登陆注册
5156400000084

第84章

"Why, Chloe, you look no older than when you went away from here six years ago," Miss Kingston said."But how ever did you both get through the lines? We have been terribly anxious ahout you.Your brother was here only a fortnight ago, and he and your father were in a great way about you, and reproached themselves bitterly that they did not send you to us before the troubles began, which certainly would have been a wiser step, as I told them.Of course your brother said that when they left you to join the army they had no idea that matters were going so far, or that the Yankees would drive us out of Tennessee, or they would never have dreamed of leaving you alone.However, here you are, so now tell me all about it."Lucy told the story of the various visits of the Federal bushwhackers to the house, and how they had narrowly escaped death for refusing to betray the Confederate officer who had come to the house for food.Her recital was frequently interrupted by exclamations of indignation and pity from her aunts.

"Well, aunts, after that," she went on, "you see it was impossible for me to stop there any longer.No doubt they came back again a few hours afterward and burned the house, and had I been found there I should have been sure to be burned in it, so Chloe agreed with me that there was nothing to do but to try and get through the lines and come to you.There was no way of my getting my living at Nashville except by going out as a help, and there might have been some difficulties about that.""Quite right, my dear.It was clearly the best thing for you to come to us-indeed, the only thing.But how in the world did you two manage to travel alone all that distance and get through the Federal lines?""You see, we were not alone, aunts," Lucy said; "the Confederate officer and his servant were coming through, and of course they took care of us.We could never have got through alone, and as Chloe was with me we got on very nicely; hut we have been a long time getting through, for in that fight, where he saved my life and killed five of the band, he had his shoulder broken by a pistol bullet, and we had to stop in a farmhouse near Mount Pleasant, and he was very ill for some time, but the doctor who attended him was a true Southerner, and so we were quite safe till he was able to move again.""And who is this officer, Lucy?" Miss Kingston asked rather anxiously.

"He is a Virginian gentleman, auntie.His mother has large estates near Richmond.He was in the cavalry with Stuart, and was made prisoner while he was lying wounded and insensible, at Antietam;and I think, auntie, that that-" and she hesitated-" some day we are going to be married."Oh, that's it, is it?" the old lady said kindly."Well, I can't say anything about that until I see him, Lucy.Now tell us the whole story, and then we shall be better able to judge about it.I don't think, my dear, that while you were traveling under his protection he ought to have talked to you about such things.""He didn't, auntie; not until we were half a mile from the station here.I never thought he cared for me the least bit; he was just like a brother to me-just like what Jack would have been if he had been bringing me here.""That's right, my dear; I am glad to hear it.Now, let us hear all about it."Lucy told the whole story of her escape and her adventures, and when she had finished her aunts nodded to each other.

"That's all very satisfactory, Lucy.It was a difficult position to be placed in, though I don't see how it was to be avoided, and the young man really seems to have hehaved very well.Don't you think so, Ada?" The younger Miss Kingston agreed, and both were prepared to receive Vincent with cordiality when he appearedThe hour had been considerably exceeded when Vincent came to the door.He felt it rather an awkward moment when he was ushered into the presence of Lucy's aunts, who could scarcely restrain an exclamation of surprise at his youth, for although Lucy had said nothing about his age, they expected to meet an older man, the impression being gained from the recital of his bravery in attacking singlehanded twelve men, and by the manner in which he had piloted the party through their dangers.

We are very glad to see you-my sister Ada and myself," Miss Kingston said, shaking hands cordially with their visitor."Lucy has been telling us all about you; but we certainly expected from what you had gone through that you were older.""I am two or three years older than she is, Miss Kingston, and Ihave gone through so much in the last three years that I feel older than I am.She has told you, I hope, that she has been good enough to promise to be my wife some day?""Yes, she has told us that, Mr.Wingfield; and although we don't know you personally, we feel sure-my sister Ada and I-from what she has told us of your behavior while you have been together that you are an honorable gentleman, and we hope and believe that you will make her happy.""I will do my best to do so," Vincent said earnestly."As to my circumstances, I shall in another year come into possession of estates sufficient to keep her in every comfort.""I have no doubt that that is all satisfactory, Mr.Wingfield, and that her father will give his hearty approval when he hears all the circumstances of the case.Now, if you will go into the next room, Mr.Wingfield, I will call her down"-for Lucy bad run upstairs when she heard Vincent knock.

"I dare say you will like a quiet talk together," she added smiling, "for she tells me you have never been alone together since you started."Lucy required several calls before she came down.A new shyness such as she had never before felt bad seized her, and it was with flushed cheeks and timid steps that she at last came downstairs, and it needed an encouraging-" Go in, you silly child, your lover will not eat you," before she turned the handle and went into the room where Vincent was expecting her.

同类推荐
  • 佛说大乘圣吉祥持世陀罗尼经

    佛说大乘圣吉祥持世陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 清史稿

    清史稿

    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。
  • Under the Greenwood Tree

    Under the Greenwood Tree

    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。
  • 金刚经感应传

    金刚经感应传

    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。
  • 乡言解颐

    乡言解颐

    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
  • 著名外交家成才故事(世界名人成才故事)

    著名外交家成才故事(世界名人成才故事)

    培根说:“用伟大人物的事迹激励青少年,远胜于一切教育。”为此,本书精选荟萃了古今中外各行各业具有代表性的有关名人,其中有政治家、外交家、军事家、谋略家、思想家、文学家、艺术家、科学家、发明家、财富家等,编成了《著名政治家成才故事》《著名外交家成才故事》《著名军事家成才故事》《著名谋略家成才故事》《著名思想家成才故事》《著名文学家成才故事》《著名艺术家成才故事》《著名科学家成才故事》《著名发明家成才故事》《著名财富家成才故事》等,阅读这些名人的成长故事,能够领略他们的人生追求与思想力量,使我们受到启迪和教益,使我们能够很好地把握人生的关健时点,指导我们走好人生道路,取得事业发展。
  • 好医生

    好医生

    二十年前保罗·法默决心医治这个世界,今天,他仍然相信自己能够。一在海地的地图上,三号公路看上去像是一条主干道,事实上,它是横穿整个中央高原最宽的路。各种超载的卡车嘶喘着闷闷的引擎,颠簸在坎坷不平的路上,扬起阵阵尘土,而更多的驴子和行人步履沉重地跋涉在这条路上,其中包括一些求医的病人。他们向C村走去,那里有“赞米拉散特”,在海地的克里奥语中就是“健康伙伴”的意思。在这样一片光秃秃的开阔地,一群水泥建筑半隐于热带绿阴中,像一些靠山的堡垒。
  • 观察记录:母爱与死亡

    观察记录:母爱与死亡

    这篇科幻小说以现实的唐山大地震和虚拟的100年后旧金山大地震为背景,描述了不同时代下的人类家庭结构和道德底线。唐山大地震中,一位母亲为了救自己的儿子,在奶水耗尽的情况下用血哺之,最后儿子活了母亲死了;旧金山大地震中,一位名义上的母亲(其女儿用其口腔上皮细胞克隆、并通过人工子宫孕育、由机器人保姆照料)在开始的情况下为其女儿想尽办法,最后无法抵挡饥饿,在理性思考后,吃掉了死去女儿的手臂最终获救。她被救出后,“21世纪的人类社会平静地接纳了她,没有舆论的指责。”
  • 非常道(实体版)

    非常道(实体版)

    这是一个关于修行的故事.左动,一个平凡的小人物,就读于N市某高中,混迹于黑白两道,没什么大理想。可正是这个没远大理想的家伙,突然间被天上掉下的好运砸到,把千年前的炼道者元神收入体内,从此开始了他的炼道旅程。从此后,在他身边的怪事不断,最要命的是,他被来自虚凡界的神使选定为地球炼道界的代表,要送往虚凡界历练。光怪离奇的世界,充满无穷变化的炼道旅程,这一切,都不能改变左动,他还是他,只想在这个世界活得开开心心,做自己想做的事,走自己想走的路,没有什么,比真真正正地做自己,更值得作为人生的目标!一个休闲的故事,一段诙谐的旅程,一种自然的态度……
  • 百位世界杰出的谋略家(上)(世界名人成功启示录)

    百位世界杰出的谋略家(上)(世界名人成功启示录)

    人类的未来充满了希望,明天的世界令我们无比期待。从历史中汲取知识,感悟人生,追求真理,是每个生活在21世纪的现代人的价值取向。在无比灿烂的历史星空中,众多世界杰出人物犹如明烁夺目的明星,让历史的时空如此地浩瀚,并给后人留下了一份极其珍贵的文化遗产与智慧结晶。期望本书能让广大读者,尤其是青少年朋友们,从世界杰出的人物身上,学习与借鉴人生的智慧,创造卓越的人生。
  • 中国人一定要知道的历史常识

    中国人一定要知道的历史常识

    在数千年的进程中,中华民族以不屈不挠的顽强意志和勇于探索的精神风貌,为自己谱写下了波澜壮阔的辉煌画卷。本书内容有:不朽的辉煌建筑,像万里长城、大运河、皇家故宫等;惊叹世人的文明创造,像指南针、造纸术、火药、印刷术等;让人感怀不已的英雄人物,像蔺相如、项羽、卫青、岳飞等。你想了解这些知识吗?那就不妨翻开本书会心一阅。
  • 烽火峥嵘

    烽火峥嵘

    生存还是毁灭,钢铁的脊梁,不屈的傲骨。一条累累白骨铺就的血路,轻声倾诉着,一将功成万骨枯……
  • 哀江南赋

    哀江南赋

    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。
  • 把星星都点亮

    把星星都点亮

    《把星星都点亮》是一部爱情与友情交织的疗愈故事。芊芊、君艾、小草、阿群与允辰五个人是好友,一天晚上每个人都接到了芊芊自杀的消息纷纷赶到医院,而四个人竟不约而同都说出了“是我害死了芊芊”为何大家会说出这样言论?这个晚上之前究竟发生了什么事?今晚几个好友之间所有的秘密都被打翻了……以五个朋友之间发生的故事为底,以每个人的视角对相同的事件做了不同的阐述,敞开心扉,袒露隐秘。当友情和爱情相冲,当朋友和爱人两难,你是选择爱我所爱,还是维护大家多年来的友情?肆一用细腻的文字讲述让人心疼又温暖的故事,献给不完美的我们和希望被拥抱的每一个人。
  • 神奇宝贝之虎跃山林

    神奇宝贝之虎跃山林

    有青年在华蓝市蛰伏十几年,在他妈妈郁郁而终后,终于如只猛虎跃于山林,步步走向世界的巅峰,惊天动地。