登陆注册
5146500000007

第7章

[They go out, Left.ROLF hurries after them.]

CHARLES.You've insulted my wife.Why? What do you mean by it?

[MRS.HILLCRIST simply smiles.]

HILLCRIST.I apologise.I regret extremely.There is no reason why the ladies of your family or of mine should be involved in our quarrel.For Heaven's sake, let's fight like gentlemen.

HORNBLOWER.Catchwords--sneers! No; we'll play what ye call a skin game, Hillcrist, without gloves on; we won't spare each other.Ye look out for yourselves, for, begod, after this morning I mean business.And as for you, Dawker, ye sly dog, ye think yourself very clever; but I'll have the Centry yet.Come, Chearlie!

[They go out, passing JILL, who is coming in again, in the doorway.]

HILLCRIST.Well, Dawker?

DAWKER.[Grinning] Safe for the moment.The old lady'll put it up to auction.Couldn't get her to budge from that.Says she don't want to be unneighbourly to either.But, if you ask me, it's money she smells!

JILL.[Advancing] Now, mother MRS.H.Well?

JILL.Why did you insult her?

MRS.H.I think I only asked you to take her out.

JILL.Why? Even if she is Old Combustion's daughter-in-law?

MRS.H.My dear Jill, allow me to judge the sort of acquaintances Iwish to make.[She looks at DAWKER.]

JILL.She's all right.Lots of women powder and touch up their lips nowadays.I think she's rather a good sort; she was awfully upset.

MRS.H.Too upset.

JILL.Oh! don't be so mysterious, mother.If you know something, do spit it out!

MRS.H.Do you wish me to--er--"spit it out," Jack?

HILLCRIST.Dawker, if you don't mind----[DAWKER, with a nod, passes away out of the French window.]

Jill, be respectful, and don't talk like a bargee.

JILL.It's no good, Dodo.It made me ashamed.It's just as--as caddish to insult people who haven't said a word, in your own house, as it is to be--old Hornblower.

MRS.H.You don't know what you're talking about.

HILLCRIST.What's the matter with young Mrs.Hornblower?

MRS.H.Excuse me, I shall keep my thoughts to myself at present.

[She looks coldly at JILL, and goes out through the French window.]

HILLCRIST.You've thoroughly upset your mother, Jill.

JILL.It's something Dawker's told her; I saw them.I don't like Dawker, father, he's so common.

HILLCRIST.My dear, we can't all be uncommon.He's got lots of go, You must apologise to your mother.

JILL.[Shaking-her clubbed hair] They'll make you do things you don't approve of, Dodo, if you don't look out.Mother's fearfully bitter when she gets her knife in.If old Hornblower's disgusting, it's no reason we should be.

HILLCRIST.So you think I'm capable--that's nice, Jill!

JILL.No, no, darling! I only want to warn you solemnly that mother'll tell you you're fighting fair, no matter what she and Dawker do.

HILLCRIST.[Smiling] Jill, I don't think I ever saw you so serious.

JILL.No.Because--[She swallows a lump in her throat] Well--Iwas just beginning to enjoy, myself; and now--everything's going to be bitter and beastly, with mother in that mood.That horrible old man! Oh, Dodo! Don't let them make you horrid! You're such a darling.How's your gout, ducky?

HILLCRIST.Better; lot better.

JILL.There, you see! That shows! It's going to be half-interesting for you, but not for--us.

HILLCRIST.Look here, Jill--is there anything between you and young what's-his-name--Rolf?

JILL.[Biting her lip] No.But--now it's all spoiled.

HILLCRIST.You can't expect me to regret that.

JILL.I don't mean any tosh about love's young dream; but I do like being friends.I want to enjoy things, Dodo, and you can't do that when everybody's on the hate.You're going to wallow in it, and so shall I--oh! I know I shall!--we shall all wallow, and think of nothing but "one for his nob."HILLCRIST.Aren't you fond of your home?

同类推荐
  • 词苑萃编

    词苑萃编

    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。
  • 灵宝归空诀

    灵宝归空诀

    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。
  • 李卫公问对

    李卫公问对

    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。
  • Locrine-Mucedorus

    Locrine-Mucedorus

    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。
  • 扁鹊难经

    扁鹊难经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 卿本绝色:腹黑王爷太会撩

    卿本绝色:腹黑王爷太会撩

    她,二十一世纪宅女一枚,一朝穿越,变为空有容貌的大草包,无才无德,还遭太子退婚,娘死爹不爱他,曾是京月王朝的战神,一朝重伤残疾加毁容她本想做个傻白甜混日子,他的出现却将她卷入了一场阴谋之中不是她不想离开,只是,王爷太会撩
  • 会做生意的人有1%和你不同

    会做生意的人有1%和你不同

    财富是每个人向往并且毕生追求的,但是在追求财富的浩荡洪流中,99%的人被洗刷下来,惨败而归,而只有那少少的1%的人逆水行舟,冲破险阻,到达了黄金彼岸。他们多了什么,他们与普通人相比有什么稀奇的地方呢?其实生意人也是从普通人中脱颖而出的,他们并不多出什么,唯一多出来的就是那少少的1%。那1%是什么呢?本书就来告诉你。有了这1%,你就会是一个“质检合格”的生意人,财富大道上任你驰骋。
  • 这个战队有点萌

    这个战队有点萌

    她是电脑天才,他是电竞大神她继承家业开俱乐部,他随之而来“白衿毓,你愿意加入我的战队吗?”“我不后悔选择了这条路,也不后悔选择了QN”“如果你加入EMP就好了,真的。”
  • The Rosary

    The Rosary

    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。
  • 茶山俏姐妹

    茶山俏姐妹

    车祸,穿越。一家五口,几亩茶田,生活困苦。娘亲多病,父亲憨厚,弟弟可爱,妹妹能干;而她——是个忤逆不孝,好吃懒做嫁不出去的老姑娘!家人神色各异,她淡定自若;自立自强,发家致富;可是这个妹子实在是太固执了,打死都不相信她的改变;居然将她要发家致富的想法当成败家散财?!日子长了,能干的妹妹终于对她诧异;包起头巾一起来采茶,她兴奋过了头,唱了一嗓子茶山情歌——咳咳,她是唱歌,为什么真的引来了“砍柴的少年郎”!?
  • 这样读资治通鉴(第3部)

    这样读资治通鉴(第3部)

    青年学子亦可从中学到有别于课堂上的历史讲述,一部一直放在毛泽东床头的大书,一部曾经让毛泽东读了17遍的大书,《资治通鉴》是中国人的管理智慧。这样读《资治通鉴》,是为官者的管理智慧,是企业家的MBA教材,是奋斗者的行为指南。
  • 巨龙倒计时续

    巨龙倒计时续

    巨龙倒计时续篇: 千年前名为巨龙的怪物降临,袭击城镇伤亡无数,四方神殿拥护屠龙骑士崛起套讨伐巨龙。千年后,名叫克里斯蒂的贵族商人出现,遇见山城少女丹妮卡,巨龙袭击山城。之后,埃尔帝国的宫廷也发生一系列的事情,一切都与七把神剑有关,与四方神殿留下的预言有关…… PS:感谢水晶亲自做的封面,大爱啊~~~
  • 换头之后

    换头之后

    天气渐渐热了起来,窗外的热风已经有些懊燥的感觉,只好将玻璃窗合上,打开空调享受一下清凉的空气。心气渐渐清静下来,盛一碗冰凉的绿豆百合汤慢慢喝下,一种惬意涌了上来。望望窗外,天空是蓝色的,几片棉絮状的白云点缀其上,让人有一种朗目悦心的感觉。一切的一切都是惬意的,心中似乎有一种浓浓的暖意,生活正化育出无数的诗心涌出,让我一时竟无法表达了。
  • 火影之签到就无敌

    火影之签到就无敌

    枫穿越了,却没想到去了火影世界。一路行来才发现,那一座座巅峰,却被自己踩在了脚下。而自己成了别人口中的巅峰,可他其实只是一个迷失的路人而已。
  • 润笙

    润笙

    “你好,呃、你们怎么都来了!”“嘻嘻,小冉、林沫别看目前你们是男女主,过个几十章…嘿嘿嘿”众人异口同声道:“风水轮流转,这毕竟是《润笙?我们的时代》嘛”……