登陆注册
4711400000004

第4章

The interior arrangements of Wyllys-Roof corresponded very naturally with the appearance of things outside. The ceilings were low, and the apartments small and numerous; much room had been thrown into broad, airy passages, while closets and cupboards abounded. The whole of the lower floor had originally been wainscoted, but Miss Agnes Wyllys was answerable for several innovations in the principal rooms. When Mr. Wyllys decided to make his country-place a permanent residence, his daughter, who was at the head of his establishment, fancied that the furniture they had brought from their house in town could not be advantageously disposed of, without cutting folding-doors between the drawing-rooms. It was fortunate that a couple of adjoining rooms admitted of this arrangement, for at that day, two drawing-rooms of equal size, united by wide folding-doors, were considered a necessary of life to all American families "on hospitable thought intent." It seems to have been only very recently that any other arrangement has been found possible, an important discovery, which, like many others that have preceded it, was probably the happy effect of necessity, that mother of invention. Mr. Wyllys having cut through the partition, was next persuaded to take down the wainscoting, and put up in its place a French paper, very pretty in its way, certainly, but we fear that Miss Agnes had no better reason to give for these changes than the fact that she was doing as her neighbours had done before her. Miss Wyllys was, however, little influenced in general by mere fashion, and on more important matters could think for herself; this little weakness in favour of the folding-doors may therefore be forgiven, and justly ascribed to the character of the age in which she lived and gave tea-parties.

{"on hospitable thought intent" = John Milton (English poet, 1608-1674), "Paradise Lost", Book V, line 332}

For several years after they removed permanently to Wyllys-Roof, the family, strictly speaking, consisted of Mr. Wyllys, his unmarried daughter, and the usual domestics, only. They were seldom alone, however; they had generally some friend or relative with them, and in summer the house was often filled to overflowing, during the whole season, with parties of friends, or the different branches of a large family connection; for the Wyllyses had their full share of that free spirit of hospitality which seems characteristic of all classes of Americans. After a time, however, another member was received into the family. This was the orphan daughter of Mr. Wyllys's eldest son, an engaging little girl, to whom her grandfather and aunt were called upon to fill the place of the father and mother she had lost. The little orphan was too young, at the time, to be aware, either of the great affliction which had befallen her, or of her happy lot in being committed to such kind guardians, in merely exchanging one home for another.

The arrival of the little Elinor at Wyllys-Roof was the only important event in the family for some ten or twelve years; the Wyllyses were not much given to change, and during that period things about them remained much as they have just been described.

We defer presenting the family more especially to the reader's notice until our young friend Elinor had reached her seventeenth birth-day, an event which was duly celebrated. There was to be a little party on the occasion, Miss Agnes having invited some half-dozen families of the neighbourhood to pass the evening at Wyllys-Roof.

The weather was very warm, as usual at the last of August; and as the expected guests were late in making their appearance, Mr. Wyllys had undertaken in the mean time to beat his daughter at a game of chess. Elinor, mounted on a footstool, was intent on arranging a sprig of clematis to the best advantage, in the beautiful dark hair of her cousin Jane Graham, who was standing for that purpose before a mirror. A good-looking youth, whom we introduce without farther ceremony as Harry Hazlehurst, was watching the chess-players with some interest. There were also two ladies sitting on a sofa, and as both happened at the time to be inmates of Wyllys-Roof, we may as well mention that the elderly gentlewoman in a cap was Mrs. Stanley, the widow of a connection from whom young Hazlehurst had inherited a large property. Her neighbour, a very pretty woman, neither young nor old, was Mrs. George Wyllys, their host's daughter-in-law, and, as her mourning-dress bespoke her, also a widow. This lady was now on a visit to Wyllys-Roof with her young children, whom, as she frequently observed, she wished to be as much as possible under the influence of their father's family.

Mr. Wyllys's game was interrupted for a moment, just as he was about to make a very good move; a servant came to let him know that a drunken man had been found under a fence near the house.

The fellow, according to Thomas's story, could not be roused enough to give a straight account of himself, nor could he be made to move.

"Is it any one you know, Thomas?" asked Mr. Wyllys.

"No, sir, it's no one from hereabouts. I shouldn't wonder if he was a sailor, by the looks of his trowsers and jacket. I guess it is some loafer on his way to Longbridge."

What could be done with him? was the question. The ladies did not seem to like the idea of having a drunken man, whom no one knew, brought into the house at night.

"I dare say it is the same person I heard asking the way to Wyllys-Roof this morning, when we stopped at the turnpike-gate," observed Mrs. Stanley. "He looked at the time as if he had been drinking."

Elinor suggested that possibly it might be some old sailor, who fancied he had a claim upon Mr. Wyllys's kindness--Mr. George Wyllys having died a commander in the navy.

Harry volunteered to go out and take a look at him, and the party in the drawing-room awaited the result of this reconnoitring {sic}. At the end of five minutes Hazlehurst returned with his report.

同类推荐
  • 顺权方便经

    顺权方便经

    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。
  • 岁除日奉推事使牒追

    岁除日奉推事使牒追

    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。
  • 佛说譬喻经

    佛说譬喻经

    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。
  • 崇祯长编

    崇祯长编

    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。
  • ACROSS THE PLAINS

    ACROSS THE PLAINS

    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
  • 无上尊临

    无上尊临

    破虚成道可见我,见我便如见真神。我是谁?曾经的战神之尊,日后的万族之主。当然,现在的封渊,要从灵族的一个小卒子开始。
  • 红桃树

    红桃树

    在粉红的桃花树下,一名本该步步生莲的女子,自尽于树下,临死前落下了一滴鲜红的泪水,将粉红色的桃花树染成了鲜红色,而一个被称为奸臣之女的余南,一步一步走向巅峰,开创了女皇帝的时代,在最后一刻,发现了这棵桃花树的秘密,不禁落下泪水……
  • 老婆,乖乖就范

    老婆,乖乖就范

    她麦点点,无父无母,是言情小说界中的大神。喜欢看帅哥,一副憨憨的傻样,却生的十分漂亮。他苍月离,全球数一数二的跨国集团总裁,腹黑且专情,对女主经常扮猪吃老虎。麦点点和死党的一场赌局,喝醉酒的她随便拉着个男人的问道。“我要向你求婚,我说男人,你愿意娶我吗?”对方露出个妖孽的笑容,“我愿意”“那就好,拜拜。”可以去交差了。隔天后,她被人绑架扔到了民政局冠上别人的姓氏。【片段一】“这是什么?”某女拿着个红色的小本子问着某男。“老婆,这是我们两个的结婚证啊。”某男笑的无比邪魅。“结婚证?老婆?我靠,老娘什么时候跟你结婚了,你他妈的以为这是在写小说哦?”某女怒了,将红本子摔在某男的脸上。某男挑眉敛笑:“老婆,你忘记那天在酒吧时,你跟我求婚了吗?老公我这是在帮你实现愿望呐!”某女一脸疑惑:“...”【片段二】“老婆,今天老公我帮你准备了一道独特的菜色,你要不要尝尝?”某男邪魅的眨眨眼睛。“恩。什么菜,端上来瞧瞧。”某女摸了摸下巴。某男嘻嘻哈哈的望着某女,一下子跳上了桌面,撒娇道:“清纯苍月离,老婆。来吧!来吧!尽情的吃吧!”某女嘴角直抽搐:“...”【片段三】某女到处招桃花,一点都不把某男放在眼里,某男木办法定了个协议。某女一脸愤怒的盯着某协议书:1、从现在开始,点点只许对离一个人好,要爱离,不能骗离。2、答应离的每一件事情,点点都要做到;3、对离讲的每一句话都要是真心。不许骗离、要关心离;4、最最最最重要的一点,点点不准看别的男人、不准想着别的男人,你的心里只准有离,就算是梦,点点也只许梦见离…以上,离早就全部做到,希望点点也能做到。ps:如果点点不能做到的话,离就告诉点点的责任编辑,她的艳照视频是点点发出去的。“靠,苍月离不带你这么无耻的。”麦点点怒。“嘿嘿,老婆,为了你我更无耻的事都能做得出。”苍月离一脸奸笑。【片段四】“夫人,我已经为你准备了四个绝色美女了。”管家。“老婆,你要美女干嘛啊?”苍月离问道。麦点点白了他一眼,望着眼前的几名美女,嫌恶的开口:“这个眼睛没我好看,不要。这个胸没我大,不要。这个屁股没我翘,不要。这个没我白,不要。咦?老公,你旁边那个女子不错,就这个了!”“你好,恭喜你,荣身为苍月离得二奶。”麦点点冲到女子面前,一脸你中奖了的表情。
  • 萍洲可谈

    萍洲可谈

    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。
  • 红嫁衣

    红嫁衣

    你见过鬼脸新娘吗?在四下无人的深夜,一个穿着红嫁衣、用头发遮着脸的女人,在她生前住过的宅子里神出鬼没,她走路轻飘飘的,进门都不用开门,一隐身,就进去了……才华横溢的晚报编辑乐小菲在奶奶讲叙的鬼故事里得到灵感,创作起了名为《鬼脸新娘》的长篇小说。小说在报上连载后,受到众多读者的热捧。只是,乐小菲从此也陷在自己创作的爱情小说里,不可自拔。鬼魅一样的奶奶,深夜的磨刀声,让她爱不释手又诡异莫测的红嫁衣……她惶惶不可终日,当爱情再度被蒙上背叛的阴云,一个神秘的鬼脸新娘也出现在乐小菲身边,控制着她步入万劫不复之地。究竟发生在乐小菲身上的这一切,是源于乐小菲从古董店所购买的那件不吉祥的死人穿过的红嫁衣,还是仅仅是一个传说?
  • 重生之嫁个将军

    重生之嫁个将军

    李雅34岁时被迫自杀,死后重回到她11岁,一切悲剧都还没有开始的时候,依靠预言般的前世记忆开始了复仇之路,一步一步将敌人算计到蛊中踩死……
  • 火影之弑血行

    火影之弑血行

    纲手是我干妈,大蛇丸是我师父,四代火影就是我爸,作为拥有主角光环的漩涡鸣人的哥哥,张定宇穿越到火影世界之后,以波风浩人之名行走忍界,让整个忍界颤抖,颤抖,再颤抖。QQ群:597195724
  • 老君变化无极经

    老君变化无极经

    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。
  • 我和邻家姐姐

    我和邻家姐姐

    根据自己的生活经历,以第一人称的口吻讲述正在发生的或者已经发生的婚姻感情家庭困惑和事实.
  • 问剑征天

    问剑征天

    道有千条万道,剑有千变万化,幽幽指弹人间情,不过三两声。若以白刃断命织,从何起剑?剑仙三声笑来,自为人间潇洒。子孝请雷惊天,亦使苍天低眉。月影萧声悠扬,低眉掩含杀机。玉楼倩影弄舞,软香胜过天仙。痴剑着利身伤,入意三分天绝。天道苍茫,触不及,望无边,敢与剑问。