登陆注册
5188700000033

第33章

"Forgive me," he said, "for venturing to give the man his orders in your presence.I am very anxious that you should not decide hastily.Surely we ought to hear what this lady has to say?"Horace dissented widely from his friend's opinion."It's an insult to Grace," he broke out, warmly, "to hear what she has to say!"Lady Janet nodded her head in high approval."I think so, too," said her ladyship, crossing her handsome old hands resolutely on her lap.

Julian applied himself to answering Horace first.

"Pardon me," he said."I have no intention of presuming to reflect on Miss Roseberry, or of bringing her into the matter at all.--The consul's letter," he went on, speaking to his aunt, "mentions, if you remember, that the medical authorities of Mannheim were divided in opinion on their patient's case.Some of them--the physician-in-chief being among the number--believe that the recovery of her mind has not accompanied the recovery of her body.""In other words," Lady Janet remarked, "a madwoman is in my house, and I am expected to receive her!""Don't let us exaggerate," said Julian, gently."It can serve no good interest, in this serious matter, to exaggerate anything.The consul assures us, on the authority of the doctor, that she is perfectly gentle and harm less.If she is really the victim of a mental delusion, the poor creature is surely an object of compassion, and she ought to be placed under proper care.Ask your own kind heart, my dear aunt, if it would not be downright cruelty to turn this forlorn woman adrift in the world without making some inquiry first."Lady Janet's inbred sense of justice admitted not over willingly--the reasonableness as well as the humanity of the view expressed in those words."There is some truth in that, Julian," she said, shifting her position uneasily in her chair, and looking at Horace."Don't you think so, too?" she added.

"I can't say I do," answered Horace, in the positive tone of a man whose obstinacy is proof against every form of appeal that can be addressed to him.

The patience of Julian was firm enough to be a match for the obstinacy of Horace."At any rate," he resumed, with undiminished good temper," we are all three equally interested in setting this matter at rest.I put it to you, Lady Janet, if we are not favored, at this lucky moment, with the very opportunity that we want? Miss Roseberry is not only out of the room, but out of the house.If we let this chance slip, who can say what awkward accident may not happen in the course of the next few days?""Let the woman come in," cried Lady Janet, deciding headlong, with her customary impatience of all delay."At once, Julian--before Grace can come back.Will you ring the bell this time?"This time Julian rang it."May I give the man his orders?" he respectfully inquired of his aunt.

"Give him anything you like, and have done with it!" retorted the irritable old lady, getting briskly on her feet, and taking a turn in the room to compose herself.

The servant withdrew, with orders to show the visitor in.

Horace crossed the room at the same time--apparently with the intention of leaving it by the door at the opposite end.

"You are not going away?" exclaimed Lady Janet.

"I see no use in my remaining here," replied Horace, not very graciously.

"In that case," retorted Lady Janet, "remain here because I wish it.""Certainly--if you wish it.Only remember," he added, more obstinately than ever," that I differ entirely from Julian's view.In my opinion the woman has no claim on us."A passing movement of irritation escaped Julian for the first time."Don't be hard, Horace," he said, sharply."All women have a claim on us."They had unconsciously gathered together, in the heat of the little debate, turning their backs on the library door.At the last words of the reproof administered by Julian to Horace, their attention was recalled to passing events by the slight noise produced by the opening and closing of the door.With one accord the three turned and looked in the direction from which the sounds had come.

[Next Chapter]

[Table of Contents]

同类推荐
  • 乡射礼

    乡射礼

    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。
  • 大比丘三千威仪

    大比丘三千威仪

    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。
  • 题陈正字林亭

    题陈正字林亭

    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。
  • The Man Who Could Not Lose

    The Man Who Could Not Lose

    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。
  • 顺中论

    顺中论

    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
  • 老子与世界

    老子与世界

    本书是作者多年来研究老子文化成果的文章汇集。本书选取有关老子的哲学思想和当代中国和谐小康社会研究论文23篇,是在互联网上转载的文章。其中较为突出的有“道的物质属性及其运动法则”、“老子的‘天人合一’道德观与两个文明建设发展”等文。
  • 逆水而行

    逆水而行

    霍品从鸡心湖缩回目光,眼睛又涩又胀。侧过头揉揉,眼前顿时一片模糊。一个人向霍品跑来,霍品怎么也看不清。到跟前儿,是刘会计。霍品问这么慌张,出啥事了?刘会计边揩汗边说吴乡长让霍品开会。霍品说知道了,却不动弹,目光再次抛向鸡心湖。湖水刚刚融化,泛着青色的光泽,在湖水映照下,岸边那排红房子格外刺眼。刘会计焦急地说,吴乡长让现在就去。霍品不答,却瞅着刘会计脖子上的伤痕问,又挂彩了?刘会计捂着脖子嘿嘿笑,不再催促。霍品这才往回走,慢悠悠的。霍品前后当了二十多年村长,乡政府大门进了无数次,现在却挺犯愁进去。不想见吴石。
  • 霸爱小魔女

    霸爱小魔女

    据说,听说,传说——她亲爱的冷哥哥明天就要结婚了捏?开玩笑,她如果让这场婚礼完美落幕,她就把轩辕羽姗四个字倒过来写。
  • 阴阳先生:地府摘花人

    阴阳先生:地府摘花人

    上古杀神白起,血染阴间,引得万鬼出逃,十殿阎王力压十大鬼王,大战之后使得无数冤魂,化作彼岸之花,怨念难平,白起悔悟自愿度化因果,成为地府摘花人....
  • 回首又见他

    回首又见他

    28岁的她带着亡夫留下的孩子辛苦过活,本打算凄清过一辈子,与她亡夫样貌酷似的浪荡佳士,却这般真实地出现在她的视野。他的罗曼蒂克伎俩、沾满铜腥的牛皮糖政策,是福?还是祸?她是他五指山中的玩物,还是他掌心里的最后一朵百合?
  • 茵梦长生两世缘

    茵梦长生两世缘

    一段仙侠爱恋的救世传说。文曰诗词概括故事脉络《茵梦》“一夕茵梦两生缘,三过人间两世闲。客问剑心何相守,一曲茵梦无情难。”文中荒莽乱世,三界六道,仙、龙、妖、人、凰、鬼六族演绎痴缠爱恨,权谋救世的爱情传说!
  • 爱情的面孔

    爱情的面孔

    《爱情的面孔》,由当代先锋小说家墨白创作的中篇小说。小说主要讲述一位成名作家在寻找爱情的途中所经历的种种诱惑,从而作者侧面的通过这样的故事来引领人们去思考,去反思,道德与欲望,爱情与性几者之间的辩证关系。
  • 爱恨之约

    爱恨之约

    总是会做一个很悲伤的梦,梦见你很爱我——许浮生五年牢狱,重见天日时却是旧爱订婚日,她冷漠出现,掀开A市波涛序幕。许浮生,一个时至今日依旧会令旁人津津乐道的名字。她乖戾孤僻,她冷漠孤傲,可这些却远远比不过五年前她因妒恨开车撞死旧爱心头肉的惊骇新闻。自此,许浮生三字,成为狠毒的代名词。……蒋绍霆,一个代表着神秘的名字。有关他的传闻数不胜数,权势贵胄的背景色令无数女人趋之若鹜。可‘克妻’的恐怖传闻却也令她们望而却步。他翻手云覆手雨,将一切玩弄于股掌之上。却因着一个女人的意外出现彻底打乱了步伐…………“总裁,现在是下班时间,并且……你的儿子还在隔壁。”许浮生望着光影交汇处如同蓄势待发野兽般的男人,清冷开口。“许浮生,跟我结婚。”热气喷洒在脸上,令人见血封喉般窒息。却见许浮生沉默从他腋下取出体温计。“嗯,你发烧了,39°2!”……当她顶住所有人不屑嘲讽的冷眼与冷言终于鼓足勇气为他身披婚纱那天。她从良时等到黄昏,因着敬畏他权势被邀请到现场的宾客一位位离开。只有她固执的等待着,等待着他的到来……而最后,她等来的却只有…………“蒋绍霆,你们是不是以为我是钢筋铁铸的?你们是不是以为我不会痛?你们是不是以为……”我真的能够再被伤了一次次之后,不会对爱绝望?……许我浮生,还君一梦*****简介无能,请点进正文阅读,友情提醒,进坑请勿站错队,男主素蒋大少*****
  • 仙武独尊

    仙武独尊

    一曲长恨歌,唱尽人间聚离合;一声痴情叹,诉尽红颜情难断;一腔英雄血,洒尽九州魂已绝;一柄青锋剑,执仗天下斩魔仙。修仙为尊,却是多情难舍,仗剑江湖,难断恩怨情仇。且看流云如何登上巅峰,仙武独尊!
  • 富人有什么

    富人有什么

    富人有什么?富人有的不仅是财富,更多的是创造财富的能力。财富给富人带来光环,让他们在常人的眼中显得那么高大、那么幸运。富人为什么会富?富人凭什么富?富人有什么?富人拥有的东西你一样可以拥有,你同样也可以成为富人。