登陆注册
5200800000070

第70章

"Becky, I was such a fool! Such a fool! I never thought we might want to come back! No -- I can't find the way.It's all mixed up.""Tom, Tom, we're lost! we're lost! We never can get out of this awful place! Oh, why DID we ever leave the others!"She sank to the ground and burst into such a frenzy of crying that Tom was appalled with the idea that she might die, or lose her reason.He sat down by her and put his arms around her; she buried her face in his bosom, she clung to him, she poured out her terrors, her unavailing regrets, and the far echoes turned them all to jeering laughter.Tom begged her to pluck up hope again, and she said she could not.He fell to blaming and abusing himself for getting her into this miserable situation; this had a better effect.She said she would try to hope again, she would get up and follow wherever he might lead if only he would not talk like that any more.For he was no more to blame than she, she said.

So they moved on again -- aimlessly -- simply at random -- all they could do was to move, keep moving.For a little while, hope made a show of reviving -- not with any reason to back it, but only because it is its nature to revive when the spring has not been taken out of it by age and familiarity with failure.

By-and-by Tom took Becky's candle and blew it out.This economy meant so much! Words were not needed.Becky understood, and her hope died again.She knew that Tom had a whole candle and three or four pieces in his pockets -- yet he must economize.

By-and-by, fatigue began to assert its claims; the children tried to pay attention, for it was dreadful to think of sitting down when time was grown to be so precious, moving, in some direction, in any direction, was at least progress and might bear fruit; but to sit down was to invite death and shorten its pursuit.

At last Becky's frail limbs refused to carry her farther.She sat down.Tom rested with her, and they talked of home, and the friends there, and the comfortable beds and, above all, the light! Becky cried, and Tom tried to think of some way of comforting her, but all his encouragements were grown threadbare with use, and sounded like sarcasms.Fatigue bore so heavily upon Becky that she drowsed off to sleep.Tom was grateful.He sat looking into her drawn face and saw it grow smooth and natural under the influence of pleasant dreams; and by-and-by a smile dawned and rested there.The peaceful face reflected somewhat of peace and healing into his own spirit, and his thoughts wandered away to bygone times and dreamy memories.While he was deep in his musings, Becky woke up with a breezy little laugh -- but it was stricken dead upon her lips, and a groan followed it.

"Oh, how could! I sleep! I wish I never, never had waked! No! No, I don't, Tom! Don't look so! I won't say it again.""I'm glad you've slept, Becky; you'll feel rested, now, and we'll find the way out.""We can try, Tom; but I've seen such a beautiful country in my dream.I reckon we are going there.""Maybe not, maybe not.Cheer up, Becky, and let's go on trying."They rose up and wandered along, hand in hand and hopeless.They tried to estimate how long they had been in the cave, but all they knew was that it seemed days and weeks, and yet it was plain that this could not be, for their candles were not gone yet.A long time after this -- they could not tell how long -- Tom said they must go softly and listen for dripping water -- they must find a spring.They found one presently, and Tom said it was time to rest again.Both were cruelly tired, yet Becky said she thought she could go a little farther.She was surprised to hear Tom dissent.She could not understand it.They sat down, and Tom fastened his candle to the wall in front of them with some clay.Thought was soon busy; nothing was said for some time.Then Becky broke the silence:

"Tom, I am so hungry!"

Tom took something out of his pocket.

"Do you remember this?" said he.

Becky almost smiled.

"It's our wedding-cake, Tom."

"Yes -- I wish it was as big as a barrel, for it's all we've got.""I saved it from the picnic for us to dream on, Tom, the way grown-up people do with wedding-cake -- but it'll be our --"She dropped the sentence where it was.Tom divided the cake and Becky ate with good appetite, while Tom nibbled at his moiety.There was abundance of cold water to finish the feast with.By-and-by Becky suggested that they move on again.Tom was silent a moment.Then he said:

"Becky, can you bear it if I tell you something?"Becky's face paled, but she thought she could.

"Well, then, Becky, we must stay here, where there's water to drink.That little piece is our last candle!"Becky gave loose to tears and wailings.Tom did what he could to comfort her, but with little effect.At length Becky said:

"Tom!"

"Well, Becky?"

"They'll miss us and hunt for us!"

"Yes, they will! Certainly they will!"

"Maybe they're hunting for us now, Tom."

"Why, I reckon maybe they are.I hope they are.""When would they miss us, Tom?"

同类推荐
  • 皇明名僧辑略

    皇明名僧辑略

    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。
  • 太上妙始经

    太上妙始经

    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。
  • 平斋词

    平斋词

    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。
  • 春雨

    春雨

    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。
  • 方洲杂言

    方洲杂言

    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
  • 穿越之魔女逆袭

    穿越之魔女逆袭

    天使面孔魔鬼身材的小魔女范晓蕾,被迫穿越异时空,成为玄武国的公主,却被迫要她去和亲,做什么救世主?关键还是别人的替身侯补,乖乖,她可没这么伟大的牺牲精神,这么不划算的买卖她可不干,其间遇到冷酷傲然的冷傲辰,还有桀骜不驯的冥夜少主,对她一见钟情的玄武国年轻的皇帝公孙玄,和青梅竹马的李成俊,嗯——到底哪个才是他的真命天子啊?
  • 妾妖娆

    妾妖娆

    太坑爹了!一觉醒来,她竟然穿越成一名声名狼藉的弃妃!这弃妃的相公和新欢眼睁睁的见着她落湖身亡,不顾她的生死,一旁恩恩爱爱?!末了,还给她添了个罪名,通奸?!丫丫的,既然如此,别怪她这人不优雅大度,既然要玩,必要玩的你求生不得,求死不能!众人只知她是受人唾弃的弃妃,岂知她温柔绝美的面容下是另外一个绝顶腹黑卑鄙的灵魂。又怎知这灵魂的强大,世间无人能出其右!环环相扣的阴谋,隐晦不明的诡计,皆妄想让她入局?笑话!以她为棋子,她必以天下为棋,乱他棋局,她非要在这片浑水之中搅起腥风血雨!女主超级腹黑,回眸妖娆一笑,乱世风云变!欣赏片段一:蓝天白云,好天气。青山绿水,好景色。一男一女,一小包子。“宸王叔叔,为什么捂着天儿的眼睛?”女子没心没肺的看了眼小包子,轻描淡写道:“你的宸王叔叔怕你学坏。”男子修长白皙的手指尖儿轻轻颤抖了一下,“慕容依……”“不就是宸王叔叔想亲娘的嘴嘴么,宸王叔叔不用偷偷摸摸的,娘说偷偷摸摸的是偷情,通奸,不怀好心,心存歹心,心肠歹毒,偷鸡摸狗……”小包子嘟着红嫩嫩嘴奶声奶气道。偷鸡摸狗?男子嘴角猛地一抽,看向正在努力维持风轻云淡,潇洒不羁姿态的女子。片段欣赏二:“你拒绝嫁给本王?”某男隐忍着怒气质问着面前优哉游哉修指甲的女子。女子抽空抬头扫了一眼某男,漫不经心的回道:“你太看得起我了,我真配不上那贵妾之位。”“慕容依,你还在妄想什么?!”女子噗哧笑出声,态度还是气死人不偿命的说道:“想你……滚!”*舒歌新文,绝对女强,相信舒歌内容绝对精彩,更新同样有保证。希望亲们多多支持,收藏。
  • 坏皇后

    坏皇后

    她冷心冷情,从不懂爱情是何物,身边不乏几个对眼的床伴,但从来没有想过走进婚姻的殿堂,年近三十,终于在父亲临终遗言的要求下,答应嫁人,婚礼结束,她不过小憩片刻,却莫名来到一个历史上没有的时空,成为了东秦国的皇后。从此,皇后大变性------------精彩片段一:“住手!呦!姐姐这是在干什么?打狗还要看主人呢,刘嬷嬷尽心尽力的照顾小公主,她倒是犯了什么大逆不道的事情了让姐姐下这么狠的毒手?”青阅眼睛淡淡的扫了进来的女人一眼,懒得理她,对停下来的三个小太监道:“打够三十了?”小太监战战兢兢:“没,没呢。”“继续。”精彩片段二:“来人,陈谨之污蔑朕,辱骂皇后,拉去午门五马分尸,挫骨扬灰!其家人,诛九族!”“皇上,陈谨之对你可是忠心耿耿,你这样对待忠良,不怕天下百姓对你寒心,颠覆你的万里江山吗?”“如果我连自己心爱的女人都不能保护,还坐什么江山?青青,我爱你,不论任何人,胆敢伤害你,朕,定斩不饶!”--------------正规简介在这里:这就是一个不懂爱情的女人在懂得了爱情之后的有情与无情,爱人与被爱,接受与不接受的一首泣泣长歌。——————————【推荐区——完结文】草居涯《我们结婚吧》颖初《毒寵药妾》:---------------------【连载中】初行《逆仙》:桃花隐《妖妾》:
  • 变相怪盗的小克星

    变相怪盗的小克星

    校园里出现了一系列的怪事,侦探小超人丁奇奇和高大虎凭借神秘工具揭开了怪事之秘,变相怪盗终于真相大白。
  • 遗教经论

    遗教经论

    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。
  • 风花间事

    风花间事

    在最美好的年华,遇见最美的你,在最烂漫的青春,花开荼靡。当摄影师和舞者成了邻居,啧啧,天作之合……男主毒舌傲娇有点小别扭,女主独立积极有点小自卑,两个人在一起,其实也是一种相互治愈的过程。
  • 婚后爱上我的总裁老公(大结局)

    婚后爱上我的总裁老公(大结局)

    父母去世已经十年了,只是在她刚满二十岁的时候,发现一个母亲放日记和信件的小盒子,竟然她还有一门娃娃亲,觉得这个是母亲在天堂的安排,所以她毅然去和那家人见面~~~亲们,这个文就要结束了!谢谢大家一直的支持!第一次写文真的有点生疏,所以很谢谢大家一直以来的支持!《收服头号花心总裁》http://m.wkkk.net/a/87876/《逃家的精灵公主》http://m.wkkk.net/a/96005/《恋旧总裁俏妈咪》(安雅的故事)http://m.wkkk.net/a/108253/QQ群号:74313257希望大家能给我宝贵的意见!你们的支持是我最大的动力和最长久的灵感!o(∩_∩)o...o(∩_∩)o...o(∩_∩)o...
  • 乡愁里的广东

    乡愁里的广东

    乡村隐藏着大美,她往往是一个地方本土特色文化的最直接载体,也是理解一个地方的过往和未来的入口。在这本书里,我们从靠近海岸线的渔村,到城市周边的乡村,再到深藏在大山里的山村;从岭南水乡,到瑶族山寨,到海岛村落;一路走访,一路记录广东乡村的山水、建筑、故事和人情,追寻乡村才有的安静与美好,为你呈现一个你可能不甚了解的广东世界。
  • 玫瑰与号角

    玫瑰与号角

    巫师与魔法师的纠葛,巨龙与神灵的过往,教廷与帝国的合作,这里没有冰与火的对抗,只有玫瑰与号角的传说。
  • 畸形年代

    畸形年代

    畸形年代,故事发生在1928年前后,整个故事的进行,每个人物之间都有很大的关系;所有的故事都围绕着奉泽县的仙城山镇和一个比较繁华的,我们就叫这个地方为大都会吧。由这两座城市围绕着进行。你问我是谁,我只是个过路的行人。故事马上开始,请你不要离开。