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
  • 广州记

    广州记

    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。
  • 明夷待访录

    明夷待访录

    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 Lady of Lyons

    The Lady of Lyons

    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。
  • 大萨遮尼乾子所说经

    大萨遮尼乾子所说经

    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。
  • 海绡说词

    海绡说词

    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
  • 首席宠妻无度

    首席宠妻无度

    五年,足以改变一切。沈汀然做梦也没有想到,她出狱的第一天就惹上了不该惹的人!“女人,我要你。”“女人,别人不疼你,我来疼你。”他的确是很疼她!每天都折腾得她身上很疼!该死的,沈汀然一直想不明白,自己怎么就惹上了这么一头狼呢?把她吃得连骨头都不吐!
  • 佛说六字咒王经

    佛说六字咒王经

    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。
  • 时空游戏:无限逆袭

    时空游戏:无限逆袭

    本书为《时空游戏》系列第二部,本是无钱无权无势的社会底层。却是凭借着神秘少女带给的头盔,一次次地进入各种游戏世界,和游戏主角争抢资源,一次次拼搏,终于在无限世界成功逆袭,打造出一只品种精良的(美少女)团队!
  • 第一女仙修炼记

    第一女仙修炼记

    胎穿修仙界,陆云遥这辈子的爷爷是一城之主,爹爹是炼器大师,龙凤胎哥哥是个不折不扣的妹控。娘亲……嗯,娘亲早逝,但是娘亲的家族也不简单呢。总而言之,陆云遥是个妥妥的修三代!而且她还资质优品,天生大才,气运极佳,要资源有资源,要后台有后台!嗯,这是一个豪气冲天的女主认真刻苦努力修炼,进而成为闻言五大界的第一女仙的故事。【PS:本文无男主!】
  • 记忆感应师·幻听

    记忆感应师·幻听

    根据一位女性民众通报,哈里森警官率领刑事组以及鉴识科的干员来到这座废弃的庄园。警方先围起封锁线,阻绝多数看热闹的民众与闻风而至的媒体记者,甚至是凶嫌。多数命案的凶嫌,都有一种莫名的心理因素,重回现场欣赏自己犯案的杰作。命案的现场是一座极为传统的中式旧宅院,中央大厅两侧红砖瓦砌成的无数厢房,转进廊处还有假山鱼池,虽然杂草丛生,池水干涸,不难想象以前荣景。最右边柴房也是灰尘满布,中间一张椅子捆绑一位少女,年龄推算是14岁左右,正值豆蔻年华,却被绑在椅子上活活饿死。
  • 筠廊二笔

    筠廊二笔

    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。
  • 冷帝毒医

    冷帝毒医

    她,墨清姿,碧落山庄的大小姐,小小年纪便拥有过目不忘的本事,五岁随母出游,却惨遭暗算,为保她性命,娘亲的贴身婢女把她自己同样五岁的孩子推出,只为换来她一丝活命的机会。亲眼目睹娘亲死在她的面前,亲眼目睹鲜血流成河,她趴在草丛中,因那一幕而痛晕了过去,再次醒来,却身处四大名山的青山之中,是谁救了她?是谁把她送到了这里?青山中,她谨记娘亲之言,在自己还不够强大的时候,最好的自保方法就是隐忍,别人一天可学成的一招剑法,她要用上三个月,在众人的眼中,她是一个蠢得不能再蠢的蠢材,可又谁知,她才是那天才中的天才?她淡雅处之,却偏偏有人总要找她麻烦,她医毒双修,武功更是深不可测,弹手间便可杀人于无形,只是,杀他们?她不屑。青山十年,风云涌动之际,四大名山比武论名,她被推上台,想看她笑话?想看她出丑?可谁知前一刻垂首静立的白衣女子下一刻蓦然抬眸冷眼睥睨群雄,素手轻扬瞬间取人性命于无形,众人震惊了,不可思议的目光看着台上那清冷脱俗的女子,那袭白衣,在那一刻夺去了众人的心后,却又在名扬天下之时消声灭迹…他寻她千里,待寻得时,她却已是他人妻,黯然伤神望月相思,待知她被离弃,势必把她纳入怀中永不离!他与她指腹为婚,却不知心系之人已是他的妻,待到错放之时,悔恨终生血泪滴!他为她,默默付出不求报,只为她展颜一笑色倾城!那一袭白衣,夺了众人的心,灼了众人的眼,迷了众人的情,痛了众人的心,到头来,谁能得她一句,白头相守永不离?谁,又能得她一句,生死相随永不弃?本文一对一
  • 海贼之四海为家

    海贼之四海为家

    可怜悲催的江一川被炸得尸骨无存,但当睁开眼,发现自己又穿越了,这次是从三次元的末世地球穿越到了二次元的海贼王世界,江一川突然觉得自己真是2!带着深深的遗憾,江一川决定重新开始,于是化名为丹·杰乐思,要在海贼王世界里叱咤风云,纵横四海!嗯,先定一个小目标:升到60级,赚够60亿!当海贼?滚,不做贼!当海军?滚,不为奴!当义军?滚,不当灰!想怎样?额,不知道!(欲想了解悲催男江一川,请看前传《穿越之末世挽歌》)
  • 总裁追妻,小鬼来帮忙

    总裁追妻,小鬼来帮忙

    他大雪之中,用一亿买下她,给了她一个妻子的名分。又帮她将所有背叛她的人统统踩在脚下。她心中感激,又走投无路,一狠心真就嫁给了他。婚后一个月,她挂着面条泪,哭的撕心裂肺,“季司辰,我后悔嫁给你了!你离了八次婚,我整天斗小三还不算,还要斗鬼!这个季太太,谁愿当谁当!”他将她挤在墙上,俯视着她,笑的狡诈。“来不及了季太太,你肚子里带着我的娃儿,哪里也不准去。”
  • 穿越不当妃:皇帝缠上了厨娘

    穿越不当妃:皇帝缠上了厨娘

    这年头,穿越是时尚,她这个打小就爹娘不爱的胖妞终于也时尚了一把,可是她除了会吃就只会做,穿越必备二十一技一样都不会,她要怎么样在这古代混得风声水起啊?这个男人是皇帝咩?想要抓住男人的心就先吊住他的胃口,这是千古不变的真理,偏这个小正太还真等着被她抓,说是身心实贱会更能体会真理……