登陆注册
5220400000138

第138章

Nervous look-The bookseller's wife-The last stake-Terms-God forbid!-Will you come to tea?-A light heart.

ON arriving at the bookseller's shop,I cast a nervous look at the window,for the purpose of observing whether the paper had been removed or not.To my great delight the paper was in its place;with a beating heart I entered,there was nobody in the shop;as Istood at the counter,however,deliberating whether or not I should call out,the door of what seemed to be a back-parlour opened,and out came a well-dressed lady-like female,of about thirty,with a good-looking and intelligent countenance.'What is your business,young man?'said she to me,after I had made her a polite bow.'I wish to speak to the gentleman of the house,'said I.'My husband is not within at present,'she replied;'what is your business?'

'I have merely brought something to show him,'said I,'but I will call again.''If you are the young gentleman who has been here before,'said the lady,'with poems and ballads,as,indeed,I know you are,'she added,smiling,'for I have seen you through the glass door,I am afraid it will be useless;that is,'she added with another smile,'if you bring us nothing else.''I have not brought you poems and ballads now,'said I,'but something widely different;I saw your advertisement for a tale or a novel,and have written something which I think will suit;and here it is,'I added,showing the roll of paper which I held in my hand.'Well,'

said the bookseller's wife,'you may leave it,though I cannot promise you much chance of its being accepted.My husband has already had several offered to him;however,you may leave it;give it me.Are you afraid to intrust it to me?'she demanded somewhat hastily,observing that I hesitated.'Excuse me,'said I,'but it is all I have to depend upon in the world;I am chiefly apprehensive that it will not be read.''On that point I can reassure you,'said the good lady,smiling,and there was now something sweet in her smile.'I give you my word that it shall be read;come again to-morrow morning at eleven,when,if not approved,it shall be returned to you.'

I returned to my lodging,and forthwith betook myself to bed,notwithstanding the earliness of the hour.I felt tolerably tranquil;I had now cast my last stake,and was prepared to abide by the result.Whatever that result might be,I could have nothing to reproach myself with;I had strained all the energies which nature had given me in order to rescue myself from the difficulties which surrounded me.I presently sank into a sleep,which endured during the remainder of the day,and the whole of the succeeding night.I awoke about nine on the morrow,and spent my last threepence on a breakfast somewhat more luxurious than the immediately preceding ones,for one penny of the sum was expended on the purchase of milk.

At the appointed hour I repaired to the house of the bookseller;the bookseller was in his shop.'Ah,'said he,as soon as I entered,'I am glad to see you.'There was an unwonted heartiness in the bookseller's tones,an unwonted benignity in his face.

'So,'said he,after a pause,'you have taken my advice,written a book of adventure;nothing like taking the advice,young man,of your superiors in age.Well,I think your book will do,and so does my wife,for whose judgment I have a great regard;as well I may,as she is the daughter of a first-rate novelist,deceased.I think I shall venture on sending your book to the press.''But,'

同类推荐
  • 佛说大乘善见变化文殊师利问法经

    佛说大乘善见变化文殊师利问法经

    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。
  • 唐六典

    唐六典

    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。
  • 北窗炙輠录

    北窗炙輠录

    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 RAPE OF LUCRECE

    THE RAPE OF LUCRECE

    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。
  • 东巡记

    东巡记

    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
  • 曾国藩的启示

    曾国藩的启示

    《曾国藩的启示》延续曾教授独特的曾氏风格,评古论今,小中见大,通俗易懂,幽默睿智,微小细节中明大道理,平实讲述中显大智慧,深合古人“文章之道”,读者定能从曾国藩通过奋斗而逆转的一生与曾教授的独到解读中获得从未有过的启示与激励。
  • 星爆

    星爆

    小男孩:爷爷,现在会有外星人来吗?爷爷:傻孩子,外星人的小朋友也要上学的,他们现在都在睡觉了。小男孩:那我也睡觉了,明天比外星人的小朋友还要早到幼儿园。
  • 此案不关风与月

    此案不关风与月

    林岚本是个私家侦探,干着找找失踪人口,抓抓出墙红杏的活当,不曾想一朝穿越,来了个柯南体质,走到哪命案跟到哪。捡了个郡主身份不说,还白捡了个未婚夫,嗯。。。。看在你长的这么帅的份上,我就收了你吧。本文是正经的破案文。
  • 绚烂的曙光

    绚烂的曙光

    天将明,曙光启。"希望您能像当年那样屹立不倒。""老张!""你们走吧!我要陪着我的爱人……""快走吧,这里已经成了地狱!""曙光!要怎么样才能强制装甲超生命战衣?"跑起来吧!快跑起来!"就凭你!带不走我的女人。""大彪!你这个臭婊子,劳资一定会弄死你!一定!"观海潮,驭天狼。"那是什么?天怎么被它吃掉了一角!""那是鱼,鲲鱼,那不是天,那是鸟,黑压压的鸟群!"铁血孤城,汹英魂!"我们不能再内耗了!留给我们的时间不多了。"急急急!你到底在哪里?"没有你,我的天空就是黑色的!"他来了,带着燃烧的火焰,那是怒火,滔天的怒火。一人至千军破,山崩地裂,雷云千卷。
  • 青少年应知的100个高科技知识

    青少年应知的100个高科技知识

    在科学技术快速发展的今天,一个人民族的素养一个国家科技知识普及的程度,从根本上决定着这个国家和民族的生产力和文化发展水平。为此,我们一定要用科学普及工作引导广大青少年形成健康文明的生活方式,在全体少年儿童中形成鼓励创新、反对伪科学的良好氛围。
  • 繁幸之味

    繁幸之味

    不过就是应付长辈吃个饭嘛?以为的一面缘分?竟然只是一个开始? 他为什么会来相亲呢?太奇怪了?那天我穿了鞋子回来,却把心留在了那里! 有人喜欢雨天,有人喜欢晴天,就跟感情一样,阴晴不定,喜怒无常。 不要可怜那些可恨的人,他们并不值得同情。
  • 猎爱游戏:早安,金主大人

    猎爱游戏:早安,金主大人

    本文又名《偏执大佬的心尖宠》 帝城权贵江易衡有个捧在心尖上的娇宠“妹妹”,世人皆羡。 可唯有苏安颜拼了命的想要逃离。 当这种关系走向深渊的时候,她终于拿出所有勇气狠狠一推。“放了我……”“安安又病了,不然怎么会说胡话。”他面色温凉,薄唇轻动,如同第一次见面那般,只是,那双讳莫如深的眸内是她惨白无力的脸。她自以为百毒不侵,原来仅仅是中毒未深。 当一切落尽,江易衡看着空荡的别墅,突兀的笑了。 实际上,有病的人是他。 江易衡有病,病入膏肓药石无医,唯苏安颜是药。
  • 神级大药师

    神级大药师

    苦逼医学僧李东被系统钓鱼了面对随时可能被废掉的惩罚,李东表示:不要怂,生死看淡,就是干..............................................................................新书《钢铁大侠》已经上传,各位兄弟姐妹多多支持灭霸打起响指的那一刻,王俊灰飞烟灭,魂穿到平行空间这里灵气复苏,生命觉醒,高武可以练,魔法随意耍在这个到处都是觉醒者和妖兽的世界里,王俊这个未觉醒者感觉压力很大嗯,还好有一套钢铁战甲
  • 羊角口哨

    羊角口哨

    《羊角口哨》来自大凉山的彝族写作者阿微木依萝,本书收录的六部中短篇小说浸润着陌生的异质,与作者阿微特殊的生活经验和民族文化背景息息相关。阿微木依萝以其无法归类的直觉性写作,展现人在生与死的界限中仍然不可摆脱的困境。在多视角的平行叙述中,日常生活的艰难和缺失渐渐显露,就像从河里浮上来的破碎的石头。故事中的人物徘徊在阴阳两界,向死而生,向生而死。命定的道路上,亡灵们依然无法摆脱自己的影子,那是荒凉的苦痛,混沌的爱恋,莫辩的是非。
  • 神医太子妃

    神医太子妃

    睁开发现,帅哥王爷出现在面前,明明是神医却被吻的差点窒息!狠心敲昏对方趁机逃走,不料对方寻上门,信誓旦旦污蔑自己不但误伤他,还被自己轻薄,厚颜无耻要求自己负责!捆绑回府后,夜夜衣衫不整的要和自己探讨医术!王爷变恶狼,夜夜贪欢……这句话如何破?【情节虚构,请勿模仿】