登陆注册
4709200000086

第86章

Hugh Fernely took the letter from Lillian's hands, and read it with a muttered imprecation of disappointment. The moon, which had been struggling for the last hour with a mass of clouds, shone out faintly; by its light Lillian saw a tall man with a dark, handsome face browned with the sun of warm climes, dark eyes that had in them a wistful sadness, and firm lips. He did not look like the gentlemen she was accustomed to. He was polite and respectful. When he heard her name, he took off his hat, and stood uncovered during the interview.

"Wait!" he cried. "Ah, must I wait yet longer? Tell your sister I have waited until my yearning wish to see her is wearing my life away."

"She is really ill,"returned Lillian. "I am alarmed for her. Do not be angry with me if I say she is ill through anxiety and fear."

"Has she sent you to excuse her?" he asked, gloomily. "It is of no use. Your sister is my promised wife, Miss Lillian, and see her I will."

"You must wait at least until she is willing," said Lillian, and her calm, dignified manner influenced him even more than her words, as she looked earnestly into Hugh Fernely's face.

It was not a bad face, she thought; there was no cruelty or meanness there. She read love so fierce and violent in it that it startled her. He did not look like one who would wantonly and willfully make her sister wretched for life. Hope grew in her heart as she gazed. She resolved to plead with him for Beatrice, to ask him to forget a childish, foolish promise--a childish error.

"My sister is very unhappy," she said, bravely; "so unhappy that I do not think she can bear much more; it will kill her or drive her mad."

"It is killing me," he interrupted.

"You do not look cruel, Mr. Fernely," continued Lillian. "Your face is good and true--I would trust you. Release my sister.

She was but a foolish, impetuous child when she made you that promise. If she keeps it, all her life will be wretched. Be generous and release her."

"Did she bid you ask me?" he interrogated.

"No," she replied; "but do you know what the keeping of the promise will cost her? Lord Earle will never forgive her. She will have to leave home, sister, friends--all she loves and values most. Judge whether she could ever care for you, if you brought this upon her."

"I can not help it," he said gloomily. "She promised to be my wife, Miss Lillian--Heaven knows I am speaking truthfully--and I have lived on her words. You do not know what the strong love of a true man is. I love her so that if she chose to place her little foot upon me, and trample the life out of me, I would not say her nay. I must see her--the hungry, yearning love that fills my heart must be satisfied." Great tears shone in his eyes, and deep sobs shook his strong frame.

"I will not harm her," he said, "but I must see her. Once, and once only, her beautiful face lay on my breast--that beautiful, proud face! No mother ever yearned to see her child again more than I long to see her. Let her come to me, Miss Lillian; let me kneel at her feet as I did before,--If she sends me from her, there will be pity in death; but she can not. There is not a woman in the world who could send such love as mine away! You can not understand," he continued. "It is more than two years since I left her; night and day her face has been before me. I have lived upon my love; it is my life--my everything. I could no more drive it from my breast than I could tear my heart from my body and still live on."

"Even if my sister cared for you," said Lillian, gently--for his passionate words touched her--"you must know that Lord Earle would never allow her to keep such a promise as she made."

"She knew nothing of Lord Earle when it was made," he replied, "nor did I. She was a beautiful child, pining away like a bright bird shut up in a cage. I promised her freedom and liberty; she promised me her love. Where was Lord Earle then? She was safe with me. I loved her. I was kinder to her than her own father; I took care of her--he did not."

"It is all changed now," said Lillian.

"But I can not change," he answered. "If fortune had made me a king, should I have loved your sister less! Is a man's heart a plaything? Can I call back my love? It has caused me woe enough."

Lillian knew not what to say in the presence of this mighty love; her gentle efforts at mediation were bootless. She pitied him she pitied Beatrice.

"I am sure you can be generous," she said, after a short silence.

"Great, true, noble love is never selfish. My sister can never be happy with you; then release her. If you force her, or rather try to force her, to keep this rash promise, think how she will dislike you. If you are generous, and release her, think how she will esteem you."

"Does she not love me?" he asked; and his voice was hoarse with pain.

"No," replied Lillian, gently; "it is better for you to know the truth. She does not love you--she never will."

"I do not believe it," he cried. "I will never believe it from any lips but her own! Not love me! Great Heaven! Do you know you are speaking of the woman who promised to be my wife? If she tells me so, I will believe her."

"She will tell you," said Lillian, "and you must not blame her.

Come again when she is well."

"No," returned Hugh Fernely; "I have waited long enough. I am here to see her, and I swear I will not leave until she has spoken to me."

He drew a pencil case from his pocket, and wrote a few lines on the envelope which Beatrice had sent.

"Give that to your sister," he said, softly; "and, Miss Lillian, I thank you for coming to me. You have been very kind and gentle. You have a fair, true face. Never break a man's heart for pastime, or because the long sunny hours hang heavy upon your hands."

"I wish I could say something to comfort you," she said. He held out his hand and she could not refuse hers.

"Goodbye, Miss Lillian! Heaven bless you for your sympathy."

"Goodbye," she returned, looking at the dark, passionate face she was never more to see.

同类推荐
  • 百川书志

    百川书志

    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。
  • 异闻记

    异闻记

    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。
  • 浩然斋雅谈

    浩然斋雅谈

    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。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝三元品戒功德轻重经

    太上洞玄灵宝三元品戒功德轻重经

    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。
  • 黄帝素问宣明论方

    黄帝素问宣明论方

    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
  • 金牌悍妃

    金牌悍妃

    世人皆知护国公府育有一女,灵力为零,属性为无,是个不折不扣的特大废柴,却偏偏狂傲自大,骄纵蛮横,不自量力追求第一美人榜之首的北冥王,各种阴险纠缠卑鄙招数用尽,终于在皇族比武场上,如愿以偿劫走了北冥王!“你过来,坐到我身边来。”床上美得祸害苍生的男人媚眼如丝,衣襟半敞,脂玉般莹润白皙的肌肤宛若滴出水来一般,而此刻站在床旁的某女却是一脸的无措……人是她劫的没错,之前死缠烂打追求美人的是她也没错,明明她才是那个调|戏良家妇男的恶霸,怎么现在有种被人反调|戏的赶脚?来来,美人,咱俩好好谈谈。
  • 破军

    破军

    破军,一腿扫千骑,一拳破万军。男主人公身世之谜,世界蕴含的秘密,战争背后隐藏的阴谋,尽在下回分解
  • 穿越之医女不为妃

    穿越之医女不为妃

    陆子衿已经在此处生活了大半个月,是的,她穿越了,来到一个不知名的小山村。一座危房,衣不能保暖,食不能裹腹,此刻屋外大雨滂沱,屋内也响起的一阵滴滴答答的雨声,那是雨水滴落在空的锅碗瓢盆里发出的声响。看她如何一步一步的带着家人脱贫,那个在路边随便救起的某男,小女子行医走天下,绝不为妃。
  • 明伦汇编家范典姑媳部

    明伦汇编家范典姑媳部

    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。
  • 西游之大商皇族

    西游之大商皇族

    西游起,封神逆!圣人不死,大盗不止。现代青年殷志强,疑似大商遗族,机缘巧合获得灵魂宝石,穿越到殷商末年。且看他如何搅乱西游,逆推封神!
  • 初晨,是我故意忘记你

    初晨,是我故意忘记你

    少年李洛书出生没多久,父母就双双离世。他被奶奶赶出,只能借住在舅舅家,沉默地当一个可有可无的影子。本以为人生会一直灰暗,却在最孤寂的日子里,遇到了最灿烂的黎家姐弟。从此心里装进一个人,再也拿不开,抛不掉,扔不走……当她失去最爱的弟弟时,他愿意放弃姓名,永远当她的弟弟。当她深爱着别人的时候,他决定默默相守。当她被挚爱惨痛背叛时,他拿出自己所有的温暖与爱……当她被围困在死亡边缘时,他情愿替她躺在血泊之中。可是,他早已失去了爱她的资格……
  • 太上玉华洞章拔亡度世升仙妙经

    太上玉华洞章拔亡度世升仙妙经

    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。
  • 东维子集

    东维子集

    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。
  • 豪门燃情:总裁的天价影后

    豪门燃情:总裁的天价影后

    明明可以靠医术吃饭,却偏偏要靠脸……姬青青一直以为,此生做个安安静静的影后,照顾好妹妹,嫁给仲晨维,就可以达成父亲遗愿,却不料,未婚夫与妹妹坑她到体无完肤!一朝重生,她决定……继续靠脸吃饭,同时挖掘上辈子的真相!只是,为什么这辈子会多了个不认识的男人,将她宠入骨髓?
  • 武碎虚空

    武碎虚空

    武道之路万法归一,只为求得破碎虚空,白日飞升。但武者万千,天赋各有不同——有的擅长修炼,一日打坐,顶的上旁人百日之功;有的擅长火焰,天生便能操控自然之火;更有甚者,天赋绝伦,能在战斗中暂时提升自己的武道等级,发挥出越级杀敌的力量……这种武者的天赋,在九州大陆被称之为‘武魂’!……嗯,这本书讲的,就是一个猎取武魂,夺取武者天赋为己所用的故事……现在,带上猎魂手册,跟着以做生意从来不交税为荣的沈大祸害,一起华丽丽滴穿越吧!