登陆注册
4711400000123

第123章

It seemed that Mr. Henley, like most old bachelors, regretted not having married; though he thought that his habits had all become too confirmed, to make it worth while to attempt a change. As a general rule, it will be found that your decidedly old maid is contented with her lot, while your very old bachelor is dissatisfied with his. The peculiar evils of a single life--for every life must have its own--are most felt by women early in the day; by men, in old age. The world begins very soon to laugh at the old maid, and continues to laugh, until shamed out of the habit by her good nature, and her respectable life. The bachelor, on the contrary, for a long time finds an ally in the world; he goes on enjoying the pleasures it offers, until old age makes him weary of them--and then, as his head grows grey, when he finds himself going out of favour, he begins to feel the want of something better--a home to retreat to. He looks about him, and he finds that his female contemporary has outlived her peculiar annoyances; "the world forgetting, by the world forgot;" she has long since found some collateral home; or, in her right as a woman, has made a home for herself, where she lives as pleasantly as her neighbours. Perhaps he sets about imitating her example; but, poor fellow, he finds it an awkward task; he can never succeed in making his household gods smile with a good will, on a home where no female voice is heard at the fire-side.

{"the world forgetting...." = Alexander Pope (English poet, 1688-1744), "Eloisa to Abelard" I.207-208: "How happy is the blameless Vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot."}

So thought Mr. Henley, and he had been intending to recommend to Harry to look out for a wife, for some time past. The minister's ideas on the subject of love and matrimony were, to be sure, rather matter of fact, and statesmanlike; he would have been quite satisfied if Hazlehurst had married the first young girl, of a respectable family, that he met with; the hundredth part of Mrs. Creighton's attractions he would have thought sufficient.

Harry forgave him, however, for the sake of the kindness intended by the advice he had given; and the minister had the satisfaction of seeing his secretary, that evening, at a concert, quite gallant and attentive to a party of ladies, several of whom were young and pretty, although one was young and ugly.

"Who is that?" he asked of a friend; "that lady to whom Hazlehurst is talking? Half the young people here have grown up, since I was last at home."

"That is Mrs. Creighton."

"No; not Mrs. Creighton; I know her--a charming woman; the lady on the right."

"That is Miss Van Alstyne. Mrs. St. Leger is next to her; the young girl before her is Miss Emma Taylor."

"A pretty girl--but noisy, it seems."

"On the next bench, with Ellsworth, are Mrs. Tallman Taylor, the great beauty, and Miss Wyllys, the heiress."

"Yes, I know the family very well; but I never saw Mr. Wyllys's granddaughter before."

"She is quite plain," observed one gentleman.

"Very plain," replied the other, turning away.

The evening proved very sultry, and after accompanying the ladies home from the concert, Mr. Ellsworth proposed to Harry a stroll in the open air. The friends set out together, taking the direction of the spring; and, being alone, their conversation gradually became of a confidential nature. They touched upon politics, Mr. Henley's character and views, and various other topics, concluding with their own personal affairs. At length, when they had been out some little time, Mr. Ellsworth, after a moment's silence, turned to Harry and said:

"Hazlehurst, I have a confession to make; but I dare say you will not give me much credit for frankness--you have very probably guessed already what I have to tell."

"I certainly have had some suspicions of my own for the last few days; but I may be mistaken; I am not very good at guessing."

"I can have no motive," continued Mr. Ellsworth, "in concealing from you my regard for Miss Wyllys, and I hope you will wish me success."

"Certainly," replied Harry; who was evidently somewhat prepared for the disclosure.

"It is now some time since I have been attached to her, but it is only lately that I have been able to urge my suit as I could wish. The better I know Elinor Wyllys, the more anxious I am for success. I never met with a woman of a more lovely character."

"You only do her justice."

"There is something about her that is peculiar; different from the common-place set of young ladies one meets with every day; and yet she is perfectly feminine and womanly."

And Mr. Ellsworth here ran over various good qualities of Elinor's. It is impossible to say, whether Harry smiled or not, at this lover-like warmth: if he did, it was too dark for his friend to observe it.

"In a situation like mine, with a daughter to educate, the choice of a wife is particularly important. Of course I feel much anxiety as to the decision of a woman like Miss Wyllys, one whose good opinion is worth the wooing: and yet, if I do not deceive myself, her manner is not discouraging."

"Is she aware of your feelings?" asked Harry.

同类推荐
  • 清忠谱

    清忠谱

    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。
  • 教观纲宗释义

    教观纲宗释义

    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。
  • 明伦汇编皇极典帝号部

    明伦汇编皇极典帝号部

    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。
  • 徧行堂集

    徧行堂集

    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。
  • 起一心精进念佛七期规式

    起一心精进念佛七期规式

    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
  • 故事会(2018年9月下)

    故事会(2018年9月下)

    《故事会》是中国最通俗的民间文学小本杂志,是中国的老牌刊物之一。先后获得两届中国期刊的最高奖——国家期刊奖。1998年,它在世界综合类期刊中发行量排名第5。从1984年开始,《故事会》由双月刊改为月刊,2003年11月份开始试行半月刊,2004年正式改为半月刊。现分为红、绿两版,其中红版为上半月刊,绿版为下半月刊。
  • 心理游戏训练营(超级智商训练营)

    心理游戏训练营(超级智商训练营)

    著名科学家霍金说过:“有一个聪明的大脑,你就会比别人更接近成功。”思维能力在人的成功过程中起着举足轻重的作用,青少年无论将来从事什么职业,处于什么岗位,面对什么问题,拥有活跃的思维,都是你能否快速走向成功的最关健因素。全面开发青少年的思维能力,其重要性远排在教授具体知识技能之上。
  • 毒医兽妃:妖孽魔尊,太缠人

    毒医兽妃:妖孽魔尊,太缠人

    她,穹苍最厉害的神,他,洪荒最狂傲的魔。她是他的克星,也是他的救赎。一朝重生,她成了人族废物,却强势崛起,虐尽所有欺她之人。他隐身人族,化为九王爷,一句以身相许便赖上她。当前世的仇敌,变成命定爱人,他们的命运又将何去何从……第一次见面。“看在你救了本尊的份上,本尊决定以身相许了!”喂,你谁啊,谁要你以身相许了。第二次见面。“这么丑的脸,本尊下不去嘴。”喂,嫌弃你还亲,你还有没有节操了!第N次见面。“嫁给本尊,做本尊的王妃!”喂,你这样生抢你的侄媳妇儿真的好吗?
  • 温故(之九)

    温故(之九)

    《温故》是历史文化读物。它以今天的视角来追怀与审视过去,并为当下的生存与未来的发展提供一种参照。这就是所谓的“温故而知新”。本书大体上包括以下三方面内容:(1)对人类以往生存状态的追怀;(2)对历史的审视与反思;(3)对历史文化遗迹与遗留文本的重温。
  • 恶女从良

    恶女从良

    族中姐妹,费心费力帮她出谋划策,她以为是真心待她,不过是一步步将她推进恶女的深渊,毁掉她的名声,成了勋贵世家眼里的恶女。重生回到开始,她要改过自新。任她如何贤淑,恶名仍与京城的恶少们并肩而立,元喜抚额感叹:闺秀难为啊。恶女从良翻身史,更是恶女与恶少们的故事。新文《女配是重生的》前世她被荣华富贵迷花了眼,堕落一生。今生不想再重蹈覆辙,势要将那颗虚弱的心泯灭掉,重生后就算当个女配也要拥有精彩的人生。大家多多支持
  • 柔妻错爱:冥王总裁来帮忙

    柔妻错爱:冥王总裁来帮忙

    “白柠萱,我最大的幸福是娶了你!”席司珩温柔深情地说。她成为了席家太太,性子温柔,婚姻美满,然而某一天发现丈夫用充满恨意的声音对她说:“白柠萱,我最后悔娶了你这个毒妇!”她愣了,性子温柔,怎么在他眼里成了毒妇?……“席司珩,只要你死了,我就能得到席家的一切,然后和顾陵结婚!”身为席氏继承人的他被白柠萱下毒,临死前不敢置信地看着她一手挽着他的好友高高在上,一副恶毒的表情。带着怨恨重生回到了一年多前,展开复仇,要伤害他的那对狗男女付出代价!……“白柠萱,我相信你没有做过那些事,因为你被鬼附身了!”千年沉睡中醒来的冥王殷瑾夜逆天而行,回到过去,来到她的身边,做起……
  • 死囚

    死囚

    《死囚》的内容全部来自丁一鹤对案件当事人的亲自采访和他所接触的相关案卷,而且是对案件鲜为人知的内幕进行原汁原味的展示和披露。因为作者的采访和掌握的资料是一手的、真实的、独家的,所以《死囚》对于案件的报道是具有一定深度和广度的,而且大多内容是读者闻所未闻见所未见的。丁一鹤用纪实文学的方式记录中国法制进程的一些片段,《死囚》所展示的案件都在北京和全国产生过一定影响,有的案情也通过各种传播渠道为广大读者所知。
  • 威尼斯商人

    威尼斯商人

    莎士比亚在喜剧方面取得了很高的成就。乐观主义是莎士比亚的喜剧创作的基调。在他的喜剧中,蕴含着人文主义者的美好理想,以及对人类光明前途的展望。本书收选朱生豪先生翻译的莎翁喜剧代表作:《威尼斯商人》《仲夏夜之梦》《第十二夜》《无事生非》《皆大欢喜》。
  • 木槿花西月锦绣(4):今宵风雨故人归

    木槿花西月锦绣(4):今宵风雨故人归

    重伤的木槿醒来后,看到了令她更头疼的宋明磊……宋明磊为了永远地把木槿留在身边,为她整了一双紫眼睛,并且逼她服用日渐痴呆的秋光散。木槿被一个神秘的少年僧人兰生所救,在回西安的途中遇到幽冥教的追杀,从明风卿口中第一次得知那诡异的三十二字真言,正是这真言引起四大家族仇杀。好在被离家出走的撒鲁尔(非珏)所救,可惜那时木槿眼睛中了石灰,没有认出非珏,可怜的非珏虽然记忆大部分恢复了,却从没有见过木槿的真实面目,也没有认出木槿,等到木槿再睁开眼时,非珏已走远了,木槿感叹两人终是此生无缘……
  • 神的孩子全跳舞

    神的孩子全跳舞

    村上春树最新短篇小说集。地震所引起的或之于村上的地震! 爱,只有爱才能使遭受重创的心灵获得再生!本书6篇小说都以1995年日本大阪、神户大地震为背景,描述经历巨变的人们对自己以往人生的重新认识。 作品既有空虚、空壳、憎恨、暴力等负面字眼,又有自由、沟通、光明、爱和决心等正面语汇。 而且随着篇名的依序更迭,由负而正呈明显递进趋势,负越来越少,正越来越多。最后终于走出地震的阴影,走出心灵的空洞,完成超越,获得再生。