登陆注册
5154600000297

第297章

Meanwhile, Valancourt had returned to a little inn of the village, whither he had arrived only a few moments before his visit to Theresa's cottage, on the way from Tholouse to the chateau of the Count de Duvarney, where he had not been since he bade adieu to Emily at Chateau-le-Blanc, in the neighbourhood of which he had lingered for a considerable time, unable to summon resolution enough to quit a place, that contained the object most dear to his heart.There were times, indeed, when grief and despair urged him to appear again before Emily, and, regardless of his ruined circumstances, to renew his suit.Pride, however, and the tenderness of his affection, which could not long endure the thought of involving her in his misfortunes, at length, so far triumphed over passion, that he relinquished this desperate design, and quitted Chateau-le-Blanc.

But still his fancy wandered among the scenes, which had witnessed his early love, and, on his way to Gascony, he stopped at Tholouse, where he remained when Emily arrived, concealing, yet indulging his melancholy in the gardens, where he had formerly passed with her so many happy hours; often recurring, with vain regret, to the evening before her departure for Italy, when she had so unexpectedly met him on the terrace, and endeavouring to recall to his memory every word and look, which had then charmed him, the arguments he had employed to dissuade her from the journey, and the tenderness of their last farewel.In such melancholy recollections he had been indulging, when Emily unexpectedly arrived to him on this very terrace, the evening after her arrival at Tholouse.His emotions, on thus seeing her, can scarcely be imagined; but he so far overcame the first promptings of love, that he forbore to discover himself, and abruptly quitted the gardens.Still, however, the vision he had seen haunted his mind; he became more wretched than before, and the only solace of his sorrow was to return in the silence of the night; to follow the paths which he believed her steps had pressed, during the day; and, to watch round the habitation where she reposed.It was in one of these mournful wanderings, that he had received by the fire of the gardener, who mistook him for a robber, a wound in his arm, which had detained him at Tholouse till very lately, under the hands of a surgeon.There, regardless of himself and careless of his friends, whose late unkindness had urged him to believe, that they were indifferent as to his fate, he remained, without informing them of his situation; and now, being sufficiently recovered to bear travelling, he had taken La Vallee in his way to Estuviere, the Count's residence, partly for the purpose of hearing of Emily, and of being again near her, and partly for that of enquiring into the situation of poor old Theresa, who, he had reason to suppose, had been deprived of her stipend, small as it was, and which enquiry had brought him to her cottage, when Emily happened to be there.

This unexpected interview, which had at once shewn him the tenderness of her love and the strength of her resolution, renewed all the acuteness of the despair, that had attended their former separation, and which no effort of reason could teach him, in these moments, to subdue.Her image, her look, the tones of her voice, all dwelt on his fancy, as powerfully as they had late appeared to his senses, and banished from his heart every emotion, except those of love and despair.

Before the evening concluded, he returned to Theresa's cottage, that he might hear her talk of Emily, and be in the place, where she had so lately been.The joy, felt and expressed by that faithful servant, was quickly changed to sorrow, when she observed, at one moment, his wild and phrensied look, and, at another, the dark melancholy, that overhung him.

After he had listened, and for a considerable time, to all she had to relate, concerning Emily, he gave Theresa nearly all the money he had about him, though she repeatedly refused it, declaring, that her mistress had amply supplied her wants; and then, drawing a ring of value from his finger, he delivered it her with a solemn charge to present it to Emily, of whom he entreated, as a last favour, that she would preserve it for his sake, and sometimes, when she looked upon it, remember the unhappy giver.

Theresa wept, as she received the ring, but it was more from sympathy, than from any presentiment of evil; and before she could reply, Valancourt abruptly left the cottage.She followed him to the door, calling upon his name and entreating him to return; but she received no answer, and saw him no more.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 补陀洛迦山传

    补陀洛迦山传

    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。
  • 亲亲老公,求休战!

    亲亲老公,求休战!

    “离婚吧,我给你99亿!”楚芯颜自嫁给韩瑾煜的第一天开始,就给自己定了三条死命令:第一条,和韩瑾煜离婚!第二条,和韩瑾煜离婚!第三条,和韩瑾煜离婚!可某男根本不给她这个机会!“少爷,少夫人提着行李箱离家出走了!”“追!”“少爷,少夫人去找老爷子说是要和你离婚!”“订机票,送老爷子去旅游!”“少爷,少夫人给你找了一个女朋友!”“……”这是要上天!某男双眸一沉,快速离开会议室,下一刻已站在了楚芯颜面前。“听说老婆大人给我找了一个女朋友?”“对啊,肤白貌美大长腿!包你满意!”“我不需要。”“那你需要什么?我满足你!”“需要我这样的小可爱!”看着突然冒出来的小包子,楚芯颜懵了!靠!我竟然生了个儿子!
  • 伤口是光照进来的地方

    伤口是光照进来的地方

    武志红之后,又一位亲密关系心理学研究者——沈万九,从事亲密关系心理咨询师已有7年,本书是他从业的经历感悟的凝集,用通俗的语言,描述出心理问题和科学的解决方式。作品从爱、家、孤独、生命四个方面,探寻我们应当如何面对自己无可逃避的伤口。本书写给每一个女人,和她的男人们。
  • 农业狂潮

    农业狂潮

    毕业就创业,创业就失业,借不到钱、贷款到期、员工走光。这是章南北苦逼人生的前半段。系统自己攒,科技自己槁,人才自己造,钱要自己赚。这是章南北苦逼人生的后半段。智能温室、育种实验室、植物工厂、园林办公区、万人水煮鱼大赛,做农业也能高大上。故事,就从一个电话开始。“喂,章先生你好,我们是外星人啊,准备要入侵地球了,想请您做我们的代理人,不知道您有没有兴趣呢!”“好的呀!”
  • 中国历代通俗演义:两晋演义(上)

    中国历代通俗演义:两晋演义(上)

    《两晋演义》起自司马炎代魏,终至刘裕代晋,共一百回,真实再现了中原汉政权衰亡时五胡十六国混战下的分裂局面和各少数民族间的交流融合。本书讲述从“第一回祀南郊司马开基 立东宫庸雏伏祸”到“第五十回选将得人凉州破敌 筑宫渔色石氏宣淫”的历史。西晋内政失修、祸乱侵寻、终致覆亡。夫内政失修,则内讧必起,内讧起,则外侮即乘之而入。木朽虫生,墙罅蚁入,看似与外患相始终,究竟自成鹬蚌,才有渔翁……
  • 事故的寡妇

    事故的寡妇

    悬疑之父,大师之中的大师,只可模仿,不可超越的巅峰,直逼理性与疯狂、压制与抗争的心理极限,你永远都猜不到故事的结局,你也无法预想故事情节的发展!精品、经典、精装、超值价蕾遇生与死、罪与罚的灵魂拷问。
  • 女帝成长计划

    女帝成长计划

    “所有人都是你害死的!你就是一个妖物!”——如果你一无是处该怎么办?如果你是天生的灾星会怎么办?那眼神如星辰般清澈的少年成了你唯一的朋友亲人,在这庞大又奇幻强者主宰的世界里,你们是不是应该踏上让自己变强的道路。这个世界的尽头,就在太阳的那边,你所珍爱的人都在那里等你开启新时代。当你旅途正式开启的时候,你会不会立下滴血誓言,并且咬牙踏上寻找神迹的道路。【我愿化身黄昏的神圣骑士守护你,也愿意化身黎明的死灵魔师踏上逆天的道路。带着你杀向地狱,让我们的名声震撼整片天地。】
  • 铃音贵族学院

    铃音贵族学院

    她们是天才少女,被父母叫回国只为了骗她们与未婚夫培养感情。她们以为她们不会动心,哪成想最后会爱的那么热烈深沉。她们以为这便是一生,却祸从天降。一场误会,从此两地分离。当误会解除,再回过头来,她们早已消失在茫茫人海之中……场景一:‘落纤雪,我喜欢你’‘嗯’场景二:‘落夜纤雪,你太让我失望了’‘呵,你没有权利对我失望’场景三:‘雪,对不起’‘你的道歉我不接受’最后的最后,繁花终究陨落尘埃,他们啊,再也回不去从前了。我用尽一生来爱你,你下辈子可不可以相信我一次?今生,你非我良人,又怎知我想?[原书名:贵族公主遇上爱]
  • 竞月贻香

    竞月贻香

    不死不灭的魔僧,立志祸乱天下;目生双瞳的妖道,只求玩得过瘾。谱写历史的从来不是什么正人君子,而是这些狂人疯子。(本书QQ群:194388020)
  • 水浒系列之行者武松

    水浒系列之行者武松

    一身虎胆、武艺高超、急侠好义、刚猛不屈、敢作敢当、嫉恶如仇!这是人们对武松这个文学形象的普遍看法或期待。本书在武松这个人物形象的构划上,又有新特点、新发现、新突破,以期使得武松这个人物不仅是历史的、文学的,更具有现实的、平民偶像的寓义。