登陆注册
5229500000007

第7章 Miss Westerfield's Education(7)

Sympathy which expressed itself in this way was new to Syd. Her eyes opened wide in childish wonder--and suddenly closed again in childish terror, when her good friend the servant passed Mrs.

Westerfield's door on the way downstairs. "If mamma bounces out on us," she whispered, "pretend we don't see her." The nice warm room received them in safety. Under no stress of circumstances had Mrs. Westerfield ever been known to dress herself in a hurry.

A good half-hour more had passed before the house door was heard to bang--and the pleasant landlady, peeping through the window, said: "There she goes. Now, we'll enjoy ourselves!"

5.--The Landlord.

Mrs. Westerfield's destination was the public-house in which she had been once employed as a barmaid. Entering the place without hesitation, she sent in her card to the landlord. He opened the parlor door himself and invited her to walk in.

"You wear well," he said, admiring her. "Have you come back here to be my barmaid again?"

"Do you think I am reduced to that?" she answered.

"Well, my dear, more unlikely things have happened. They tell me you depend for your income on Lord Le Basque--and his lordship's death was in the newspapers last week."

"And his lordship's lawyers continue my allowance."

Having smartly set the landlord right in those words, she had not thought it necessary to add that Lady Le Basque, continuing the allowance at her husband's request, had also notified that it would cease if Mrs. Westerfield married again.

"You're a lucky woman," the landlord remarked. "Well, I'm glad to see you. What will you take to drink?"

"Nothing, thank you. I want to know if you have heard anything lately of James Bellbridge?"

The landlord was a popular person in his own circle--not accustomed to restrain himself when he saw his way to a joke.

"Here's constancy!" he said. "She's sweet on James, after having jilted him twelve years ago!"

Mrs. Westerfield replied with dignity. "I am accustomed to be treated respectfully," she replied. "I wish you good-morning."

The easy landlord pressed her back into her chair. "Don't be a fool," he said; "James is in London--James is staying in my house. What do you think of that?"

Mrs. Westerfield's bold gray eyes expressed eager curiosity and interest. "You don't mean that he is going to be barman here again?"

"No such luck, my dear; he is a gentleman at large, who patronizes my house."

Mrs. Westerfield went on with her questions.

"Has he left America for good?"

"Not he! James Bellbridge is going back to New York, to open a saloon (as they call it) in partnership with another man. He's in England, he says, on business. It's my belief that he wants money for this new venture on bad security. They're smart people in New York. His only chance of getting his bills discounted is to humbug his relations, down in the country."

"When does he go to the country?"

"He's there now."

"When does he come back?"

"You're determined to see him, it appears. He comes back to-morrow."

"Is he married?"

"Aha! now we're coming to the point. Make your mind easy. Plenty of women have set the trap for him, but he has not walked into it yet. Shall I give him your love?"

"Yes," she said, coolly. "As much love as you please."

"Meaning marriage?" the landlord inquired.

"And money," Mrs. Westerfield added.

"Lord Le Basque's money."

"Lord Le Basque's money may go to the Devil!"

"Hullo! Your language reminds me of the time when you were a barmaid. You don't mean to say you have had a fortune left you?"

"I do! Will you give a message to James?"

"I'll do anything for a lady with a fortune."

"Tell him to come and drink tea with his old sweetheart tomorrow, at six o'clock."

"He won't do it."

"He will."

With that difference of opinion, they parted.

6.--The Brute.

To-morrow came--and Mrs. Westerfield's faithful James justified her confidence in him.

"Oh, Jemmy, how glad I am to see you! You dear, dear fellow. I'm yours at last."

"That depends, my lady, on whether I want you. Let go of my neck."

The man who entered this protest against imprisonment in the arms of a fine woman, was one of the human beings who are grown to perfection on English soil He had the fat face, the pink complexion, the hard blue eyes, the scanty yellow hair, the smile with no meaning in it, the tremendous neck and shoulders, the mighty fists and feet, which are seen in complete combination in England only. Men of this breed possess a nervous system without being aware of it; suffer affliction without feeling it; exercise courage without a sense of danger; marry without love; eat and drink without limit; and sink (big as they are), when disease attacks them, without an effort to live.

Mrs. Westerfield released her guest's bull-neck at the word of command. It was impossible not to submit to him--he was so brutal. Impossible not to admire him--he was so big.

"Have you no love left for me?" was all she ventured to say.

He took the reproof good-humoredly. "Love?" he repeated. "Come! I like that--after throwing me over for a man with a handle to his name. Which am I to call you: 'Mrs?' or 'My Lady'?"

"Call me your own. What is there to laugh at, Jemmy? You used to be fond of me; you would never have gone to America, when I married Westerfield, if I hadn't been dear to you. Oh, if I'm sure of anything, I'm sure of that! You wouldn't bear malice, dear, if you only knew how cruelly I have been disappointed."

He suddenly showed an interest in what she was saying: the brute became cheery and confidential. "So he made you a bad husband, did he? Up with his fist and knocked you down, I daresay, if the truth was known?"

"You're all in the wrong, dear. He would have been a good husband if I had cared about him. I never cared about anybody but you. It wasn't Westerfield who tempted me to say Yes."

"That's a lie."

"No, indeed it isn't."

"Then why did you marry him?"

"When I married him, Jemmy, there was a prospect--oh, how could I resist it? Think of being one of the Le Basques! Held in honor, to the end of my life, by that noble family, whether my husband lived or died!"

同类推荐
  • 七修类稿

    七修类稿

    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。
  • 外科枢要

    外科枢要

    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。
  • 未曾有因缘经

    未曾有因缘经

    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。
  • 遇变纪略

    遇变纪略

    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。
  • 佛治身经

    佛治身经

    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。
热门推荐
  • 邪君盛宠迷糊甜妻

    邪君盛宠迷糊甜妻

    17岁花样美好的年龄,她却因为自己150斤的体重遭到同学和家人的讨厌。负气自杀,醒来后竟变得苗条漂亮。但这都不是最让她惊喜的,最让她惊喜的是,醒来后她的身边竟然有着一位超级美男子。荒郊野外的破庙里,她半夜醒来就在他怀里。他照顾她,保护她,就连她中了媚毒,他也没有乘人之危。这样的男人,她抓住了,就绝对不会放手了!他是魔教教主,在外冷血残忍,唯独对她,却是宠爱到了骨子里。为了霸她身,占她心,他甚至不惜用谎言将她留在身边。她是现代被家人和同学都鄙夷的对象,早已不在乎生死问题。直到遇见了他,这个长得好看迷人又温柔待她的男人。她开始珍惜起自己的生命,以及与他的这份感情。
  • 金鲶鱼

    金鲶鱼

    “鲶鱼是种低贱的鱼,金鲶鱼不过是变种,也改变不了低贱的身份。”哦?是吗?强奸杀人犯的后代,严重身体缺陷的孤儿美女,从小便被抛弃的自闭症……金鲶鱼组团逆流而上,混迹金融业的汪洋大海,誓要与高高在上的银行世家正面对决!人至贱则无敌,这一次,他们能赢吗?
  • 快穿之直播进行时

    快穿之直播进行时

    【新文《太后画风又变了》已发,求支持。】 笙歌作为直播界的一股泥石流。别人短裙热舞的时候,她在解难题。别人情歌绵绵的时候,她在咬笔头。别人笑声满天的时候,她在奋笔疾书。当然,她还会时不时表现一下中国功夫。没错,她就是个简单粗暴的学霸。可是这么一股泥石流却被莫名其妙的直播系统相中,需要穿梭万界完成直播任务。美名其曰她是清流。
  • 落跑娇妻之总裁大人,求放过!

    落跑娇妻之总裁大人,求放过!

    少时一次善意,换来两年囚禁,三年噩梦,一朝失忆,面前迷人的混血帅哥长的真是帅啊!一句,我只是爱你,让她更是把心都送了出去。……殊不知,越吸引人的越致命。小剧场“希澈把你的手收回去!”站在厨房里准备早餐的沈菁菁,面含羞涩的说道。“为什么要收回去?”一句反问气的沈菁菁差点拿起刀剁了那只不安分的爪子。“儿子还在外面等着吃饭,你给我出去。”“那让他等着。”希大总裁的不要脸,沈菁菁早已见识,但还没深知不要脸到什么程度,今天到是又让她开了眼。她得想个办法整治一下!希大总裁还沉浸在美色中,不知怀里的娇妻已经打起了坏主意。
  • 二嫁豪门,前妻请束手就擒

    二嫁豪门,前妻请束手就擒

    据说R市景氏集团的总裁专情、多金、颜值高、最重要还单身,这让R市所有的女人都发了疯的想嫁给他。但是凡事都有例外,古月颖作为景氏集团旗下万千普通员工中的一名小透明,对于自家头顶“R市女人最想嫁男人排行榜前一”的总裁毫无兴趣。毕竟在她心里她那个莫名其妙失踪了的前夫才是她心口的白月光和朱砂痣。但是,古月颖在看过自家总裁的真面目之后再不能淡定了……为毛总裁跟她前夫长的一毛一样?为毛连喜欢的讨厌的都一毛一样?为毛……当古月颖确定景睿这货就是她那突然失踪的前夫时,她毫不犹豫的将某个男人堵在墙角,看着他深情的说道:“景睿,你还记得当年大明湖畔的前妻古月颖了吗?”
  • 中国异体诗新编

    中国异体诗新编

    本书共选辑上起汉代,下迄现当代一百八十四家的异体诗六十一类,三百五十多首,依类分编。入选作品与《趣味诗三百首》无一雷同。原入编《趣》诗的车船名诗、针灸名诗、龟兆名诗、相名诗、围棋名诗、节气名诗、五行诗、六甲诗、翻韵诗、拆字诗、回文曲等,因未见续作,不再重列。但据此可知中国异体诗门类至少在七十类以上。 每首诗后有作者介绍、注释和说明。作者介绍列于首次出现的作品之后,同一作者在诸多门类中有诗作的,不再重出。注释着重疑难词语和本事、典故,力求简明。双关词语,词义易明的仅注与诗题有关的词义;词义难明的兼注双重意义;难句略作串讲。诗作全部注明出处。各篇说明着重阐明该篇的特异之处和主要内容、题旨。
  • 为什么女人要承担男人的谎言

    为什么女人要承担男人的谎言

    两性关系是人类永恒的话题。然而相比较之下,男人是理性动物,女人是感情动物,他们的思维方式截然不同,处世的方法也不同,这就使男人和女人之间的沟通产生了障碍,总是互相指责,抱怨“真搞不懂”你。本书作者收集了众多资料,并选取了具有代表性的话题,探讨了两性关系中具有代表性的话题,探讨了两性关系中具有普遍性的问题,并提出了可行的解决办法,帮助你了解你身边的异性:恋人、爱人、父母、公婆、岳父岳母、子女、亲朋好友等等。读完此书,你会发现自己也成为了两性关系大师,能够在错综复杂的情感世界游刃有余,和异性建立一种互信、互助、互爱的亲密友好关系,使自己过上一种更加充实、更加自信、更加快乐的人生。
  • 重生之前妻

    重生之前妻

    快三十岁的凌雪,和丈夫相亲相爱八年,唯一的遗憾就是没有儿女臣欢膝下。好不容易盼得子来,却不想在她三十岁生日晚宴上,她才发现自己深爱的丈夫竟早已变心。丈夫的薄情,让她心如死灰,小三更是嚣张的把她推下楼梯,夺去了她和孩子的性命。她指天发誓,决不罢休!重生回到五年前,再活一次,这一世,她绝不再唯唯诺诺,任人欺凌。婆婆刁难?她以牙还牙,让她永无宁日。小三诋毁?她陪她演戏,演得她人尽可夫。薄情前夫?呵呵…看她如何耍尽手段,让他身败名裂,后悔当初!
  • 初恋无下限

    初恋无下限

    陆小舟与干爹的婚期临近,却意外与初恋男友双双重生。明明已经水火不相容的两个人,却回到了当年青梅竹马的时光。她隐藏重生的事情,伪装成原本的自己靠近苏盛欢,傻呆萌的调戏他,在他刚刚对小时的她有些动心的时候,她才开口说:“苏盛欢,你知不知道你很渣?”两个人再次闹翻。当年害羞温柔的苏盛欢已经变得很暴躁、爱吐槽、爱咆哮。当年活泼可爱的陆小舟已经变得缺人品、无下限、无节操。奈何家里的大人还是当他们是小孩,不但要他们一起玩,还一起洗澡、睡觉。苍天,要不要这么玩人,难道这一次我们还得一起老?!
  • Round the Sofa

    Round the Sofa

    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。