登陆注册
5150800000078

第78章

"And when Martin,--who was to me then just what you are, Harry dear,--came up to my room in his own particular natural way, Ithought it was hard luck to be taken so literally and not be left alone to find my wings for a little.I had just escaped from a long term of subjection, and I wanted to have the joy of being free--quite absolutely free.Still not thinking, I sent him away and like a brick he went, and I didn't suppose it really mattered to him, any more than it did to me, and honestly if it had mattered it wouldn't have made any difference because I had promised myself to hit it up and work off the marks of my shackles and I was full of the 'Who Cares?' feeling.And then Gilbert Palgrave came along and helped to turn my head.Oh, what a perfect little fool I was, what a precocious, shallow, selfish little fool.And while I was having what I imagined was a good time and seeing life, Martin was wandering about alone, suffering from two things that aren't good for boys,--injustice and ingratitude.And then of course I woke up and saw things straight and knew his value, and when I went to get him and begin all over again he wasn't mine.I'd lost him."The boy's eyebrows contracted sharply."What a beastly shame," he said, "I mean for both of you." He included Martin because he liked him now, reading between the lines.He must be an awfully decent chap who had had a pretty bad time.

"Yes," said Joan, "it is, for both of us." And she was grateful to him for such complete understanding,--grateful for Martin, too.They might have been brothers, these boys."But for you, Easthampton would have been impossible," she added."I don't mean the house or the place or the sea, which is glorious.I mean from what I have forced myself to do.I came down labelled 'Who Cares?' caring all the time, and just to share my hurt with some one I've made Gilbert care too.He's in an ugly mood.I feel that he'll make me pay some day--in full.But I'm not afraid to be alone now and drop my bluff because I believe Martin is waiting for me and is back in armor again with your cousin.And I believe the old look will come into his eyes when he sees me, and he'll hear me ask him to forgive and we'll go back and play at keeping house in earnest.Harry, I believe that.Little as I deserve it I'm going to have another chance given to me,--every mile we go I feel that! After all, I'm awfully young and I've kept my slate clean and I ought to be given another chance, oughtn't I?"Harry nodded and presently brought the car to a stop under the shadow of the little clubhouse.Half a dozen other cars were parked there, and a colored chauffeur was sitting on the steps of the back entrance, fast asleep with his chin on his chest.The small but vigorous orchestra was playing a fox-trot on the far veranda, and the sound of shuffling feet resembled that of a man cleaning something with sandpaper.There was an army of flies on the screen door of the kitchen and on several galvanized iron bins stuffed with ginger-ale bottles and orange peel.

"We'll leave the car here," said Harry, "and go and have a look for the cottage.It'll be easy to find.There aren't many of 'em, if Iremember right."

Joan took his arm.She had begun to tremble."Let's go this way first," she said, going the right way by instinct.

"If they're in," said Harry, "and I should guess they are.--there's no wind,--I'll draw old Howard off for an hour or so.""Yes, please do, Harry."

And they went up the sandy incline, over the thick undergrowth, and the sun blazed down on the shining water, and half a dozen canvas-covered catboats near the little pier.Several people were sitting on it in bathing clothes, and some one was teaching a little girl to swim.The echo of her gurgling laughter and little cries came to them clearly.The sound of music and shuffling feet grew fainter and fainter.Gardiner's Island lay up against the horizon like a long inflated sand bag.There were crickets everywhere.Three or four large butterflies gamboled in the shimmering air.

同类推荐
  • 大使咒法经

    大使咒法经

    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。
  • Some Short Christmas Stories

    Some Short Christmas Stories

    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。
  • 金丹真一论

    金丹真一论

    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。
  • 大唐传载

    大唐传载

    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。
  • 佛说广义法门经

    佛说广义法门经

    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
  • 天机1

    天机1

    “由泰北清迈前往兰那王陵的途中,一个来自中国的旅行团辗转间误入歧途,迷失在一座群山围绕的现代城市。城内设施一应俱全,但却了无人迹,城内的时间,无情地定格在一年之前。本是一次幸福的旅行,未料等待旅行团的却是叵测的噩运。无法与外界联系,唯一的逃生道路被封死。在探寻出路的过程中,奇异事件接连发生——山魈报复,恶犬突袭;导游惨死天台,司机被炸成碎片……困境重重,危机四伏,远离人间的人们各怀心事。沉睡之城究竟埋藏着多少秘密?十九个原本命运各异的人,在这一坐标点相遇。是落入人为布设的陷阱,抑或是身遭不可违忤的天谴?对未知的恐惧攫取了每一个人的心。”
  • 洪荒之镇元

    洪荒之镇元

    盘古为何要开天地?鸿钧为何弘扬大道?圣人真的无情无欲?三族又何之以存于?巫妖又该何去何从?人族何为天地主角?西方世界源于如何?一个后世之人穿越成仙之祖--镇元子,带你们看一遍何为真正的洪荒,本文无女主,不谈感情。不好意思,这本书没写好,所以不写写,新开了一本洪荒之水波逐流。
  • 动漫角色来我家

    动漫角色来我家

    神通广大的二次元角色一旦失去能力穿越到三次元,将会发生怎样的趣事?——骁勇善战的大海贼火拳艾斯成为了烧烤店店员;木叶三忍的蛤蟆仙人自来也当了工口小说作者;以不杀之枭闻名天下的芳村功善仍旧做着自己的老本行,在咖啡店里熟练的泡咖啡.......而我们的主角何辰,则每天都愁于为刚来这个世界的角色安排什么样的工作,日渐消瘦..............本书轻松幽默,欢迎试毒。
  • 生死一剑现

    生死一剑现

    一花一世界,所谓的凡尘只不过是仙魔眼中的一粒尘沙,仙魔一念,世间万年!
  • 我们都曾爱过白月光

    我们都曾爱过白月光

    即使历经生离死别,即使被抛弃,被背叛被欺骗。 她依然还是决定原谅他,继续爱他,因为她知道,他对她的那些心意,从此地直到月亮,悠远而漫长。
  • 归来

    归来

    儿子站在屋中央,母亲掖着秋衣向灶房冲去。儿子放下行包,大声阻拦,我吃过饭了,刚才在车站等车,吃了碗肉丝面。母亲没理会他,在灶房忙活起来。大门没关,一阵风穿过,头顶那盏20瓦的灯泡摇曳起来,儿子看到自己的影子把一面墙几乎全遮住了。墙根里传出蟋蟀的叫声,近在耳畔,把乡村的夜晚衬托得更为幽静。身上陡然游过一丝不适,儿子飞快地转过身去,掩上大门,将夜色踢出门外。父亲从来都是拖拖拉拉的,这会儿他才从睡房里走出来,打着哈欠,佝偻着大半个身子。你瘦了!走近儿子后他把眼睛瞪得老大。
  • 日新月异的世界现代史

    日新月异的世界现代史

    世界现代史是指从20世纪初到现在,第一次世界大战是世界现代史的开端。主要包括:第一次世界大战、苏联社会主义道路的探索、凡尔赛—华盛顿体系下的西方世界、第二次世界大战、主要资本主义国家的发展变化、社会主义国家的改革与演变、亚非拉国家的独立和振兴、战后世界格局的演变、科学技术和文化。
  • 大明御制玄教乐章

    大明御制玄教乐章

    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。
  • 邪帝冷妻

    邪帝冷妻

    奇才现,天下乱,辅君王,定四方她,是黑道帝皇她,是相府小姐,她,是王府正妃,她是公主?她是神女?她的身份不解,或许,她,只是她!忍耐,承受!把那锥心的痛狠狠的埋在心间!只为铭记那永不消失的怨!她,清冷孤傲,拒人千里!唯独那个妖精一般的男人,方为他展露笑颜。她心如蛇蝎,却也是人不犯我,我不犯人!嘴角侵笑,袖手旁观,只见那天下乱事!【版本二】天生异象,奇才盾出,辅佐君王,俯视天下!她,冰冷的邪惑美人,这辈子,宁我负尽天下众人,不叫他们负我一分!他,逍遥闲散的冷酷邪君!我型我素的性格,心狠手辣的手段!世人皆知,宁得罪小人,勿得罪邪王!那一日,倾城的邪惑美人嫁给了逍遥闲散的冷酷邪君,是悲是喜,是恩是怨?无人得知!【片段一】摇椅上,慵懒的坐着一位艳红长袍的男子!顾盼生辉,皓月当空!身边,毅然坐着四个形色各异的俊美男子!却也是风华绝代。“都即将要大婚之人了,还来这种地方?还真是稀奇的很啊!”右手边第一人眼中带笑,嘴角微微上扬,打趣的看着身边那个面色慵懒,神色妖媚之人。“这话说的就错了,应该说是喜好男色的人逛窑子,这才是怪哉!”右手边第二人拿起扇子,轻轻摇着,眼神逗留在了那风华绝代之人身上。“看来,邪王并无娶妃之意啊!”一个玩世不恭的声音想起,细看,原来是左手边的第二人,一脸无害的面容,却难以遮掩眼中一闪而过的犀利之光,嘴角轻轻珉起。表现出,对他们三人的不满。摇椅之上的男子轻眯他的凤眼,转头看了一眼其他三人,嘴角一挑,举止优雅的把那香气四溢的陈年佳酿送入嘴中。【注释:这篇文是图图费尽心思想出来的,拒绝抄袭!!!请尊重本人的劳动成果!!】推荐新文《冷帝血后》(女强文)
  • 人之初

    人之初

    本书选收作者报告文学12篇,作品讴歌世间真、善、美,赞美改革大潮中涌现的新生事物。