If you understood me as well as I think I understand you, you would know that I never say any thing I do not mean. But let us have done with foolish subtleties and lovers' sophistries, that lead only to misunderstandings. I will speak to you only in the language of truth.

Are you by chance a young lady whose acquaintance I have made on the promenade or at a party, and with whom I propose to spend a pleasant hour or two? No, you are my cousin. You are something more. Rosario, let us at once put things on their proper footing. Let us drop circumlocutions. I have come here to marry you."

Rosario felt her face burning, and her heart was beating violently.

"See, my dear cousin," continued the young man. "I swear to you that if you had not pleased me I should be already far away from this place.

Although politeness and delicacy would have obliged me to make an effort to conceal my disappointment, I should have found it hard to do so. That is my character."

"Cousin, you have only just arrived," said Rosarito laconically, trying to laugh.

"I have only just arrived, and I already know all that I wanted to know; I know that I love you; that you are the woman whom my heart has long been announcing to me, saying to me night and day, 'Now she is coming, now she is near; now you are burning.' "

These words served Rosario as an excuse for breaking into the laugh that had been dimpling her lips. Her soul swelled with happiness; she breathed an atmosphere of joy.

同类推荐
  • The Thorn Birds

    The Thorn Birds

    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。
  • 春卿遗稿

    春卿遗稿

    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。
  • 尚论后篇

    尚论后篇

    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。
  • 培远堂手札节要

    培远堂手札节要

    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。
  • 十地义记

    十地义记

    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。
热门推荐
  • 可以摇晃的躺椅(中国好小说)

    可以摇晃的躺椅(中国好小说)

    本书的主人公是一个独守的老人,老伴因病去世多年,养女也下岗离婚独自去城里打工,他觉得自己的人生来日无多,没有了生活的热情,于是他每天养花写字,消磨时光。突然有一天一个女子闯入了他的生活,是否会让他重燃生活的希望?
  • 天天营养百味:新派拿手菜

    天天营养百味:新派拿手菜

    《新派拿手菜》对营养、可口的经典菜例,进行了详细的图文解说,书中列出了每道食物所需的材料调料以及详细的烹饪步骤,让你成为自己的家庭营养师!还有“厨房小常识”告诉你健康饮食生活的小窍门!让你科学养生,合理饮食,健康快乐每一天!
  • 神级妖孽弃少

    神级妖孽弃少

    【这本书很好看】五年前,父亲身死,母亲失踪,他因污蔑而被赶出家族。五年后,他强势归来,誓要将这一方天地,彻底翻覆!神挡杀神,佛挡杀佛!只是……这位小姐姐,你为啥要往我怀里钻?我俩很熟吗?本文书友群:560181482敲门砖,本文任意一个人物的名字,因为目前只接受正版读者,所以必须要验证粉丝值,所以大家见谅~~
  • 萌狐天降,仙君求抱抱

    萌狐天降,仙君求抱抱

    她林青青只是个普普通通的上班族,只因旅行中被一只蓝色的小狐妖撞了,一不留神穿越了。更离奇的是穿越后的她,变成了一只手无缚鸡之力,还没有成精的狐狸?机缘巧合,她被竹九冬收养,倾慕之心渐渐生根发芽……闯祸时:“竹先生,那丫的对我意图不轨!快收拾他!”没钱时:“老鸨,我家竹先生美貌如花,正可攻,背可受,给个好价钱吧?”遇到美男时:“竹先生,我要嫁人了!快帮我把那美男绑来!”竹九冬忍无可忍,拍桌而起:“死丫头,老子养你这么大,是留给自己吃的!”她冷酷无情?蠢猪!快点擦亮你的眼睛,人家明明萌萌哒。她福利爆表?智障!被人整天叫“村姑”还福利爆表?她是白莲花?喂亲!拜托你点进来看看,看我怎么把你弄休克!
  • 望乡台上

    望乡台上

    现代二十一世纪,性格孤冷薄情,擅长散打攻防技法的女刑警—魏禾。出身医学世家,天性开朗幽默、细腻贴心有爱的新闻实习记者—路延。在一次围剿毒贩的任务中,纷纷险些丧命。两人巧遇机缘,穿越到了上承南北朝,下启唐朝的大一统隋朝时代。结识了一群相映成趣的年华豆蔻与翩翩少年。从置身事外到同舟共济,自心存善意依旧始终如一。生死相依的深情,历经下此生最美的别离。前月下暂相逢。苦恨阻从容。何况酒醒梦断,花谢月朦胧。花不尽,月无穷。两心同。此时愿作,杨柳千丝,绊惹春风。残缺不全的肉躯不能够安眠,但拥有一个至纯至净的灵魂,可以通往净土之地的世界。阳奉阴违,明哲保身。无害是你的本质,万念俱灰的切肤之痛。被仇恨扭曲至纸醉金迷一点一点撕碎迷惑,最终入腹吞噬,头不可回。“填肠满嗉,嗜欲无极。长鸣呼凤,谓凤无德。凤之所趣,与子异域。永从此诀,各自努力。”并此见证了这个国祚时间短、昙花一现的朝代,由全盛时期到步步衰落……
  • 听见鬼的声音

    听见鬼的声音

    车祸之后怨灵的呢语,恶鬼的哀嚎,不断的纠缠在我耳朵里。我以为我再也回归不了正常的生活,直到我发现不只是哀嚎,这个耳朵还能听到厉鬼的甜言蜜语,我开始庆幸我的耳朵没有错过你。
  • 东北野仙奇闻录

    东北野仙奇闻录

    湘西被人误解的赶尸,真实的面纱到底是什么?为何他们要昼伏夜出,为何会人见人厌,难道真的仅仅是因为他们常年与尸为伍吗?夜郎古国、蚩尤秘境、苗疆秘闻,到底隐藏着怎样的惊世骇俗的秘密,这一切都是因为一个男孩无意间被卷入这场漩涡,慢慢的揭开了他们神秘的一角!接下来,他又将会遇到怎样的惊心动魄之事,知道什么不被人知的秘密?
  • 太上洞渊三昧神咒斋忏谢仪

    太上洞渊三昧神咒斋忏谢仪

    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。
  • 缺舟的诸天之旅

    缺舟的诸天之旅

    无限诸天,多元宇宙,无限可能。当九界最大的传销头子缺舟迈入多元宇宙,终究一天,缺舟要用他的声音向诸天万界献唱一曲《地门欢迎你》。我是缺舟,我为地门代言。
  • 无人认领的巨款

    无人认领的巨款

    本书是由董恒波编著的《无人认领的巨款》,是神探小鹰校园幽默推理小说系列丛书之一。《无人认领的巨款》的故事内容如下:李光的妈妈黄阿姨是捡破烂的,她在捡到的一双旧皮鞋里发现了七张存款单。小鹰他们接手了这个“案件”,开始寻找失主。但失主李妍妍竟然在关键的时刻拒绝认领这笔巨款。明明是自己的钱,为什么不敢认领,这巨款的背后有什么不可告人的隐情吗?