登陆注册
5212300000005

第5章

The chair ran forward on its amicable castors as a carriage was heard to stop outside.Mr.Ferdinand flung open the portal, and the Prophet glided out excitedly upon the step.

"Well?" he cried, "well?"

A footman, in a long drab coat with red facings, was preparing to get off the box of a smart brougham, but before he could reach the pavement, a charming head, covered with a lace cap, was thrust out of the window, and a musical and almost girlish voice cried,--"All nonsense, Hennessey, all rubbish! Saturn don't know what he's talkin' about.Look!"The carriage door was vivaciously opened from the inside and a delightful little old lady, dressed in brown silk, with a long, cheerful pointed nose, rosy cheeks, and chestnut hair--that almost mightn't have been a wig in certain lights--prepared to leap forth without waiting for the reverent assistance that the Prophet, flanked by Mr.Ferdinand and Gustavus, was in waiting to afford.

As she jumped, she began to cry, "Not much wrong with me, is there, Hennessey?" but before the sentence was completed she had caught her neat foot in her brown silk gown, had stumbled from the step of the carriage to the pavement, had twisted her pretty ankle, had reeled and almost fallen, had been caught by the Prophet and Mr.Ferdinand, borne tenderly into the hall, and placed in the armchair which the terrified Gustavus, with almost enraged ardour, drove forward to receive her.As she sank down in it, helpless, Mrs.Merillia exclaimed, with unabated vivacity,--"It's happened, Hennessey, it's happened! But it was my own doin' and yours.You shouldn't have prophesied at your age, and I shouldn't have jumped at mine.

"Dearest grannie!" cried the Prophet, on his knees beside her, "how grieved, how shocked I am! Is it--is it--""Sprained, Hennessey?"

He nodded.Mechanically Mr.Ferdinand nodded.Gustavus let his powdered head drop, too, in imitation of his superiors.

"I'll tell you in the drawin'--room."

She placed her pretty, mittened hands upon the arms of the chair, and gave a little wriggle, trying to get up.Then she cried out musically,--"No, I must be carried up.Mr.Ferdinand!""Ma'am!"

"Is Gustavus to be trusted?"

"Trusted, ma'am!" cried Mr.Ferdinand, looking at Gustavus, who had assumed an expression of pale and pathetic dignity."Trusted--a London footman! Oh, ma'am!"His voice failed.He choked and began to rummage in the pocket of his black tail coat for his perfumed handkerchief.

"T'st, t'st! I mean his arms," said Mrs.Merillia, patting her delicate hands quickly on the chair."Can he carry me?"The countenance of Mr.Ferdinand cleared, while Gustavus eagerly extended his right arm, bent it sharply, and allowed his magnificent biceps to rise up in sudden majesty.Mrs.Merillia was reassured.

"Hoist me to the drawin'-room, then," she said."Hennessey, will you walk behind?"The procession was formed, and the little old lady proceeded by a succession of jerks to the upper floor, her silk gown rustling against the balusters, and her tiny feet dangling loosely in mid-air, while her long and elegant head nodded each time Mr.Ferdinand and Gustavus pranced carefully sideways to a higher step.The Prophet followed solicitously behind, with hands outstretched to check any dangerous recoil.His face was very grave, but not entirely unhappy.

"Set me down by the fire," said Mrs.Merillia, when she found herself being smoothly propelled through the atmosphere of the drawing-room.

The menials obeyed with breathless assiduity.

"And now bring me a sandwich, a glass of toast and water and a fan, if you please.Yes, put the footstool well under me.""Dearest grannie," said the Prophet, when the men had retired, "are you in great pain?""No, Hennessey.Are you?"

Mrs.Merillia's green eyes twinkled.

"I!"

"Yes, at my accident.For my ankle is sprained, I'm almost sure, and Ishall have to lie up presently in wet bandages.Tell me, are you really pained that I have had the accident you prophesied?"She glanced from her grandson to the telescope that pointed toward the stars and back again.

"I am, indeed, sincerely grieved," the Prophet answered with genuine emotion.

"Yes.But if I'd jumped out all right, and was sittin' here now in a perfect condition of health, you'd have been sincerely grieved, too.""I hope not, grannie," said the Prophet.But he looked meditative.

Mr.Ferdinand brought the toast and water, the sandwich and the fan.

When he had trodden across the carpet out of the room Mrs.Merillia continued,--"Hennessey, you see where this prophetic business is leadin' you.It has made you charmed at my accident.Yes, it has."She spoke without any pathos, humorously indeed, in a bright tone full of common sense.And she nodded at him over her toast and water with a chaffing, demure smile.But the Prophet winced and put his hand to his thick brown hair.

同类推荐
  • 六即义

    六即义

    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。
  • 佛说九色鹿经

    佛说九色鹿经

    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。
  • 道德玄经原旨

    道德玄经原旨

    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 of the Forest

    The Man of the Forest

    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。
  • 文王官人

    文王官人

    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
  • 不那么纯真的年代

    不那么纯真的年代

    这是一个轻松自然的的创业故事。重生归来的张十三,从办暑假班开始,踩着时代的节点,一步一步建立自己的商业集团。从小富即安到自我实现,让这个不那么纯真这个年代变得色彩斑斓。
  • 博士们

    博士们

    A州大学是A州地面上的最高学府,不是说A州地面没有大学,电大业大职大医专建专什么的还是有的,但A州大学是正牌的省属本科大学。假如有人不服气,A大人就说,我们A大有60个博士,你们有吗?不服气的人便伸了伸舌头,不再说话。大家都知道,教授其他学校还是有几个的,但博士就不同了,A州包括所辖县区3万平方公里,500万人口当中,只有3个博士:市立医院1个,市园林局1个,市城建局1个。所以,博士是A大一道靓丽的风景线,魅力四射。你在A大的校园走,不小心,就会遇到一位博士。
  • 涩红颜步步成妃

    涩红颜步步成妃

    【更新稳定】刚遭遇了背叛,可一穿越,她就把对方给得罪!他是权倾天下的王,她是寄他篱下的罪臣之女,他冷酷霸道,可是却有一抹温柔环绕:“在世界上能和你交换的东西,根本不存在!”,天,你在逼迫我负责嘛!可是在她交付了自己后又惨被出卖:她恨恨:“原来那一夜的凌乱于你,是没有爱的。”在焚烧的祭台上她的剑狠狠刺入……貌似前世爱人的容颜再度出现,太子为了她遇佛杀佛,黑夜里一双手始终操控着这一切……究竟这生生世世的情殇如何能断?
  • 心态决定状态

    心态决定状态

    西方有智者说过,你改变不了客观,但可以改变主观;你改变不了环境,但可以改变心境;你改变不了他人,但可以改变自己;你改变不了事实,但可以改变态度;你改变不了过去,但可以改变现在;你不能控制他人,但可以掌控自己;你不能样样顺利,但可以事事尽心;你不能左右天气,但可以改变心情;你不能选择容貌,但可以展现笑容。心态决定状态,这就是你主导人生境况的砝码。
  • 教你学帆船·帆板

    教你学帆船·帆板

    水上运动是集竞争性、观赏性和刺激性于一体的、富有现代文明特征的竞技体育项目。它是为了区别于陆上和空中体育项目,全部过程或主要过程都在水下、水面或水上进行的体育项目。
  • 电视连续剧故事结构解析

    电视连续剧故事结构解析

    电视连续剧的开场戏与电视连续剧的艺术形态有着紧密的联系,因此首先要把电视连续剧的艺术形态作为本书的前提加以研究。电视连续剧的开场戏与电影、话剧相比既有共性也有特殊性。就三者的共性而言,作为艺术品,它们的艺术形态必须是完整的;就其特殊性而言,电视连续剧的形态与电影、话剧的形态有着质的区别。什么是电视剧的形态?“形态”一词,《辞海》解释为:“形状神态。也指事物在一定条件下的表现形式”;《现代汉语词典》解释为:“事物的形状或表现”;《现代汉语规范词典》解释为:“事物的表现形式”。
  • 秀色田园:异能农女要驯夫

    秀色田园:异能农女要驯夫

    推荐小紫的另外一本异能文《绝色特工:腹黑王爷异能妃》一个本在孤儿院长大的人,在结婚前夕才知道自己被骗,一场车祸离奇穿越。重生在古代,成为村里最穷的人,她利用二十一世纪的知识,种田,酿酒一起抓,看他如何调教土匪相公,并且成为这个村名副其实的种田能人。情节虚构,请勿模仿!
  • 战龙凌神

    战龙凌神

    傲家本是龙神遗脉,傲云龙一个被废丹田的废物,机缘巧合激活体内上古流传的龙神血晶,开启龙神宝藏,没有丹田看我凝结先天龙胎,以龙胎孕育本命真龙,破而后立,从新修炼,龙血沸腾,纵横四海,八荒六合,唯我独尊!肉身化龙,逆天而行,经历重重杀劫,万千雷劫洗礼,以大无畏之心,遇强越强的斗志,吞噬天地的战意……千锤百炼,终成九天十地傲视苍穹宇宙的一代盖世战龙!
  • 三十六计(中华文化书系)

    三十六计(中华文化书系)

    本书主要包括:胜战计、敌战计、攻战计、混战计、并战计等。第一计瞒天过海,备周则意怠;常见则不疑。阴在阳之内,不在阳之对。太阳,太阴。防备得周全严密,往往容易大意,常见的事情就不会引起怀疑。机密往往隐藏在公开的事物里,而不在公开事物的对立面上。极大公开的事物里有极大的机密。
  • 密藏开禅师遗稿

    密藏开禅师遗稿

    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。