登陆注册
5168000000010

第10章

He immediately told me to go to Harrogate, there to await Sir Philip's reply.I should be near to one of the places connected with my search, Coldholme; not far from Sir Philip Tempest, in case he returned, and I wished to ask him any further questions; and, in conclusion, my uncle bade me try to forget all about my business for a time.

This was far easier said than done.I have seen a child on a common blown along by a high wind, without power of standing still and resisting the tempestuous force.I was somewhat in the same predicament as regarded my mental state.Something resistless seemed to urge my thoughts on, through every possible course by which there was a chance of attaining to my object.I did not see the sweeping moors when I walked out: when I held a book in my hand, and read the words, their sense did not penetrate to my brain.If I slept, I went on with the same ideas, always flowing in the same direction.This could not last long without having a bad effect on the body.I had an illness, which, although I was racked with pain, was a positive relief to me, as it compelled me to live in the present suffering, and not in the visionary researches I had been continually making before.My kind uncle came to nurse me; and after the immediate danger was over, my life seemed to slip away in delicious languor for two or three months.I did not ask--so much did I dread falling into the old channel of thought--whether any reply had been received to my letter to Sir Philip.I turned my whole imagination right away from all that subject.My uncle remained with me until nigh midsummer, and then returned to his business in London; leaving me perfectly well, although not completely strong.I was to follow him in a fortnight; when, as he said, "we would look over letters, and talk about several things." I knew what this little speech alluded to, and shrank from the train of thought it suggested, which was so intimately connected with my first feelings of illness.However, Ihad a fortnight more to roam on those invigorating Yorkshire moors.

In those days, there was one large, rambling inn, at Harrogate, close to the Medicinal Spring; but it was already becoming too small for the accommodation of the influx of visitors, and many lodged round about, in the farm-houses of the district.It was so early in the season, that I had the inn pretty much to myself; and, indeed, felt rather like a visitor in a private house, so intimate had the landlord and landlady become with me during my long illness.She would chide me for being out so late on the moors, or for having been too long without food, quite in a motherly way; while he consulted me about vintages and wines, and taught me many a Yorkshire wrinkle about horses.In my walks I met other strangers from time to time.

Even before my uncle had left me, I had noticed, with half-torpid curiosity, a young lady of very striking appearance, who went about always accompanied by an elderly companion,--hardly a gentlewoman, but with something in her look that prepossessed me in her favour.

The younger lady always put her veil down when any one approached; so it had been only once or twice, when I had come upon her at a sudden turn in the path, that I had even had a glimpse at her face.I am not sure if it was beautiful, though in after-life I grew to think it so.But it was at this time overshadowed by a sadness that never varied: a pale, quiet, resigned look of intense suffering, that irresistibly attracted me,--not with love, but with a sense of infinite compassion for one so young yet so hopelessly unhappy.The companion wore something of the same look: quiet melancholy, hopeless, yet resigned.I asked my landlord who they were.He said they were called Clarke, and wished to be considered as mother and daughter; but that, for his part, he did not believe that to be their right name, or that there was any such relationship between them.

They had been in the neighbourhood of Harrogate for some time, lodging in a remote farm-house.The people there would tell nothing about them; saying that they paid handsomely, and never did any harm;so why should they be speaking of any strange things that might happen? That, as the landlord shrewdly observed, showed there was something out of the common way he had heard that the elderly woman was a cousin of the farmer's where they lodged, and so the regard existing between relations might help to keep them quiet.

"What did he think, then, was the reason for their extreme seclusion?" asked I.

"Nay, he could not tell,--not he.He had heard that the young lady, for all as quiet as she seemed, played strange pranks at times." He shook his head when I asked him for more particulars, and refused to give them, which made me doubt if he knew any, for he was in general a talkative and communicative man.In default of other interests, after my uncle left, I set myself to watch these two people.Ihovered about their walks drawn towards them with a strange fascination, which was not diminished by their evident annoyance at so frequently meeting me.One day, I had the sudden good fortune to be at hand when they were alarmed by the attack of a bull, which, in those unenclosed grazing districts, was a particularly dangerous occurrence.I have other and more important things to relate, than to tell of the accident which gave me an opportunity of rescuing them, it is enough to say, that this event was the beginning of an acquaintance, reluctantly acquiesced in by them, but eagerly prosecuted by me.I can hardly tell when intense curiosity became merged in love, but in less than ten days after my uncle's departure I was passionately enamoured of Mistress Lucy, as her attendant called her; carefully--for this I noted well--avoiding any address which appeared as if there was an equality of station between them.

同类推荐
  • Songs From The Mountains

    Songs From The Mountains

    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。
  • 西方要决科注

    西方要决科注

    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。
  • 泛永嘉江日暮回舟

    泛永嘉江日暮回舟

    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。
  • 维摩经义记

    维摩经义记

    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。
  • 漳州府志选录

    漳州府志选录

    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
  • 盲子

    盲子

    以陕北说书为题材的一部小说,通过盲子、张存亮、张三梅、李植兴等人一生的经历,不同的年纪存在于不同的时代。不仅仅是一种对说书艺术的传承,更是对中国近百年来发展进程的一个简略写照与折射。里面巧妙的融入了中国传统文化,孔子、孟子、荀子以及他们的作品,来表达一种大传统文化和小传统文化面临当下新媒体、物质的冲击该怎么传承怎么改进怎么延续。
  • 富豪三千金

    富豪三千金

    白芷柔、白芷梅、白芷凌是一对孪生三胞胎:白芷柔最小,白芷梅是老二,白芷凌是老大。白芷梅和白芷凌因为是同卵双生的关系,所以性格、爱好都一模一样,两个人经常是争吵不断,只有白芷柔温文尔雅,外柔内刚在学校里深受黄榆槽喜欢,又善解人意。但是黄榆槽却忘记不了旧情,对夏明艳由爱转恨,从此不再提爱情,但是不知不觉爱上了白芷柔,但是不敢表白……当两个人处于热恋的时候,夏明艳突然出来要求黄榆槽的原谅,这段恋情不再太平......
  • 濯缨亭笔记

    濯缨亭笔记

    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。
  • 穿越毒医之王爷慢慢宠

    穿越毒医之王爷慢慢宠

    一朝穿越成为了将军府的大小姐,却不想母亲早亡,父亲常年征战,大哥哥外出学习,二哥哥却残疾,家中蛇蝎心肠的继母想置她于死地,处处打压她与二哥哥,穿越过来,想像以前一样欺负我和哥哥,不可能,我会让你复出更惨痛的代价。唯一没有想到的就是遇见了一个死皮赖脸的王爷,每天都要被骚扰。好烦(?ó﹏ò?)!!!
  • 我真不是商界大佬

    我真不是商界大佬

    中了2亿大奖,本想做条咸鱼,安静的收租混吃等死,没想到一不小心成了商界大佬,你让我找谁说理去?暴富的人生,就是这么枯燥……V群:728860623(满2000粉丝值)
  • tfboys之七夕再会

    tfboys之七夕再会

    牛郎织女,美丽的传说。小时候,我总认为,牛郎织女的结局是悲惨的,因为一年仅仅只有一次相见的机会,一年是多么难熬,但后来,我知道我错了,其实他们的结局是美好的,毕竟,自己的遭遇,实在是可笑……(本小说如写得不好,请见谅,谢谢。)
  • 吸血鬼男神:丫头,别想逃!

    吸血鬼男神:丫头,别想逃!

    第一次遇见他时,见他和一个女孩在争吵,她好心上前去劝,可谁知他一看见她就开口叫她老婆,第二次遇见他时,她被他强吻,而后又被迫无奈与他同居,并且他还拿出一张婚约纸,靠!这什么节奏啊这,一来这学校,先是被人叫老婆,而后又是跟人同居,再来居然还多了一张婚约???
  • 忽必烈大帝(连载4)

    忽必烈大帝(连载4)

    谁也没有料到,海都之乱竟然如此旷日持久,难以解决。那木罕一筹莫展,心急如焚,恨不得一口把海都吞了。思虑良久,才说:“这样等着让海都放归安童不可能。必须派兵去打才有可能。”昔班急忙制止,说,没有大汗的命令怎么行呢?那木罕说,只管去打,打赢了大汗也不会说什么的。大军做准备,一个月后起兵讨伐海都。
  • 再跃龙门

    再跃龙门

    上世纪八十年代末,一群来自农村的高考失利的孩子,再次走进复读班,准备他们的再一次高考。高考的压力,家长的期盼,考上大学同学的炫耀,让这伙复读生的生活变得并不轻松。梦想能否实现,只有靠自己去拯救。三十年前农村中学复读生的生活,原汁原味地展现在面前。作为过来人,就算是重温一下那个特殊的年代吧。
  • 办公室秘战:在人脉角逐中平步青云

    办公室秘战:在人脉角逐中平步青云

    在办公室里,如果你想要更快地晋升,想要平步青云,就必须学会从现在开始积累和拓展你的人脉。因为,在职场中人脉就是你的命脉,谁掌握的人脉越多谁在职场中的优势将越大。