登陆注册
5229500000031

第31章 Chapter IX. Somebody Attends to the Door.(1)

With slow steps Linley crossed the lawn; his mind gloomily absorbed in thoughts which had never before troubled his easy nature--thoughts heavily laden with a burden of self-reproach.

Arrived at the limits of the lawn, two paths opened before him.

One led into a quaintly pretty inclosure, cultivated on the plan of the old gardens at Versailles, and called the French Garden.

The other path led to a grassy walk, winding its way capriciously through a thick shrubbery. Careless in what direction he turned his steps, Linley entered the shrubbery, because it happened to be nearest to him.

Except at certain points, where the moonlight found its way through open spaces in the verdure, the grassy path which he was now following wound onward in shadow. How far he had advanced he had not noticed, when he heard a momentary rustling of leaves at some little distance in advance of him. The faint breeze had died away; the movement among the leaves had been no doubt produced by the creeping or the flying of some creature of the night. Looking up, at the moment when he was disturbed by this trifling incident, he noticed a bright patch of moonlight ahead as he advanced to a new turn in the path.

The instant afterward he was startled by the appearance of a figure, emerging into the moonlight from the further end of the shrubbery, and rapidly approaching him. He was near enough to see that it was the figure of a woman. Was it one of the female servants, hurrying back to the house after an interview with a sweetheart? In his black evening dress, he was, in all probability, completely hidden by the deep shadow in which he stood. Would he be less likely to frighten the woman if he called to her than if he allowed her to come close up to him in the dark? He decided on calling to her.

"Who is out so late?" he asked.

A cry of alarm answered him. The figure stood still for a moment, and then turned back as if to escape him by flight.

"Don't be frightened," he said. "Surely you know my voice?"

The figure stood still again. He showed himself in the moonlight, and discovered--Sydney Westerfield.

"You!" he exclaimed.

She trembled; the words in which she answered him were words in fragments.

"The garden was so quiet and pretty--I thought there would be no harm--please let me go back--I'm afraid I shall be shut out--"

She tried to pass him. "My poor child!" he said, "what is there to be frightened about? I have been tempted out by the lovely night, like you. Take my arm. It is so close in here among the trees. If we go back to the lawn, the air will come to you freely."

She took his arm; he could feel her heart throbbing against it.

Kindly silent, he led her back to the open space. Some garden chairs were placed here and there; he suggested that she should rest for a while.

"I'm afraid I shall be shut out," she repeated. "Pray let me get back."

He yielded at once to the wish that she expressed. "You must let me take you back," he explained. "They are all asleep at the house by this time. No! no! don't be frightened again. I have got the key of the door. The moment I have opened it, you shall go in by yourself."

She looked at him gratefully. "You are not offended with me now, Mr. Linley," she said. "You are like your kind self again ."

They ascended the steps which led to the door. Linley took the key from his pocket. It acted perfectly in drawing back the lock; but the door, when he pushed it, resisted him. He put his shoulder against it, and exerted his strength, helped by his weight. The door remained immovable.

Had one of the servants--sitting up later than usual after the party, and not aware that Mr. Linley had gone into the garden--noticed the door, and carefully fastened the bolts on the inner side? That was exactly what had happened.

There was nothing for it but to submit to circumstances. Linley led the way down the steps again. "We are shut out," he said.

Sydney listened in silent dismay. He seemed to be merely amused; he treated their common misfortune as lightly as if it had been a joke.

"There's nothing so very terrible in our situation," he reminded her. "The servants' offices will be opened between six and seven o'clock; the weather is perfect; and the summer-house in the French Garden has one easy-chair in it, to my certain knowledge, in which you may rest and sleep. I'm sure you must be tired--let me take you there."

She drew back, and looked up at the house.

"Can't we make them hear us?" she asked.

"Quite impossible. Besides--" He was about to remind her of the evil construction which might be placed on their appearance together, returning from the garden at an advanced hour of the night; but her innocence pleaded with him to be silent. He only said, "You forget that we all sleep at the top of our old castle.

There is no knocker to the door, and no bell that rings upstairs.

Come to the summer-house. In an hour or two more we shall see the sun rise."

She took his arm in silence. They reached the French Garden without another word having passed between them.

The summer-house had been designed, in harmony with the French taste of the last century, from a classical model. It was a rough copy in wood of The Temple of Vesta at Rome. Opening the door for his companion, Linley paused before he followed her in. A girl brought up by a careful mother would have understood and appreciated his hesitation; she would have concealed any feeling of embarrassment that might have troubled her at the moment, and would have asked him to come back and let her know when the rising of the sun began. Neglected by her mother, worse than neglected by her aunt, Sydney's fearless ignorance put a question which would have lowered the poor girl cruelly in the estimation of a stranger. "Are you going to leave me here by myself?" she asked. 'Why don't you come in?"

Linley thought of his visit to the school, and remembered the detestable mistress. He excused Sydney; he felt for her. She held the door open for him. Sure of himself, he entered the summer-house.

同类推荐
  • 盗侠

    盗侠

    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。
  • 辍锻录

    辍锻录

    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 Life of Christopher Columbus

    The Life of Christopher Columbus

    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。
  • 太上洞玄灵宝授度仪

    太上洞玄灵宝授度仪

    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。
  • 唐护法沙门法琳别传

    唐护法沙门法琳别传

    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
  • 星际争霸II:恶魔契约

    星际争霸II:恶魔契约

    《恶魔契约》讲述了吉姆·雷诺生命中一段极为跌宕起伏的时光。他在这一时期堕落为科普卢星区的一名罪犯,和深谙各种黑社会门路的泰凯斯·芬利一同闯荡江湖,距离养育他长大的边疆世界夏伊洛越来越遥远。也正是在这个时候,雷诺遭遇了人生中最具考验性的一些挑战。他做出的决定将彻底改变他的命运,并最终验证他的父亲经常对他说的那句话:“一个人会变成什么样子,全是他自己的选择。”
  • 深宫浮云

    深宫浮云

    宫门深似海,富贵帝王家。又到了三年一度秀女大选的日子,朝廷选秀,帝王择妃,这一年,云翳将军的女儿云楹正当妙龄,也在秀女之列。“楹儿,今天可小心着点儿,听说宫里的娘娘们都厉害着呢,别出错啊。”“二娘,您放心吧,最多就是选不上,能出什么大事儿呢?”云楹一派悠闲,在侍女的搀扶下上了马车……但她不知道,这一去,就陷入了永无止境的后宫争斗,谱写了一代帝王的传奇爱情。
  • 女囚料峭往事:刘氏女

    女囚料峭往事:刘氏女

    坐牢十年,和女囚们日出而作,日落而息,从二十六岁到三十六岁,作者说,比某些夫妻的婚龄长,比很多小两口还亲。那里,外表平静如镜,其实,终日翻江倒海。每个犯人都有经历,而经历就是故事。情罪小说系列《刘氏女》是其中之一则,杀夫、肢解、装坛、入狱、赎罪。三十年后,真的刘氏女也许已经走了,作者把她落在纸上,不写政治,不说制度,沒有直接刻意描写那个年代的丑陋,甚至连愤慨也沒有,笔墨集中表达女囚的命运,窥探她们的內心。这是作者第一次正式写出的小说作品。
  • 一个农民的亿万传奇

    一个农民的亿万传奇

    “市场运动遵循天道规律,价格趋势源于供求动力”,这是傅海棠先生做期货的核心观点和具体操作的指导依据。这明显高于目前期货市场绝大部分的交易哲学、投资理论和操作方法。傅海棠先生的人生故事,还有着很强的激励意义,不单是对六七亿农民,对所有进行投资和想要进行投资的人,甚至对所有奋斗中的人,都有很大的借鉴意义、激励意义。他的操盘方法、投资逻辑、经济思考也很有价值,体现了他的独到思想、实干精神和讲究实效的出发点,不愧于他“农民哲学家”的称号。——主编沈良
  • 动物亲朋(野生灵三部曲)

    动物亲朋(野生灵三部曲)

    野生灵系列多是关于野生动物的记录和描述,这是作者戴江南在与自然万物的耳鬓厮磨间生出的大欢娱大忧伤,她带着人们徜徉在自然之中,在阿拉套山的悬崖旁观察金雕,在青格里河畔看蝴蝶,在天鹅湖畔驻足,在艾比湖畔与迁徙的鸟儿作别……她将一切自然生灵视若亲朋,以细腻亲和的笔触写下了一部当代自然传奇。同时,本系列作品对普及科学知识、宣扬自然美均有较高的意义和价值。
  • 鬼王的宠妃

    鬼王的宠妃

    当呆萌遇上腹黑,当穿越遇上夺嫡,且看她如何一步步获得天下,成为鬼王的宠妃!小剧场:“喂,你为何要对我如此好?”某女人说道。“因为喜欢你,所以想宠着你”某腹黑男回道。“那你可不可以不要喜欢我?”某女人继续问道。“可以,不过,我已经爱上你了,你是逃不出我的怀抱的?”【情节虚构,请勿模仿】
  • 世纪末最后的舞步

    世纪末最后的舞步

    可记得19世纪的英国社会黑暗,社会动乱,道德败坏,可我却在那时穿越时空遇见了你?可记得那时的我相对你来说,从未步入社会,愚昧无知,但我却恋上了这段时空,迷上了这段历史,爱上了你?(内容纯属虚构,请勿模仿)
  • 郡主临门,速来接驾!

    郡主临门,速来接驾!

    正是海晏河清日,便是修文偃武时,这是叶梓封号的由来亦是她所背负。十五岁叶梓于林间马上,初见江起云,春日少年英姿,一见倾心情根深种;十七岁国未破家却亡,回京受封,贤王遗孤享公主之尊,却遭人忌惮宫墙之内如履薄冰。他是西北凯旋班师的元帅,军功赫赫赏无可赏,皇帝下旨赐婚事一桩,他淡笑俯首答应。叶梓以为此生二人都不会有交集,但一卷朱批御旨勾起一段难以言说的缘分,辗转将他二人重新系在一起。情深不露,只因入骨。无奈江起云走上漫漫追妻路,京城场、下江南、赴西北、探南疆,携手共看盛秦浮沉!
  • 交际三十六计大全集(超值金版)

    交际三十六计大全集(超值金版)

    交际是要动点心眼儿、用点儿手腕的。但如何动、如何用?如何动得灵活、用得巧妙,才能实现自己的交际目的?为此,水中鱼借我国传统的“三十六计”的形式,精选了对交际至关重要的三十六个智谋,形成了这部《交际三十六计大全集(超值金版)》。
  • 穿越之知足有幸

    穿越之知足有幸

    (作者泪点低,绝对无虐)一个现代女强人穿越重生成一个被人谋害的女婴,坠下悬崖……18年后,当一袭男装,如翩翩佳公子的她带着她的宠物再次踏出崖底,行走于世,游山玩水,无拘无束,随心所欲,逍遥自在。苏涵原想就这样“逍遥行走人世间,快活一世活神仙”的度过余生,却在无意中捡到一只受伤的“狐狸”。从此身边便多了一条小尾巴,没曾想有一天“狐狸”变成了大灰狼,还要……原子瑜:能与你在最好的年华相识,相伴一起游遍天下,我本已知足;未曾想能与你修成正果,喜结连理,真是在下三生有幸。啪――苏涵合上书籍淡然一笑:“如若我当日未应,你又待如何?”原子瑜闻言立马面色一沉,周身气势外放,神色冷冽……