登陆注册
5220900000052

第52章 Volume 2(16)

As for women,they are all pretty much alike to me.I am too old myself to make nice distinctions,and too ugly to succeed by Cupid's arts;and when a man despairs of success,he soon ceases to care for it.So,if you know me,as you profess to do,rest satisfied "caeteris paribus;"the money part of the transaction being equally advantageous,I should regret the loss of Ellen Heathcote just as little as I should the escape of a minnow from my landing-net.'

They walked on for a few minutes in silence,which was not broken till Dwyer,who had climbed a stile in order to pass a low stone wall which lay in their way,exclaimed:

'By the rood,she's here--how like a philosopher you look."The conscious blood mounted to O'Mara's cheek;he crossed the stile,and,separated from him only by a slight fence and a gate,stood the subject of their recent and somewhat angry discussion.

'God save you,Miss Heathcote,'cried Dwyer,approaching the gate.

The salutation was cheerfully returned,and before anything more could pass,O'Mara had joined the party.

My friend,that you may understand the strength and depth of those impetuous passions,that you may account for the fatal infatuation which led to the catastrophe which I have to relate,I must tell you,that though I have seen the beauties of cities and of courts,with all the splendour of studied ornament about them to enhance their graces,possessing charms which had made them known almost throughout the world,and worshipped with the incense of a thousand votaries,yet never,nowhere did I behold a being of such exquisite and touching beauty,as that possessed by the creature of whom Ihave just spoken.At the moment of which I write,she was standing near the gate,close to which several brown-armed,rosy-cheeked damsels were engaged in milking the peaceful cows,who stood picturesquely grouped together.She had just thrown back the hood which is the graceful characteristic of the Irish girl's attire,so that her small and classic head was quite uncovered,save only by the dark-brown hair,which with graceful simplicity was parted above her forehead.There was nothing to shade the clearness of her beautiful complexion;the delicately-formed features,so exquisite when taken singly,so indescribable when combined,so purely artless,yet so meet for all expression.She was a thing so very beautiful,you could not look on her without feeling your heart touched as by sweet music.Whose lightest action was a grace--whose lightest word a spell--no limner's art,though ne'er so perfect,could shadow forth her beauty;and do I dare with feeble words try to make you see it?Providence is indeed no respecter of persons,its blessings and its inflictions are apportioned with an undistinguishing hand,and until the race is over,and life be done,none can know whether those perfections,which seemed its goodliest gifts,many not prove its most fatal;but enough of this.

'Insolent young spawn of ingratitude and guilt,how long must I submit to be trod upon thus;and yet why should Imurmur--his day is even now declining-- and if I live a year,I shall see the darkness cover him and his for ever.Scarce half his broad estates shall save him--but I must wait--I am but a pauper now--a beggar's accusation is always a libel--they must reward me soon--and were Iindependent once,I'd make them feel my power,and feel it SO,that I should die the richest or the best avenged servant of a great man that has ever been heard of--yes,I must wait--I must make sure of something at least--I must be able to stand by myself--and then--and then--'

He clutched his fingers together,as if in the act of strangling the object of his hatred.'But one thing shall save him--but one thing only--he shall pay me my own price--and if he acts liberally,as no doubt he will do,upon compulsion,why he saves his reputation--perhaps his neck --the insolent young whelp yonder would speak in an humbler key if he but knew his father's jeopardy--but all in good time.'

He now stood upon the long,steep,narrow bridge,which crossed the river close to Carrigvarah,the family mansion of the O'Maras;he looked back in the direction in which he had left his companion,and leaning upon the battlement,he ruminated long and moodily.At length he raised himself and said:

'He loves the girl,and WILL love her more--I have an opportunity of winning favour,of doing service,which shall bind him to me;yes,he shall have the girl,if I have art to compass the matter.I must think upon it.'

He entered the avenue and was soon lost in the distance.

Days and weeks passed on,and young O'Mara daily took his rod and net,and rambled up the river;and scarce twelve hours elapsed in which some of those accidents,which invariably bring lovers together,did not secure him a meeting of longer or shorter duration,with the beautiful girl whom he so fatally loved.

One evening,after a long interview with her,in which he had been almost irresistibly prompted to declare his love,and had all but yielded himself up to the passionate impulse,upon his arrival at home he found a letter on the table awaiting his return;it was from his father to the following effect:

'To Richard O'Mara.

'September,17--,L--m,England.

同类推荐
  • 佛说禅行三十七品经

    佛说禅行三十七品经

    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。
  • 弘戒法仪

    弘戒法仪

    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。
  • 注维摩诘经卷

    注维摩诘经卷

    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。
  • 佛说护身命经

    佛说护身命经

    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。
  • 温热暑疫全书

    温热暑疫全书

    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
  • 魔命难违

    魔命难违

    司命星君的命格簿子被人偷了,她只好背着仙族的人跑到凡间找一找自己的命格簿子。谁知道一下凡间就听说了自己写过的命格已经被改了。她一步一步接近自己笔下的那个人,和他历经各种事情,却在不经意中互相吸引。直到他死了,她才知道,原来前世来生,一切都是天命。一句话简介:我不可能跟自己笔头下的人谈恋爱。
  • 刹那间,走进你的世界

    刹那间,走进你的世界

    这里没有天马行空般的故事情节,却有最真实的校园生活。没有霸道总裁,也没高贵少女。暨没想走就走的旅行,也没诗与远方的生活。只有两个普普通通的少男少女,从相识到相知,从相爱到相守的生活缩影,简单却很真诚。或许你会觉得这很无聊,或许你会觉得这没童话般的浪漫,但也或许你会在这个故事中看到曾经的自己。
  • 重生之复仇冷妃

    重生之复仇冷妃

    一道圣旨,赐死了刚生产的皇妃白若兰和她的孩子,七年恩情一朝尽,含恨死去后的白若兰重生了,成为韩府大小姐。面对重生后的人生,她开始重新布局,绝不蹈前世的覆辙,从韩府开始,展开她的复仇计划。步步为营,重新入宫,她发誓要让那些人血债血偿!
  • 仙妖门徒:绝色小魔女

    仙妖门徒:绝色小魔女

    上古秘辛,奇幻纷纭,莫过于最古老的神魔。那时,神魔统御百族生灵,幻想称霸天地。人间祸起,成为了炼狱之地……欢迎加入仙妖门徒书友群:946301828
  • 全民自黑的英国

    全民自黑的英国

    其实是一本全面的英国文化观察笔记!畅销科普巨著《万物简史》作者比尔·布莱森成名作。真正的英国,究竟是什么样子的呢?享誉世界的文化观察大师比尔·布莱森用幽默、犀利的语言为我们展现了全面真实的英国。本书获得了英国本土读者的高度认可——2003年世界读书日,在一场BBC发起的全民调查中,本书被评为“尤其能代表英国的图书”。翻开本书,从英国日常生活的方方面面,读懂一个真实的英国。
  • 铁血英雄

    铁血英雄

    为纪念中国人民解放军建军80周年,中国武警出版社精心策划出版了一批官兵喜爱看的图书和音像制品,其中多部图书入选中共中央宣传部等单位确定的纪念建军80周年重点图书。这些出版物在指导部队推动工作、引导官兵鼓舞士气上发挥了积极的作用。
  • 凤凰蛋:腹黑上神VS大白鸟

    凤凰蛋:腹黑上神VS大白鸟

    传闻白衣凤凰英勇善战,唯独掉下忘川后记性不好,见一个忘一个。传闻白衣上神只记得长的好看的美男,见一个喜欢一个。传闻……凤栖喝着酒卧在竹塌上:“咦,说的是我?我明明一千年不曾迈出栖凤山。”华莲:“上神可记得在下?”凤栖:“哦,老身记得你,你长得很好看。”华莲:“是的,你记得我,所以你爱我。”凤栖:“咦,说的是我?我明明自断情根,断情绝爱。”佛曰:花开并蒂,步步莲华。不可说啊,不可说。凤凰蛋书友群欢迎大家:398599680叩门砖:书中任意人名新书(懒仙下凡:一睹定三生)已发,木木哒
  • 卿狂,傻王妃来罩

    卿狂,傻王妃来罩

    本文1v1,互宠,女强男萌,嗯,从某种意义上来说男主也是很强的。她是天辰国丞相府里最最不受关注的庶二小姐,临水照镜,却不慎失足落水、芳魂逝去的伊梦影;她是奋斗十年,踌躇满志,准备回国大干一场的商界‘老油条’,飞机坠毁,魂入异世的林竹。再睁眼,林竹成了伊梦影。迎接她的,是一个待嫁之身。什么?快要嫁人了?什么?要嫁的是个煞星,煞星不算,还是个傻子?丫环哭哭啼啼,林竹却甚是满意——至少身份是个王爷,吃喝不用愁。至于煞星,煞星好啊!煞星就没人敢觊觎了。她不期待什么爱情,却也见不惯满屋子‘好姐妹’。至于傻子,傻子好啊!傻子好控制,这日子不就想怎么过就怎么过吗?这真是…想得太美!前往康庄大道上总有些烂虫来挡路。这道理,她明白!没事,咱迎风破浪,总会见到彩虹。婆婆态度晦暗不明?没关系,我会让你看到我是绝佳媳妇代言人;极品叔婶偶来闹?没关系,婆婆做前锋,我摇旗呐喊。到忍无可忍,那就别怪我自个做前锋了;想欺负我老公?那对不起啦,先做好去死的准备吧。王爷傻,想夺权?诶诶,别忘了还有本王妃。咱们王府,女主内,女主外,男主卖萌。看不起她?那就拿出点业绩瞧瞧。贪污腐败的,见了我也不用绕道而行,不好意思,哪条道都是我的人;闹分裂的,落的无家可归也别怨咱,谁叫你思想跟不上时代,世界需要和谐…这回不给小片段,给一些语录:一:女主语录:“傻瓜也是你能叫的?全天下能叫他傻瓜只有本王妃。记住了没?记不住那脑子就不用要了!”“我是你的王妃,你要事事依着我,知道吗?同时,我会事事罩着你的。”“我叫你傻瓜,那是昵称,你得笑;别人叫你傻瓜,那是侮辱,你要把别人打得承认他自个是傻瓜才行。”“虽然你真的是个傻瓜,但我一辈子认定的就是你了。你就偷着乐吧。那什么皱眉、忧愁的,实在是不适合你这个傻瓜。”二:萌主语录:“娘子是天下最最好的娘子,不准说她坏话。她骂你,肯定是你错了;她打你,肯定是你活该。”“娘子的话要乖乖的听着。娘子说的就是对的。”“欺负娘子的人都是坏人,恒恒要打死他们。”简言之,此文就是一个很强的乖乖傻瓜,经由咱们的女主调教,成了一个以娘子为天的定时炸弹的故事——不要欺负女主哦,小心男主会爆炸的…O(∩_∩)O
  • 蜀宫应制

    蜀宫应制

    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。
  • 封神双龙5

    封神双龙5

    商纣末年,妖魔乱政,两名身份卑贱的少年奴隶,于一次偶然的机会被卷进神魔争霸的洪流中,一个性格沉稳、温文尔雅,有着超凡的感悟力;另一个古灵精怪、活泼机智,满身的市井顽童气息,却聪明绝顶。