登陆注册
5213900000072

第72章

No business of his! The merest sense of comradeship, then, took him once more to Dromore's after that disclosure, to prove that the word 'outside' had no significance save in his friend's own fancy;to assure him again that Sylvia would be very glad to welcome the child at any time she liked to come.

When he had told her of that little matter of Nell's birth, she had been silent a long minute, looking in his face, and then had said:

"Poor child! I wonder if SHE knows! People are so unkind, even nowadays!" He could not himself think of anyone who would pay attention to such a thing, except to be kinder to the girl; but in such matters Sylvia was the better judge, in closer touch with general thought.She met people that he did not--and of a more normal species.

It was rather late when he got to Dromore's diggings on that third visit.

"Mr.Dromore, sir," the man said--he had one of those strictly confidential faces bestowed by an all-wise Providence on servants in the neighbourhood of Piccadilly--"Mr.Dromore, sir, is not in.

But he will be almost sure to be in to dress.Miss Nell is in, sir."And there she was, sitting at the table, pasting photographs into an album--lonely young creature in that abode of male middle-age!

Lennan stood, unheard, gazing at the back of her head, with its thick crinkly-brown hair tied back on her dark-red frock.And, to the confidential man's soft:

"Mr.Lennan, miss," he added a softer: "May I come in?"She put her hand into his with intense composure.

"Oh, yes, do! if you don't mind the mess I'm making;" and, with a little squeeze of the tips of his fingers, added: "Would it bore you to see my photographs?"And down they sat together before the photographs--snapshots of people with guns or fishing-rods, little groups of schoolgirls, kittens, Dromore and herself on horseback, and several of a young man with a broad, daring, rather good-looking face."That's Oliver--Oliver Dromore--Dad's first cousin once removed.Rather nice, isn't he? Do you like his expression?"Lennan did not know.Not her second cousin; her father's first cousin once removed! And again there leaped in him that unreasoning flame of indignant pity.

"And how about drawing? You haven't come to be taught yet."She went almost as red as her frock.

"I thought you were only being polite.I oughtn't to have asked.

Of course, I want to awfully--only I know it'll bore you.""It won't at all."

She looked up at that.What peculiar languorous eyes they were!

"Shall I come to-morrow, then?"

"Any day you like, between half-past twelve and one.""Where?"

He took out a card.

"Mark Lennan--yes--I like your name.I liked it the other day.

It's awfully nice!"

What was in a name that she should like him because of it? His fame as a sculptor--such as it was--could have nothing to do with that, for she would certainly not know of it.Ah! but there was a lot in a name--for children.In his childhood what fascination there had been in the words macaroon, and Spaniard, and Carinola, and Aldebaran, and Mr.McCrae.For quite a week the whole world had been Mr.McCrae--a most ordinary friend of Gordy's.

By whatever fascination moved, she talked freely enough now--of her school; of riding and motoring--she seemed to love going very fast;about Newmarket--which was 'perfect'; and theatres--plays of the type that Johnny Dromore might be expected to approve; these together with 'Hamlet' and 'King Lear' were all she had seen.

同类推荐
  • 佛说黑氏梵志经

    佛说黑氏梵志经

    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。
  • 朱碧潭诗序

    朱碧潭诗序

    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。
  • 赛花铃

    赛花铃

    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。
  • 佛说众许摩诃帝经

    佛说众许摩诃帝经

    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。
  • 续碑传选集

    续碑传选集

    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
  • 历史事件中的个人故事

    历史事件中的个人故事

    单德兴(以下简称“单”):各位海内外的朋友好,欢迎参加这场盛会。今天我们非常荣幸能邀请到哈金先生来中央研究院欧美研究所发表演讲。平常欧美所的演讲都安排在对面的会议室,今天则特别准备了这个大会议厅,因为我们知道哈金先生的演讲会吸引很多人。这几天大家从媒体上知道哈金先生来台参加2010年台北国际书展的消息,而我在去年知道他要来台北之后就积极联系,邀请他到中研院发表演讲,因此要感谢他接受我们的邀请,促成今天这场盛会。
  • 金台集:维吾尔族诗人名作(中华大国学经典文库)

    金台集:维吾尔族诗人名作(中华大国学经典文库)

    《金台集》是元代维吾尔族诗人纳新的代表作。为危素所编,纳新通过努力学习,充分掌握了汉民族文化,在文人才子云集的京师和江南,以诗文知名于世。其诗文以游览酬唱居多,亦不乏针砭时弊之作,风格清丽,不刻意雕饰。陈垣在《元西域人华化考》中对他极为推崇。
  • 傲娇萌君你别跑

    傲娇萌君你别跑

    “为什么我得厚着脸皮帮你拉皮条呢?”她退居二线甘当绿叶,却遇上花痴室友卖友求郎。他轻抚她的手腕暧昧一吻,“要不我拜倒在你的石榴裙下?”“御姐”小秘书与“萌物”大BOSS,傲娇女王与萌系腹黑男之间相爱相杀,谁将一场惊心动魄的“反扑倒”进行到底……
  • 都市重生之逍遥邪尊

    都市重生之逍遥邪尊

    一代邪尊冯尘重生回三十年前。重活一世,他又见到了自己的父母,看到了自己的兄弟,以及那个懵懂的初恋。这一世,他站在风云变革的浪尖,对着苍穹发誓:这一世,换我来守护你们!
  • 《中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法》释义及实用指南

    《中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法》释义及实用指南

    本书为配合新修订的《中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法》的学习、研究和实施,使执法人员、司法人员以及广大公民能够结合更快、更好地理解、娴熟地掌握该法,本书的作者们在追踪老年人权益保障法修订的过程中,结合修订意见及宗旨编写了《<中华人民共和国老年人权益保障法>释义及实用指南》一书。与一般的学术研究与论文著述不同,本书紧扣老年人权益保障法条文的立法、修订的主旨、立法原意进行解读,突出简洁性、实用性和理论性的结合,具有鲜明的特点。
  • 毒夫难驯

    毒夫难驯

    望月皇后,育有一女,人前男装,名唤瑾玉。桃花美目,身在何处,皆有贵女,争她做夫。【黑东珠和头盖骨】瑾玉皇子在机缘巧合之下得一黑东珠,邻国公主听闻,扬言要得美男也要东珠。“公主如此喜欢,可敢与我打赌?”公主傲然道:“有何不敢?!”“公主好气魄!若你赢了,给你我的黑东珠,若我赢了,我要你——”在公主欣喜的含情目下,接着道,“的头盖骨。”“为何?!”“拿你的头盖骨当碗使!”【脑残篇】“脑残的意思就是你满脑子血雨腥风,思想残忍。”她道:“所以我说你脑残。”他点头,“原来如此,那么你也脑残,莫要否认。”“你说什么?!”“不止如此,你的父皇母后,三皇兄四皇兄八皇妹,思想都极为残暴,我可不可以认为,你全家都脑残?”“你才全家都脑残!”“不,我妹还是很善良的。”————————————————————云若梁王,府有一男,公子倾城,却是男宠。公主惧怕,皇子胆寒。貌比妖孽,心似蛇蝎。【美公子和俏寡妇】茶楼里,有绝色姿容的绛衣公子,对着一名年过而立的中年美妇示爱——“在下对小姐一见钟情,愿以十里红妆迎娶,不知小姐可否愿意?”茶楼一众看官皆瞠目结舌。“公子,你这是何苦?”美妇人掩面啜泣,“君生倾城色,我却将迟暮,何德何能......”公子弯眉一笑,“我不是以貌取人之人。”美妇继续啜泣:“能被公子看上当真是幸事,奈何天公不作美。我生君未生,君生我已老......”公子银牙一咬,“年龄不是问题。”美妇依然啜泣,:“公子美意,我心领了,但夫君虽离世已久,我却不想再嫁他人......”公子眼角一跳,“东方瑾玉,你再给我胡说八道试试看!什么叫我离世已久?还不把你脸上那层难看到死的人皮面具给我揭了!”【长发及腰篇】月上柳梢头,人约黄昏后。和风正清,假山之后——“你何时才能不那么幼稚,我看你真是皮痒了欠收拾!”“本王之所以幼稚,乃是因为缺少管教,若能娶一王妃来收收我的骨,本王很乐意收敛。”男子的声音宛如温玉而又慢条斯理。“哦,可是找到合适的人选?”“两年前有个女子曾问我,待她长发及腰,我娶她为妻可好。”“然后呢?”“然后——”温和的嗓音在一瞬间倏地提高了分贝,“你他大爷的都长发及脚了!还不兑现诺言,要及腰才算是么?我替你一刀剪了可好!”黑夜之中,有利芒划过——“别,有话好说,别剪我头发!”*
  • 顾少的蜜爱娇妻

    顾少的蜜爱娇妻

    我为了报复变心的前男友,才故意接近他,来到他身边。可是,阴差阳错的我们竟然走到了一起。他一反在外人面前的高冷,宠我爱我,待我若稀世珍宝……情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 神武双修

    神武双修

    宅男叶飞,被一块从天而降的陨石砸中,转生在一个被家族放弃的废材少主身上,从此踏上了一条争夺武道至尊的残酷征途。层出不穷的天才,凶恶嗜血的妖兽,蛰伏万年的异魔……叶飞用拳头告诉他们,管你是什么玩意,只要挡了老子的路,统统给我趴下!九天十地,唯我独尊!
  • 自然大玩家

    自然大玩家

    即将从农业大学毕业的顾楷文,意外获得自然意识的青睐,从此踏上人生巅峰!无论是名贵的花草树木,还是美味的山珍海鲜,亦或者珍稀药材,统统尽在途中...顾楷文:作为一个幸运的人,我当然要成为一名大玩家!
  • 过得刚好

    过得刚好

    郭德纲亲笔作品,讲述人生四十年的江湖过往,知无不言,言无不尽。迄今为止,唯一人生回顾,荣辱浮沉,冷暖自知,自浊自清自安然。书中的文字记录了郭德纲这些年的心路历程以及对人生、相声艺术、生活的感悟和思考,行文冷静,不煽情,不夸张,不做作,不隐瞒,不回避。本书有着极其鲜明的郭式风格,嬉笑怒骂皆成文章,妙语连珠,文字独特,语言幽默风趣,读之不禁令人捧腹,为我们营造了一份无与伦比的阅读快感,这份快感和他的相声作品一样过瘾。即使面对着台下无人的惨淡局面,郭德纲依然保持着他的幽默感。