登陆注册
5166200000026

第26章

They returned to their decorating work on the door, and seemed to be as good friends as ever.If Penelope was to be believed, Mr.Franklin had seized the opportunity of the reconciliation to make an offer to Miss Rachel, and had neither been accepted nor refused.My girl was sure (from signs and tokens which I need not trouble you with) that her young mistress had fought Mr.Franklin off by declining to believe that he was in earnest, and had then secretly regretted treating him in that way afterwards.Though Penelope was admitted to more familiarity with her young mistress than maids generally are--for the two had been almost brought up together as children--still I knew Miss Rachel's reserved character too well to believe that she would show her mind to anybody in this way.What my daughter told me, on the present occasion, was, as I suspected, more what she wished than what she really knew.

On the nineteenth another event happened.We had the doctor in the house professionally.He was summoned to prescribe for a person whom I have had occasion to present to you in these pages--our second housemaid, Rosanna Spearman.

This poor girl--who had puzzled me, as you know already, at the Shivering Sand--puzzled me more than once again, in the interval time of which Iam now writing.Penelope's notion that her fellow-servant was in love with Mr.Franklin (which my daughter, by my orders, kept strictly secret) seemed to be just as absurd as ever.But I must own that what I myself saw, and what my daughter saw also, of our second housemaid's conduct, began to look mysterious, to say the least of it.

For example, the girl constantly put herself in Mr.Franklin's way--very slyly and quietly, but she did it.He took about as much notice of her as he took of the cat: it never seemed to occur to him to waste a look on Rosanna's plain face.The poor thing's appetite, never much, fell away dreadfully; and her eyes in the morning showed plain signs of waking and crying at night.One day Penelope made an awkward discovery, which we hushed up on the spot.She caught Rosanna at Mr.Franklin's dressing-table, secretly removing a rose which Miss Rachel had given him to wear in his button-hole, and putting another rose like it, of her own picking, in its place.She was, after that, once or twice impudent to me, when I gave her a well-meant general hint to be careful in her conduct; and, worse still, she was not over-respectful now, on the few occasions when Miss Rachel accidentally spoke to her.

My lady noticed the change, and asked me what I thought about it.Itried to screen the girl by answering that I thought she was out of health;and it ended in the doctor being sent for, as already mentioned, on the nineteenth.He said it was her nerves, and doubted if she was fit for service.

My lady offered to remove her for change of air to one of our farms, inland.

She begged and prayed, with the tears in her eyes, to be let to stop; and, in an evil hour, I advised my lady to try her for a little longer.As the event proved, and as you will soon see, this was the worst advice I could have given.If I could only have looked a little way into the future, Iwould have taken Rosanna Spearman out of the house, then and there, with my own hand.

On the twentieth, there came a note from Mr.Godfrey.He had arranged to stop at Frizinghall that night, having occasion to consult his father on business.On the afternoon of the next day, he and his two eldest sisters would ride over to us on horseback, in good time before dinner.An elegant little casket in china accompanied the note, presented to Miss Rachel, with her cousin's love and best wishes.Mr.Franklin had only given her a plain locket not worth half the money.My daughter Penelope, nevertheless--such is the obstinacy of women--still backed him to win.

Thanks be to Heaven, we have arrived at the eve of the birthday at last!

You will own, I think, that I have got you over the ground this time, without much loitering by the way.Cheer up! I'll ease you with another new chapter here--and, what is more, that chapter shall take you straight into the thick of the story.

同类推荐
  • 长歌行

    长歌行

    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。
  • 山中寄诗友

    山中寄诗友

    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。
  • To The Last Man

    To The Last Man

    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。
  • 悟真篇阐幽

    悟真篇阐幽

    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。
  • 素问要旨论

    素问要旨论

    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。
热门推荐
  • 源码战纪

    源码战纪

    一封神秘的邀请函,让陈乐游加入到了名为《序列之争》的游戏,只要能在这个游戏中获胜,就可以得到一个号称什么都能实现的愿望。为了找回多年前失踪的父亲,陈乐游和其他几位各怀愿望的玩家,在这个以现实为舞台进行的神秘游戏中展开了一幕幕的战斗。“来吧,游戏开始了。”“事到如今,你还觉得这只是一个游戏吗?”偏假面骑士向的作品,借鉴了部分假面骑士EX-AID的设定,不过并不是同人作品,同时会有各种游戏元素出现(目前已有DNF、OW、崩三、KOF、舰C),不过会经过一定程度的魔改,有兴趣的小伙伴可以点个收藏投个推荐票,或者在书评区留下你宝贵的建议和意见,每一条我都会认真去看的。
  • 世界最具影响性的文坛巨匠(2)

    世界最具影响性的文坛巨匠(2)

    我的课外第一本书——震撼心灵阅读之旅经典文库,《阅读文库》编委会编。通过各种形式的故事和语言,讲述我们在成长中需要的知识。
  • 凌云行者

    凌云行者

    数千年前,这片广袤的国土上曾经有三族人:砂金族、月兰族和汉族。砂金族好战,曾以铁蹄踏破中原,他们攻无不克战无不胜,建都京师,国名轩辕。随着时间流逝,轩辕国的皇帝越发暴虐无道,汉人起兵反之,夺回了中原的控制权,建国名为凌云,将轩辕政权赶回了极北的苦寒之地。不知何时,神秘的月兰族消失了,有人说是轩辕征讨屠尽,也有人说是瘟疫灭族。传闻轩辕国开国皇帝死前曾经留下一份神秘的宝藏,有人说满地的黄金,也有人说是长生之术,在民间广为流传。时间来到凌云国第五位皇帝宝庚帝的年代,一次意外的天灾,重启了这次追逐宝藏的赛跑。不久后,凉州鬼市,一个武艺高强、手持漆黑宝剑的魔头为了藏宝图屠尽众人的传说在江湖上广为流传,据传此人武艺高强,人称凌云行者,也有人说此人犹如鬼一般,称其鬼嗣行者。
  • 故欢,故欢

    故欢,故欢

    钟丽芳生产时遭遇大出血,老公向纪英却陪着小三张娜在楼上VIP病房保胎。产床上,生死间,钟丽芳回顾自己的一生,有笑有泪,有喜有悲。自己是天骄之女,向纪英亦为商业奇才。两人从中学的同桌相知,到大学的同居相爱,本该是爱情教科书,婚姻典范,又是什么给他们开了一个大玩笑,使得他们剧情大逆转,相亲相爱的小两口,却成了最熟悉的陌生人。故欢,故欢,一别两宽……
  • 不生病的吃法:让20种常见疾病远离你(下)

    不生病的吃法:让20种常见疾病远离你(下)

    随着人们生活水平的提高,人们的饮食结构发生了巨大的变化。人们对饮食的要求不再停留在怎样填饱肚子的问题上,而是如何合理选择食品以满足机体的各种营养需要,从而获得健康。然而,现实的情况却是,由于饮食结构的不断变化,发病率不仅居高不下,而且还在不断攀升。这一方面是由于现代人日益加大的工作学习压力,另一方面则是因为饮食。俗话说: 人食五谷杂粮,孰能无疾。”有很多人在匆忙中就餐,或者随便吃点快餐,或者吃点方便面,或者干脆不吃、偏食、饮食不平衡、饮食不合理等都是导致人体疾病的罪魁祸首。看来,饮食对于人们保持健康是至关重要的。只有做到各种食物的合理搭配,才能使人体得到各种营养,满足机体生理活动的需要。
  • 妃不爱你:爱妃哪里逃

    妃不爱你:爱妃哪里逃

    脱险后,他说:“你能不能不要这么聪明~谁有你这样的妻子都倒霉!”她毫不客气“那个人貌似是你!”她受伤,他衣不解带,“快醒醒吧,不要再睡了”“我要吃鱼!水煮鱼!”“好,你想吃什么都行。我去给你做?”他摸了摸她的头。一日“老公,你不稀罕我了”“对!”要哭“我爱你,就像老鼠爱大米,就像香烟爱火柴!”.......
  • 豪门盛宠:宫少轻轻爱

    豪门盛宠:宫少轻轻爱

    八年恩怨,八年纠葛,若不是八年前的阴差阳错,让陈若蕊条换了身份,她不会知道,那么多深藏多年的秘密。当初为了爷爷意愿,同意嫁给宮博裕,但是她自己心里清楚,自己真正爱的人,并不是他。偶然一次参加小姐选秀大赛,让陈若蕊再次遇见自己暗恋的人,虽然自己已经结婚了,依然想要和他在一起的心,却动摇了。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 三味书屋与寿氏家族

    三味书屋与寿氏家族

    本书试图以绍兴覆盆桥思仁堂寿氏家族作为首选的研究对象,力求全方位地搜集、发掘、梳理和研究这个家族史料,重点探究其清末民初鼎革时期的历史,感受其时代的风风雨雨,真实记录其文化传统的光与影,从而汲取我们所需求的思想、精神和其他有用的东西。在某种意义上讲,这个思仁堂寿氏家族就是当时社会的缩影,就是那个时代的缩影。
  • 四季调

    四季调

    林岚:我是谁?我在那?哦,穿越了?!那啥,我是来宅斗的?!可是我仨儿子加我自己都能凑一桌麻将了啊,还附带了俩贴心小棉袄,一群孩儿围着我呢,后院里小姨娘们和我斗啥?斗地主么?泠儿唉,我的囡啊,你那恨铁不成钢的眼神咋回事?乌泠:我是谁?我在那?哦,重生了?!那啥,我是来宫斗的?!嗯,作为一个合格的宫斗预备役,我的辉煌战绩必须从我家后院里的练手开始!我可是嫡母当亲生的泠姐儿,我爹再多的小姨娘都只能是我手下炮灰!母亲唉,我的娘啊,你可给争气点不?!等我宅斗出师了去宫斗了,你难道还得再生个女儿帮你么?!一对奇葩母女,携手同行的一条生命不止,折腾不息的狗血斗争路……
  • 陶夭记

    陶夭记

    陶夭本是个貌美如花的思凡小仙娥,一朝下凡,却发现自己被前世的一桩桩谜团所吸引。到底谁才是自己前世的爱人?是邪魅的冷面魔君还是痴情的神秘书生?那个深藏不露、铁骨柔情的侍卫大哥又是在干嘛?大酱南北带你揭露上古谜团……