登陆注册
5192200000014

第14章

"That's the one, Almiry," said her mother."She always had a likely look to me, an' she's right after business.I never see such a mouser for one of her age.If't wan't for William, I never should have housed that other dronin' old thing so long; but he sets by her on account of her havin' a bob tail.I don't deem it advisable to maintain cats just on account of their havin' bob tails; they're like all other curiosities, good for them that wants to see 'm twice.This kitten catches mice for both, an' keeps me respectable as I ain't been for a year.She's a real understandin'

little help, this kitten is.I picked her from among five Miss Augusta Pernell had over to Burnt Island," said the old woman, trudging along with the kitten close at her skirts."Augusta, she says to me, 'Why, Mis' Blackett, you've took and homeliest;'

and, says I, 'I've got the smartest; I'm satisfied.'""I'd trust nobody sooner'n you to pick out a kitten, mother,"said the daughter handsomely, and we went on in peace and harmony.

The house was just before us now, on a green level that looked as if a huge hand had scooped it out of the long green field we had been ascending.A little way above, the dark, spruce woods began to climb the top of the hill and cover the seaward slopes of the island.There was just room for the small farm and the forest; we looked down at the fish-house and its rough sheds, and the weirs stretching far out into the water.As we looked upward, the tops of the firs came sharp against the blue sky.There was a great stretch of rough pasture-land round the shoulder of the island to the eastward, and here were all the thick-scattered gray rocks that kept their places, and the gray backs of many sheep that forever wandered and fed on the thin sweet pasturage that fringed the ledges and made soft hollows and strips of green turf like growing velvet.I could see the rich green of bayberry bushes here and there, where the rocks made room.The air was very sweet; one could not help wishing to be a citizen of such a complete and tiny continent and home of fisherfolk.

The house was broad and clean, with a roof that looked heavy on its low walls.It was one of the houses that seem firm-rooted in the ground, as if they were two-thirds below the surface, like icebergs.The front door stood hospitably open in expectation of company, and an orderly vine grew at each side; but our path led to the kitchen door at the house-end, and there grew a mass of gay flowers and greenery, as if they had been swept together by some diligent garden broom into a tangled heap: there were portulacas all along under the lower step and straggling off into the grass, and clustering mallows that crept as near as they dared, like poor relations.I saw the bright eyes and brainless little heads of two half-grown chickens who were snuggled down among the mallows as if they had been chased away from the door more than once, and expected to be again.

"It seems kind o' formal comin' in this way," said Mrs.Todd impulsively, as we passed the flowers and came to the front doorstep; but she was mindful of the proprieties, and walked before us into the best room on the left.

"Why, mother, if you haven't gone an' turned the carpet!" she exclaimed, with something in her voice that spoke of awe and admiration."When'd you get to it? I s'pose Mis' Addicks come over an' helped you, from White Island Landing?""No, she didn't," answered the old woman, standing proudly erect, and making the most of a great moment."I done it all myself with William's help.He had a spare day, an' took right holt with me; an' 'twas all well beat on the grass, an' turned, an'

put down again afore we went to bed.I ripped an' sewed over two o' them long breadths.I ain't had such a good night's sleep for two years.""There, what do you think o' havin' such a mother as that for eighty-six year old?" said Mrs.Todd, standing before us like a large figure of Victory.

As for the mother, she took on a sudden look of youth; you felt as if she promised a great future, and was beginning, not ending, her summers and their happy toils.

"My, my!" exclaimed Mrs.Todd."I couldn't ha' done it myself, I've got to own it.""I was much pleased to have it off my mind," said Mrs.

同类推荐
  • 宋朝事实类苑

    宋朝事实类苑

    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。
  • 华严经文义要决问答

    华严经文义要决问答

    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。
  • 佛说无量门破魔陀罗尼经

    佛说无量门破魔陀罗尼经

    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。
  • 夏日独直,寄萧侍御

    夏日独直,寄萧侍御

    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。
  • 上清太极真人神仙经

    上清太极真人神仙经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 蔺少你老婆黑化了

    蔺少你老婆黑化了

    盛家的脓包小千金坠崖了,再睁眼却是凤凰涅槃。“听说没,盛家的那个软柿子黑化了!”“有多黑?”“吊打前男友、诛心好闺蜜、手撕亲姐姐、脚踩堂亲、谋夺家产……总之是个十恶不赦的狠人!”顾南欢耸肩表示无辜:“我有这么过分?”蔺沉希摸了摸自己老婆的头,挑眉哂笑:“小儿科,咱家有墨坊,你还可以再黑点!”于是,顾南欢把蔺家的老当家给揍了。
  • 执手半生

    执手半生

    推荐韩的新文《征服》为了治疗弟弟的白血病,她把自己卖给了那个禽兽一张契约、一年时光,她以为只要忍忍就会过去,却没想到这是她一生都过不去的坎她逃不出他的掌控,挣不脱他的征服她恨他逼迫她,恨他像帝王一样让她臣服在萧锐的观念里世界上只有两种东西,他想要的、他不想要的。前者他征服,后者,他摧毁。在见到叶韶光的那一刻他知道,她是他想要的,所以他毫不客气地征服只是为何到最后看着她臣服在他脚下的时候,他却没有一刻开心世事公平,你征服我的人,我征服你的心有些人是恨不相逢未嫁时,有些人却是第一最好不相见片段一又是晨光,每每叶韶光都觉得再也看不到晨光,可是第二天竟然还是能睁开双眼,身上像是颜料盘,青紫黑白齐全她挣扎着爬下床,“扑通”一声,膝盖重重地磕在大理石地面上雪白的膝盖也染上了浓重的颜色,疼痛吗?疼痛是什么?她早忘了身后大床上传来萧锐冰冷的声音,“小心点,你的身体是我的,磕坏了你拿什么赔我?”叶韶光不可抑制地颤抖,这人就是禽兽,不,说他是禽兽都辱没了禽兽,他是禽兽不如片段二阳光下她笑颜如花,在转头看向他的时候,笑容一僵,脸上立即变成了恭敬驯服的淡笑他的心猛地一缩,她不需要哭闹,不需要动手,她只要僵硬一下身体,乖顺地跟他说一声谢谢,就能让他万劫不复————————————穿越前她是修复时空的探员,穿越后她成了逃婚被抓的皇后为了生存她与皇帝利益交易,虚情假意不过掩人耳目的手段怎知她却反被手段所误,沉溺在他片刻的温柔之中柔情不过瞬间,真情也只是她的痴妄,他深爱的另有其人“你我之间不过只是交易,莫非你忘了?”他阴冷的话语,冰冻了她的希冀。当一切风平浪静,他大权在握,美人在侧她却由皇后一步步被贬为宫妃,最后打入冷宫,由权势的顶峰跌入低贱的谷底。“若是没有得到,又如何知道失去的痛苦。你给朕的羞辱,朕一刻也不敢忘。”冷宫之中,望着她被打掉的成形胎儿,他残忍如斯。他抽去她情根,却不知自己早已情根深种他情根深种,却不知她早已断了七情夜欢,欢愉的只有身没有心,受伤的却是痴情的人☆☆☆推荐好友文文:毒情话一一《冷情总裁休残妻》徐幻仪《傻妞求爱》☆☆☆某韩的群,群号:12091288敲门砖:文中任意人物名字
  • 仙帝的猫途

    仙帝的猫途

    白日飞升,神魂泯灭。仙帝沦为一只猫。说实话,还是挺急的......毕竟主人还是个妖妇。也不知道什么时候才能罢手。
  • 荒原

    荒原

    本书是一位充满才气的中学生的作品精选集,有玄妙诡异、直指人心的短篇小说,有情感璞真的散文,有守望古风、画面唯美的古典诗词。各篇有不同的背景、不同的题材:音乐奇才卡洛与杀手伊泽尔的爱情;庞涓与孙膑的情谊和仇怨;变身哑女的蝉;对来世的感想;等等。但相同的是华美文字间奇异诡谲的气氛,以及每一个深刻贴切的细枝末节——这正是这个九九年女孩所擅长的。
  • 众星界之双生星界

    众星界之双生星界

    两个世界,两个星球,两个文明,两个主角,同一本书,不同故事,不同人生——人生bsdh——为小于
  • 通天劫途

    通天劫途

    少年侠气,交结五都雄肝胆洞、毛发耸立谈中、死生同一诺千金重!世人只知玉皇大帝苦历一千七百五十劫始证天帝。那么,当主持人间兵革之权衡的天皇大帝下凡历劫,注定不凡的他是将万物刍狗,亦或是广推大徳?在这狼烟四起、烽火连天的炎凉世间,且看陈勾是如何带领众家兄弟一刀刀杀出个天下太平!
  • 天道投注站

    天道投注站

    你修炼百年,却一无所得。于是,你走进了天道投注站,花了1灵石开启“斗转星移”,中了幸运奖并获得一块“+50%修炼速度”的红领巾。你还不满足,又花了10灵石观看“华山论剑”,从11人中选出最强5人并排序,结果你运气爆棚,全部正确,获得了失传的独门神通“面目全非脚”。你还想试试运气,于是又花费2灵石购买了一注“三千大世界”,如果能中一等奖,就可以直接白日飞升了……你这样想着,踌躇满志。……这是关于一个逗比老板,利用系统的腹黑科技,在异界开了一家神奇小店的欢乐故事。新书已发,《天下无敌从读书开始》,欢迎戳进来。(本书群号:302815306,验证任意角色名入群)
  • 穿越成神棍:我只骗财不骗色

    穿越成神棍:我只骗财不骗色

    假枪当真枪,别人的头没爆着反被人爆了头,一朝穿越,杀手成了神棍,画起了花妆跳大绳。神秘的白衣少年,邪恶的痞子将军,是他的阴谋,又或是他的诡计,她都不在乎,她只想陪着自己喜欢的人一起血雨江湖,天涯海角……
  • 穿越三国之风云再起

    穿越三国之风云再起

    襄樊之战爆发,关羽威震华夏势头正劲却不知荆州后方已是暗流涌动,洞悉这一切的螟蛉之子却在上庸缺兵少将,难道蜀汉终究还是逃不过衰落的命运?且看假子刘封如何挣脱命运搅动风云!
  • 一品仵作妃

    一品仵作妃

    从现代法医穿成古代仵作,她是判冤屈、辩真相的东苑朝第一位女仵作,从继任皇子到阶下之囚,他是论逍遥,戏人间的风流倜傥的清闲王爷她历经人生百态,剖死尸、受凌辱,让死人开口说话保其性命,他游历人间各处,避手足、戏仵作,与皇兄反目只为取她信任,她这辈子剖过无数死尸,却想……剖一剖这嘴皮利索处处戏她的风流王爷,剖一剖那万人之上的冷脸帝君真假之心,剖一剖那猜不透的环环相扣狼子野心,可她怎么都剖不透的是自己的此生真情……