登陆注册
5229500000046

第46章 Chapter XV. The Doctor.(2)

The blank which Sydney's departure left in the life of the household was felt by the master and mistress of Mount Morven--and felt, unhappily, without any open avowal on either side of what was passing in their minds. In this way the governess became a forbidden subject between them; the husband waited for the wife to set the example of approaching it, and the wife waited for the husband. The trial of temper produced by this state of hesitation, and by the secret doubts which it encouraged, led insensibly to a certain estrangement--which Linley in particular was morbidly unwilling to acknowledge. If, when the dinner-hour brought them together, he was silent and dull in his wife's presence, he attributed it to anxiety on the subject of his brother--then absent on a critical business errand in London. If he sometimes left the house the first thing in the morning, and only returned at night, it was because the management of the model farm had become one of his duties, in Randal's absence. Mrs. Linley made no attempt to dispute this view of the altered circumstances in home-life--but she submitted with a mind ill at ease. Secretly fearing that Linley was suffering under Miss Westerfield's absence, she allowed herself to hope that Kitty's father would see a necessity, in his own case, for change of scene, and would accompany them to the seaside.

"Won't you come with us, Herbert?" she suggested, when they had both agreed on the choice of a place.

His temper was in a state of constant irritation. Without meaning it he answered her harmless question sharply.

"How can I go away with you, when we are losing by the farm, and when there is nobody to check the ruinous expenses but myself?"

Mrs. Linley's thoughts naturally turned to Randal's prolonged absence. "What can be keeping him all this time in London?" she said.

Linley's failing patience suffered a severe trial.

"Don't you know," he broke out, "that I have inherited my poor mother's property in England, saddled with a lawsuit? Have you never heard of delays and disappointments, and quibbles and false pretenses, encountered by unfortunate wretches like me who are obliged to go to law? God only knows when Randal will be free to return, or what bad news he may bring with him when he does come back."

"You have many anxieties, Herbert; and I ought to have remembered them."

That gentle answer touched him. He made the best apology in his power: he said his nerves were out of order, and asked her to excuse him if he had spoken roughly. There was no unfriendly feeling on either side; and yet there was something wanting in the reconciliation. Mrs. Linley left her husband, shaken by a conflict of feelings. At one moment she felt angry with him; at another she felt angry with herself.

With the best intentions (as usual) Mrs. Presty made mischief, nevertheless. Observing that her daughter was in tears, and feeling sincerely distressed by the discovery, she was eager to administer consolation. "Make your mind easy, my dear, if you have any doubt about Herbert's movements when he is away from home. I followed him myself the day before yesterday when he went out. A long walk for an old woman--but I can assure you he that he does really go to the farm."

Implicitly trusting her husband--and rightly trusting him--Linley's wife replied by a look which Mrs. Presty received in silent indignation. She summoned her dignity and marched out of the room.

Five minutes afterward, Mrs. Linley received an intimation that her mother was seriously offended, in the form of a little note:

"I find that my maternal interest in your welfare, and my devoted efforts to serve you, are only rewarded with furious looks. The less we see of each other the better. Permit me to thank you for your invitation, and to decline accompanying you when you leave Mount Morven tomorrow." Mrs. Linley answered the note in person.

The next day Kitty's grandmother--ripe for more mischief--altered her mind, and thoroughly enjoyed her journey to the seaside.

同类推荐
  • 周易图

    周易图

    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。
  • 玄教大公案

    玄教大公案

    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 City of God

    The City of God

    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。
  • 八识规矩通说

    八识规矩通说

    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 Ancien Regime

    The Ancien Regime

    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
  • 八识规矩浅说

    八识规矩浅说

    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。
  • 靠谁也不如靠自己

    靠谁也不如靠自己

    这是一本励志读物,人生指南。作者将过去遇到的各式各样的的人物,接触过的形形色色的问题,通过说故事的形式讲记述下来。给广大读者指供一种现实参考和人生点拨。一个人在经历了许许多多的风雨,见识了数也数不清的不平现实后,会变得越来越成熟,他会慢慢悟出一个道理——在这个光怪陆离、蝇营狗苟的社会生存发展,靠谁也不如靠自己!靠父母,父母能力有限;靠朋友,朋友还有自己的事;唯有靠自己。
  • 一代女相

    一代女相

    他,或者说是她,是一人之下万人之上的当朝丞相,朝堂之上只要有理,他不会给任何人面子,即便是当今天子也一样。他为了百姓能有一个公平的环境,新编了律法……他为了替死者讨回公道,立斩了天子堂弟……他为了自己的兄弟和百姓,强行开仓放粮……可最后却被皇帝‘发配边疆’,从一人之下贬为了七品县令。自从摊上这个皇帝做义兄之后,他就没想过自己会有好日子过。县令就县令吧,可是都做了县令了,为什么日子还是过的这般不安稳呢……
  • 星辰象限

    星辰象限

    恒星的光芒遥远而黯淡,巨大的气态行星飘浮在闪烁的繁星间,雄伟的光环仿佛触手可及。我将机械外骨骼固定在殖民地的外壳上,脚下钛合金外壳上用已经褪色的油漆勾勒出这座太空殖民地的编号——YG922。在宇宙的真空中,熔化的金属像糖稀一样流动,由于不存在氧化现象,焊接变得非常容易。被微流星损坏的天线支架歪曲地耸立在落满宇宙尘埃的外壳上,依靠数个螺栓固定。作为一名空间技师,修复损坏的外部设备是我的工作。我的右手在一次意外事故中被截肢,现在失去的肢体已经被机械义肢所替代,通过连接在义肢上的数据线,我可以将机械外骨骼的辅助电脑与自己的神经回路连接起来。
  • 集一切福德三昧经

    集一切福德三昧经

    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。
  • 有妖上身

    有妖上身

    被命运捉弄的秦收,在地下室不小心打碎一个瓷娃娃,于是青春就撞了一下“妖”,被一只曾是道士宠物的九命猫妖上身。从此彻底改变人生,学道法,驱鬼邪,斗僵尸,除妖魔......
  • 皈依(中篇小说)

    皈依(中篇小说)

    桃花汛过后,资水就渐渐地平静了。婆婆崖渡口有人在扯着闲谈等候渡船,一个中轻汉子正扬起手向老远走来的圆满和尚打招呼。“圆满师傅,您这是过河还是上街啊?”那汉子是对河鹊坪人。“阿弥陀佛!是上趟街去。施主您这是回家吧?”听到喊声,圆满和尚收住了纷乱的心思,也停住了脚步,出于礼节就明知故问地答了话。两人当然是老相识,去年开春,他还去他家里化缘过树苗的。都说出家人不打诳语,圆满和尚却有意隐瞒了是去看慕容大夫的实情。或许这也不叫打诳语,因为人家又没有问他是去街上做什么事。他于是向其他人也作了个揖,重又拾步前行。
  • 少侠请留步

    少侠请留步

    沧海明月珠有泪,蓝田日软玉生烟。此情可待成追忆?只是当时已惘然。昔日风云都归去,空留独身对斜阳,断剑手罢浊泪流。纵横大千江湖,除不平事,杀不善人。终有磨难,天劫难逃。江湖也有男女情,又有多少能成眷属呢?只是,那个道士,你女儿都跟别人跑了,哎!算了算了,我先带你去大闹江湖。
  • 本草害利

    本草害利

    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。
  • 天帝传

    天帝传

    十方无影像,六道绝形踪。跳出三界外,不在五行中。红尘中,有美人如画,诗酒才俊,大江横流千帆过,而他只为武道,冷眼旁观。无边黑夜,有邪魔嗜血,妖妃妩媚,万人尸坑千人冢,而他只做该做之事,坚守不变的本心。待到那一天,来到天路最顶端的地方,他目望苍天,手指人间,喊出一句:“我是天帝君,众生来拜我。”