登陆注册
5229500000014

第14章 Miss Westerfield's Education(14)

In the meanwhile Miss Wigger had entered her drawing-room. With the slightest possible inclination of her head, she eyed the stranger through her green spectacles. Even under that disadvantage his appearance spoke for itself. The servant's estimate of him was beyond dispute. Mr. Herbert Linley's good breeding was even capable of suppressing all outward expression of the dismay that he felt, on finding himself face to face with the formidable person who had received him.

"What is your business, if you please?" Miss Wigger began.

Men, animals, and buildings wear out with years, and submit to their hard lot. Time only meets with flat contradiction when he ventures to tell a woman that she is growing old. Herbert Linley had rashly anticipated that the "young lady," whom it was the object of his visit to see, would prove to be young in the literal sense of the word. When he and Miss Wigger stood face to face, if the door had been set open for him, he would have left the house with the greatest pleasure.

"I have taken the liberty of calling," he said, "in answer to an advertisement. May I ask"--he paused, and took out a newspaper from the pocket of his overcoat--"If I have the honor of speaking to the lady who is mentioned here?"

He opened the newspaper, and pointed to the advertisement.

Miss Wigger's eyes rested--not on the passage indicated, but on the visitor's glove. It fitted him to such perfection that it suggested the enviable position in life which has gloves made to order. He politely pointed again. Still inaccessible to the newspaper, Miss Wigger turned her spectacles next to the front window of the room, and discovered a handsome carriage waiting at the door. (Money evidently in the pockets of those beautiful trousers, worthy of the gloves!) As patiently as ever, Linley pointed for the third time, and drew Miss Wigger's attention in the right direction at last. She read the advertisement.

"A Young Lady wishes to be employed in the education of a little girl. Possessing but few accomplishments, and having been only a junior teacher at a school, she offers her services on trial, leaving it to her employer to pay whatever salary she may be considered to deserve, if she obtains a permanent engagement.

Apply by letter, to S.W., 14, Delta Gardens, N.E."

"Most impertinent," said Miss Wigger.

Mr. Linley looked astonished.

"I say, most impertinent!" Miss Wigger repeated.

Mr. Linley attempted to pacify this terrible woman. "It's very stupid of me," he said; "I am afraid I don't quite understand you."

"One of my teachers has issued an advertisement, and has referred to My address, without first consulting Me. Have I made myself understood, sir?" She looked at the carriage again, when she called him "sir."

Not even Linley's capacity for self-restraint could repress the expression of relief, visible in his brightening face, when he discovered that the lady of the advertisement and the lady who terrified him were two different persons.

Have I made myself understood?" Miss Wigger repeated.

"Perfectly, madam. At the same time, I am afraid I must own that the advertisement has produced a favorable impression on me."

"I fail entirely to see why," Miss Wigger remarked.

"There is surely," Linley repeated, "something straightforward--I might almost say, something innocent--in the manner in which the writer expresses herself. She seems to be singularly modest on the subject of her own attainments, and unusually considerate of the interests of others. I hope you will permit me--?"

Before he could add, "to see the young lady," the door was opened: a young lady entered the room.

Was she the writer of the advertisement? He felt sure of it, for no better reason than this: the moment he looked at her she interested him. It was an interest new to Linley, in his experience of himself There was nothing to appeal to his admiration (by way of his senses) in the pale, worn young creature who stood near the door, resigned beforehand to whatever reception she might meet with. The poor teacher made him think of his happy young wife at home--of his pretty little girl, the spoiled child of the household. He looked at Sydney Westerfield with a heartfelt compassion which did honor to them both.

"What do you mean by coming here?" Miss Wigger inquired.

She answered gently, but not timidly. The tone in which the mistress had spoken had evidently not shaken her resolution, so far.

"I wish to know," she said, "if this gentleman desires to see me on the subject of my advertisement?"

"Your advertisement?" Miss Wigger repeated. "Miss Westerfield! how dare you beg for employment in a newspaper, without asking my leave?"

"I only waited to tell you what I had done, till I knew whether my advertisement would be answered or not."

同类推荐
  • 御猎

    御猎

    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。
  • Canterbury Pieces

    Canterbury Pieces

    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。
  • 修华严奥旨妄尽还源观

    修华严奥旨妄尽还源观

    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。
  • Honore de Balzac

    Honore de Balzac

    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 Conflict

    The Conflict

    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
  • 明朝假太监

    明朝假太监

    听说过葵花宝典吗?欲练神功,挥刀自宫。错了,完全错了!那本葵花宝典是盗版地,真正的葵花宝典不是这么练地...
  • 切莫相信应召男

    切莫相信应召男

    婚礼前四周,德国大银行家千金塔玛拉·哈特维希在自家厨房撞见了死人!更糟糕的是,凶手很可能就是她的新郎!她想独自调查清楚,麻烦却越来越多——好像有人想要她的命!她只得急忙逃跑,但唯一有可能帮助她的却是一个名叫克里斯蒂安的应召男!塔玛拉当然不会愚蠢到爱上一个职业情人,但是为什么每次见到他时自己都紧张发慌呢?谋杀、恋爱、激情交织缠绕!节奏明快、充满喜剧色彩的悬疑推理犯罪小说!
  • 如果想念有声音

    如果想念有声音

    我再年轻些的时候很傻的认为身边所爱不会离开不会失去甚至可以直到白首,我有太多太多的勇气和时间可以回头。所以我用几年的青春亏欠了太多想要对我好的人,我给他们伤心给他们想要恨我一辈子的勇气。我在翻空间浏览微博看到太多曾经不计代价对我好的人,可是我知道,我赖以生存的在贫穷孤独病痛的时候支撑我继续活下去的东西,已经尽数被时间打败了。斐然望着墓碑上浅笑的面容久久没有说话,——默一,为何在我以为上天开始垂怜我的时候,我们之间却只剩下回忆在残喘。
  • 三国战纪之汉家风云

    三国战纪之汉家风云

    穿越,在这个年代并不是什么稀奇的事,但穿越到一个不出名的家族,还想再这片三国之地闯出名堂,简直是天方夜谭。可天方夜谭又如何,万般险阻又如何,四世三公又如何,我不求这做那江山主人,只愿这天地的势力,这汉家的风云之争都在我的掌控之下,只愿守护这天地间的平静。阻我霸业者,天地共诛。PS本书并不是正经的正剧类历史小说,会有些许仙侠玄幻成分。
  • 名侦探柯南之白衣组织

    名侦探柯南之白衣组织

    作为一只人形兵器,肖宇穿越到了《名侦探柯南》的世界。在这里,这只人形兵器知道了有一个叫做假酒……啊,不是,叫做黑衣组织的地方。所以这只神经病人形兵器就决定要创建一个白衣组织,这个组织的口号只有一个,那就是……怒砸假酒,我哀万岁!总而言之,这是一个逗比在名柯之中泡小哀,打假酒的欢快故事。--------------------------------------------------(写书不易,求推荐票!求打赏!求收藏!求拍打!求喂食!各种求!)
  • 宝宝开始走路了

    宝宝开始走路了

    吉娜·福特是英国最受欢迎的育儿专家,30多年来亲手照看过300多名新生宝宝,有丰富的育儿经验,是英国上流社会及许多知名人士抢着预约的育儿顾问。多年以来,吉娜被认为是最受全球欢迎的“超级保姆”,她的工作地点遍及世界各地。她曾被英国时尚杂志《Hapers&Queen》评为全英十大著名产科护理员之一。
  • 农女田园之沅画空间

    农女田园之沅画空间

    因为山贼她们没有了家,因为蝗虫灾害,人们吃不裹腹个个骨瘦如柴……为了生存人们开始卖儿卖女,背井离乡寻找生机……而古沅画却在意外中魂穿,在悬崖下得到了一颗小珠子,当手掌上的血液浸泡到珠子,珠子却在血液中逐渐隐身,最后与她融为一体,这时,古沅画才明白这是上天送给她的金手指……
  • 玄太太不准跑了

    玄太太不准跑了

    某女瘪嘴的看着眼前帅到爆的男人:“大叔,搭顺风车的我也给你一百块了。现在,咱们俩清了!”某男嘴角抽筋,冷眸慑人。神马?!桃花劫?惹不起我躲得起,某女逃之夭夭。五年后,一模一样的俩恶魔男娃。某男娃纯黑幽眸睥睨冷邃,某男娃幽蓝眸子邪恶轻挑,齐齐道:“该会会爹地了!”某女扯着某男衣角,眼皮直翻嘴角抽搐:“你有两儿子,是我生的。”某男嘴角邪魅笑意:“一个傻瓜,一个笨蛋,天生一对!”
  • 王子与贫儿(中小学生必读丛书)

    王子与贫儿(中小学生必读丛书)

    本书以16世纪的英国为背景,描写了王子和贫儿互换身份的童话式故事。一个阴差阳错的偶然机会,长相相同的王子爱德华和贫儿汤姆因互换衣服,从而导致了命运的颠倒。曾经的小乞丐成了王子的“替身”,真正的王子流落在外,受尽欺凌和嘲讽。后来,王子历经种种劫难,终于回到了王宫;而汤姆也将不属于自己的王位还给了王子。经过这样的“交换身份”,两个少年都懂得了很多东西……
  • 肝癌(贴心大夫丛书)

    肝癌(贴心大夫丛书)

    这套丛书的特点主要表现在以下几个方面:1通俗性:采用大众语言讲解医学术语,患者及家属能看得懂,并以生活“比喻”帮助了解;2实用性:学以致用,用得上。一人读书,全家受益,成为“家庭小医生”、左邻右舍的“健康小顾问”;3科学性:不仅知其然,还要了解其所以然。通过临床病症的表现,讲基础理论,理论与实际结合。贯彻“一分为二”的两点论讲解、诊断和治疗,避免绝对化不会使群众无所适从;4权威性:这套丛书的作者,都是具有丰富的经验的临床医生,其中多数是某一专科的专家,并介绍了他们所在单位、姓名、联系方式、出诊等时间等,便于联系,又成了就医指南。